Choose ducted (centralised) for a new build or major renovation with ceiling access: one unit, ducts to every room, up to 94% heat recovery. Choose through-wall (decentralised) for an existing home or apartment: VLR 70 units in pairs, no ducts, up to 92% heat recovery, about 70 m² per pair.
Why a home needs it
A well-sealed home keeps its heat, but it also keeps in moisture, cooking smells and the CO2 everyone breathes out. Opening windows fixes that and throws the heat away. A heat recovery ventilation system swaps the air continuously and passes most of the heat from the outgoing air to the incoming air. It does not heat or cool the house itself.
Side by side
| Ducted (centralised) | Through-wall (decentralised) | |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | One central unit, ducts to every room | Units in pairs through outside walls, swapping direction about every 40 seconds |
| Heat recovery | Up to 94% (LWZ 180 / 280) | Up to 92% (VLR 70) |
| Best for | New builds, major renovations | Existing homes, apartments |
| Building work | Ceiling or roof space for ducts | One hole per unit through an outside wall |
| Our kits from | $7,973.90 (80-125 m²) | $1,719 (one pair, about 70 m²) |
Building or renovating
Plan ducted ventilation before the plasterboard goes up. The kits cover LWZ 70 E and VCR 180 MC for 80 to 125 m², LWZ 180 for 125 to 180 m² and LWZ 280 for 220 to 280 m². The design service works out the vent positions and parts from your plans.
Living in it already
VLR 70 through-wall pairs need no ducts. One pair covers about 70 m²; one controller runs up to eight units. They are quiet but not silent (35 dB(A)), so keep them 2 to 3 metres from a bed and leave a gap under bedroom doors for the air to move.
Filters and upkeep
Filters clean the incoming air and protect the heat exchanger. Change them every 6 to 12 months, more often near busy roads or in bushfire smoke. An F7 filter catches fine pollen: the VCR 180 MC is Sensitive Choice approved by the National Asthma Council Australia when fitted with one. Replacement filters are on our ventilation filters page.