Ventilation Commissioning · Canberra ACT
HRV Balancing & Commissioning Canberra
Professional airflow testing, balancing and commissioning for centralised HRV systems in Canberra and surrounding areas. We measure and adjust supply and extract airflow to help your ventilation system perform as designed.
Already have an HRV system installed? We also commission and balance compatible systems installed by other providers.
- Consultation
- No obligation
- Certified assessors
What Is HRV Balancing?
What Does HRV Balancing Involve?
A heat recovery ventilation system supplies fresh, filtered air and extracts stale indoor air. Its heat exchanger recovers heat from outgoing air, reducing heat lost through ventilation.
HRV balancing involves measuring airflow at supply and extract grilles, then adjusting fan speeds and valves to meet the system’s design requirements. Individual rooms have different airflow targets, while the overall supply and extract volumes need to be appropriately balanced.
Balancing is part of commissioning, which also includes checking system installation, settings and operation. Airflow should be checked during initial commissioning and reviewed after relevant system changes or when performance concerns arise
Why It Matters in Canberra
Why Correct HRV Airflow Matters in Canberra
Airflow Testing
System Balancing
Commissioning
Written Report
Warning Signs
7 Signs Your HRV May Need an Airflow Check
Rooms Feel Stuffy or Smell Stale
If one or more rooms feel close and poorly ventilated despite the HRV running continuously, supply airflow to those rooms is likely insufficient.
Condensation on Windows in Winter
Persistent window condensation can indicate excess moisture, cold surfaces or inadequate ventilation. An airflow check can help establish whether ventilation is contributing.
Mould in Bathrooms or Laundry
Persistent mould in wet areas is one of the most serious consequences of under-extraction. If exhaust grilles are not drawing sufficient volume, moisture accumulates.
Your HRV Seems Louder Than Usual
A fan working harder than its design point to overcome duct resistance will generate more noise — often a sign filters are blocked or ductwork has partially collapsed.
Energy Bills Have Increased
Unexpected changes in energy use can have several causes. Checking HRV airflow, filters and operating settings can help identify ventilation-related problems.
Never Been Commissioned
If you have no commissioning report or recorded airflow measurements, an assessment can establish how your system is performing against its design requirements.
Airflow Has Changed Since Installation
Changes to ducts, valves, fan settings or room layouts can affect airflow. Arrange a check if performance changes or your installer recommends one.
“We recommend HRV commissioning and balancing every two to three years for most Canberra homes.”
Our Commissioning Process
Our HRV Balancing & Commissioning Process
When Your Passivhaus performs HRV balancing, Canberra homeowners receive a thorough, documented commissioning process. Every job is completed with calibrated measurement equipment and a written report you keep.
Pre-Inspection and System Review
We review the original design specification for your HRV system — intended airflow rates, total supply and exhaust volumes, and heat exchanger performance data. We also inspect the unit itself: checking filters, examining the heat exchanger core, verifying condensate drains, and confirming no fault codes are present.
Ductwork Visual Inspection
We inspect accessible supply and extract ductwork for visible damage, restrictions and poorly sealed joints. Even a small gap in a duct joint can allow warm indoor air to leak into the roof space before reaching the heat exchanger, dramatically reducing recovery efficiency.
Initial Airflow Measurement at Every Grille
Using a calibrated flow hood (or rotating vane anemometer for smaller grilles), we measure the actual airflow volume at every supply and exhaust grille. Readings are recorded in litres per second (L/s) for each location, establishing the current baseline across the whole system.
Fan Speed and Damper Adjustment
With baseline measurements recorded, we begin the balancing process. Most modern HRV units allow fan speed adjustment across supply and exhaust independently. We adjust fan speeds to bring total airflows as close to the design specification as possible, then fine-tune each individual grille using built-in dampers or adjustable louvres. This step is iterative.
Verification Measurements
We repeat airflow measurements after adjustment and compare the results with the system’s design targets and applicable commissioning requirements. Any limitations or outstanding issues are recorded in the report.
HRV Unit Settings Confirmation
We check operating modes, boost controls, summer bypass and frost protection settings where applicable, following the manufacturer’s instructions and project requirements.
Documentation and Handover Report
Every balancing visit is documented with a full commissioning report: before and after airflow measurements at each grille, fan speed settings, any ductwork issues noted, and recommended follow-up actions. This report is yours to keep — useful for future service visits, building certification, or when selling the property.
Passivhaus Certification
HRV Commissioning for Passive House Projects
For homes certified under the Passivhaus Institute standard, correct HRV commissioning is not optional — it is a certification requirement. The Passivhaus quality assurance protocol requires documented airflow measurements demonstrating that supply and exhaust are balanced and that minimum ventilation rates are met.
The Australian Passivhaus Association (APHA) promotes the same standards for certified passive houses across Australia. Your Passivhaus is aligned with APHA guidelines, and our commissioning reports are formatted to support certification documentation requirements.
If you are building or retrofitting to Passivhaus standard in Canberra and need HRV balancing as part of your certification process, we work directly with your designer or certifier to ensure documentation meets the required format.
— Passivhaus Institute Quality Assurance Protocol
For homes certified under the Passivhaus Institute standard, correct HRV commissioning is not optional — it is a certification requirement.
DIY vs Professional Commissioning
It is possible to adjust the fan speed on your HRV unit yourself. However, adjusting fan speed without measuring actual airflow at every grille is like turning the volume up on your stereo to check whether all the speakers are working — you might be making the problem louder, not solving it.Incorrectly adjusted systems can pressurise or depressurise the building, which in a well-insulated Canberra home can force moisture into wall cavities and cause long-term structural damage.
Why Your Passivhaus
Canberra's Passive House Specialists
Calibrated Measurement Equipment
Passive House Expertise
Full Written Commissioning Report
Canberra-Based Team
Fixed Price Before We Start
All Major HRV Brands
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Not sure whether your HRV needs balancing, or what to expect from a visit? Our most common questions are answered here. If yours isn’t listed, contact us directly.
HRV servicing typically refers to routine maintenance — cleaning or replacing filters, inspecting the heat exchanger core, checking drains, and confirming the unit is operating without faults. HRV balancing is the more technical process of measuring and adjusting airflows at every grille to ensure supply and exhaust are matched. At Your Passivhaus, we include a basic service check as part of every balancing visit.
For a standard three-to-four bedroom Canberra home with a single HRV unit and up to eight grilles, commissioning and balancing typically takes between one and three hours. Larger homes or those with two HRV units take proportionally longer. We will give you a time estimate when you book.
You can adjust your HRV fan speed manually, but without a calibrated flow hood to measure actual airflow at each grille, you cannot verify whether the system is balanced. Guesswork adjustments can make imbalances worse. For accurate, documented commissioning, professional measurement is required.
Yes. We commission and balance all major residential HRV brands available in Australia, including Zehnder, Swegon, Brink, Recair, Paul Heat Recovery, Mitsubishi Electric Lossnay, and Panasonic Whispercomfort. If you are unsure whether your unit is covered, contact us with the make and model and we will confirm.
Contact us via the form on this page or call us directly. We service all Canberra suburbs and surrounding ACT regions. We will arrange a time that suits you and provide a fixed-price quote before the visit.
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Get Your HRV Working the Way It Was Designed To
HRV balancing is one of the most overlooked — and most impactful — maintenance tasks for high-performance and passive house buildings in Canberra. If your system has never been professionally commissioned, or it has been more than three years since the last balance, contact us today.