It suits new builds, deep renovations and airtight homes in West Auckland, where there are fewer gaps for air to leak through on its own. In a very leaky older house, much of the air bypasses the heat exchanger through gaps, which reduces the benefit, so we always ask how the house is built before recommending one.
West Auckland heat recovery: bush damp, weatherboard leaks and new townhouse blocks
Damp is the defining problem in many West Auckland homes. High rainfall in the ranges and shade from native bush keep houses cool and moist through winter, and condensation is common. Heat recovery helps, but only where the house is tight enough for it. New townhouses in New Lynn and Te Atatū are well insulated and compact, and a balanced system gives them steady fresh air with most of the heat kept, which suits homes where bathrooms and laundries have no window.
Post-war weatherboard houses in Henderson and Glen Eden are another matter. With timber floors and, unless retrofitted, little insulation, they leak air freely, so the heat exchanger sees only part of the airflow. In those homes we usually start with extraction and drying out the subfloor, and come back to balanced ventilation once insulation and new joinery go in. Architect-designed homes in Titirangi with raked ceilings may have no roof space for the unit, so a cupboard or ceiling void elsewhere sometimes has to be designed in.
Bush sections bring their own maintenance. Leaves and seed debris collect on exterior hoods and can partly block the intake, so we place hoods clear of overhanging branches and check them along with the filters. Te Atatū Peninsula homes and those on the Titirangi harbour edge take in salt and estuary air through the intake, so filters load faster and exterior hoods need suitable materials. Glen Eden foothill homes catch westerly wind, which can push air back into an exhaust placed on the windward wall.
Local tip: On a West Auckland bush section, clear leaf litter from the intake hood after storms, because a blocked intake throws the supply and extract out of balance.
Heat Recovery Ventilation in West Auckland: Local Conditions
The newer townhouses and apartments in New Lynn and Te Atatū suit heat recovery well. In damp, shaded bush homes we look at where the moisture comes from before recommending a balanced system, because ventilation cannot fix a wet subfloor.
Homes in West Auckland
Henderson, Glen Eden and Te Atatū have many post-war weatherboard houses with timber floors, modest ceiling heights and, unless retrofitted, little insulation, so a high wall unit in the living area is the usual starting point but sizing must allow for heat loss. Titirangi's bush homes range from mid-century houses to architect-designed homes with raked ceilings and large glass walls, where floor console units or carefully sized high wall units heat the lower part of the room better. New townhouses in New Lynn and Te Atatū are well insulated and compact, so small units, quiet outdoor placement and summer cooling matter more than raw heating power.
How We Handle Heat Recovery Ventilation in West Auckland
The unit and ducts go inside the insulated part of the house where possible, with short, insulated duct runs. Outdoor intake and exhaust vents are kept apart so stale air is not drawn back in.
Pricing: every job starts with a free in-home assessment and a written quote, with a fixed price agreed before any work starts.
Heat Recovery Ventilation Jobs We Do in West Auckland
- Ducts run during a villa renovation
- Quiet duct design for upstairs bedrooms
- Balanced system for a new two-storey townhouse
- Extract points added to windowless bathrooms
- Yearly filter change and core check
Heat Recovery Ventilation West Auckland FAQs
Where does a heat recovery unit go in a Titirangi home with raked ceilings and no roof space?
It can often go in a cupboard or in a ceiling void over a hallway or bathroom, provided the ducts can be kept short and insulated. We work out the location on site before designing the duct layout.
What affects the cost of a heat recovery system?
Balanced systems cost more than positive pressure systems because there are two fans, a heat exchanger and two sets of ducting. Retrofits with difficult roof access cost more than systems planned into a new build. We quote after a free in-home assessment.
Does it heat my home?
No. It recovers heat that would otherwise be lost through ventilation, but you still need a heat source such as a heat pump. It pairs well with a ducted heat pump or high wall units.
Heat Recovery Ventilation in Other Areas
- Heat Recovery Ventilation Central Auckland
- Heat Recovery Ventilation North Shore
- Heat Recovery Ventilation East Auckland
- Heat Recovery Ventilation South Auckland
- Heat Recovery Ventilation Hibiscus Coast
- Heat Recovery Ventilation New Lynn
- Heat Recovery Ventilation across Auckland