Bigger or unusual job? Compare bids from local pros and you pick who does the work.
The service
What fresh-air ventilation (erv & hrv) installation is, what a visit covers and where the line is.
The short answer
An ERV or HRV is a ventilation unit that exchanges stale indoor air for fresh outdoor air, passing the two streams through a core so most of the heat is recovered. Fresh-Air Ventilation (ERV & HRV) Installation in San Francisco is booked through pros who cover its 28 ZIP codes, in neighborhoods such as The Mission, Noe Valley, and The Sunset. SF's microclimates mean fog, wind, and moisture vary dramatically by neighborhood. Providers account for this in material selection. Licensed pros listed on NorTech set their own terms for you to compare and pick from.
What a fresh-air ventilation (erv & hrv) installation visit includes
What is included depends on the jobs you pick and on how each pro sets up their visit and timing. You see the exact scope with each pro's price before you book.
- Ventilation assessment and sizing
- ERV or HRV unit mounted and ducted
- Fresh air intake and exhaust terminations
- Controls, filters and condensate drain
- Balancing of supply and exhaust airflow
- Commissioning and instruction
Pick what is on your list
Tick what you want done, or add your own. Your list goes under the booking card and to the pro you choose, and you can describe anything else when you book.
Assessment and design
Tick what you want done. One visit can cover several.
Tick jobs above, or add your own. Your list goes under the booking card and to the pro you choose, so they see exactly what you need before they arrive.
What shapes a fresh-air ventilation (erv & hrv) installation job
These are the things that make one job different from another. Mention them in your notes so each pro can scope your job properly.
Choosing the ventilation type
The right system depends on your climate, whether the house has ducts and how tight it is. Pros set their own recommendations, so compare more than one. Tap an option to compare, then add your pick to your job notes.
What is not part of fresh-air ventilation (erv & hrv) installation
Knowing where the line is keeps the visit on track and keeps you safe. When a job belongs to a specialist, NorTech tells you before you book.
- Any job where labor and materials together reach $1,000 or more. Whole-house ventilation work at that size is handled by a licensed contractor.
- New electrical circuits and panel work for the unit: that is a licensed electrician.
- Heating or cooling equipment replacement, refrigerant work and furnace changes. Those are HVAC services.
- Air sealing, insulation and window replacement to make the house tighter. Those have their own services.
- Combustion appliance venting, gas lines and chimney work: those are licensed gas and chimney trades.
- Mold cleanup or moisture repairs found during the assessment.
- In San Francisco, sF DBI permit requirements are among the strictest in California. Smaller jobs stay within the handyman exemption; permitted work is bid on by NorTech-verified licensed contractors.
License and permits for fresh-air ventilation (erv & hrv) installation
Ventilation systems involve ducts, controls, power and sometimes combustion safety, so the installer should hold the mechanical or HVAC license their area requires. Electrical connections are made by a licensed electrician, and pros who take this job work within those limits.
A new ventilation system, new roof or wall penetrations and new electrical circuits are commonly permitted and may be inspected. Some areas also set ventilation rates for new construction. Ask the pro who handles permits and what the inspector will check.
Check the pro's license and insurance on their profile. Ask for the permit number if one is needed, and ask for the airflow balance readings at handover.
Plan your visit
How booking works, how to get ready, and what to expect where you live.
How booking fresh-air ventilation (erv & hrv) installation works
Say what needs doing
Add your ZIP and a few words about the job.
Compare pros near you
Each pro sets their own price and warranty. NorTech does not pick for you.
Book the pro you pick
Add photos and details on their page. Your card is held and only charged after the work and the photos.
Photos and a warranty
Your pro backs the work with a workmanship warranty — if covered work is not right, your pro makes it right, free.
Before you book fresh-air ventilation (erv & hrv) installation
Quick things that save a trip. Tick them off as you go; none of it is required to book.
List the symptoms you notice
Write down stuffiness, window condensation, lingering cooking smells, musty rooms or allergy flare-ups, and when they happen. Patterns help the pro tell ventilation needs from other issues.
Know your home's tightness
Note if the home is new, recently insulated or has had windows replaced. If you have a blower-door or energy audit report, share it.
List your combustion appliances
Gas furnaces, gas water heaters, fireplaces and stoves all matter for pressure and safety. Make sure carbon monoxide alarms work before the visit.
Photograph the likely unit location
Take pictures of the attic, basement or mechanical room where the unit could go, and the outside wall where hoods could be placed. Show clearance and the nearest outlet or breaker.
Ask how the system will be balanced
Ask what readings the pro will take and whether you receive them at handover. A system that is out of balance wastes energy and can create pressure problems.
Plan for filter upkeep
Ask where the filters are, how often to change them and whether you can reach the unit easily. A unit in a hard-to-reach attic is one that gets neglected.
Say where in San Francisco you are
Add your neighborhood, for example The Mission, Noe Valley, and The Sunset, or your ZIP code to your notes. Pros choose the neighborhoods they cover, and it tells them how far they have to travel.
How where you live changes fresh-air ventilation (erv & hrv) installation
Often booked together with fresh-air ventilation (erv & hrv) installation
Book several services with one pro. Pros set their own bundle discounts.
An inspection looks at ducts, airflow and combustion safety before you add a ventilation unit.
New or repaired ducts are often part of connecting a ventilation unit to the house.
Filtration, humidity control and ventilation work together to improve indoor air.
An audit measures tightness and shows whether ventilation or air sealing comes first.
Around San Francisco
Where in San Francisco the work happens, and the cities close by.
Fresh-Air Ventilation (ERV & HRV) Installation across San Francisco
Pick your neighborhood to see what homes there tend to need. Pros choose the neighborhoods they cover, so enter your ZIP code to see who covers yours.
Cities near San Francisco
Pros often cover more than one city. The rings show 5 and 10 miles from the center of town.
Other services in San Francisco
Each one has its own page for this city.
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See pros in San FranciscoTall ceilings, ornate Victorian moldings, and compact condo rooms all get a fresh, even finish that holds up to the city's damp, foggy microclimates.
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See pros in San FranciscoOriginal SF doorways shift on steep-slope foundations, so providers re-hang, adjust, and weatherproof doors that stick or no longer latch in older homes.
See pros in San FranciscoCustom sheet metal flashing and chimney caps fabricated and installed by a sheet metal contractor: copper, stainless, galvanized or aluminum pieces that keep water out.
See pros in San FranciscoTrust and answers
What backs the work, who is licensed and insured, what customers say, and your questions.
Backed by your provider’s warranty. If covered work fails, your provider makes it right, free.
San Francisco homeowners
Fresh-Air Ventilation (ERV & HRV) Installation reviews in San Francisco
Verified fresh-air ventilation (erv & hrv) installation reviews from San Francisco homeowners will appear here.
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Your pro backs the work with a workmanship warranty — if covered work is not right, your pro makes it right, free. Book with confidence and tell San Francisco how your pro did.
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