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MVHR maintenance schedule
MVHR needs a little routine maintenance to keep running efficiently: mainly changing filters, with occasional cleaning and a periodic service. It is straightforward and mostly something a homeowner can do. This guide sets out a simple schedule.
By VentRight Editorial · Last updated 2026-07-08 · Impartial · Sourced
What maintenance does MVHR need?
The main tasks are changing the filters, cleaning the terminals and valves occasionally, and a periodic check of the unit and ducting. Filters are the routine job, every 6 to 12 months. Cleaning the extract and supply valves once or twice a year keeps airflow clear. A fuller service, checking the fans, exchanger and condensate drain, is worth doing every few years.
None of this is heavy work. Think of it as three levels: frequent and simple (filters), occasional and simple (wiping valves and grilles), and infrequent and more involved (a service). Keeping to that rhythm keeps the system quiet, efficient and healthy, and catches small issues before they grow.
How often should I change MVHR filters?
Filters are typically changed every 6 to 12 months, and every 3 to 6 months for finer filters or in areas with poorer outdoor air. Many units have a filter-change reminder. Changing them on schedule is the single most important maintenance task, because a clogged filter restricts airflow, raises running cost and reduces ventilation.
If you are near a busy road or in a dusty area, expect to change filters more often. It is worth keeping a spare set so a change is quick when the reminder appears. Skipping changes is the most common reason a system gradually goes downhill, and it is entirely avoidable.
Can I maintain MVHR myself?
Most routine maintenance is DIY: changing filters, and wiping down the extract and supply valves. It needs no special skill, just access to the unit and the right filters. A deeper service, inspecting the heat exchanger, fans and condensate drain, is worth having a professional do every few years, especially if performance seems to have dropped.
Filter changes in particular are designed to be simple, with the filters accessible from the front of most units. Keeping the unit reachable, rather than boxed in, makes this easy. The periodic professional service is the part most owners hand over, since it goes deeper into the unit.
What happens if I do not maintain MVHR?
Without maintenance, mainly filter changes, the system gradually loses performance: airflow drops, the fans work harder and use more electricity, noise can increase, and air quality falls. A badly neglected system can clog to the point of near-failure. The good news is that most of this is reversible by catching up on filters and cleaning.
A neglected MVHR quietly gets worse rather than failing suddenly, which is why the decline often goes unnoticed until the home feels stuffy or the bills creep up. Catching up on filters and a clean usually restores most of the performance, so it is rarely too late to start looking after it.
Questions
- How often should I service MVHR?
- Change filters every 6 to 12 months, clean the valves once or twice a year, and have a fuller service every few years. The filter changes are the most important routine task.
- Can I change MVHR filters myself?
- Yes. Filters are designed to be accessible and easy to swap, needing no special skill, just the right replacement filters and access to the unit.
- What maintenance does MVHR need?
- Regular filter changes, occasional cleaning of the extract and supply valves, and a periodic professional service of the fans, heat exchanger and condensate drain.
- What happens if I do not maintain my MVHR?
- Airflow drops, the fans use more electricity, noise can rise and air quality falls as filters clog. Most of it is reversible by catching up on filter changes and cleaning.