Heat recovery ventilation cost in 2026: installation in a house, maintenance and is it worth it?

indekscen.pl editorial team · published 30 September 2026 · prices according to the 5 October 2026 index

Heat recovery ventilation for a detached house, including the design, unit, ducts and installation, most often costs PLN 28,500, with typical quotes ranging from PLN 23,000 ‑ 33,500. The cheapest systems for smaller houses start at PLN 16,000, while the most expensive cost up to PLN 45,000. The price depends on the floor area, number of rooms and class of heat recovery unit.

Heat recovery ventilation is no longer an optional extra reserved for expensive houses. It is increasingly standard in new buildings because airtight windows and insulation require a constant exchange of air. However, installation costs can vary twofold between quotes for the same house. We break the cost down into its components based on contractors’ price lists and industry articles, add maintenance costs and compare it with other home systems.

How much does heat recovery ventilation with installation cost?

Heat recovery ventilation with installation in a detached house most often costs PLN 28,500, according to 5 price lists and articles collected by indekscen.pl, while half of all quotes fall within the range of PLN 23,000 ‑ 33,500. The price includes the complete system: design, heat recovery unit, insulated ducts, air valves, distribution boxes, air intake and exhaust vents, a controller with wiring, and labour including commissioning.

The lower end, from PLN 16,000, applies to smaller houses and simple systems with a mid-range unit. The upper end, up to PLN 45,000, applies to large houses, units with moisture recovery (enthalpy units) and extensive ductwork. More quotations from sources are available on the mechanical ventilation with heat recovery page.

„Kompletna instalacja rekuperacji w domu jednorodzinnym o powierzchni 120-160 m² kosztuje w 2026 roku od 16 000 do 30 000 zł z montażem.”

budotom.pl, 2026, source

„Rekuperacja w domu jednorodzinnym kosztuje w 2026 od 17 000 do 40 000 zł.”

EKKOAIR, 2026-07, source

„Całkowity koszt rekuperacji dla domu 100 m² (urządzenie + projekt + instalacja kanałowa + montaż) wynosi orientacyjnie od 17 000 do 27 000 zł brutto.”

budownictwob2b.pl, 2026, source

„Metraż 150 m² wypada między naszymi przedziałami, więc orientacyjnie od 30 000 do 32 000 zł netto, czyli około 32 400 do 34 560 zł brutto.”

malmo-oze.pl, 2026, source

What makes up the cost of heat recovery ventilation?

The heat recovery unit and ductwork account for a large proportion of the cost, with labour making up a smaller share. Before comparing two quotes, check that they both include the same items:

1. System design. The median price of a separately commissioned design is PLN 1,050, but most companies include it in the price of the complete system.
2. Heat recovery ventilation unit. The most expensive component. Its airflow capacity, heat recovery efficiency, filter class and noise level all matter.
3. Ducts and manifolds. Round or flat ducts, with insulation along sections running through unheated areas, such as the loft.
4. Air valves, intake and exhaust vents. One supply or extract vent per room.
5. Controller and automation. From a simple speed selector to app-based controls and humidity or CO₂ sensors.
6. Installation, balancing and commissioning. Measuring airflow in every room is a sign that the company is doing the job properly.

To clarify, heat recovery ventilation is mechanical ventilation with heat recovery. One fan extracts stale air from the kitchen, bathrooms and dressing room, while another supplies fresh air to the bedrooms and living room. In the heat exchanger, heat from the extracted air warms the incoming air. The air streams do not mix.

Other costs usually include electricity, filters, an annual service and any funding not already accounted for by the contractor.

How much does heat recovery ventilation cost for a 100 m² house?

Heat recovery ventilation for a 100 m² house usually costs towards the lower end of the PLN 23,000 ‑ 33,500 range, closer to PLN 16,000 than the median. A smaller house means fewer rooms, shorter ducts and a lower-capacity unit. However, do not expect the price to be directly proportional to floor area: the unit, design and commissioning cost about the same for a 100 and a 150 m² house.

System	Median	Typical range
Heat recovery ventilation with installation, detached house	PLN 28,500	PLN 23,000 ‑ 33,500
Heat recovery ventilation system design only	PLN 1,050	PLN 790 ‑ 1,250
Air-to-water heat pump with installation	PLN 40,000	PLN 31,800 ‑ 52,500
Split air conditioning with installation	PLN 3,800	PLN 3,500 ‑ 5,650
Approx. 5 kW solar PV system	PLN 22,500	PLN 21,300 ‑ 26,300

What is the annual cost of maintaining heat recovery ventilation?

The annual cost of maintaining heat recovery ventilation consists of three items: electricity for the fans, filter replacement and servicing. A modern heat recovery unit with EC fans usually consumes between 500 and 800 kWh per year, roughly as much as a fridge-freezer running around the clock. The cost depends on your electricity tariff.

Filters are usually replaced every 3 to 6 months, or more frequently in areas with heavy smog. It is worth arranging a service once a year, including cleaning the heat exchanger, checking the condensate drain and measuring airflow. We do not yet have heat recovery ventilation servicing prices in the index, so before signing a contract, ask the contractor how much an out-of-warranty service and a set of filters for your unit will cost.

Is heat recovery ventilation worth it?

Heat recovery ventilation is worth the cost primarily in a new, airtight and well-insulated house where natural ventilation works poorly and moisture accumulates. Recovering heat from extracted air reduces heating demand, while the filters capture pollen and some smog particles, which is particularly beneficial for people with allergies.

When heat recovery ventilation is not worthwhile:

• An old, uninsulated house with draughty windows. Heat escapes through the walls and windows, so recovering heat from ventilation will make little difference. Insulate the house and replace the windows first.
• No space for ducts. In a finished house, ducts must be concealed in suspended ceilings or boxed-in structures.
• No willingness to maintain the system. Heat recovery ventilation with clogged filters works worse than natural ventilation.

If you are planning an energy-efficiency renovation, start with an energy audit costing around PLN 1,550. It will show which improvements will deliver the greatest savings.

What are the disadvantages of heat recovery ventilation?

The main disadvantages of heat recovery ventilation are the high upfront cost, the need to replace filters regularly and the risk of noise if the unit is incorrectly sized or the ducts are too narrow. Indoor air can become dry in winter, which can be addressed by using a moisture-recovery unit, although it is more expensive than a standard one. A poorly balanced system may also blow too much air into one room while providing insufficient airflow in another.

A good design and airflow measurements during commissioning prevent most of these problems. A quote that includes neither a design nor a balancing report is a warning sign.

Heat recovery ventilation in an old house and decentralised heat recovery ventilation

Heat recovery ventilation can be installed in an old house, but installation is usually more expensive than in a new one because the ducts must be routed through boxed-in structures, the loft or channels cut into walls. An alternative is decentralised (wall-mounted) heat recovery ventilation: small units fitted into openings in an external wall, each serving one or two rooms. They do not require ductwork, but they are less efficient, noisier and make it harder to exchange air throughout the house. We do not yet have prices for wall-mounted heat recovery units in the index.

Heat recovery ventilation, heat pump or solar PV: which comes first?

In a new house, heat recovery ventilation is planned together with the heating system because the ducts must be installed before plastering. A heat pump with installation usually costs PLN 31,800 ‑ 52,500, while photovoltaic installation costs around PLN 22,500. These three systems complement each other well: heat recovery ventilation reduces heating demand, the heat pump provides heat, and the solar PV system supplies some of the electricity required by both.

Median and typical range from public price lists, as at 5 October 2026. Each price includes a source and quotation on the service page.

You can find a comparison of heat pumps and solar PV in the article heat pump or solar PV, and a complete house construction budget in the article cost of building a house. We discuss summer cooling in the article how much does air conditioning cost.

How can you avoid overpaying for heat recovery ventilation?

• Compare quotes with the same scope. Check whether they include the design, duct insulation, controller, and commissioning with measurements.
• Ask for the make and model of the unit, not just a ‘heat recovery unit with an airflow capacity of X’.
• Ask about the cost of filters and servicing after the warranty period.
• Have the ducts installed at the shell stage. Doing it later costs more and creates more mess.
• Check available funding before signing a contract, as some programmes require you to apply before work begins.

You can find more prices in this field in the systems and energy category.

The prices in this article come from contractors’ public price lists and industry articles. Each price has a source, date and verbatim quotation on the service page.

Frequently asked questions

Is heat recovery ventilation cost-effective?

Rekuperacja odzyskuje większość ciepła z powietrza wywiewanego, więc zmniejsza koszt ogrzewania, ale przy instalacji za PLN 23,000 ‑ 33,500 zwraca się zwykle dopiero po wielu latach. Główny zysk to stała wymiana powietrza bez otwierania okien, mniej wilgoci i pleśni.

How much does heat recovery ventilation cost for a 150 m2 house?

Dom 150 m² to środek typowego zakresu, więc cena rekuperacji z montażem mieści się zwykle w przedziale PLN 23,000 ‑ 33,500, blisko mediany PLN 28,500.

Is funding available for heat recovery ventilation?

Rekuperację obejmuje program Czyste Powietrze, jeśli jest częścią termomodernizacji budynku mieszkalnego. Warunki i wysokość dotacji zmieniają się, więc sprawdź je w wojewódzkim funduszu ochrony środowiska przed podpisaniem umowy z wykonawcą.

How long does it take to install heat recovery ventilation?

Montaż kanałów rekuperacji w nowym domu trwa zwykle od 2 do 5 dni, a podłączenie i regulacja centrali po wykończeniu wnętrz kolejny dzień. Prace dzieli się na dwa etapy: kanały przed tynkami i posadzkami, centrala na końcu.

Can heat recovery ventilation be combined with air conditioning?

Rekuperacja sama nie chłodzi, a jedynie ogranicza napływ ciepła latem przez bypass. Chłodzenie daje nagrzewnica i chłodnica kanałowa albo osobny klimatyzator, którego montaż kosztuje zwykle PLN 3,500 ‑ 5,650.

Translation of the original Polish article dated 30 September 2026. Quotations from price lists are in Polish, as published by the companies. Read the original in Polish.

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