Tight Houses Need Real Fresh Air.
New Pearland homes are built tight, which is great for energy bills and bad for air quality. Without controlled ventilation, CO2, VOCs, and humidity all climb past comfortable levels. We install Energy Recovery Ventilators (ERVs) that bring in tempered fresh air and exhaust stale air without the energy penalty of opening a window in August.
- ERV and HRV options
- Tempered fresh air
- Reduces CO2 and VOC buildup
- Sized for your home
What's included in a Whole-Home Ventilation
Two ventilation strategies, depending on your home and climate. Pearland's humid summers usually call for an ERV, not an HRV.
Energy Recovery Ventilator (ERV)
The right answer for Pearland. An ERV exchanges both heat and moisture between incoming and outgoing air, so the fresh air comes in pre-tempered and partially dehumidified. Brings in 60 to 150 CFM of fresh air continuously without a humidity penalty.
Heat Recovery Ventilator (HRV)
Better fit for cold dry climates. Exchanges only heat, not moisture. We rarely install HRVs in Pearland, but they are appropriate in some specialized applications.
Ducted into the HVAC return
Fresh air is delivered to the return side of your HVAC, where it is mixed with house air before being conditioned and distributed. Clean integration, no separate distribution ductwork required.
Smart controls
Modern ERVs include CO2 sensors and humidity sensors, so the unit ramps up when ventilation is actually needed and idles when it is not. Set-and-forget.
Filter on the fresh-air intake
Pre-filter on the fresh-air intake so you are not bringing pollen, dust, and refinery particulate straight in. Combined with your interior MERV-13 filtration, you get clean fresh air without the outdoor pollution.
Code-compliant install
Most new homes in the Pearland area built after 2015 are required to have mechanical ventilation per ASHRAE 62.2. We install to that spec and pull permits when applicable.
Reasons to add controlled ventilation
Homes built or remodeled in the last 15 years are typically tight enough that natural infiltration is not bringing in enough fresh air. The result is afternoon drowsiness, persistent stuffiness, and elevated VOC and humidity. ERV is the answer.
- Tight, modern home (built or major-remodeled after 2010)
- Afternoon drowsiness or headaches indoors
- Persistent stuffiness or stale-air feel
- High indoor VOCs from new flooring, paint, or furniture
- CO2 levels reading above 1,000 ppm in occupied rooms
- Spray-foam insulated home or net-zero design
- Concern about combustion appliance backdrafting
- Family member with chemical sensitivity, asthma, or autoimmune condition
How a visit works
Five steps. No surprises. Same on your first call as your fiftieth.
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Free in-home assessment
A technician walks the home, looks at HVAC capacity, identifies a good location for the ERV (typically attic), and confirms ASHRAE 62.2 ventilation requirement for your home size and occupancy.
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Sized recommendation
Most Pearland homes need 60 to 150 CFM of continuous ventilation, depending on square footage and bedroom count. We recommend the right size unit, not the most expensive option.
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Install
ERV mounted on a vibration-isolated platform in the attic, fresh-air intake and stale-air exhaust ducted to the outside through soffit or roof penetrations, supply ducted to the HVAC return. About 1 day for most installs.
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Verification and walkthrough
We measure airflow at intake and exhaust to verify performance, set CO2 and humidity targets on the controls, and walk you through the maintenance schedule.
What Pearland neighbors are saying
"Our new construction home was tight enough that we had constant headaches by 3pm. CO2 readings were over 1,500 ppm in the bedroom by morning. Installed an ERV and CO2 stays under 800 now. Headaches gone, sleep is dramatically better."
"Spray-foam insulated home that always smelled like new construction. Six months after the ERV was installed, the off-gassing smell was gone and the house feels fresh. Worth every dollar."
"They could have sold us a fancier system. Recommended a mid-range ERV that handled our square footage and saved us $1,200. Honest."
Frequently asked
How much does an ERV install cost in Pearland?
Installed prices: $2,800 to $4,200 for a typical residential ERV with smart controls and ducting. Larger or more complex installs can run $4,500 to $6,500. Most Pearland homes land in the $3,200 to $3,800 range.
ERV or HRV, which is right for Pearland?
ERV almost always. ERV transfers moisture as well as heat, which means in summer the incoming fresh air is pre-dehumidified by the outgoing air, and in winter you do not lose all your humidity. HRVs are designed for cold dry climates and are not the right call here.
Will it raise my electric bill?
Yes, by a small amount. ERVs themselves use about 50 to 100 watts and the fresh-air load adds some sensible and latent load on the AC. Expect $5 to $20 per month depending on home size and ventilation rate. The energy recovery makes it dramatically cheaper than just running a bath fan continuously.
How is this different from a bath fan or kitchen exhaust?
Spot exhaust fans (bath, kitchen) move air out without bringing tempered fresh air in. They depressurize the house, which can cause backdrafting on combustion appliances. An ERV brings in tempered, filtered fresh air at the same rate it exhausts, balanced and continuous.
Will it help with allergies?
Yes and no. The ERV brings in fresh outside air, which on a high-pollen day brings pollen with it. The pre-filter helps. Combined with interior MERV-13 filtration, you get cleaner indoor air than either alone. For severe pollen allergies, we sometimes recommend running the ERV less during peak pollen weeks and more in winter.
How often does it need maintenance?
Filter change every 6 to 12 months. The energy recovery core (the part that does the heat and moisture exchange) is washable and gets a wash every 12 to 24 months. Comfort Club covers this.
Does my home actually need this?
If your home is older (pre-2000), probably not. Older homes leak enough on their own. Newer tight homes (post-2015) almost always benefit. We measure CO2 and assess infiltration during the assessment to give you a real answer rather than a sales pitch.