Heat Recovery Payback Period Calculator

Estimate how fast an air-to-air heat recovery ventilator pays for itself. Enter the duty and the installed cost — we return simple payback, ROI and a 10-year NPV.

Frequently asked questions

What counts as "installed cost"?

Include the core, casing, filters, duct rework, controls and labour. A heat exchanger that is cheap to buy but expensive to install will show a longer payback — and vice versa.

Why subtract maintenance?

Filters, cleaning and fan energy are ongoing. Net annual saving = gross recovered energy value minus these costs. For most air-to-air units maintenance is small (3–8% of savings), so payback barely moves.

Is a 2-year payback good?

For industrial heat recovery, 1–3 years is strong and easily justifies the project. Below 1 year is exceptional; above 5 years usually needs a non-energy driver (code compliance, comfort, process need).

Does this include fan power?

No. The estimate is gross recovered energy. Subtract added fan energy from extra pressure drop (typically 5–15% of recovered energy) for a true net figure.