Can a home inspection determine if HRVs and ERVs are properly balanced and operating as intended?

A home inspection primarily focuses on assessing the condition of the visible and accessible components of a home, including its HVAC systems, insulation, and ventilation. While home inspectors can provide valuable insights into the overall functioning of Heat Recovery Ventilators (HRVs) and Energy Recovery Ventilators (ERVs), they are not designed to measure the precise airflow and balance of these systems in a definitive manner.

Properly balancing HRVs and ERVs typically requires specialized equipment, such as an airflow meter, to measure the volume of air entering and leaving the system. Inspectors may not have the tools necessary to confirm if these units are operating at their designed efficiency or if they are properly balanced. Additionally, some performance issues may only become evident during specific conditions, such as differing temperature or humidity levels.

Consequently, while a home inspection may provide an overview of the ventilation systems' condition and any visible concerns, it cannot guarantee a definitive assessment of whether HRVs and ERVs are correctly balanced and functioning as intended, reinforcing the validity of the answer that states it is not possible.