Pick HRV or ERV in Moorhead with five yes/no gates

Furnace Direct installs both cores across Moorhead and the MN side of the metro. We do not retail equipment a la carte — this checklist exists so the right core arrives with the crew.

Gate 1 — Do bedroom windows fog after Red River cold snaps?

1. YES — glass weeps on north or river-facing bedroomsMark HRV. Heat recovery that rejects indoor moisture is the default when sealing trapped January humidity against prairie cold glass.
2. NO — glass stays clear but air feels aridLean ERV so continuous outdoor air does not strip the last of your winter moisture.

Gate 2 — Windows, attic sealing, or spray foam since ~2010?

1. YES — vinyl packages, dense-pack, or foam on a 70s–90s shellMechanical ventilation is no longer optional. Combine with Gate 1: fog → HRV, desert-dry → ERV.
2. NO — original leaky prairie envelope mostly intactYou may still benefit from recovery ventilation, but symptoms outrank year built. Continue.

Gate 3 — Townhome, duplex, or campus-adjacent attached product?

1. YES — shared walls near MSUM / downtown spine or newer townhome clustersNoise and short duct runs matter. Core still follows humidity: muggy cooking → HRV; static in sealed units → ERV.
2. NO — detached ranch or two-storyMore flexibility on outdoor termination locations. Proceed to Gate 4.

Gate 4 — Winter indoor RH reading (if you have one)

1. Above ~45% in January with heat runningStrong HRV signal for Moorhead sealed stock.
2. Under ~25% with dry sinus morningsStrong ERV signal — especially post-2010 plats toward Dilworth / Horace edge.
3. No hygrometer yetUse Gates 1–3. We can lend a read during quote follow-up.

Gate 5 — Replacing a failing air exchanger?

1. YES — old core ices, never balanced after a remodelReplacement day is the clean moment to switch core type if symptoms changed. Tell us brand/age if known.
2. NO — first-time installWe size ducted outdoor air with the core locked from the gates above.

What we still need from you

Neighborhood cue (south of I-94 vs nearer the river vs Dilworth edge), decade built, and which gates were YES. Photos of fogged glass help. We reply with one core recommendation and licensed install scope — no equipment PDP links.

Quick Moorhead FAQ