What you actually pay for on an HRV/ERV install

Climate math that steers HRV vs ERV here

Dakota County winters still punish houses that push continuous outdoor air without recovery. Heating degree days remain high enough that an HRV pays its keep on sealed 80s–90s stock with fogged glass. On post-code plats that already sit under ~25% indoor RH in January, an ERV avoids turning ventilation into a humidifier problem you then fight with pans and complaints.

Rule of thumb we use on Inver Grove Heights quotes: moisture complaint → HRV, arid tight build → ERV, measured RH breaks ties.

Scope table — labor & materials categories

Included in typical flat install	What it covers	Notes for IGH jobs
Core unit set & secure mount	Hang/platform the HRV or ERV cabinet in mechanical room, basement, or conditioned garage	Bluff ranches may need platform carpentry; newer plats often have cleaner bays
Outdoor air & exhaust hoods	Wall or roof terminations, insect screens, freeze-aware placement	River-valley wind matters for hood side choice on exposed lots
Duct transitions & insulated runs	Connect to outdoor air path; short insulated runs as designed	Long attic runs on ranches add labor — called out before you sign
Condensate management	Drain routing, trap, pump if gravity fails	Finished lower levels need tidy concealed routes
Controls & continuous rate setup	Wiring, homeowner setpoint briefing	We set a winter starting rate matched to core type
Commissioning balance	Measure supply vs exhaust; adjust dampers	Non-negotiable — unbalanced units ice or under-ventilate
Haul-away of failed exchanger	When replacing	Photo the old data plate before we remove it

What is usually NOT in the base number

• Major electrical panel upgrades (rare)
• Opening finished ceilings for surprise duct paths without prior approval
• Whole-home duct redesign unrelated to the ventilator
• Permits beyond standard mechanical where a city requires extra reviews — we flag these

Bluff stock vs inland growth rings

River-bluff and older arterial housing may need longer insulated runs or creative condensate routing after finished basements. Inland plats toward Eagan often arrive with cleaner mechanical rooms — pricing leans clean if outdoor hoods are straightforward. Neither pattern changes the climate math: sealed + muggy → HRV; sealed + arid → ERV.

How core choice changes scope slightly

HRV and ERV cabinets install with the same labor categories above. The difference is which core we hang and how we brief you on winter RH targets — not a mystery surcharge line. Replacement jobs that reuse outdoor hoods can price leaner than first-time penetrations on a finished ranch.

Bring these details for a tighter quote

Build decade, bluff vs inland, window year, damp vs dry winter feel, and whether an old exchanger already exists. We answer with one core recommendation and a flat licensed install figure.