THE ESTIMATING ANSWER
For one small dwelling ventilation unit, start with a defined scope and measurement basis. Count terminals, measure duct routes and available plant space, and record condensate and power needs. Separate unit, duct, terminals and controls from commissioning. Price the listed tasks separately and state the condition that would require a revision: Concealed route conflicts or inadequate plant space change layout and labour.
This guide uses a fictional project in Kelowna, British Columbia: One small dwelling ventilation unit. Its matching estimate and PDF give each scope decision a visible CAD cost line. Use the document to understand the structure; verify the actual building, product schedule, labour and supplier inputs before preparing a client quote.
HRV and ERV installation quotes: compare the full ventilation scope
An HRV or ERV quote should identify the proposed ventilation equipment, served spaces and the specialist's system design. These descriptions should not be reduced to the equipment name alone. Record whether the project replaces an existing unit or adds a new supply-and-extract arrangement. Existing routes may be reusable, require alteration or be unsuitable; each outcome produces a different installation scope and should be explained.
Separate the unit allowance, duct routes, supply and extract points, external terminals, controls, access and commissioning. Count the points and measure the proposed routes without treating those quantities as an airflow design. Ask who is responsible for selecting the system and for documenting the performance check. Ceiling repairs and decoration should be named when work will disturb finished rooms.
When comparing heat or energy recovery ventilation quotes, request the same design brief and clearly specified equipment from each supplier. Keep HRV and ERV alternatives separately identified rather than silently swapping products in one allowance. Product details, controls and installation constraints belong alongside the price. A specialist review should resolve the proposed arrangement before the measured takeoff becomes an installation commitment.
A separate worked planning example
Illustrative estimating schedule: one selected unit, six specified room points and 24 m of proposed duct route. Price fittings, terminals and commissioning separately. The quantities are hypothetical and do not set a ventilation rate or decide between HRV and ERV equipment.
Cost and scope questions
Is a ventilation unit price the installed cost?
No. Installation can also include ducts, room points, external terminals, controls, electrical work, access, commissioning and finish repairs. Compare those named inclusions.
Can an ERV and an HRV share the same estimate line?
Keep the selected equipment and design basis explicit. Ask the specialist to describe each alternative, any changed installation scope and the reason it is proposed.
1. Define the measured job
Install a selected heat-recovery ventilation unit with defined supply and extract points in an accessible area, subject to system design. Count terminals, measure duct routes and available plant space, and record condensate and power needs. Record the measurements and existing condition in the estimate before turning quantities into line items. The scope should make clear why this is a separate project from a broader renovation or maintenance quote.
Measurement basis: Count terminals, measure duct routes and available plant space, and record condensate and power needs.
2. Build a product and labour schedule
Separate unit, duct, terminals and controls from commissioning. This example has 7 distinct lines, including ventilation design allowance, hrv unit allowance, duct and insulation allowance. Use actual supplier prices and labour inputs for a customer job; the displayed amounts are fictional document inputs.
Selections to confirm: Separate unit, duct, terminals and controls from commissioning.
3. Sequence the work and handoffs
Confirm airflow design and duct routes before cutting openings. Show which task depends on access, a selected product or another trade. If that dependency is still open, label the price preliminary and identify the information needed before a firm quote.
Work sequence: Confirm airflow design and duct routes before cutting openings.
4. Set a change boundary
Concealed route conflicts or inadequate plant space change layout and labour. The example excludes whole-house retrofit, structural openings or unreviewed regulatory certification. Record the discovery, agree the revised work and update the estimate before adding it to the job.
If the job changes: Concealed route conflicts or inadequate plant space change layout and labour.
Review the Canadian job address
Inspect the existing substrate, access and product selections at the property. Check any local trade or municipal requirements that apply and record unresolved conditions before preparing the final client document.
The duct and insulation allowance line uses 180 linear ft., approximately 54.86 m. Check the route, cuts and supplier unit before setting a real quantity. The example amounts are fictional CAD document inputs, not current rates for Kelowna, British Columbia or another community. A site visit and current supplier information are needed to replace them.
Work through the itemized calculation
Check each extension of quantity and rate in the paired PDF. Two lines from this project are:
- HRV unit allowance: 1 each × C$3,380.00 = C$3,380.00.
- Duct and insulation allowance: 180 linear ft. × C$23.00 = C$4,140.00.
Adding all 7 rounded line amounts gives C$14,830.00. The PDF shows 0% tax and the same total before any markup. The sample shows 0% tax only to make the arithmetic visible. Determine any applicable GST, HST or PST and markup for the actual work before sharing a quote.
| Work item | Quantity | Unit rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ventilation design allowance | 1 job | C$845.00 | C$845.00 |
| HRV unit allowance | 1 each | C$3,380.00 | C$3,380.00 |
| Duct and insulation allowance | 180 linear ft. | C$23.00 | C$4,140.00 |
| Supply and extract terminals | 6 each | C$175.00 | C$1,050.00 |
| Duct installation labour | 30 hours | C$125.00 | C$3,750.00 |
| Power and control allowance | 1 job | C$935.00 | C$935.00 |
| Airflow balance and handoff | 1 job | C$730.00 | C$730.00 |
| Illustrative subtotal | C$14,830.00 | ||
Scope and pricing boundaries
Install a selected heat-recovery ventilation unit with defined supply and extract points in an accessible area, subject to system design.
Outside this example: No whole-house retrofit, structural openings or unreviewed regulatory certification.
Keep the product allowance, installation work and any unresolved condition visible as separate decisions. If access or the selected product changes, update the affected quantity or rate and explain the revision before the client relies on the estimate.
Before you send the estimate
- Count terminals, measure duct routes and available plant space, and record condensate and power needs.
- Separate unit, duct, terminals and controls from commissioning.
- Confirm airflow design and duct routes before cutting openings.
- Concealed route conflicts or inadequate plant space change layout and labour.
Check the business, client, property, dates, line extensions and notes. The heat recovery ventilation installation PDF example shows one way to present them. Its short PDF note lists the brief's scope exclusions; the fuller project limits above should guide your own scope.
Questions about this estimate
Which quantity controls this heat recovery ventilation installation estimate?
Count terminals, measure duct routes and available plant space, and record condensate and power needs.
When should this heat recovery ventilation installation quote be revised?
Concealed route conflicts or inadequate plant space change layout and labour. No whole-house retrofit, structural openings or unreviewed regulatory certification.
MAKE THE NEXT ESTIMATE YOUR OWN
Build a heat recovery ventilation installation estimate.
Enter the job scope in Estimates on iPhone or Android or start from an AI-assisted draft. Check every quantity, rate, allowance, client detail and note before exporting the PDF. Some app features may require an in-app purchase.
