Free checklist
Energy recovery ventilator (ERV) annual maintenance checklist
The annual energy recovery ventilator service is the deep pass: the measurements, cleanings and tests a quarterly round doesn't reach. This checklist keeps the full service on record with the photos that make it defensible later. Work is commonly verified against IMC, manufacturer's published instructions. Confirm the edition your authority having jurisdiction has adopted.
- Items
- 6
- Photos required
- 8
- Built for
- Subcontractors
Who runs it
The HVAC service tech on the annual, with the unit opened up and instruments on the airflows.
When in the schedule
Once a year, when the wheel or core can be pulled for real cleaning and the outdoor-air balance can be measured rather than assumed.
The checklist
Every item, and the photo that proves it
The photo count on each row is what RTI would require before the item can be submitted. Copy the list as is, or load it into RTI and let the gate enforce it.
Core and seals
- 2 photos
Recovery wheel or core removed and deep cleaned
Media cleaned through its depth per the manufacturer's method, not just wiped at the face, and refitted square.
- 1 photo
Wheel and purge seals inspected and adjusted
Perimeter and purge seals checked for wear and gap, adjusted or replaced so the airstreams don't cross-leak.
Dampers and economizer
- 1 photo
Damper actuators and economizer sequence tested
Actuators driven through their full range, economizer or bypass sequence commanded and observed, end switches and linkage confirmed.
Drives and balance
- 1 photo
Belts, motors and bearings serviced
Belts replaced or tensioned, motor amps read against the nameplate, bearings lubricated per the manufacturer.
- 2 photos
Supply and exhaust airflow measured and balanced
Both airflows measured and set to the design values, the building pressure relationship confirmed, readings logged for next year.
Drains and cabinet
- 1 photo
Drain pans cleaned and cabinet checked
Pans cleaned and traps primed, cabinet interior and insulation checked for water damage or mold, access panels sealing.
What usually sends this back
The failures are almost always the evidence, not the work
- Recovery wheel or core wiped at the face while the depth of the media stays fouled, so recovery efficiency never comes back.
- Wheel perimeter and purge seals worn, letting the two airstreams cross-leak so stale exhaust air is fed back into supply.
- Airflow balance drifted as filters and dampers aged, leaving the building over- or under-pressurized with no one measuring it.
Run it with the Photo Gate
A checklist nobody can submit half-finished
Load this list into RTI, stick a QR tag on the area it covers, and the submit button stays locked until every mandatory item is answered and the 8 required photos exist. Approved walks roll into a branded turnover package with a tamper-evident record behind every line.
Submission state
The gate is enforced on the server, so it holds even if the phone is offline when the walk happens.
Verified against
Common questions
- What does this energy recovery ventilator (erv) annual checklist cover?
- 6 items across 4 sections, covering core and seals, dampers and economizer, drives and balance, drains and cabinet. Each item spells out what the person walking the job is actually looking for, not just a box to tick.
- Who should run this inspection?
- The HVAC service tech on the annual, with the unit opened up and instruments on the airflows.
- When in the schedule should this walk happen?
- Once a year, when the wheel or core can be pulled for real cleaning and the outdoor-air balance can be measured rather than assumed.
- Why does every item ask for a photo?
- 8 of the 6 items call for photo evidence. A checklist answer without the photo is a claim; the photo is what makes the record worth something in a dispute and lets a reviewer approve work without re-walking the job.
- What most often fails a energy recovery ventilator (erv) annual inspection?
- Recovery wheel or core wiped at the face while the depth of the media stays fouled, so recovery efficiency never comes back. Wheel perimeter and purge seals worn, letting the two airstreams cross-leak so stale exhaust air is fed back into supply. Airflow balance drifted as filters and dampers aged, leaving the building over- or under-pressurized with no one measuring it.
- Can I use this checklist in RTI?
- Yes. Start a free RTI workspace, build this list as a checklist, and the Photo Gate holds the submit button until every mandatory item is answered and its photos are attached. Approved inspections roll into a branded turnover package with a tamper-evident audit trail.
Related checklists
2642 items and 4211 photo requirements in total.