What does this energy recovery ventilator (erv) quarterly checklist cover?

15 items across 5 sections, covering before the doors open, filters, recovery and drives, dampers and drains, and more. 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 or maintenance tech on the quarterly round, at the unit in the mechanical room or on the roof.

When in the schedule should this walk happen?

Every quarter, since the ERV pulls outdoor air continuously and loads its filters faster than equipment that only runs on a call.

Why do these items ask for a photo?

11 of the 15 items call for photo evidence, 13 photos in all. 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 an energy recovery ventilator (erv) quarterly inspection?

Only the supply-side filter changed while the exhaust-side filter, out of sight on the return, blinds off and chokes recovery. Recovery wheel stalled or its belt slipping so the unit passes air but recovers nothing, and the energy penalty goes unnoticed. Condensate drain on the exhaust side blocked, letting water back up into the cabinet or the recovery core.

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.

Free checklist

Energy recovery ventilator (ERV) quarterly maintenance checklist

A quarterly energy recovery ventilator round is short on purpose: it catches the wear items that fail between annual services. This checklist is sized for a tech with a phone. Every item says what to look at and the photo that proves the round happened. Work is commonly verified against IMC, manufacturer's published instructions. Confirm the edition your authority having jurisdiction has adopted.

Start free with this checklist Download as PDF

The checklist

Every item, and the photo evidence it needs

The photo count on each row is what RTI would require before the item can be submitted. Work the list here and watch the gate hold, or load it into RTI and let it enforce the real thing.

Before the doors open

Four airstream temperatures read with the unit running
Outdoor, supply, return and exhaust temperatures read at the controller or with a probe, and compared with the same season last year to show recovery is still working.
Outdoor intake and exhaust outlet checked for re-entrainment
Intake screen clear of debris, snow or nesting, and no exhaust outlet, flue or plumbing vent discharging where the intake can draw it back in.
Every ERV feed locked and tagged before a door opens
Fans, wheel and any preheat feed locked, a start tried; powered checks run under the procedure's temporary release (clear, guards on, locks off by their owner), then re-locked.

Filters

Filters on both the supply and exhaust airstreams changed
Both airstreams' filters pulled and checked, replaced when loaded, gaskets seated so air isn't bypassing the filter.
Replacement filters matched to the rating on the unit schedule
Size and efficiency rating printed on the new filters checked against the unit schedule or manual for each airstream, so a lower grade doesn't let dust reach the media.

Recovery and drives

Recovery wheel turning or core clear
Wheel rotating freely with its belt intact, or the fixed core faces clear, no debris packed into the media, seals contacting the wheel.
Supply and exhaust fans running clean
Both fans running without bearing noise or vibration, belts on belt-drive units tensioned and not glazed.
Wheel drive belt and pulley checked on wheel units
Link or V belt not stretched or slipping, pulley set screw tight and the drive motor mount firm; fixed-plate and membrane cores have no drive and skip this.
No photo
Brush seals and purge section checked for rub on wheel units
Perimeter and purge seals looked at for flattened bristles, debris or rub marks on the wheel face, and wear listed for adjustment at the annual; cores skip this.
No photo
Leaving face on the exhaust side checked for frost and water
Exhaust leaving face of the wheel or core free of frost, ice or pooled water, and in cold weather the frost control seen cycling if the unit has one.

Dampers and drains

Outdoor-air and exhaust dampers operate
Dampers stroking fully open and closed with the unit, linkages tight, no blades stuck or bent, closing off when the unit is down.
No photo
Condensate drains flowing on both sides
Drain pans and traps checked on the drain side, water flowing away, no standing water in the cabinet.

Return to service

Cabinet doors closed on their gaskets and guards back on
Every access door latched on its gasket so the airstreams stay separate, fan and wheel guards refastened, and no tools or filter packaging left inside.
Lock removed by the tech who hung it and the ERV run
Lock and tag taken off by their owner, the unit restarted, and both fans and the wheel or core airflow watched running before the tech leaves.
Quarterly findings and worn parts reported to the owner
Filters used, seal and belt condition and the airstream temperatures sent to the owner, with any parts needed ahead of the annual.
No photo

What usually sends this back

The failures are almost always the evidence, not the work

Only the supply-side filter changed while the exhaust-side filter, out of sight on the return, blinds off and chokes recovery.
Recovery wheel stalled or its belt slipping so the unit passes air but recovers nothing, and the energy penalty goes unnoticed.
Condensate drain on the exhaust side blocked, letting water back up into the cabinet or the recovery core.

Verified against

IMC (mechanical code)

Common questions

6 answers

What does this energy recovery ventilator (erv) quarterly checklist cover?: 15 items across 5 sections, covering before the doors open, filters, recovery and drives, dampers and drains, and more. 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 or maintenance tech on the quarterly round, at the unit in the mechanical room or on the roof.
When in the schedule should this walk happen?: Every quarter, since the ERV pulls outdoor air continuously and loads its filters faster than equipment that only runs on a call.
Why do these items ask for a photo?: 11 of the 15 items call for photo evidence, 13 photos in all. 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 an energy recovery ventilator (erv) quarterly inspection?: Only the supply-side filter changed while the exhaust-side filter, out of sight on the return, blinds off and chokes recovery. Recovery wheel stalled or its belt slipping so the unit passes air but recovers nothing, and the energy penalty goes unnoticed. Condensate drain on the exhaust side blocked, letting water back up into the cabinet or the recovery core.
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

Energy recovery ventilator (ERV) AnnualEnergy recovery ventilator (ERV) annual maintenance checklistCore cleaning and seal inspection, damper and economizer test, and an airflow balance check on the annual service15 items13 photos

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 13 required photos exist. Approved walks roll into a branded turnover package with a tamper evident record behind every line.