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.
- Items
- 5
- Photos required
- 7
- Built for
- Subcontractors
Who runs it
The HVAC or maintenance tech on the quarterly round, at the unit in the mechanical room or on the roof.
When in the schedule
Every quarter, since the ERV pulls outdoor air continuously and loads its filters faster than equipment that only runs on a call.
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.
Filters
- 2 photos
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.
Recovery and drives
- 2 photos
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.
- 1 photo
Supply and exhaust fans running clean
Both fans running without bearing noise or vibration, belts on belt-drive units tensioned and not glazed.
Dampers and drains
- 1 photo
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.
- 1 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.
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.
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 7 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) quarterly checklist cover?
- 5 items across 3 sections, covering filters, recovery and drives, dampers and drains. 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 does every item ask for a photo?
- 7 of the 5 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) 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.
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