Your MVHR system works silently in the background—filtering out stale air, drawing in fresh air, and recovering heat that would otherwise be lost. When it is running well, you barely notice it. When it is not, you notice almost immediately: stuffiness, condensation, rising energy bills, or that low-level hum that should not be there.
At ARC Facilities, MVHR servicing is one of our core specialisms. Based at 158 Plumstead Road, SE18, we serve residential and commercial properties across South East London — from Greenwich and Woolwich to Erith and Dartford. Our engineers hold NVQ Level 5 qualifications and above; we carry full accreditations, and we can almost always get to a fan failure within one week — something no other provider in London consistently matches.
Whether your system is due for its annual check, making unusual noises, or has stopped running entirely, we are here to sort it.
MVHR stands for Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery. The system uses a central unit — typically in a loft, cupboard, or plant room — to pull stale, moisture-laden air out of kitchens and bathrooms while simultaneously drawing fresh, filtered outdoor air into living spaces. A heat exchanger in the unit transfers up to 90% of the thermal energy from the outgoing air to the incoming air, which means you get continuous fresh air without losing the warmth you have paid to generate.
Modern building regulations increasingly require MVHR in new builds, and many refurbished properties and extensions now include them as standard. They are particularly common across the new-build apartment developments throughout Greenwich, Woolwich, and Thamesmead.
Left unserviced, an MVHR system loses efficiency rapidly. Filters clog with dust and pollutants. Fans work harder to compensate, consuming more energy and wearing faster. Heat recovery rates drop. Air quality deteriorates without the occupants realising it. In extreme cases, blocked filters can cause condensation and damp — the precise problem the system was installed to prevent.
A regular service restores the system to factory efficiency, extends equipment life, and keeps your indoor air quality at the standard your building was designed to achieve.
Every ARC Facilities MVHR service visit is carried out to SFG-20 compliance standards. There are no shortcuts and no items that get skipped to save time. Here is what we do on every visit:
If we identify a fault during the service, we will explain it clearly, give you a written quotation, and — in most cases — carry out the repair on the same visit. For broader HVAC maintenance and repairs , we cover the full spectrum of mechanical and electrical building services across South East London.
Our engineers are trained and experienced across all major MVHR brands available in the UK market. We service:
If your unit is not on this list, call us. We've likely serviced it.
ARC Facilities is based in Plumstead, SE18, which puts us in the centre of the South East London area we serve. Our primary service zones include:
If your postcode is not listed here but you are in the South East London or North Kent area, call us on +44 20 3673 8895. We cover a wider area than this list suggests and will confirm availability for your location the same day.
A failed MVHR system — particularly a fan failure — is not just an inconvenience. In a well-insulated building where mechanical ventilation is the primary means of air exchange, a unit that has stopped running affects indoor air quality within hours, and condensation risk increases substantially over days and weeks.
That is why we treat MVHR breakdowns as genuine emergencies.
Our response times:
The one-week fan failure resolution is a commitment we can make because we hold stock of the most commonly failed components for Nuaire, Vent-Axia, Airflow, and Zehnder units, and because MVHR repair is a core part of our business — not something we fit around other work. We are not aware of any other provider in London that consistently meets this turnaround.
Common fault situations we respond to:
If your unit is making noise it did not make before, or if it has stopped running entirely, do not wait for the problem to get worse. Call us on +44 20 3673 8895.
When you book an MVHR service with ARC Facilities, you are not relying on our word alone that the work is done correctly. Our accreditations are independently verified standards that mean something in practice.
TrustMark — the government-endorsed quality scheme for work carried out in and around the home. TrustMark-registered companies are vetted for technical competence, customer service, and trading practices. It is the standard required for government-funded retrofit and energy efficiency work, and it is the benchmark we hold ourselves to on every job.
ECMK — our engineers are accredited as Retrofit Assessors and Retrofit Coordinators under PAS 2035, which governs whole-house energy retrofit in the UK. This means we do not just service your MVHR system — we understand it as part of your building’s overall ventilation and energy performance strategy.
CHAS and SSIP — contractor health and safety accreditations required by many commercial clients, estate agents, managing agents, and public-sector organisations. If you manage a building or portfolio, our CHAS and SSIP certificates mean we can typically be added to your approved contractor list without additional vetting.
IWFM — membership of the Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management, reflecting our commitment to professional standards in facilities management practice.
Our engineers hold NVQ Level 5 qualifications and above — significantly above the minimum required for ventilation work. We carry full professional liability and employment insurance for all work we carry out.
How often should MVHR be serviced?
Most manufacturers and SFG-20 guidance recommend a full MVHR service once a year for residential properties and twice a year — every six months — for commercial or heavily occupied buildings where filters accumulate particulate matter more quickly. If your property is in a higher-pollution area, such as near a main road, more frequent filter checks are worthwhile. At ARC Facilities, we offer both annual and bi-annual maintenance contracts, and we will recommend the right schedule based on your property type and usage.
How much does MVHR servicing cost in London?
Our standard MVHR service visit is priced at £172 per visit. This covers a full SFG-20-compliant inspection, filter check, fan performance test, heat exchanger inspection, controls review, and a written service report. There are no hidden call-out charges and no add-on fees for travel within our service area. If additional parts or repairs are needed, we will quote separately before carrying out any work. Maintenance contract pricing, which can reduce the per-visit cost, is available on request.
What happens if my MVHR fan fails?
A fan failure is the most common serious MVHR fault we attend. If your fan has failed — meaning the unit is completely silent when it should be running — call us immediately on +44 20 3673 8895. We carry stock of replacement fans for the most common Nuaire, Vent-Axia, Airflow, and Zehnder units and are able to resolve most fan failures within one week of your call. In the meantime, we will advise you on temporary measures to maintain air quality in your property. For emergency callouts in London, we aim to reach you within two hours.
Which MVHR brands do you service?
We service all major MVHR brands available in the UK, including Vent-Axia, Nuaire, Zehnder, Titon, Airflow, EnviroVent, Vortice, Domus, Xpelair, Paul Heat Recovery, and Helios. Our engineers encounter Nuaire and Vent-Axia units most frequently across South East London — particularly in Greenwich, Woolwich, and Thamesmead — but we are experienced across the full range. If you have an older or less common unit, call us and we will confirm whether we can help before you book.
What are the signs that my MVHR system needs servicing?
Several warning signs suggest your MVHR is due a service or has developed a fault. The most common are: reduced airflow from supply vents (the air feels still even when the unit is running); increased noise, particularly a grinding or rattling sound from the unit itself; condensation appearing on windows or cold surfaces that was not there before; a musty or stale smell in rooms that the system serves; and higher energy bills without an obvious explanation. Any of these can indicate a clogged filter, a failing fan bearing, or reduced heat exchanger efficiency. A service will identify and address the cause.
Do you cover my area in South East London?
Our primary service area covers SE18 (Plumstead and Woolwich), SE10 (Greenwich), SE7 (Charlton), SE28 (Thamesmead), DA8 (Erith and Belvedere), DA1 and DA2 (Dartford), and surrounding postcodes across South East London and North Kent. We are based on Plumstead Road, SE18, so response times across this area are consistently short. If you are unsure whether we cover your postcode, call us on +44 20 3673 8895 — we will confirm on the same call.
If your MVHR system is due a service, making unusual noises, or has stopped running, call us now. We will confirm availability, provide a clear price, and arrange a visit at a time that works for you.
Phone: +44 20 3673 8895
We answer calls 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for emergency enquiries.
Address: ARC Facilities, 158 Plumstead Road, London SE18 7DY
For non-urgent enquiries and maintenance contract quotes, use our contact form and we will respond within one working day.
ARC Facilities — a single point of contact for all your building services needs, with the technical accreditation and local presence to back it up.
ARC Facilities holds TrustMark, ECMK, CHAS, SSIP, and IWFM accreditations. All engineers hold NVQ Level 5 qualifications and above. We carry full professional liability and employment insurance.