Fantech HERO 100E

At a glance

• In its favour
• Plain fact
• Worth knowing
• Not stated by the maker

• In its favour: HVI-certified (HVI 2005335)Its airflow and efficiency were tested to the Home Ventilating Institute’s standard.
• Plain fact: 102 cfm at 0.4 in., 95 cfm at 0.5 in. of duct pressureCertified fresh air delivered, at HVI’s headline rating point and at the higher pressure many real ducts run at.
• Not stated by the maker: No Fantech CO₂ control documented for the HEROIts D+ and D− input holds maximum speed while closed, so a CO₂ relay there should work electrically. Fantech doesn’t document it: ask first. (Our August review listed Fantech’s CO₂ sensor accessory for this family; Fantech’s manuals don’t show it wired to a HERO.)
• In its favour: Humidity control documented
• Plain fact: How it handles frost in very cold weatherInternal recirculation defrost. It starts when the outdoor temperature falls below 23 °F (−5 °C) and does not depressurize the home.

Certifications

• HVI certified

  HVI 2005335

  The Home Ventilating Institute tested its airflow and heat recovery. The certified numbers on this page come from its directory. Find HVI 2005335 in HVI’s directory

• ENERGY STAR (Canada)

  Listed as HERO 100E

  On Natural Resources Canada’s ENERGY STAR list for HRVs and ERVs, which sets minimums for heat recovery in cold weather and for fan power. ENERGY STAR certifies HRVs and ERVs only in Canada. NRCan’s ENERGY STAR list (search the model number) (checked October 19, 2026)

Would it cover your home?

Tell it who sleeps in each bedroom. It’s checked against the 800 ppm goal the same way the app checks a unit an installer quotes.

Certified airflow

How much fresh air it delivers as the ducts push back. More duct pressure, less air: that’s why the installer’s duct design matters as much as the unit.

Lowest steady airflow (maker)

40 cfm

Highest airflow (maker)

102 cfm

Heat and moisture recovery

Sensible recovery (SRE) is the share of heat kept in winter, after the fan’s own heat is taken out; total recovery (TRE) counts moisture too, in summer.

• Plain fact: Keeps 70–82% of the heat at 32°FAcross the airflows HVI tested.
• In its favour: Tested at −13°F too: 60% SREHVI’s very-cold test point, useful in cold climates.
• Plain fact: Total recovery in summer: 57–70% at 95°FThe share of heat and moisture kept out on a hot, humid day.

HRV or ERV: which fits your home?

Turning up on CO₂

A CO₂ control can switch it to a higher speed when the bedroom needs air, then back. HouseExhale’s setting: up at 750 ppm, back at 650, never above 800.

• Not stated by the maker: No Fantech CO₂ control documented for the HEROIts D+ and D− input holds maximum speed while closed, so a CO₂ relay there should work electrically. Fantech doesn’t document it: ask first. (Our August review listed Fantech’s CO₂ sensor accessory for this family; Fantech’s manuals don’t show it wired to a HERO.)

What Fantech documents

• Not stated by the maker: No CO₂ control documented for its home unitsIts CO2RT-R (99315) is sold with its commercial units, and its switch-point range isn’t published.
• In its favour: HERO: a dry-contact input holds maximum speed while closedTerminals D+ and D− (meant for a dehumidistat). A CO₂ relay there should work electrically; Fantech doesn’t document it, and defrost comes first.
• Worth knowing: Never connect 120 V to its control terminalsFantech’s manual says so; a CO₂ relay needs its own 24-volt supply.
• Plain fact: Flex: its boost timers run 20 to 60 minutesA timer input runs its time and stops, rather than staying high.

Four ways to make it turn up by itself

• A CO₂ control on its high-speed inputAsk your installer

  HERO’s D+/D− input holds maximum speed while closed. Undocumented for CO₂: your installer confirms.

• A night scheduleAsk your installer

  A timer on its timer or D+/D− input, or its wall control’s settings.

• Its maker’s CO₂ controlAsk your maker first

  Fantech’s CO2RT-R exists, but Fantech doesn’t show it wired to a HERO or Flex. Ask Fantech first.

• Your monitor and a smart-home relayAsk your maker first

  A dry-contact relay on D+/D−. Not documented by Fantech.

How to add CO₂ control to an HRV or ERV · CO₂ controls

Installing it

The maker’s facts an installer plans around. Your installer confirms them for your home.

Power

120 V, single phase, 1.0 A, rated 120 W. A 3-foot plug-in power cord with a 3-prong plug. The nameplate in the IOM reads 120 V, 60 Hz, 1.0 A, 15 A circuit, 8 A max fuse.Scope: nameplate from the HERO IOM 428486-003, p. 3

Duct connections

5 in (125 mm) round metal duct collars with rubber seals, all on top ('top-port, drainless design')Scope: 'top-port' also on SupplyHouse; the number of collars is not stated

Size

Height 24 1/4 in (616 mm) × width 23 1/4 in (590 mm) × depth 11 1/2 in (291 mm). The spec sheet also lists an unlabeled fourth size, 22 5/8 in (575 mm).Scope: the spec sheet gives A 23 1/4, B 11 1/2, C 22 5/8, D 24 1/4 in without saying which is which

Weight

47 lb (21 kg), including the core

Mounting

On a wall with the included mounting bracket, or hung from the ceiling joists with the hanging-chain kit. The unit must stand upright against the wall, and level when hung.Scope: upright/level wording from the HERO IOM 428486-003, pp. 12-13

Drain line

No drain line needed ('drainless design')

Cold weather

Internal recirculation defrost. It starts when the outdoor temperature falls below 23 °F (−5 °C) and does not depressurize the home.

Balancing the airflow

Manual balancing using integrated pressure taps

Ducts

Dedicated or simplified central-HVAC integrations per manual

In the box

Casing, collars, terminals, power cord, long wall bracket, washers, wood screws, chains (4), springs (4), hook screws (4), chain screws, sheet-metal screws and a balancing chart. The drain tube is HRV only. No wall control.Scope: HERO family box list

Controls

Humidity control

Documented

Bathroom boost

Documented

Works without the internet

Documented

Owning it

Equipment price

• $1,304.62 at SupplyHouse, October 17, 2026In stock (15). No sale or 'was' price shown.
• $928 at Sylvane, October 17, 2026Read from the page's metadata. The product section did not load in the fetch, so stock and sale status are unknown; confirm on the page.

Rebates

Federal tax credits ended for work after 2025. Some states and utilities still pay toward an HRV or ERV: rebates by state.

Filters

• Type: Two washable electrostatic panel filters (UL900); washed in warm soapy water. Optional disposable MERV 8 kit.
• MERV: MERV 3 standard; optional MERV 8. Fantech's HERO page and product cards say MERV 13 is not offered for the 100E (see notes).
• Size: 7 7/8 × 9 13/16 × 1/8 in (200 × 250 × 3 mm)
• How often: Check the filters every 3 months or when dirty; check the core every 6 months (IOM p. 33)

Scope: washing and interval from the HERO IOM 428486-003, pp. 31-33

Warranty

• Core: 5 years (ERV core)
• Parts: 5 years on electrical components
• Motor: 7 years
• Conditions: Limited warranty. Connecting appliances (such as dryers or range hoods) to the unit voids it. Full terms are behind a QR code in the IOM.

Scope: the IOM's ERV terms; the 100E spec sheet gives the same 7-year motor and 5-year electrical/core terms

Sound

Not stated in the sources we found

Availability

Active: on Fantech's current HERO page; in stock at SupplyHouse, which says it replaces the VER100

Fantech’s page for the HERO 100E (opens in a new tab)

Not known yet

What we couldn’t confirm from the maker or HVI. Ask the installer, and get it in writing with the quote.

• A CO₂ control documented for this exact model
• How loud it is

Where the maker’s own documents disagree

• Current: Fantech's HERO page lists max current 1.1 A for the 100E. The 100E spec sheet, the IOM nameplate and the 2025 brochure say 1.0 A, and SupplyHouse says 1 amp.
• MERV 13 conflict. Fantech's HERO page says MERV 13 is offered on all models except the 100E, 120H and 120E-EC, and Fantech product cards say the same. The June 2025 brochure says only that optional MERV 8 and MERV 13 filters are available for the series. Fantech's HERO page also lists 'Filters: MERV 8' for all models, while the spec sheet, IOM and brochure say MERV 3 is standard.

Other sizes and similar units

Other Fantech HERO sizes

• 

  Fantech HERO 140E

  ERV · HVI 2005472

  133 cfm at 0.5 in.

• 

  Fantech HERO 150H

  HRV · HVI 2505381

  140 cfm at 0.5 in.

• 

  Fantech HERO 200H

  HRV · HVI 2505147

  195 cfm at 0.5 in.

Other ERVs with similar airflow

• Aldes InspirAIR EK80-HFX

  ERV · HVI 2005408

  85 cfm at 0.5 in.

• Panasonic Intelli-Balance Elite (FV-11ES1)

  ERV · HVI 2005344

  110 cfm at 0.5 in.

• AprilAire V22BEC

  ERV · HVI 2005110

  112 cfm at 0.5 in.

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