Panasonic BalancedHome Elite Plus+ 210 (FV-21VEC1S)

At a glance

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

• In its favour: HVI-certified (HVI 2005488)Its airflow and efficiency were tested to the Home Ventilating Institute’s standard.
• Plain fact: 210 cfm at 0.4 in., 210 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 Panasonic CO₂ control, and no input for an outside control documentedBoost comes from a manual boost switch or Panasonic’s FV-SWLV1060 timer (10 to 60 minutes). Ask Panasonic whether a CO₂ relay can be wired to it.
• Plain fact: How it handles frost in very cold weatherBuilt-in frost prevention with two preset choices: recirculation (Elite Plus models) or exhaust-only. Below freezing the unit recirculates or exhausts air according to the setting. No starting temperature is stated. Panasonic says it is engineered for any North American climate zone.

Certifications

• HVI certified

  HVI 2005488

  The Home Ventilating Institute tested its airflow and heat recovery. The certified numbers on this page come from its directory. Find HVI 2005488 in HVI’s directory

• ENERGY STAR (Canada)

  Listed as FV-21VEC1S

  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)

210 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 74–83% of the heat at 32°FAcross the airflows HVI tested.
• In its favour: Tested at −13°F too: 58–67% SREHVI’s very-cold test point, useful in cold climates.
• Plain fact: Total recovery in summer: 61–74% 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 Panasonic CO₂ control, and no input for an outside control documentedBoost comes from a manual boost switch or Panasonic’s FV-SWLV1060 timer (10 to 60 minutes). Ask Panasonic whether a CO₂ relay can be wired to it.

What Panasonic documents

• Not stated by the maker: No Panasonic CO₂ controlIts Swidget smart controls can boost on their own sensors’ readings, but those list VOCs and air quality, not true CO₂.
• In its favour: Intelli-Balance Elite and BalancedHome: a dry-contact boost inputTerminals BST and GND; up to two boost switches. The manual doesn’t say if boost holds while closed.
• Worth knowing: Intelli-Balance 100 (FV-10VEC2): its boost switch is 120 VA low-voltage CO₂ relay isn’t made for that. Ask an electrician.
• Plain fact: The Swidget Wi-Fi module can schedule boostFor the Elite and BalancedHome models.

Four ways to make it turn up by itself

• A night scheduleDocumented

  Swidget’s Wi-Fi module schedules boost on Elite and BalancedHome models.

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

  Elite and BalancedHome take a dry contact on BST. The Intelli-Balance 100’s boost is 120 V: an electrician’s job.

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

  A dry-contact relay on BST, on Elite and BalancedHome models only. Not documented by Panasonic.

• Its maker’s CO₂ controlNot for this unit

  Panasonic doesn’t make a CO₂ control.

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, 60 Hz, 3.1 A. Uses no more than 115 W at 163 CFM and 0.2 in. w.g. Ships with a standard plug-in cord, and a hard-wire conversion kit is included.

Duct connections

Four built-in 6 in duct adapters (two exhaust, two supply) on the sides, pointing horizontally, for outdoor air, exhaust, supply and return. Ducts must be at least 6 in.

Size

Not stated in the sources we found

Weight

Not stated in the sources we found

Mounting

Ceiling or wall with the included brackets, or hung on chains. Panasonic Canada and the sell sheet say the chains are sold separately; the submittal says chain and wall mounts with pre-drilled brackets are included (see notes).

Drain line

Not stated in the sources we found

Cold weather

Built-in frost prevention with two preset choices: recirculation (Elite Plus models) or exhaust-only. Below freezing the unit recirculates or exhausts air according to the setting. No starting temperature is stated. Panasonic says it is engineered for any North American climate zone.

Balancing the airflow

SmartFlow static-pressure compensation; digital presets

Ducts

Dedicated or central-HVAC per manual

In the box

The unit with a power cord, a MERV 13 filter (FV-FL1321VE1), a hard-wire adapter kit, and wall-mount brackets. The submittal also lists chain mounts; Panasonic's page says chains are sold separately.

Controls

Humidity control

Not confirmed

Bathroom boost

Documented

Works without the internet

Documented

Owning it

Equipment price

• $1,648.98 at SupplyHouse, October 17, 2026One price shown, not marked as a sale; in stock (21 units). Wall control sold separately.

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 filters: supply (outdoor air) and return air
• MERV: MERV 13 included; washable MERV 6 available
• Part: FV-FL1321VE1 (MERV 13); FV-FL0621VE1 (washable MERV 6)
• How often: Vacuum every 2-3 months or as needed. Inspect the supply filter every 90 days and replace it every 6 months. Visual and audible reminders start after 90 days of run time.

Warranty

• Parts: 3 years from the original purchase date for all other parts
• Motor: 6 years from the original purchase date on the ECM motors

Sound

Not stated in the sources we found

Availability

Active (Panasonic Canada lists the side-port FV-21VEC1S; Panasonic US now shows only the top-port FV-21VEC1T; in stock at SupplyHouse; not on Panasonic's Discontinued Models list)

Panasonic’s page for the FV-21VEC1S (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.

• How it protects itself from frost in very cold weather
• A CO₂ control documented for this exact model
• Its size
• How loud it is

Where the maker’s own documents disagree

• Chains: submittal IAQ26007ST says chain mounts are included; the Panasonic Canada page ('suspended by chains (sold separately)') and the sell sheet ('Chain suspension kit: sold separately') say otherwise.

Other sizes and similar units

Other ERVs with similar airflow

• 

  RenewAire EV Premium M

  ERV · HVI 2004872

  210 cfm at 0.5 in.

• S&P TReN200

  ERV · HVI 2005459

  210 cfm at 0.5 in.

• Broan AI Series B210E75RS

  ERV · HVI 2004939

  201 cfm at 0.5 in.

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