Overview

Modern Canadian homes are built tight for efficiency, but that can leave families living with stale, humid air, condensation on windows and lingering odours. An energy recovery ventilator (ERV) solves this by bringing in filtered outdoor air while exhausting stale indoor air, without throwing away all the heat you already paid for.

The Panasonic Intelli-Balance 200 ERV (model FV-20VEC1) is a higher-capacity, cold-climate balanced ventilation system with adjustable 60–200 CFM airflow. It’s typically chosen for larger, airtight homes and small multi-unit projects that need higher design airflow than the Intelli-Balance 100 or BalancedHome mid-range models.

Key features & benefits

• 60–200 CFM selectable airflow: Built-in multi-speed dials let your installer set supply and exhaust anywhere from 60 up to 200 CFM, so you can design for balanced, slightly positive or slightly negative pressure instead of living with a fixed fan speed.
• Dual ECM motors with Smart Flow: Two enclosed ECM brushless DC motors automatically ramp to overcome duct resistance and maintain target CFM, helping real-world performance stay close to design values.
• Cold / temperate climate ERV: Designed as a cold/temperate climate ERV with frost prevention mode and defrost cycling so airflow continues during Canadian winter conditions when installed and ducted correctly.
• MERV 13 filtration included: Ships with a high-efficiency MERV 13 filter, with optional MERV 8 and HEPA replacements, to help capture finer particles and support healthier indoor air.
• Whole-house, any-climate operation: Intended for single-family homes and small multi-unit buildings and engineered for use in any North American climate zone, including cold Canadian regions.
• Flexible floor, wall or ceiling mount: Can be floor-mounted, wall-mounted or chain-hung from the ceiling with included brackets and hardware, making it easier to fit into mechanical rooms, basements and service spaces.
• Smart wall control compatibility: Optional LCD wall control adds Boost, ASHRAE 62.2 timing and filter reminders so homeowners can see airflow, temperature and maintenance alerts at a glance.
• Energy efficient & code-ready: ENERGY STAR® certified for Canada and designed to help projects comply with ASHRAE 62.2, Ontario requirements and other Canadian energy and building programs when properly designed and commissioned.

Canadian use cases

• Airtight new-build single-family homes and deep energy retrofits needing higher whole-home design airflow.
• Larger detached homes (≈2,500–7,500 ft²) and small multi-unit projects that need balanced, code-compliant ventilation.
• Homes heated and cooled with ductless mini-splits or VRF heat pumps where a separate ERV provides fresh air with energy recovery.
• Basement mechanical rooms where a floor or wall-mounted ERV is easier to route than a furnace-based solution.
• Projects dealing with winter condensation, stale odours or elevated humidity due to sealed windows and tight envelopes.

Need help choosing a Panasonic ERV?

If you are not sure whether this model is the right size or configuration for your project, check out our Best Panasonic ERV Systems in Canada (2025) guide for model comparisons and Canadian sizing examples.

Technical details

• Model: Panasonic Intelli-Balance® 200 ERV – FV-20VEC1.
• Airflow range: 60–200 CFM selectable for both supply and exhaust.
• Rated airflow: 200 CFM supply and 200 CFM exhaust at 0.4" w.g. static pressure (CSA-C439).
• Voltage / frequency: 120 V, 60 Hz.
• Motors: Two enclosed ECM brushless DC motors, continuous-run rated, with Smart Flow pressure-compensation and thermal cut-off protection.
• Power consumption: Up to approximately 129 W at 200 CFM and 0.4" w.g. static pressure.
• Duct connections: Four 6" round duct adapters (2 supply, 2 exhaust) with built-in dampers and adjustable vertical/horizontal orientation.
• Mounting: Ceiling, wall or floor mount with included chain/cleat hardware and pre-drilled brackets for common stud spacings.
• Housing material: 22-gauge powder-coated steel cabinet.
• Filtration: MERV 13 filter factory-installed; compatible with optional MERV 13, MERV 8 and HEPA replacement filters (separate SKUs).
• Climate rating: Cold / temperate climate ERV with defrost cycle activating around −10 °C and frost-prevention mode to protect the core.
• Energy performance highlights: Heating apparent sensible effectiveness up to the mid-80% range around 0 °C and total recovery efficiency around 60–70% in cooling tests, per Panasonic submittal data.
• Compatible controls: Optional Intelli-Balance 200 LCD wall control with Boost, ASHRAE timing and filter reminder functions (model FV-SW20VEC1, sold separately).
• Certifications: ENERGY STAR® certified for Canada; supports ASHRAE 62.2, Ontario, LEED and other program requirements when correctly applied.
• Warranty: 6-year ECM motor warranty and 3-year parts warranty from Panasonic.

What’s included

• Panasonic Intelli-Balance 200 ERV unit (FV-20VEC1).
• Factory-installed MERV 13 filter.
• Mounting hardware (chain/brackets and fasteners as per installation manual).
• 120 V corded power connection (corded model).
• Installation and owner documentation.
  

Common questions

• Is this ERV suitable for Canadian winters?
  Yes. This Intelli-Balance 200 model is rated as a cold/temperate climate ERV, with frost-prevention and defrost cycling designed for North American winter operation when ducts are insulated and installed per the manual.
• Can I use this with mini-splits or a heat pump?
  Yes. Panasonic specifically calls Intelli-Balance 200 a good match for homes using mini-splits or VRF heat pumps, supplying balanced fresh air and energy recovery without tying into a furnace duct system.
• How often should I change the filter?
  Filter life depends on local air quality and fan speed, but many Canadian homes check or replace the MERV 13 filter every 6–12 months. Use the wall control’s reminder and follow Panasonic’s maintenance guide and your contractor’s recommendations.
• How do I know what size ERV my home needs?
  Ventilation should be sized to your home’s floor area, bedroom count and airtightness. Start with our Best Panasonic ERV Systems in Canada (2025) guide for Canadian sizing examples, then have your ventilation designer or HVAC contractor confirm final CFM and duct layout.

Want to compare other capacities and port configurations? Browse all Panasonic ERV models for Canadian homes and suites .