LifeBreath 8-Port Kit · For 120 CFM Designs

$6,685 USD

Our most popular LifeBreath ERV kit — fresh air sized right for 3–4 bedroom homes.

LifeBreath 8-Port bedroom ERV system kit with Zehnder ComfoWell distribution manifold

What’s in the kit

Order or ask a question — 303-775-3139

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How it compares

ERV vs HRV — what the two recovery cores actually do
Feature ERV (energy recovery ventilator) HRV (heat recovery ventilator)
Heat recovery Yes Yes
Moisture transfer Yes No
Best climate Most climates, incl. mixed & humid Cold, dry climates
Our pick ✓ LifeBreath MAX XTR ERV —
LifeBreath ERV kit vs a typical HRV vs bath-fan exhaust — features, not prices
What it does LifeBreath ERV kit Typical HRV Bath-fan exhaust
Fresh air supplied Yes — ducted to every room Yes — ducted No — it only pulls air out
Stale air removed Yes — continuous, whole home Yes — continuous Yes — one room, while it runs
Heat recovery Yes — energy recovery core Yes — heat only No — conditioned air goes outside
Humidity control Yes — moisture transferred between air streams No — heat only No
Filtration MERV 6 + MERV 13 two-stage (Carbon Scrubber optional) Varies by unit None — lint screen only
Room-by-room distribution Yes — Zehnder ComfoWell manifold, a run to each room Needs a duct design of its own No
Balanced pressure Yes — supply and exhaust matched, with Auto Balance Control Yes, when commissioned No — depressurises the house
Noise Quiet — the unit sits away from living space, air arrives through 3" runs Quiet when ducted well Loud in the room it serves
Kit completeness Ships complete — core, manifolds, ducting, registers, switches, tech support Core only — parts sourced separately Fan and a duct

Feature comparison only. “Typical HRV” and “bath-fan exhaust” describe the general equipment class, not any particular product.

Why Choose UpgradeAirKit ERV Kits?

The LifeBreath 8-Port Kit is sold as one finished system, not a shopping list. The LifeBreath MAX XTR-FID ERV (180 CFM), the Zehnder ComfoWell manifold, ComfoFlex ducting, MERV 6 and MERV 13 filters, registers, hoods and controls are all matched to the same 8-port, 120 CFM design, so nothing has to be improvised on site. Supply and exhaust are balanced against each other, so the house is neither pressurized nor starved. The price covers that equipment plus $200 of technical support; it does not cover on-site installation, which a contractor or a confident DIYer carries out. Compare every bedroom ERV system kit, or read the Getting Started guide before you order.

How Our Bedroom ERV Systems Work

Fresh outdoor air enters through a weather hood and passes into the LifeBreath MAX XTR-FID ERV (180 CFM). The core hands over heat and moisture from the air leaving the house, so incoming air arrives already tempered. MERV 6 and MERV 13 media clean it, then a Zehnder ComfoWell manifold splits the stream into 8 semi-rigid ComfoFlex runs — one to each register serving 3–4 bedrooms. Stale air returns from bathrooms and utility rooms along matching runs and leaves through its own hood. Supply and exhaust are matched at 120 CFM, so the system stays balanced. Ask for a free planset and we size it from your floor plan; the CFM table carries the numbers a permit set needs.

Zehnder vs Other Brands

Distribution design, not the badge on the box, is what separates one system from another. This kit uses a manifold-based radial layout: each room gets its own semi-rigid ComfoFlex run straight back to the Zehnder ComfoWell manifold, so balancing is done once, at the manifold, instead of chasing dampers along a shared trunk. Branch-duct designs tee off that trunk, and one room’s adjustment moves every other room. Filtration sits in the manifold’s filter box, where the MERV 6 and MERV 13 media are easy to reach. Smooth-bore semi-rigid duct also runs quieter than corrugated flex at the same 120 CFM. We claim no warranty advantage for anyone here — read each maker’s printed terms. Still choosing a core? Start with ERV vs HRV.

Ask Lulu

Fresh-air questions, answered

Do you install ERV systems?

No — we do not install. Every kit ships complete, with $200 of technical support included in the price, and a contractor or a confident DIYer does the physical install. We size the system, supply every part, and stay on the phone through the job. Questions before you order? Call 303-775-3139.

What is the difference between an ERV and an HRV?

Both recover heat from the air they exhaust. An HRV stops there. An ERV also transfers moisture between the two air streams, so the house does not go bone-dry in winter or muggy in summer. Every UpgradeAirKit kit is built on a LifeBreath energy-recovery core. Read the full ERV vs HRV comparison.

Which kit size do I need?

Size by port count: one supply port per bedroom or living space, one exhaust port per bathroom, kitchen and laundry. Kits run from 4 to 12 ports. Not sure? Ask for a free planset and we size it from your floor plan, or check the CFM table.

What’s included in a kit?

An ERV kit contains a LifeBreath ERV core, Zehnder ComfoWell supply and exhaust manifolds, ComfoFlex semi-rigid ducting, MERV 6 and MERV 13 filters, room registers and diffusers, Auto Balance Control with boost switches, weather hoods and duct marking tags — plus technical support. Compare every bedroom ERV system kit side by side.

Is the price a project total?

Yes. The listed price covers the equipment for the whole system plus $200 of technical support — not on-site installation labor, which your contractor or you provide. Tax and shipping are calculated at checkout, as the footer on every page says. There is no separate design fee and no sizing charge.

Do I need a permit, and where is the CFM table?

Permits are set by your local building department, not by us — ask them before you order. What they usually want is the design airflow. Our CFM table lists the rated airflow for every kit size, ready to attach to a permit set, and every free planset states the CFM the design is built around.

Can I add filtration for smoke or allergies?

Yes. Every kit already filters with MERV 6 and MERV 13 media at the manifold. For smoke, wildfire season or heavy allergies, add the Scrubber Filter Box, triple packed ($925) — an in-line box carrying a MERV 8 pre-filter, a MERV 15 pleated filter and an activated carbon stage for odors and VOCs.

CLEAN AIR. BALANCED AIR. BETTER LIVING. THAT'S THE UPGRADE.