Vents Frigate ERV 120 EC
A quiet, easy to adjust ERV for a mid size home or apartment that will run at moderate speed most of the time. At full flow it uses more power than its rivals.
Amazon $1,249$1,249
The Vents Frigate ERV 120 EC is the better ERV or HRV overall, rated 3.4 to 2.9. The Vents Frigate ERV 120 EC leads on warranty, value and quiet. The Panasonic WhisperComfort FV-06VE1 wins on efficiency. The Panasonic WhisperComfort FV-06VE1 costs $629.01 less ($619.99 vs $1,249).
Panasonic WhisperComfort FV-06VE1
A compact ERV for an apartment, condo or small house, or for one zone of a larger one. Households that need more than about 50 cfm should look at the Intelli-Balance or a full size unit.
Amazon $619.99$619.99
Prices were last checked November 2, 2026 and are subject to change; the price and availability shown by the retailer at the time of purchase apply.
Which should you buy?
- Choose the Vents Frigate ERV 120 EC for warranty (5-year warranty vs 3-year warranty), value ($8.33 per cfm ($1,249, 150 cfm) vs $13.19 per cfm ($619.99, 47 cfm)) and quiet (1.5 sones vs 2.5 sones).
- Choose the Panasonic WhisperComfort FV-06VE1 for efficiency (1.7 cfm per watt (47 cfm, 27 W) vs 0.9 cfm per watt (150 cfm, 175 W)).
Scores side by side
Each factor is scored 0-100 against the same fixed reference points for every whole-house ERV ERV or HRV; a clear win is highlighted. How we rank explains each one.
| Factor weight | Vents Frigate ERV 120 EC | Panasonic WhisperComfort FV-06VE1 |
|---|---|---|
| Overall rating | 3.4/5 | 2.9/5 |
| Heat recovery 25% | 53 71% sensible recovery | 50 70% sensible recovery |
| Efficiency 15% | 16 0.9 cfm per watt (150 cfm, 175 W) | 72 1.7 cfm per watt (47 cfm, 27 W) |
| Value 25% | 63 $8.33 per cfm ($1,249, 150 cfm) | 30 $13.19 per cfm ($619.99, 47 cfm) |
| Quiet 10% | 56 1.5 sones | 19 2.5 sones |
| Warranty 25% | 67 5-year warranty | 33 3-year warranty |
Specifications
| Vents Frigate ERV 120 EC | Panasonic WhisperComfort FV-06VE1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ||
| Core | ERV (heat and moisture) | ERV (heat and moisture) |
| Install | Ducted, whole house | Ducted, whole house |
| Airflow | 150 cfm | 47 cfm |
| Sensible recovery | 71% | 70% |
| Power draw | 175 W | 27 W |
| Noise | 1.5 sones | 2.5 sones |
| Build | ||
| Frost protection | Yes | Yes |
| Filter | MERV 6 | MERV 13 |
| HVI certified | Yes | Yes |
| Warranty | 5 years | 3 years |