You didn’t mention the materials. Paper vs plastic or aluminum? How do I know which one to get? Why do some companies have only HRVs? Can smells transfer across the membrane of an ERV?
I would always spend the extra if you can afford it for an aluminium heat exchanger core. Metals have higher heat transfer coefficients than plastic or paper and you'll have greater efficiency. If you have carbon filters inline within your duct work (along with HEPA for particulates) or in the housing then that carbon media will do a good job of removing odor and VOCs like formaldehyde.
