The Russian bath is intended not only for washing and taking hygienic procedures. At the same time, it is a place for rest with the whole family and meeting with friends. Therefore, the design of the bath building is carefully thought out even at the design stage. Particular attention is paid to well-organized ventilation of interior spaces.
Features of air exchange in the bath
When choosing a ventilation scheme in a bath building, the material from which it is made is of decisive importance. In addition, the location of the bath is taken into account (it is located separately from the main structure or adjacent to it). One of the most common ways to ventilate the steam room is volley ventilation, when doors and windows are opened for a short time. In addition, for general ventilation of bath spaces, the following are used:
- specially prepared air vents in the foundation;
- additional holes in the wall or ceiling;
- door gaps.
The use of windows in the steam room is a good solution, which is not always possible to implement due to their absence. The same can be said about air vents in the foundation, which cannot be arranged with a bath, which is part of a residential building. In such situations, you will need to choose a more suitable ventilation option.
Description and features of ventilation bastu
Ventilation got its name from the Swedish "bastu" or sauna. Its operation is based on a combined scheme that provides air renewal in the following places:
- in the upper part of the room - due to the formation of a closed air circuit;
- in the middle of the bath space, where the heated rising and falling cooled air masses meet;
- in the lower zone - by organizing the supply and exhaust system.
Thanks to the special principle of organizing the flows, warm masses accumulate under the ceiling of the steam room, forming a kind of inverted dome. The decisive condition for its receipt is the complete tightness of the room, in which drafts are unacceptable. Only in this case the air in the steam room is effectively warmed up with a minimum of energy consumption.
The upper hood in the bastu bath is not used at all, which is the main condition for the normal functioning of ventilation. The lower exhaust vents are designed in the form of two pipes equipped with standard valves. It is recommended to mount them as far from each other as possible - on opposite walls of a building, for example.
The bastu ventilation scheme in the bath allows you to open the vents as needed. At the same time, it is taken into account that the system is operational only in situations when the furnace is already fired up or there is a strong wind outside. These conditions ensure that fresh air is sucked in, ensuring good draft. When new air masses appear in the bath or sauna room, the already used ones are discharged through the pipe located above.
Advantages and disadvantages
The main advantage of the bastu system is the simplicity of its arrangement and minimum costs. In addition, due to continuous circulation, the air in the bath warms up more evenly, the objects in it also warm up more efficiently. The advantages of this principle of air exchange also include:
- fresh air supply from the street;
- there is no need to equip forced ventilation;
- bath care is greatly simplified.
The disadvantages of the bastu ventilation system manifest themselves in different ways and depend on the specific situation. With wood-burning stoves, it is allowed to enter the steam room only after the fuel has completely burned out. During this time, due to the supply channel, the room cools down, which makes it necessary to resort to an additional firebox.
Rules for installing ventilation bastu in a bath with your own hands
Do-it-yourself ventilation bastu in the bath is equipped only after preparatory measures:
- study of the layout of branch pipes and ventilation hatches with valves;
- preparation of tools necessary for work;
- purchase of basic materials and components.
When preparing a wiring diagram for branch and intake channels, the size and type of premises must be taken into account. Each of them has its own duct sizes.
To install ventilation for a bastu bath, a typical set of tools is needed, including an electric jigsaw, a drill and marking tools. From materials, you will need to purchase pieces of steel or plastic pipes of the appropriate length and diameter. In addition, you need to stock up on valves of the appropriate size and shape, as well as protective grilles.
Those who wish can familiarize themselves with the step-by-step procedure for installing bastu ventilation in the installation instructions for the system:
- In the lower part of the room, two identical holes are prepared in which the previously prepared pipe sections are placed.
- Outside, protective grilles are mounted on them, and sashes with latches are installed inside.
- The system is tested for operability.
A typical mistake made when arranging ventilation is improper placement of pipes, which should be removed as far as possible from one another. Another erroneous action is the incorrectly selected diameter of the intake pipes.
Ways to increase ventilation power
The ventilation capacity of this type can be increased in simple ways. With the internal location of the ash pan, the stove in the steam room is surrounded by a small elevation. At the same time, the air closest to it will warm up faster, which will increase the speed of its turnover and the efficiency of ventilation. If the ash pan is placed in a break room, the closed part of the furnace is usually moved to the steam room.
Under the floor of the steam room, it is possible to place an additional pipe that removes the exhaust air. Further, the opposite end of this exhaust duct is fed under the ash pan. This technique will allow you to remove air from the room faster than an exhaust hood in a steam room does. If it is impossible to increase the efficiency, the exhaust duct is in any case left as additional ventilation.
