Ventilation is invisible, but at the same time it is one of the most significant systems of any residential building or apartment. If this system works properly, then tenants rarely remember about its existence. However, if any malfunctions occur in the operation of ventilation, the windows begin to fog up, unpleasant odors from the toilet and entrance appear in the apartment, which can be eliminated, unless all the windows are opened. In addition, a malfunction of the ventilation system can lead to the formation of mold on the walls and to the poor well-being of residents.
Types of ventilation systems
All ventilation systems are classified according to the way the air flows are circulated. So, according to this feature, they are distinguished:
- natural;
- artificial ventilation.
In addition, ventilation systems, according to their purpose, can be:
- supply air (which supply air to the rooms);
- exhaust (which draws air out of the house).
Natural. To arrange natural circulation, there is no need to purchase any special equipment and consume electrical energy, since the circulation of air flows occurs naturally. It is relatively easy and cheap to organize such circulation, but in some regions with high humidity and other unfavorable natural factors, natural extraction may be ineffective due to insufficient air exchange.
Artificial ventilation is a special ventilation equipment, the efficiency of which does not depend on weather conditions. With the help of mechanical ventilation, air is easily and quickly removed from the room and the home is filled with oxygen from the outside. It is best to do artificial extraction in combination with natural.
Correct operation of the ventilation system
Natural ventilation is the most common way of air exchange in modern rooms. It is a diluted network of air ducts connected to one common riser of the house. Such channels are supplied to each apartment, and their openings to the bathrooms and kitchens are closed with bars. Different air pressure and temperature outside and in the room, wind force, cracks in the entrance doors and windows contribute to the formation of natural ventilation.
If there is no natural exhaust in the apartment, then it threatens the formation of musty, damp and "heavy" air.
In this case, residents have to open windows and vents for additional ventilation of the room. However, this leads to uneconomical consumption of heat and electricity.
To prevent such situations from arising, the ventilation must work correctly. Its correct operation is calculated by the method of the frequency of exchange of air masses, which should be equal to 60 m³ per tenant. If there is no proper natural air exchange in the room, then it must be equipped with forced ventilation. The ventilation system must be designed in such a way that the fans are located in the false ceiling or under the ceiling itself.
The apartment should be equipped with several ventilation ducts: one is for supplying air to the rooms, and the second for removing it from the house. Most often, a room is used to enter air, and toilets or bathrooms are used to remove it.
It is forbidden to run ventilation ducts in the room.Inside the apartment, except for the ventilation grilles themselves, no elements of the ventilation equipment should be or be visible.
Causes of violation of air exchange
Rubbish... The most obvious and commonplace reason for the poor performance of the hood is a clogged ventilation duct. In this case, remove the grille and inspect the channel. If the blockage is within reach, it can be removed manually or with a vacuum cleaner. If the blockage is located too far away, then in no case should you try to remove it yourself, since apartment owners are prohibited from doing this.
Where do you need to go if there is a blockage in the ventilation duct? Such problems should be handled by the management company that owns the house. It is necessary to notify the employees of the company who, with the help of the load lowered into the mine, will pierce the canal all the way to the apartment.
There are many reasons for blockage in the mine: it can be an abandoned bottle, a dead cat, a brick, etc. If it is not possible to remove the debris with the help of a load, then specialists will lower a chamber on a long cord into the ventilation duct and determine the reason for the lack of ventilation.
In some cases, when the detected blockage cannot be removed in any way, it is necessary to disassemble the mine at the same level where the garbage is. Such work can only be carried out by employees of management companies, and all residents should know where to turn in the presence of serious blockages in the mine.
You can find out if the mine is clogged or not in a very simple way: bring the lighter to the ventilation grill and look at the flame. If the fire is drawn into the ventilation by a draft, then there is a draft, and vice versa.
Unauthorized repair... Sometimes tenants, making repairs, block the ventilation of neighbors. Although this, in most cases, is not done on purpose, out of ignorance, the law provides for penalties for illegal redevelopment.
Plastic windows... In some cases, residents suffering from unpleasant odors that cannot be eroded in any way cannot determine the cause of their occurrence. If there are no blockages in the ventilation shaft, and the neighbors have not done any repairs, then you should pay attention to the number of blind plastic windows in the apartment. They close so tightly that they do not allow air to circulate from the window to the vent. That is why, when installing plastic windows, it is necessary to provide at least one openable window for each room and regularly ventilate the rooms.
Hood
If natural ventilation cannot cope with its task, then you need to know that today there are many other effective solutions that eliminate the problem of air stagnation and unpleasant odors in the home. One of these methods is forced ventilation - an exhaust hood. Most often it is installed in a toilet or kitchen. Such hoods turn on and off as needed, and in the bathroom and toilet, hoods are often turned on along with the light.
Supply valves
If ventilation does not work well in the room, then supply valves can be a good solution. For their arrangement, additional holes are made in the outer walls of the house through which air will flow from the street into the room. There are a lot of types of supply valves. The most common are models that are installed between batteries and windows, since in this place the valves are practically invisible. The inlet valve consists of an adjustable damper and an outer duct tube, which is equipped with a grate designed to prevent debris and rainwater from entering the valve. In addition, inside the room, the valve is closed with a soundproof box.
It should be remembered that air circulation in the room can be disrupted due to interior doors that are too tight to the floor.
In this case, the doors should also be equipped with ventilation grilles. For this, holes are made at the bottom of the door, where special grilles are mounted.
A properly made ventilation system at home, the presence of hoods, supply valves and gaps between the doors and the floor will allow residents to feel comfortable in their apartment, even if the windows and entrance doors are constantly closed.
