The presence of an effective ventilation system of the living environment provides an optimal microclimate for recreation, the general life of its owners. When the natural air exchange of the apartment space is disturbed or impossible, ventilation is done in the apartment with your own hands.

Ventilation system in the apartment

The need for high-quality air exchange in the living space is due to factors:

• the constant replacement of the exhaust air stream with fresh is necessary for human health, well-being (lack of oxygen directly affects the effectiveness of brain activity, the functioning of the nervous and immune systems, muscle activity);
• throughout his life, a person releases heat, moisture, carbon dioxide into the surrounding space, which must necessarily be removed from the room;
• high humidity of the air contributes to the formation of mold on the walls of the bathroom and kitchen, which negatively affects human health (black mold is especially dangerous), damages the interior space, furniture.

The ventilation system in the apartment can be organized in a natural way and forced. Moreover, each of them is easy to install independently (separately or combine). Next, consider how to make ventilation in the apartment with your own hands.

Signs of impaired natural air exchange

• smells after cooking do not disappear for a long time;
• condensation is collected on the windows;
• mold appears on the walls of the bathroom, toilet, on the window opening;
• constant dampness of the bathroom is maintained;
• stale air inside the bathroom;
• condensate also collects on the walls of the bathroom after a long time using hot water;
• wet suspension from the bathroom does not stretch for a long time;
• wet clothes dry longer than usual;
• inside the rooms there is constantly stuffy air.

Natural ventilation

The essence of natural ventilation is reduced to independent influx, and then the removal of air masses from the room. It is produced due to the difference in temperature indicators of fresh cold and spent warm air flows.

Apartment houses are equipped with ventilation shafts designed to divert old air from the premises to the outside. They start from the bathroom, the kitchen with entrances closed with a decorative lattice. Ventilation duct outputs are located on the roof of buildings. Each apartment has separate air ducts.

Air circulation during natural ventilation

Natural circulation of air flow occurs as follows. A heavy cool stream from outside enters the rooms through an open window / window, thereby pushing light and warm through the ventilation shaft outside the house. So the flow of air masses inside the apartment should occur.

Features of natural ventilation of modern housing

In practice, natural air exchange inside modern urban housing is ineffective for the reasons:

• old exhaust shafts are clogged with accumulated dust and garbage, which significantly worsens the outflow of exhaust air from the rooms;
• violated the rules for installing kitchen exhaust systems at neighbors, which interferes with the discharge of stale air;
• modern plastic windows, metal doors reliably protect the interior space of residential premises not only from heat loss, but also from the natural influx of fresh air.

The tightness of plastic windows, metal doors change the flow pattern of air masses inside the apartment space, a new balance of air flows with negative pressure is formed. A ventilation shaft with greater air conductivity (usually a kitchen) overturns the draft of a smaller bathroom shaft. This leads to the penetration of cold air mass from there in winter. It is especially noticeable in windy weather, when under the influence of wind the draft intensifies and a cool stream penetrates into the bathroom.

In addition, extraneous odors often do not enter the ventilation shaft. They penetrate leaks in gas / heating pipes.

Forced ventilation in an apartment with plastic windows

To improve air exchange, a forced ventilation system is provided in the apartment. It is of three types:

• supply (additional flow of air masses is provided. Due to the temperature difference, the stale warm stream is forced out through the ventilation ducts);
• exhaust (contributes to a better outflow of exhaust air flow);
• combined (mechanical supply, exhaust devices enhance air convection of the spatial environment).

These systems can be mounted independently. Before installing forced (mechanical) air exchange devices, you must make sure that the ventilation ducts are working properly. If necessary, clean the ducts coming from the apartment. Cleaning of the general ventilation riser is carried out by utilities.

The forced ventilation system in the apartment begins with the installation of supply devices. Under certain conditions, this may be quite enough.

Supply ventilation in the apartment

Forced ventilation is provided with the help of simple devices that can be installed independently. It organizes or enhances the flow of air. Under its pressure, the waste warm will rise higher and exit through the ventilation ducts.

Benefits of ventilation:

• ensuring constant high-quality air exchange;
• filling with fresh air occurs without an open window / window;
• minimum cost;
• heat saving when the cold season comes;
• the ability to control the strength of the air flow;
• possible filtering of incoming street air;
• simple installation, which can be done with your own hands;
• ease of operation, further care.

How to make fresh air ventilation in the apartment with your own hands. Scheme

1. The simplest way to independently organize the source of fresh air is reduction of tightness of plastic windows.

It is necessary:

• open the window sash, on which the seal is located along the contour;
• on the bottom of the sash, carefully cut and remove a small segment of the seal (not more than 50 mm);
• on the top of the sash to carry out the same manipulations;
• close the sash window.

Through the formed seal opening, air from outside will penetrate into the space between the frame and the window frame. Gradually heating up, it will rise and exit through the upper opening of the sash seal.

2. Window vent

• cut a hole of a given size on the upper inner part of the plastic glass packet;
• insert the inside of the supply valve there;
• make a hole below the window sash;
• insert a visor there to protect from moisture.

If it enters the lower valve, the supply air will rise up and out through the second opening of the ventilator as it warms up in the window space.

Cons of the device:

• cool air;
• there is no way to control the incoming air flow;
• air enters untreated.

3.Wall ventilator

This is a plastic pipe with heat and noise insulation. From the side of the street a grill is mounted. An air purification filter and an air flow control valve are installed on the side of the apartment.

Installation:

• make a through hole inside the wall of a certain diameter (it is recommended between the heating radiator and the window for heating the incoming air in winter);
• insert a plastic pipe with insulating material there so that the external outlet is flush with the wall, and the internal protrudes slightly above the plane of the wall;
• drill holes for fasteners;
• install a filter;
• close the entrance with a special grill;
• fasten the inside with the flow control valve.

Supply ventilation of the apartment

Do-it-yourself exhaust ventilation device in the apartment

A sufficient influx of fresh air and at the same time a small discharge of the exhaust indicates that the natural exhaust ventilation in the apartment does not work well. It is recommended to strengthen it yourself. To do this, instead of the grills of the ventilation ducts of the kitchen, the bathroom, fans are mounted.

Fans enhance the removal of stale air through the ventilation shaft, providing complete air convection of the internal living space. It should be borne in mind that a mechanical hood is installed only if there is a good inlet. Otherwise, the fans of the bathroom and the kitchen will alternately overturn the draft of the ventilation ducts, forcing exhausted stale air from the mine. A random flow of stale air into the room is formed. With the simultaneous operation of the fans, there is no supply flow, therefore, odors from neighboring apartments can come.

When forced-air and exhaust ventilation is organized, especially in apartment buildings, you can use fans with humidity level sensors, preset timers, a check valve to prevent air from the ventilation duct back into the living room.

Combined air exchange method

Combines the two methods described above to improve the air exchange of urban housing. It is organized using mechanical devices - fans. In this case, the volume of the allocated air masses should be equal to the volume of the supply.

Fans are installed inside air ducts, ventilators. Most often used axial, duct, centrifugal fans. The price, model range is wide, it is easy to choose the best option. Installation is simple, does not take much time.

Forced ventilation in the apartment with your own hands. Benefits

• air exchange improves;
• microclimatic indicators of the internal environment are normalized;
• level of humidity is leveled;
• condensation does not accumulate on the walls;
• dampness ceases to accumulate inside the bathroom, bathroom;
• the occurrence of mold, pathogenic bacteria, microorganisms, the breeding medium of which is a warm moist environment is prevented;
• stale smells are quickly removed through ventilation ducts.

The organization of forced supply, exhaust or combined convection is quite possible to do with your own hands. It is quite simple, does not require large financial costs, and quite efficiently. In this case, the result of the invested efforts will pay off at the very first time the functioning of the mechanical system.

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A well-thought-out approach will allow you to make optimal ventilation in the apartment, without spending extra effort and resources. To simplify the work, it is better to divide the process into stages:

1. Familiarization with the general principles of ventilation (a small educational program will help you better navigate complex issues in the subsequent stages).
2. Calculation of air exchange (it is enough to use regulatory requirements and a calculator).
3. The choice of ventilation system (forced, natural, combined).
4. Selection and purchase of necessary elements (fans, grilles, ducts, etc.).
5. Installation of system elements.

First of all, you need to find out how the air in the rooms should behave.

The main elements and the principle of ventilation in the apartment

For ventilation, the space of the apartment is an obstacle course. The air coming in from the outside must overcome it and leave the house, capturing exhaust gas and humidity along the way. The speed and direction of movement is coordinated so as to provide people with oxygen without creating drafts. To do this, you need air intake / exhaust and transition paths that allow movement even with closed doors to separate rooms.

When carrying out repairs in the apartment with your own hands, you need to make several entrances for atmospheric air (at least one in each living room). A small flow occurs through the walls and cracks in the wooden window frames, but if the house is sheathed with watertight protection and plastic windows are installed on the windows, this channel is blocked. In such cases, you need to constantly ventilate the room, opening a window, which is not very comfortable in winter or at night.

An alternative to open vents will be air intakes. There are several options for their execution:

- a through hole in the wall with a supply valve;

- slotted supply valve in the window;

- the output of the mine channel in a centralized air exchange network.

The latter option is usually installed in large rooms with a recovery system. In small and medium-sized apartments, air ducts are not to be laid by hand, because to hide the duct shafts you need to lower the ceiling, as in an office, or seriously hammer the walls.

Both solutions are unacceptable not only on a budget, but also on the consequences: a low ceiling will reduce the volume of the room, and shafts in the walls reduce noise insulation and the strength of partitions (and in addition, diffusers, anemostats, grilles, access hatches and other equipment will be needed).

Installation of supply valves

Perhaps this is the most time-consuming process of installing ventilation in the apartment. It is better to place the valves under the windowsill or in the immediate vicinity of the window so that they can be hidden by a radiator or behind curtains / blinds. The proximity of the heating battery helps to heat the input air, but makes it difficult to access the valve. And access is necessary for cleaning and adjustment - usually the internal grille closes, like blinds, to set the supply air flow rate.

Installation is performed in the following order:

1. A piece of construction film is covered on the floor under the proposed hole to speed up garbage collection.
2. Using a hammer drill or hammer drill, you need to drill a hole in the wall to install the pipe. The diameter of the hole depends on the size and throughput of the valve, but usually does not exceed 7 cm. Drill should be sloped so that water does not flow from the side of the street during rain or snow thawing. (To prevent dust from scattering around the room, the storeman can hold a cardboard shoe box directly under the drill to collect plaster and broken brick).
3. A section of a pipe of the corresponding diameter is inserted into the hole so that the outside section is flush with the wall, and inside the pipe protrudes by about 1 cm. The pipe can be cut in place or the necessary piece can be prepared ahead of time.
4. The space between the wall and the pipe foams to close the gaps.
5. The outer hole of the pipe is closed with a grate so that large rubbish does not get there or some birdie does not use it to make a nest.
6. On the inside of the pipe mount the supply valve box.

In an apartment near a busy street or in a metropolis, it is advisable to filter the incoming air, so it is better to immediately select the appropriate valve. The denser the filter, the more dust particles are delayed, but at the same time the inflow rate drops, therefore, it is necessary to install a blower fan at the inlet or an exhaust outlet.

The latter option is more acceptable, since noise disappears in residential premises, and the outside air is supplied to restore the pressure difference.

Transitions for air movement

The entire ventilation system will go down the drain with tightly closed airtight interior doors. For a complete structure to work, air must flow in the direction of the exhaust duct. To do this, leave a small gap between the threshold and the door or install the grille directly in its canvas.

In a standard apartment, the air path from the supply valve to the exhaust hood overcomes two transitions: a living room - a passage - a corridor - a passage - a bathroom / kitchen. In Khrushchev, there may be passage rooms that add another transition.

Pay attention to the corridor. If the doors to the landing are good, cracks will violate the integrity of the ventilation system. If the air pressure from the stairs is greater than from the rooms, the excess pressure will become a wall for overflow. If the air is blown out in the crevices, smells from the kitchen and the bathroom will be drawn into the corridor, and some of them can get into the living quarters.

For better sound insulation, the gaps under the doors to the rooms can be small, and it is better to make a larger gap at the entrance to the bathroom. Sometimes when the fan is on, the pressure difference is so high that the tight-fitting doors open with difficulty.

Features of the hood

The output stream is usually mounted in each of the technical rooms (kitchen, bathroom), so that it is the last in the chain of air movement. Due to this, the smells and grease of concoction does not spread throughout the apartment, but is removed by the pressure of clean air entering the living quarters.

Exhaust ducts in an apartment building are by default, but the air speed may be insufficient. Sometimes the problem is solved by cleaning - you need to remove the protective grill and, armed with a broom and a vacuum cleaner, clean the air intake hole from dust. If the cross section of the natural exhaust is not enough to exhaust air, an exhaust fan is installed in the hole.

In bathrooms, most often they install a wall fan that goes directly into the duct. Manufacturers know the size of the mines in accordance with GOST, so picking up equipment will not be difficult. The power of such a unit is connected to the lighting, and the equipment works while a person uses the bath / toilet.

To increase comfort, a hood with a delay can be used, which lasts 30-60 seconds after turning off the lighting.

Optional equipment

Before you make ventilation in the apartment yourself, think about whether you will need air conditioning or other equipment in the future. It is better to immediately plan the system so that the reinstallation of some units does not require replacement of existing elements.

It should be borne in mind that the air conditioner takes part of the air from the room, violating the natural aerodynamics of the system. For greater efficiency, it is better to isolate such a room altogether, or provide a lockable grille on the doors.

To make the atmosphere more acceptable, the supply air can be heated using heaters or a recovery system. The latter provides a heat exchange unit for exhaust and incoming air. Here, the incoming stream is cooled in summer and heated in winter, significantly reducing energy costs for HVAC equipment.

Cooker hoods are usually not taken into account when planning a ventilation system, since it works temporarily and is designed for localized air intake during cooking / frying.

System power calculation

The amount of air exchange can be tied to the volume of residential premises (frequency of exchange), their area or the number of people. In order not to get confused, you can focus on the norm of 30 cubic meters per hour for each tenant or 3 cubic meters per square meter for apartments up to 20 square meters.

However, the relevant standards, like wiring diagrams, are reviewed and even in European countries different standards are used. And if we consider that in residential premises during working hours there is usually no one, then during this period the system heats the street. Also, the nature of the residents is not taken into account - children in active games burn much more oxygen than calm elderly people. You can also add ozonification of air with some equipment (printer, computer, etc.), the amount of which may differ in apartments with the same population.

In general, it is necessary to present the main principles of the future system as clearly as possible, but not to focus on the details, since in the course of planning and installation great variability is allowed. The capacity of the exhaust fans and the diameter of the supply valves are selected so as to ensure the supply of fresh air close to the standards, and the type of execution and the manufacturer are selected individually.