The ventilation in the apartment does not work - where to go?

Ventilation is invisible, but at the same time its value is very high. When the system works properly, residents rarely remember it, but as soon as a malfunction occurs, it immediately becomes noticeable: condensation appears on the windows, the apartment is filled with unpleasant odors. If you do nothing, the walls will be covered with mold, and the residents will begin to hurt, so you should not postpone solving this problem. The ventilation in the apartment does not work - where to go? We will tell you about this in this article.

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Types of ventilation systems

The classification of ventilation systems is based on the method of circulation of air flows. Ventilation can be:

• Natural. To arrange natural circulation, the purchase of special equipment and the expenditure of electrical energy are not required, since air flows circulate naturally.

Important! The organization of such circulation is relatively simple and cheap. But if the region is with high humidity, it will be ineffective due to the fact that air exchange is insufficient.

• Artificial. The arrangement of artificial ventilation will require the purchase of special ventilation equipment, the effective operation of which depends on the weather. Mechanical ventilation leads to quick and easy removal of air from the room and filling it with oxygen.

Important! Experts recommend a combination of artificial and natural extracts.

Ventilation systems also vary in purpose:

• Supply Air is flowing into the room.
• Exhaust. Air is drawn from the room.

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The principle of ventilation

When the air in the apartment is fresh, few people think about how ventilation should work in the apartment with the windows closed.

Almost all old apartment buildings have exhaust ventilation of passive type. It is based on a mine, which begins in the basement and reaches the roof. The number and size of mines depends on the number of entrances or apartments on the site. The apartment and the shaft are connected by several ducts connected to the hoods in the kitchen and in the bathroom.

The exhaust air is discharged due to the difference in air pressure in the apartment and in the upper part of the mine. However, on the upper floors, this pressure difference becomes less significant, so the air exchange becomes less intense.

Important! In rare cases, houses were equipped with supply and exhaust systems, when exhaust and supply channels were connected to the premises. Often, the function of the supply air duct was performed by gaps in the narthex of wooden doors and windows.

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Causes of poor ventilation

Before figuring out who is cleaning the ventilation in the apartment, where to go, you should understand the main reasons that cause air exchange to deteriorate.

Natural blockage

To assess the condition of the pipes and, if necessary, clean them, we perform the following steps:

1. We light a candle and bring it to the outlet. If the flame deviates by 45 degrees or more, the duct is in order. If the flame is stationary, clean it.
2. We carry out the dismantling of a decorative grill or a kitchen hood.
3. Using a special brush on a long handle, we get rid of dust and soot that accumulated on the walls of the channel.
4. When cleaning the tool, we move it deeper so that the blockage falls into the shaft. Most often, the channel has a length of not more than one meter, so you won’t have to spend a lot of time.
5. After the blockage is removed, the flame test is again performed.

Important! In the event that after removal of the dirt there is no improvement, you should look for another reason, a more serious one.

Installing PVC windows

The operation of apartment exhaust systems is based on the removal of exhaust air through exhaust ducts. And the intake of fresh air occurs through gaps on wooden doors and windows. When construction projects were commissioned, such a system managed to cope with the responsibilities assigned to it, but the situation changed after modern plastic double-glazed windows and hermetic doors began to be installed. Fresh air cannot penetrate the room. If in summer the problem is solved by opening the windows, then in winter this option is not acceptable, since there is a decrease in temperature in the room.

After installing plastic windows, ventilation in the kitchen does not work - what to do in this situation? First of all, we check the operation of the system:

1. Open a little window or window.
2. We apply paper to the ventilation hole. If it sticks, the system works.

Important! To solve the problem, you can slightly open the windows for ventilation. But in winter, you can use "volley" ventilation, in which at the same time all the windows are completely opened, the air is completely changed, and then the windows are closed.

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Ways to improve ventilation

There are modern and effective solutions that can solve ventilation problems:

• Quite common is the installation of the hood. Most often they mount it in the kitchen or in the toilet. In order for it to work, it must be turned on. In the bathroom, the hood often turns on with the light on. It is possible to install a separate switch for hoods.

Important! In the kitchen, an extractor hood is installed above the stove to remove unpleasant odors and smoke.

• In the event that the installation of the hood seems insufficient, installation of the supply valves is carried out. To do this, additional holes are made in the wall, through which air will flow from the street. Most often, such a valve is installed between the window and the battery.

Important! The valves have an adjustable damper, and the duct, located at an angle to the wall, is protected from water and debris by the grill. On the inside, the device is protected by a noise insulation box. Modern supply valves have sensors that respond to increased humidity and automatically start air.

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Stock footage

As you can see, even if there are problems with the ventilation system, they can always be solved in a variety of ways, starting with conventional ventilation and ending with the installation of hoods. If nothing helps at all, then contact the Housing Office or a private ventilation service company.