Improved ventilation in a regular apartment - some helpful

Not always ventilation, even well-designed, works in proper mode. However, this is not a reason for panic, even if the air ducts are already laid, the existing system can be modified quite easily and its performance can be improved.

For example, the performance that gives improved ventilation class 3 is not even worth comparing with a conventional ventilation system. The frequency of replacing the air in the room increases, while the cost of modification is not so great.

About the importance of ventilation

The cost of saving on proper ventilation of the room may be too high. Even in relatively clean air, one can find the order of several tens or even hundreds of chemical compounds. Most of them belong to substances practically harmless to the body, but only if their concentration does not exceed the norm.

Of particular interest is the usual carbon dioxide, which GOST 12.1.007-76 refers to almost harmless substances (hazard class 4).

Its effect on the body depends entirely on the concentration:

• at 350 ppm (0.035%) - its effect does not manifest itself in any way, this level is considered to be normal background;
• with growth up to 1000 ppm, people begin to feel drowsiness, chronic fatigue and headache - sure signs of increased CO content₂;
• 2500 ppm can already cause serious health complications;
• 5000 ppm is the maximum level that a person can still tolerate for 8 hours.

Note! The given concentrations are average values; it is impossible to determine exactly how the body will react in each specific case. It can only be said that health will definitely be harmed.

If a similar picture is observed at home, then the modernization of the ventilation system is not even discussed, it should be done urgently. Therefore, the question of how to improve ventilation in the apartment remains popular.

Causes of impaired air circulation and how to solve problems

The regulatory document of the joint venture 16.13330.2012 (the same SNiP 41-01-2003 adjusted for modern realities) sets the air exchange rate depending on the purpose of the room (the data are for natural air exchange, the air exchange rate is indicated for 1 person):

• production premises - 30 m³/hour;
• public buildings - 40 m³/hour;
• for residential premises rate depends on the area. So, if the size of the room is less than 20 m², the air exchange rate is calculated on the basis of 3 m³/ hour at 1 m² living space. If the area is more than 20 m², the norm is equal to 0.35 air change calculated for the whole apartment or 30 m³/ hour (depending on which value is greater).

Not always the ventilation system fails due to the fault of the person, the reasons may be different, but the effect is always the same - a sharp deterioration in well-being. It makes sense to elaborate on ways to improve the efficiency of ventilation.

Improving the efficiency of good ventilation

The reason for the malfunction at first glance of a serviceable system may be:

• installation of sealed windows;
• too high outside temperature. Because of this, traction is simply absent;
• Initially, the ventilation system could be designed with insufficient power to ensure normal ventilation.

Fortunately, in each of these cases, the ventilation efficiency can be improved with your own hands.

You can use the following recommendations:

• airtight windows can be installed inlet valves;

Note! Window valves have relatively low productivity. Therefore, this output can be recommended only if the problems began after the installation of windows.

• the wall valve can be used in case of serious problems with the intake of fresh air; in addition, it can be equipped with a fan to increase efficiency;

• air conditioners with a mix of air can be considered as a good addition to the ventilation system;
• Air handling units are guaranteed to solve the problem with the flow of air outside. True, a small problem may arise with the placement of blocks of this device.

Note! In cities, the use of air handling units is justified, because the outdoor air is not very clean, and in such devices a powerful filter unit is always provided.

Improved ventilation can be obtained and a small change in the ventilation system, you can use such methods as:

• installation of the fan in the duct - in some cases, the problem is solved with a weak burden;

• duct insulation. If this is not done, in winter the air in it will cool down too quickly, which will adversely affect the load;
• deflector installation - more concerned with private construction, with a strong wind efficiency of the system increases by about 15-30%;
• in rooms where there is no exhaust of polluted air, you can lay additional channels or arrange valves in the walls;

• the gaps between the doors and the floor can also be seen as a slight improvement in ventilation - air will easily penetrate into all rooms;
• simple cleaning of the ventilation ducts can also be considered as a way to increase its efficiency.

Many do not consider cleaning the ventilation channels seriously, but this is not entirely correct. Finns, for example, proposed to classify ventilation systems depending on the concentration of pollution. For example, grade 1 has an average mud content of 1.0 g / m.², the second - 2.5 g / m².

Also much depends on the purpose of the room. For example, ventilation of the 2nd and 3rd class (for ventilation of the explosive zone of the 2nd class) necessarily provides for the presence of hermetic doors and partitions.

What to do in case of malfunction of the ventilation system

With errors in the design or ill-considered actions of a person to cope a little more difficult.

There are several general recommendations:

• if neighbors from above destroyed the ventilation duct, then improvement of ventilation is possible only after its restoration;

• builders could make a common ventilation channel for adjacent rooms. It is undesirable to do this, there may be situations when the air is simply distilled between rooms, you need to lay a channel into each room;
• in private construction, the cause of poor traction may be a small elevation of the pipe above the roof. In this case, instructions for improving ventilation is reduced to its capacity;

• Sometimes, in an attempt to improve ventilation, people install powerful kitchen hoods. This can cause the opposite effect - the air just blows into the rooms. To avoid this, simply install check valves in the ducts.

Summarizing

Everyone can improve air circulation in the apartment, without the help of specialists. To do this, just follow the suggested tips. Improving the air intake will be noticeable almost instantly, for example, if it comes to what gives improved ventilation class 2, then there will be a noticeable improvement in the quality of cleaning and the frequency of air replacement in the room.

The video in this article describes one of the options for improving air circulation.