The need for such manipulation as cleaning the ventilation in an apartment may arise for every resident multi-storey building. Clogging of ventilation shafts leads to disruption of air circulation, and, therefore, to increased humidity in the premises, stagnation of odors in the bathroom and their spread throughout the apartment.
Checking the ventilation in the apartment
If you notice that the microclimate in the apartment has changed dramatically, condensation has begun to appear on the windows, and the walls have become damp in some places, then the problem may be a faulty one. You can check the correctness of its operation yourself.
Before you check the ventilation in your apartment, you need to know how to do it. Some not very knowledgeable people advise taking a lighter or candle, lighting it and bringing it to the shaft opening. If the flame deviates towards the grille, then the problem is not in the ventilation - it works without problems. However, gas service specialists categorically do not recommend using this method of testing, since in the event of a gas leak, an explosion may occur. And deposits on the walls of the mine, as a rule, are very, very flammable.
The most reliable and completely safe way checking the ventilation shaft: when open window bring a small piece of thin (or toilet) paper to the grate and evaluate its “behavior.” If he is attracted to it, then it is worth looking for the cause of the bad microclimate in something else, and if not, then the mine needs to be cleaned.
Such actions in the hot season will not give an idea of the operation of the ventilation shaft, since heavy and dense air can stagnate in it for objective reasons.
How to clean channels without the help of a specialist?
Of course, it is impossible to remove a large blockage in a ventilation shaft on your own, and safety standards prohibit such amateur activities. However, apartment residents can independently clean the grille covering the entrance to the ventilation shaft using mild detergents. So how to clean the ventilation in an apartment without the help of a specialist? The walls of the accessible section of the shaft can be cleaned with a scraper and then vacuumed. After this, they are wiped with a damp cloth and the grille is returned to its place.
Trying to get back to normal functioning, you should not try to clean it in the manner of lowering special brushes into it. In addition, to clean the ventilation shaft it is strictly forbidden to use:
- Aggressive detergents;
- acids;
- solvents.
Poor ventilation in the apartment - what is the reason and how to fix it?
Sometimes the reason for improper ventilation operation may be interference from neighbors. Some careless apartment owners block the ventilation shaft during repairs, making its operation impossible. Not in the best possible way Its work is also affected by a powerful hood installed by someone, which will, figuratively speaking, pull the blanket over itself. In this case normal operation ventilation system must be restored at the expense of the tenant who allowed such arbitrariness.
Another very common cause of ventilation problems is modern plastic windows. The fact is that the ventilation system in most houses built more than ten years ago is designed for natural impulses. In other words, the air flow from the street even with closed windows had to be provided due to the inevitable cracks in wooden frames. The design of plastic windows does not imply the presence of such “passages” and the operation of the ventilation system is disrupted. Installing windows with a built-in micro-ventilation system will help solve this problem.
Installing a forced system is another one good decision Problems. The device is similar to a fan and is built into the ventilation shaft opening instead of a grille. Typically, this device is connected to a light source, and it turns on when you press a key on the switch.
Ventilation ducts in any building are primarily responsible for maintaining clean indoor air. Also, the hygienic component of the apartment depends on their condition.
The ventilation system removes dust particles, removes excess moisture and pathogens. With its help, the temperature inside the room is also regulated, as it helps to ventilate the rooms faster.
If fans are installed in the ducts, then cleaning needs to be done much less frequently.
A number of specific signs indicate that it’s time to clean your ventilation. The easiest way to understand this is if dust and small debris begins to accumulate around the ventilation openings.
Main reasons for cleaning:
- in the warm season the apartment heats up very quickly;
- dust appears almost immediately after the next cleaning;
- The need for cleaning is also indicated by the absence of drafts when ventilating the room.
Exists easy way status checks ventilation ducts. To do this, you need to bring a lit match to the hole. If the flame remains even and does not fluctuate towards the ventilation grille, this means that the system is clogged and needs to be cleaned of debris and dust accumulated in it as soon as possible.
If the fire deviates or goes out, then the system is in good condition and there are no additional measures no need to take action. However, if cleaning last time was carried out more than six months ago, this procedure still needs to be repeated for preventive purposes.
Similar manipulations can be done with thin paper or newspaper. This method is even safer than the match option.
Removal process
First of all, you need to check each of the vents in the apartment. If the paper is rejected when approached to them in different ways, this indicates the presence of a blockage in that part of the system that is located directly in the apartment.
To remove it, just use a dish brush or a small steel cable, as thin as possible. Ordinary aluminum wire can also be used as a tool.
Using one of the listed devices, the ventilation duct is cleaned as far as the length allows. The remaining small particles are very easy to remove with a vacuum cleaner, after removing the wide attachments from it. The video shows in detail how to carry out this procedure.
If the above manipulations did not help, it means that the main air duct is clogged. To fix the problem, you need to perform the same steps, but you need to prepare a tool bigger size. The cleaning procedure must be carried out extremely carefully, since there may be wasps, rats or other pests inside the ventilation duct.
It is important to remember that the condition of the general part of the ventilation in an apartment building is under the control of the management company, and apartment owners do not need to get involved in cleaning it.
Plastic windows
A situation often arises when the ventilation system is cleaned, but the room is still poorly ventilated, various odors accumulate in it, humidity rises and it becomes quite hot.
This can happen in an apartment building after installing new plastic windows. They fit very tightly window openings and they themselves do not allow air to pass through, making the room hermetically sealed.
This becomes most noticeable when cold weather sets in, when rooms practically stop being ventilated in order to retain precious heat in the apartment.
To eliminate this drawback, it is enough to open it just a couple of centimeters window frame or a window so that air circulation in the living space resumes.
Hood installation
It happens that the ventilation system simply cannot cope with its functions. Most often, this can be observed in apartment buildings old building, where all the channels are already clogged so tightly that it is almost impossible to clean them.
In such cases, additional equipment is installed - hoods. Traditionally, they are placed in the kitchen and bathroom. Such systems do not operate continuously; they must be turned on when necessary.
When installing in a bathroom, they usually combine turning on the light and the hood, but you can also install separate switches. In the kitchen, such an air vent is made in the form of a wide socket directly above the stove, since its primary task is to remove odors of cooking food from the room.
Installation of such equipment should not be carried out independently; you should seek help from specialists in this field.
Supply valves
If the situation does not improve after installing a special hood, you can resort to installing supply valves. This name refers to additional openings in the walls through which the required amount of fresh air will enter the room, ensuring proper ventilation in the house.
Such valves can be different; in most cases, they are located between the heating radiator and the window opening. It is this placement that allows them to be made as inconspicuous as possible.
Special dampers are installed in the holes, allowing you to regulate the degree of their opening, which will help regulate the humidity and temperature in the house. From the outside, the tube is placed at an angle to the wall to prevent water and debris from entering the room. Additionally, on the room side the valve is equipped with sound insulation.
You can install the supply valve in your home yourself. This process does not require any special skills. Such ventilation openings can be additionally equipped with a sensitive sensor that recognizes high humidity in the house and automatically opens the plug to supply fresh air into the room.
Also, circulation may be impaired due to tightly closed doors. In this case, it is better to either open them slightly or increase the gap between door leaf and the floor, or make special holes through which air will pass.
Results
Ventilation in an apartment building is extremely important, so everything must be taken into account necessary measures so that air can flow freely in and out of the room.
During the circulation of air flows, the apartment is enriched with oxygen, microscopic dust particles, harmful microorganisms, spores and fungi are removed, and the humidity in the room is adjusted.
If signs of clogging of the ventilation appear, it is necessary to immediately take measures to clean it. If the ventilation system is multi-storey building If you do not clean it in a timely manner, then such a negligent attitude will inevitably lead to frequent illnesses of residents, an abundance of dust and the appearance of mold on the walls.
The management company is directly responsible for the condition of the building's ventilation ducts, so it is necessary to contact its employees to carry out scheduled cleaning of the ventilation if it was not done on time.
Any building or structure must have a ventilation system, which is installed during the construction process. A ventilation system is needed to remove contaminated and humid air, which is formed as a result of human use of plumbing items and household appliances. Ventilation is also the main element of a favorable indoor microclimate. Your tone and well-being depend on the air quality.
According to the method of movement of air flows, natural and artificial ventilation. It can also be supply or exhaust.
Types of ventilation
Natural ventilation involves air circulation, which is created due to the difference in air temperatures outside and in the apartment, and atmospheric pressure. These are the cheapest ventilation systems, so almost all old houses are equipped with them. But the system is not widely popular, as it is completely dependent on weather conditions.
Artificial ventilation involves air circulation, which is created using special equipment. These systems are currently used in all apartment buildings.
Supply ventilation supplies Fresh air into the room, and the exhaust system removes contaminated air using ventilated devices, and today is the most common system. Therefore, many people have questions about how to clean supply and exhaust ventilation. For those who have not experienced this, it will be difficult to perform this procedure, but the following information will help you.
Sooner or later, any air circulation system becomes clogged and functions poorly, and the main signs that the ventilation in the house needs to be cleaned are:
- air blockage;
- a large amount of condensation on the glass and dampness in the apartment, darkened corners;
- the formation of a cobweb around the system entrance;
- large accumulation of dust and small debris.
Causes of clogged ventilation
The most common cause of clogged air ducts is the deposition of large amounts of dust and dirt in the shafts of these ducts.
The second reason is the failure of ventilation devices.
In all houses for common engineering system A special service is responsible, which has access to such work, so it becomes clear who should clean the ventilation in an apartment building. But every tenant has the right to clean the air duct of his apartment. Therefore, it will be useful for you to learn how to clean the ventilation in the apartment yourself.
Methods for cleaning ventilation
- cleaning with improvised means. To do this, you need to carefully remove the grate and, using special detergents, remove all grease, dirt and debris from your channel;
- cleaning with dry ice, which perfectly removes grease and then evaporates without leaving any odor.
Attention! At self-cleaning It is prohibited to lower large objects into the air channel shafts and use chemical reagents.
If you live in an old building and you are interested in the question of how to clean the ventilation in a Khrushchev-era building, then a mechanical cleaning method alone will not be enough. To do this, you need to take care of the following things:
- install a ventilator valve on new windows that restores natural air flow;
- install a supply and exhaust device that removes moisture from the premises and provides an optimal atmosphere in your apartment. Such devices are mounted both in windows and on walls.
The most likely places for ventilation contamination in an apartment are the bathroom and kitchen. Therefore, many people ask questions about how to clean the ventilation in the bathroom. Suitable for this mechanical method cleaning - 15 minutes and your air channel will be clean.
Ventilation systems in an apartment building
All modern apartment buildings are equipped with two types of ventilation systems:
- The vertical ventilation duct is led into the attic horizontal duct - according to this system air masses from all floors are directed into a horizontal box and out.
- Vertical air ducts lead to the attic - through this system, air masses are directed through a single ventilation shaft to the roof.
But these modern systems ventilation systems do not always cope with their functions. In the first case, air masses from the horizontal box can enter the apartments on the top floor. To avoid this, you must do the following:
- double the diameter of the horizontal box; it is better to do this work with a specialist so as not to disrupt the engineering structure;
- air channels top floors insert it into the ventilation shaft above the horizontal duct.
In the second case, to improve ventilation, it is enough to lengthen the height of the air channel by one meter using a regular pipe.
How to clean the ventilation
Now that we know everything about air circulation, we can now learn how to clean this system. This process consists of five stages:
Before you start work, you need to inspect and check everything. To do this, bring a lighter or a match with fire to the ventilation outlet. If the flame stretches into the channel, then you don’t have to worry about anything, but if it stays still, it means your shaft is clogged and it’s time to find out how to clean the ventilation in your apartment.
Important! If there is a large accumulation of cobwebs, use another non-fire-hazardous inspection method.
Mechanical cleaning
During this you need to take a large brush or steel rope and clean the air channel, try to clean out as much as possible. Clean it from dirt, debris and grease. If this does not help, you need to take larger items and clean them again. When cleaning the air ducts, you must be careful not to run into a nest of wasps or other unpleasant insects.
Air circulation
To check natural air circulation, you can use a piece of paper and open it wide open interior doors. If the piece of paper does not respond, you need to improve the circulation. To do this, it is enough to establish a gap between the door and the floor at a distance of 4 cm.
Air flow
Natural ventilation is provided by open windows and doors. But in winter you can’t really open them, so you need to resort to additional ways air flow into the room. Today, almost every home has plastic windows that reliably hold in not only heat, but also air. Therefore at all modern windows began to provide inlet slots. Cold air enters from the cracks and mixes with warm air from battery. In winter it's effective method establish an optimal microclimate in the apartment.
True, there are rooms in which there may not be enough supply slots. In this case, supply wall valves are installed, which additionally saturate the room with fresh air.
Additional exhaust system
If after installing the supply equipment, there is no necessary air circulation, then you can install additional exhaust system. That is, it is mounted in the ventilation duct electric fan, which pumps air. This provides your room with enough fresh air.
To finally understand how to clean the ventilation in an apartment yourself, the video will best help you figure it out:
If your special equipment suddenly doesn’t work, then it won’t hurt you to know how to clean the crankcase ventilation. Maybe this is the reason. To do this, you need to disconnect the battery and remove the air intake pipe. And then disconnect the throttle valve drive and hose. Only after this can you start cleaning all other parts.
Firstly, the kitchen (first vent located exactly there) will not leave the odors and combustion products of household gas if you have gas stove. Poor exhaust hood gas boiler or columns can lead to an almost complete lack of draft, which in some cases causes carbon monoxide poisoning for residents, but it is generally not advisable to clean it yourself.
Secondly, non-functioning ventilation in the bathroom will increase the time required for the room to dry out (reducing the amount of water vapor in the air), which will subsequently become main reason the appearance of black spots of mold and mildew on the walls and ceiling of the room.
Thirdly, clogged ventilation in the toilet (if the channel is common to several apartments) may begin to work “in reverse side"and you will be able to fully feel all the smells from the adjacent bathroom.
Examination
How to check the functionality of ventilation in an apartment? To begin, remove the grates installed on the walls and thoroughly rinse them from dirt and dust. Then put them in place and open the window in the kitchen. Attach to ventilation grille paper. If he is “attracted” to it, then the ventilation is working perfectly. Then repeat this procedure in the bathroom and toilet, leaving the doors to these rooms open.
In the case when a piece of paper is not attracted to the grille, this most often means only one thing - the ventilation is clogged and will have to be cleaned. The second reason for the lack of traction is unauthorized redevelopment apartments on the upper floors, which resulted in damage ventilation duct. To eliminate such an obstacle, you will have to file a complaint with the local architecture, since you simply will not be able to clean the ventilation in the apartment.
Another reason for poor ventilation is replacing old wooden windows to new plastic ones, which you keep tightly closed most of the time, blocking the natural flow of air into the apartment (and since the air doesn’t come in, then there’s nothing to go into the ventilation). In this case, either always leave one window slightly open, or cut a ventilation valve into the window.
This video will tell you how to check the operation of ventilation and advise where to go if there is a blockage.
Basic Rules
Individuals cannot clean the main ventilation shaft of a building on their own, since it belongs to common property (it is better to file a complaint about poor ventilation at management company and leave all the work to their masters). When the specialists arrive, notify all the neighbors whose apartments are located above you so that they are not surprised by the suddenly “activated” ventilation, pouring out black dust.
But the ventilation duct leading from your apartment to the common building shaft can (and even should) be cleaned yourself:
- Move aside kitchen furniture(if you are cleaning a channel in the kitchen) and move a stepladder to the wall. It is better to put a layer of newspapers on the floor, as something may fall out of the ventilation.
- To the bottom of the ventilation duct on masking tape attach a sheet of newspaper (so you don’t have to wash the wallpaper or ceramic tiles later).
- Remove the grill covering the ventilation. Rinse it and wipe it (you can replace it with a new one if you wish).
- Wear gloves for construction work and carefully rake out everything you find in the ventilation duct, since you will not be able to clean the ventilation in the apartment in any other way. Be careful, glass or nails may get caught, so it is better to arm yourself with a small spatula. If the ventilation duct is made in a panel or brick wall, it may contain a lot of “interesting” things, ranging from pieces frozen solution and ending with the corpses of mice and birds.
- Remaining dirt can be removed from the channel with a vacuum cleaner.
- Reinstall the grille and check the draft again with the window open. If the situation does not improve, contact the management company for help.
Comments:
The concept of ventilation was known back in Ancient Rome and meant measures to ventilate the premises. Nowadays everything is much more complicated.
For example, many residents apartment buildings where common ventilation shafts are installed, sometimes very serious problems arise with the air condition in the home.
Why is ventilation needed?
The main task of ventilation is to maintain clean air in residential areas. It must be maintained in good condition and for hygienic reasons. With poorly functioning ventilation, not only the condition of the apartment deteriorates, but also the health of the people living in it. The exhaust air that goes into the ventilation takes with it dust particles, various harmful microorganisms, and unwanted substances contained in the room. Thanks to normal ventilation, it is possible to regulate heat and humidity in the house - with timely ventilation, the excess is removed, preventing the occurrence of mold and rot.
With timely cleaning of the ventilation, the ventilation process is regular, which is correct from a sanitary point of view. At additional equipment With different types of fans, cleaning can be done less frequently, but this does not eliminate the need to regularly clean the ventilation system as a whole.
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How to determine when it's time to clean your ventilation system
If dust or cobwebs have accumulated around the ventilation inlets, then it’s time to clean the entire system.
Pay attention to signs that indicate the need for regular cleaning of the ventilation system. Here are the simplest of them: fine dust, cobwebs, and other debris accumulate around ventilation inlets. IN summer time The room heats up faster, and even after the most thorough cleaning, dust quickly appears. This means that something needs to be done quickly to clean up the atmosphere in the room.
Apartment buildings have the following peculiarity in this regard: since the ventilation system is common, pollution from many apartments enters the common shaft, and gradually it can become clogged.
You can determine when it’s time to clean the ventilation in other ways. Pay attention to drafts that occur when opening entrance doors or windows. If the draft was quite noticeable, and after some time disappeared or weakened, it’s time to call the housing office workers.
The functionality of the ventilation can be checked using a lit match.
You can also use this method to determine the degree of cleanliness of the ventilation: hold a lit match to the ventilation hole. Don't get carried away - if you bring a match very close, and cobwebs have accumulated in the ventilation shaft, it may burst into flames. A similar check can be carried out with a strip of thin paper - the simplest one, newspaper, will do.
Judging by the even flame, which does not deviate towards the decorative grille covering the ventilation hole, we can conclude that the shaft is clogged and needs urgent cleaning. With normal air circulation in houses, the flame leans towards the shaft, and in some cases simply goes out. With this behavior, cleaning the ventilation is not necessary, but if it was last cleaned at least six months ago, it is still advisable to do a little work.
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How to clean the ventilation in an apartment
At first glance, if representatives of utility services perform their duties in a timely manner, there is no need to take measures to clean the air ducts on their own. But in reality everything is somewhat different. The ventilation structure must perform the following functions:
Scheme of ventilation operation in the apartment: 1 - air flow zone; 2 - air flow zone; 3 - air exhaust zone
- ensure that sufficient air enters the room;
- together with the air exhausted during the cleaning process, release harmful microscopic particles that can have Negative influence on people's health;
- perform the functions of a thermal regulator, control the humidity in the apartment.
Cleaning ventilation risers in an apartment building should only be carried out by specialists, but urgently clean the air duct in own apartment you can do it yourself. If these actions are ineffective, this further confirms the need for cleaning. ventilation riser. This means that you need to make this request to the building maintenance company as soon as possible.
To clean the ventilation shaft inside the apartment, remove the protective grille from it and wash it thoroughly. It is advisable to use detergent, capable of breaking down fat: it will create a film on the surface of the grate, which will help it stay clean longer. Remove dirt and debris from outside open hole. If deposits are stuck to the wall, use a putty knife, but do not apply chemicals cleaning.
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Removing contaminants from the inside
Each of the ventilation vents in the apartment must be checked separately. If you are testing using a lighter, apply it to each hole one at a time and check to see if the direction of the flame or the angle of the newspaper is different if a strip of newspaper is used. Deviations may indicate that there is a blockage in the middle of the room. Here a dish brush or a thin steel cable will come to your aid; place it in the vent and thoroughly clean everything from the inside. You can use thin aluminum wire. The cleaning procedure should be carried out along the entire channel. The remaining debris can be removed with a vacuum cleaner. Place his hose in the shaft and try to cover as much space as possible, moving it in different directions.
The industrial method of cleaning air ducts involves the use of professional equipment. It will not only allow you to clearly see the dirt, but also clean the channels more thoroughly and also allow you to disinfect. This method cleaning makes it possible to remove any garbage, whatever its origin.
If it is not possible to use professional equipment and you decide to carry out the cleaning yourself, you must take precautions. Sometimes there are wasp nests with live insects or other equally dangerous creatures. But when taking on such work, we must remember that cleaning the ventilation apartment building- the responsibility of the owners of the building or the organization that serves it. The average resident should not work inside the main duct. The relevant authorities must promptly clean the central air ducts, and if they neglect their duties, a complaint must be filed against them.
