It often happens that the ventilation blows into the apartment, and there is little pleasant here. In addition to the fact that stale and polluted air will reach you from there, it will also bring in unpleasant odors, and in winter also cold air.
Backdraft is a common problem for residents of high-rise buildings
Ventilation of any type has a specific purpose - to remove dirty air from the room and replace it with clean air. And if the air exchange is disrupted, then this can result in allergies or other diseases for the guests of such housing, because the immune system will be weakened. The problem with ventilation in an apartment is most often observed in buildings that were built during the Soviet era. Why is this happening? Let's figure it out.
Natural ventilation at home
What is this ventilation system? Essentially, this is a complex of air ducts in a private house or a system of shafts in an apartment building, in which there is one main riser stretching from the basement to the roof. It is this that creates the draft due to the temperature difference between indoors and outdoors. And the greater this difference, the stronger the hood works. Let's add wind perpendicular pressure like cross sections. This is when the wind blows in a horizontal direction relative to the riser, and it pulls air from the ventilation with it. That is, air is sucked out of the premises naturally, and not with the help of additional equipment such as a fan.
Of course, in such a system there must be an air flow so that a vacuum does not form inside the house or the draft does not decrease. Therefore, vents are left in the foundation or holes are made in the floor of the first floor.
OXY: three in one
There is such a way - this is the installation of compact and inexpensive supply ventilation OXY. It allows you to get rid of drafts forever: with it you can keep the windows closed, and at the same time there will always be clean and fresh air in the apartment.
How is this possible? In fact, there is nothing complicated in the principle of operation of OXY. It is a small device with an electric fan, an air heating system, filters and an electronic control unit. Before installing OXY, a through hole (diameter 125 mm) is drilled in the outer wall using a modern diamond drilling machine. The device is hung on this hole. When turned on, the fan forces a flow of fresh air from the street into the room. If necessary, the air will be heated to a comfortable temperature: the ceramic heating system in the device is responsible for this. This eliminates any possibility of drafts.
Thanks to this technical solution, your apartment or house will always have a comfortable microclimate and fresh air with the windows closed.
This way a compromise is reached for all family members. There is no need to argue about whether to close or open the window - after all, the apartment is fresh and there are no drafts.
Moreover, your home will be protected from allergens, germs and city smog. The device will retain all these contaminants using built-in air filters.
Causes of air circulation problems
If the ventilation system is not working correctly, there is a reason for it. There are many of them, but the main two are:
- There is no supply ventilation.
- The temperature inside is lower than outside. This usually happens in the summer when it is hot.
But the main reason is the lack of supply air flows. Typically, in apartments, outlets to the ventilation shaft are made through the bathroom, toilet and kitchen. And the air flow occurred through the windows (their leaks) and the front door. Today, when plastic windows are installed instead of wooden windows with complete sealing of joints and connections, the problem of inflow has become serious. Most often, backdraft appears because of this. This problem is solved by installing supply valves into window systems.
Other causes of traction failure and reverse flow include:
- malfunctions of the system itself;
- installing fans instead of grilles;
- installation of a flow hood, which is connected to the ventilation duct;
- absence of an umbrella on the roof or destruction of the mouth of the canal.
Installation of supply channels
Supply channels are holes that are made from the street side to create additional air flow directed into the room. The flow direction is controlled by two valves. But it is better if the valves are installed in advance in plastic windows to improve tightness and the possibility of normal air circulation.
Ventilation valve in window frame
Principle of operation
Each valve has a grille inside to protect against excess debris entering the room. And for sound insulation, a special box is installed on the outside of the hole.
You should choose only high-quality valves. Cheap models cannot function normally at large temperature ranges or air will pass through even when closed.
An important condition is the creation of a good indoor microclimate. For this purpose, cleaning filters, ionizers, and control systems are installed. The devices will allow air to be humidified and ionized for disinfection purposes.
Causes of ventilation malfunction
The causes of the malfunction can be attributed to a large number of factors. The main thing you need to understand is that when there is blowing from the ventilation system in an apartment, it is not the same thing if the same effect appears in a private house. That is, faults in two buildings may be different, because the traction failure in them has different causes.
For example, in an apartment this most often happens due to the installation of a fan or hood in the kitchen, which begins to press through its channel, and the air inside, moving to the riser with pressure, does not have time to pass the entire mass upward. That is, part of it ends up in the adjacent channel of the toilet or bathroom. It is in these rooms that the opposite effect occurs. The same thing happens in the opposite direction, if the fan in the kitchen is turned off and the fan in the toilet is on. This also happens with neighboring apartments located one above the other.
This suggests that you cannot thoughtlessly install additional exhaust devices without calculating their power. And the more powerful the fan, the stronger the reverse draft of the ventilation system in the apartment of a multi-story building.
For this reason, this cannot happen in a private house, because at the design stage today they try to distribute ventilation ducts to all rooms separately. That is, the kitchen has its own riser, and the toilet and bathroom have their own. But sometimes another problem arises in the house. Most often, risers are combined into one or two common channels inside the attic, and then one or two pipes are discharged through the roofing. And here horizontal sections appear in the ventilation system. The main task of the designer is to use as little of this type of air duct as possible, and to minimize the angle of inclination of horizontal sections (the reduction should be minimal). That is, the steeper this section, the better the upward air movement.
And three more reasons:
- Lack of thermal insulation. Cold air in winter enters the air ducts, where it freezes, turning into ice. This usually occurs at the mouth of the canal. The consequences are a reduction in the cross section.
- Lack of an umbrella (visor), which can lead to rain and reduced traction. This disrupts air exchange.
- The ventilation in the house is clogged with debris.
So, in order to remove backdraft, you must first understand why it appears.
What is a draft and why is it dangerous?
This is a stream of air that, in a confined space, passes through slightly open windows and doors, as well as cracks in the walls located opposite each other.
The main danger of a draft for a person is that it acts constantly and on the same point. It takes us by surprise: the house is warm, but under the influence of a cool air flow the body begins to cool locally, in one place - for example, in the neck, head, lower back or back.
In children's rooms, special attention should be paid to eliminating drafts, since such exposure is especially dangerous for children's health. If your neck or head gets in the way of the air flow while you sleep, this can cause colds, tonsillitis, otitis media, sore throats and other diseases.
For adults, local cooling often results in “lumbago”, myositis and severe back pain. If a stream of cool air is exposed to the face for a long time, then due to hypothermia, inflammation of the facial nerves may occur. Exposure to a draft on the chest can result in intercostal neuralgia - an extremely unpleasant disease that causes sharp pain when sitting, bending and walking.
Special attention to combating drafts should be given to those who suffer from chronic diseases of the kidneys and joints: local hypothermia can provoke a sharp exacerbation of the disease.
Causes of reverse thrust
As mentioned above, reverse draft in ventilation appears for two main reasons:
- Complete sealing of the premises.
- Installation of additional exhaust devices in ventilation ducts.
All other reasons are secondary, some of which do not create reverse draft, but simply the ventilation stops working. Ventilation in an apartment is more difficult, because the system itself is a complex set of channels, often made of concrete. Branches extend from the riser throughout all apartments, through which air from the premises must be removed to the street. And if a neighbor on the lower floor installs a powerful kitchen hood, then not only he, but also the neighbors on the floors closest to him will feel the reverse flow of air masses.
In a private house, reverse draft occurs for other reasons, because the ventilation in the apartment differs from the ventilation system of a private house. This is where installing fans can solve the problem. But you just need to determine the installation location using different risers.
Why is a ventilation system needed?
A ventilation system is necessary in an apartment; it allows you to clean the air from unpleasant odors, dust, particles of fur flying in the air, if there is an animal, and enrich the room with clean air so necessary for human life, thereby avoiding various diseases that arise from a lack of oxygen. In addition, during human activity, a large amount of carbon dioxide accumulates in the apartment and high humidity is formed, which contributes to the development of mold and mildew on the walls of the rooms. In turn, the ventilation system ensures ventilation of the room and helps to avoid the formation of mold and mildew on the walls.
Solving the problem using a fan
Many people probably thought that the conversation was about installing fans in place of ventilation grilles. Nobody forbids doing this, although it has already been described above what this can lead to.
We are talking about a fan that is installed in the system on the roof. This may be a mechanical deflector or a rotary turbine. Both devices are powered by the wind, so they are of no use in calm weather. Although, as practice shows, it is the installation of these devices that sharply increases traction and prevents reverse flow.
As for fans on ventilation grilles, you should first calculate their power. It depends on the cross-section of the ventilation ducts and on such indicators as air exchange in the premises. For example, in the kitchen this figure should vary in the range of 12-20 m³/hour depending on the type of stove and the number of burners.
To do this, you need to calculate the volume of the kitchen. For example, a room area of 3x4 m with a ceiling height of 3 m, the volume will be 36 m³. Now we multiply the resulting value by a factor of 12-20. At the minimum value, the fan performance is 432, at the maximum 720 m³/hour.
Floor, ceiling and walls
Article on the topic
Carpet and fan. 10 ways to make your apartment warmer Floor insulation is only necessary if the apartment is on the ground floor. It is carried out as follows: special logs (wooden blocks) are laid out on the concrete screed, insulation is placed between them (most often mineral wool), the structure is covered with plywood on top, on which the finishing coating is already laid. Approximately the same technology is used to insulate the ceiling and walls, and today this procedure does not cost that much money, and therefore it is better to carry it out if necessary: a carpet on the wall does not protect you from the cold at all.
Preventive measures
What needs to be done to prevent backdraft from forming.
- Keep the ventilation system in good condition.
- Do not install fans or hoods into ventilation ducts. Use a recirculating hood or vent it outside the room to the street: through a wall or window glass.
- Install baffles or rotary turbines at the end of the riser.
- Organize air flow into the premises by any means.
- Install interior doors that block air movement between rooms. Strong drafts are also causes of backflow.
- Clean the ventilation system from snow and ice in winter.
- Check ventilation periodically.
Expert review
To obtain a professional assessment of the ventilation condition, you will need to invite an appropriate specialist who, after the inspection, will draw up regulatory documents where the system parameters are entered. The status report will include ways to address existing deficiencies.
The examination includes three stages:
- Study of project documents.
- Equipment check.
- Finding the reasons for malfunction.
A video endoscope is used to search for blocked wire paths. All identified deficiencies are eliminated within 45 days.
Prevention measures
First of all, you need to pay attention to the thermal insulation of the room if we are talking about a house. If possible, get rid of old, cracked wooden windows with cracks and install new double-glazed windows. If any problems still arise, there are special covers on the window sill that protect against air currents. Similar ones exist for doors if they do not close tightly.
Next, you can change the flooring to carpet or something similar. This will additionally insulate the room and also eliminate cracks under the door. And although caring for such a coating is more labor-intensive, your health is worth it.
You should also pay attention to the air conditioning, if there is one. It should be located so that the air flow from it is not directed towards people. The ideal location is in the hallway or corridor, where no one is constantly present.
Another point is choosing the right clothes. Where it is not possible to change the location of the table, for example, standing in a draft, you need to insulate it. It is worth paying attention to the most vulnerable parts of the body - legs and feet. Their hypothermia is fraught with colds, sinusitis and even toothache. In second place, especially for women, is the lower back. It is also worth taking care of your neck, shoulders and ears; their hypothermia also leads to unpleasant consequences. And, of course, it makes sense to pay attention to your immunity - carry out vitamin therapy and hardening.
Finally, the golden rule: if the window is open, the door must be closed. And vice versa.
How to install a fan and check its operation
Let's look at the most difficult installation method
First you need to completely prepare the place for installation. To do this, you will need to supply power and make an exhaust hole of the required size. It is best to carry out these operations at the repair stage. Another tip is to choose a fan based on the size of the ventilation duct pipe to reduce the amount of work.
The installation itself is quite simple. First you need to remove the grille from the fan. Then secure it into the prepared exhaust duct. The next step is to connect it to the power supply. All that remains is to put the grille in place, but before that we recommend attaching the mosquito net.
Installation
Checking the result
To check the traction characteristics of the installed ventilation, you will only need to have a match with you. The check is done as follows: light a match and bring it to the switched on hood. If everything works fine, the fire will go out. If this does not happen, there is most likely a problem with the flow into the bathroom or apartment.
To solve it, it will be enough to install a supply valve in the room (wall or window). Also take care of the flow into the bathroom; for this purpose, door valves are installed in the doors.
