What to do if ventilation in the apartment and house does not work? Overview of possible causes and remedies

You must admit that ventilation is the most invisible and at the same time the most important of communications. But, unfortunately, she is remembered only when her absence or poor work is felt: the windows fog up, the smoke from the kitchen does not disappear, and the smell from the bathroom spoils the atmosphere in the entire apartment.

These are signals that air exchange is stopped or significantly reduced. What should be done if the ventilation in the apartment is not working: what to do to restore it? We will tell you what to do if there is suddenly no breath in the house / office / apartment.

You will learn what functions the ventilation system performs, how to check its operation, and what steps to take to eliminate the malfunction. After reading the article, you will be able to independently check the ventilation, and in some cases fix problems.

Varieties of ventilation systems

The classification of air ducts depends on how the air flows in the ventilation:

• natural;
• artificial.

According to the purpose of the system, there can be:

• exhaust (remove exhaust air from the room);
• inflow (supply oxygen to the dwelling).

The cheapest type of ventilation is natural. There is no need to purchase expensive equipment, as well as to consume electricity for its functioning.

However, natural ventilation can be ineffective in regions with inclement weather.

For the device of artificial ventilation, installation of ventilation equipment is required: air handling unit, air ducts, recuperator, air heater, filters. The main advantage of this type is its independence from the weather. The air in the room is mechanically ventilated. The optimal solution is a combination of natural and artificial extraction.

How ventilation works

The most common type of ventilation in our apartment buildings is natural. This is an extensive network of exhaust ducts connected to a common riser of a residential building. Such a channel has an outlet in every apartment: in the bathroom and in the kitchen.

Exhaust openings are closed with grilles. Air inflow occurs spontaneously through open vents, PVC window inlets, leaks in window and door frames, ventilation valves and similar devices.

Natural ventilation is provided by the action of gravity:

• differences in pressure and temperature indoors and outdoors;
• the strength of the wind.

If there is no air exchange, musty air accumulates in the room, which leads to poor health of the residents, the windows fog up, and a fungus appears. To improve the microclimate, people have to additionally ventilate their homes. In winter, such a step does not allow efficient use of heat and electricity.

If the natural movement of air is impeded by sealed obstacles, for example, plastic windows or an effective seal in the doorway, care should be taken to organize a forced one. In this case, the fans are recommended to be installed in a false ceiling or directly under the ceiling itself.

Several channels are installed:

• to provide rooms with fresh air;
• for its removal after pollution from the room.

For air intake, living rooms are selected, and the air flow is removed through exhaust openings located in kitchens, combined bathrooms, showers, separate toilets and bathrooms.

If the natural exhaust system in the house or apartment does not work, you need to contact the management company. Its employees will find out and eliminate the cause of the malfunction. If the methods are commonplace ventilation cleaning turn out to be ineffective, then a chamber is lowered into the ventilation shaft, with the help of which the cause and place of the blockage is revealed.

This can be a jam created by compacted dust, or an ice plug, etc. As a last resort, the mine is disassembled at the level of clogging. Such work can only be carried out by employees of the management company, which is entrusted with the management of the residential property.

How to check if the ventilation is working?

You can check how efficiently the ventilation copes with its functions.

For this you need:

• open the window;
• attach a piece of napkin or toilet paper to the exhaust duct.

If the sheet does not react in any way, the channel is clogged, if it "sticks" to the grate, it means that the ventilation is working properly.

Testing the efficiency of the ventilation system is carried out at a temperature not higher than +5 outside. In the hot season, the physical parameters of the air inside and outside the house are equal, which is why the natural, i.e. there is no gravitational movement of the air mass.

Reasons for malfunction of the exhaust system

Let's consider the most common reasons that affect the quality of air exchange, and find out how to eliminate them. Some can be dealt with on their own, and to solve a particular type of problem, you will have to seek help from the employees of the housing office, the management company or the housing association.

Ventilation clogged with debris

The most commonplace reason is garbage in the ventilation shaft. To reveal this fact, you should remove the grille and use a flashlight to inspect the channel. If the debris is within reach, you can use a vacuum cleaner to clean the debris. In the event that the litter is too far away, residents are prohibited from removing it on their own.

System disrupted by neighbors

The ventilation operation may be affected by the installation of additional equipment by neighbors, a powerful fan or kitchen hoodwhich forcibly remove the exhaust air through the duct. The ventilation system of the neighbors works fine, but the fast air flow forms a damper, which prevents the correct operation of the exhaust system in other rooms.

Also, the reason may be a change in the layout of neighbors. Such actions, which are not approved by the housing inspectorate, are considered illegal. They refer to an administrative violation and entail a fine, often with the complete restoration of the components of the original layout.

Installation of sealed plastic windows

Despite a number of advantages of new double-glazed windows (sound insulation, thermal insulation, simplicity of construction), it is the windows that can cause air stagnation in the apartment.

The solution is simple - to arrange micro-ventilation. However, together with the air, they penetrate into the room:

• noise;
• dust;
• cold.

In the harsh climate of the northern regions, this is not the best solution to the problem. Then it is recommended to pay attention to modern equipment. For example, MagicAir is a smart microclimate system station.

You can even set the necessary parameters from your smartphone:

• carbon dioxide level;
• humidity;
• temperature.

This system will allow you to forget about problems with ventilation in your house and apartment forever.

If you are just thinking about replacing wooden windows with a plastic counterpart, pay attention to the models with a built-in supply valve. Such a solution will solve two problems at the same time: tightness and air circulation.

How to ensure proper ventilation?

If natural ventilation is ineffective, forced air circulation is the only solution. This task is handled by powerful exhaust units, which eliminate stagnant air in the room, and also allow you to get rid of unpleasant odors.

The system is installed in the kitchen or in the toilet. The equipment is launched as needed. For convenience, you can configure the inclusion of the hood along with the light.

However, it should be noted that the hood will work correctly only if the windows are ajar. After all, the air drawn by the fan must be replaced by something. And if there is nowhere to take it, then it can be taken from another hood installed by neighbors, from the toilet and other premises.

To solve the problem with ventilation will help supply valvesthat take air from the street. For their installation, a hole is made in the outer wall of the house. Today the range of supply valves is quite wide. The most popular are models designed to be installed between a window and a battery.

Disadvantages of this design:

• if there is no heat source near the valve, then the cold air goes down and starts to "pull";
• the operation of the valves is effective only with a significant temperature difference between the room and the outside;
• in winter it can even blow from a closed valve;
• in order for the supply valve to work adequately, a prerequisite is the serviceability of the hood in the room.

Before purchasing a supply valve, it is recommended to carefully study the characteristics of the device.

The popularity of breathers is growing today. They supply more air than valves. In addition, due to the presence of built-in filters in the room where this equipment is installed, the air is cleaned year-round, and in winter it is automatically warmed up.

Another reason why ventilation in a room may function ineffectively is the lack of a ventilation gap set by the standards between the floor and interior doors.

Competently organized ventilation in the house will allow residents to feel comfortable even with closed windows and doors.

Ventilation is not working: where to go?

A complaint about ventilation in the apartment must be sent to the management company, the housing office or the management of the housing association. The statement should detail the problem. After that, the appeal will be considered and a team will be sent to you to clean the ventilation shaft. The procedure is performed from the roof. A sinker is attached to a long cable, which rushes into the mine and knocks down all obstacles in its path.

However, not everything is so simple in our country. Most often, after submitting an application, the management company wastes time with an engineer's visit. And even after visiting him, the problem is not solved. The fact is that the duties of the fans include only cleaning the exhaust duct if it is clogged. If the cause is not a blockage, this is your problem.

The explanation of this outrageous fact is encrypted in the document SP 60.13330.2016 “Heating, ventilation and air conditioning. Updated edition of SNiP 41-01-2003 ".

If earlier wooden frames provided an excellent air flow, then modern plastic structures make the room almost airtight. There is no air flow, the hood does not work, the inspector recommends to ventilate more often.

When asked why the ventilation in the house does not work, the inspector will explain that the flow of air needs a way, and will advise you to keep the windows ajar. In this case, it is recommended that you take matters into your own hands. If it is not possible to constantly open the vents and the inlet of the window, it is necessary to install additional ventilation equipment: exhaust or inlet valve into the wall, breather or air conditioner with fresh air intake from the street.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

Checking and cleaning the ventilation shaft with your own hands:

To maintain the tightness of the apartment and at the same time ensure free air circulation while maintaining a comfortable indoor microclimate, follow these simple guidelines:

• to clean the ventilation duct, you need to contact the organization that controls the apartment building (in a private house, this event is carried out independently);
• leave windows open in micro-ventilation mode;
• ventilate the room more often.

If the above measures do not suit you, and you want to forget about ventilation problems forever, the best solution would be to install additional ventilation equipment, for example, a breather.

Would you like to share your own ventilation problems or how you solved them? Please write your comments in the block below, ask questions on the topic of the article, post a photo. It is possible that your advice will be very useful to site visitors.