Plastic windows significantly benefit from their functionality over glass windows with wooden shutters. Stylish in appearance, with good noise insulation and the ability to maintain a comfortable temperature inside the room outside depending on external factors - all this made plastic windows indispensable and obligatory for construction new homes.
However, they still have some disadvantages. In particular, this is the occurrence of difficulties in natural ventilation in the room, as a result of which various consequences may arise that affect the microclimate of the room and human health. But it is possible to prevent their occurrence without the help of professionals, by providing additional air flow. Why you can install a supply valve in a plastic window with your own hands, using available tools.
And what is needed for this and how to properly perform the installation - we will analyze all this in detail in our article. We will also talk about making a homemade valve and its effectiveness.
The content of the article:
- Functions of the supply valve in the window
- Ways to improve indoor ventilation
-
Installation instructions for the ventilation valve in the window
- Stage # 1 - preparation of tools and materials
- Stage # 2 - attaching the valve to the dowels
- Stage # 3 - installation of the seal
- Stage # 4 - setting and adjusting the valve
- DIY valve making instructions
- Conclusions and useful video on the topic
Functions of the supply valve in the window
Air circulation in a closed room ensures not only regular replacement of air saturated with carbon dioxide with fresh air enriched with oxygen, but also in order to prevent:
- the appearance of condensation on the windows as a result of temperature differences inside and outside;
- education mold as a result of increased humidity inside the room;
- presence of stale air, as well as an increase in the number of microbes and toxic substances in it;
- physiologically perceived lack of oxygen, which leads to increased fatigue, headaches.
A stationary natural supply and exhaust system, provided in every house, must ensure continuous systematic air exchange.
Ventilation ducts, which are usually found in the kitchen, bathroom and toilet, formed in them by natural draft, draw out warm, polluted air. Draft formation is possible with open windows or through possible air filtration through cracks in the frames.
Lack of proper ventilation leads to the formation of condensation on the glass windows and, as a result, an increase in air humidity and the appearance of mold. At the same time, the use of products that remove mold helps for a certain period of time. Mold will reappear without proper ventilation.
This is the main disadvantage of natural ventilation - it was developed at a time when there was no question of the possibility of the existence of plastic windows.
Based on the physical laws of the intake and removal of air from the room, it is not able to work if:
- the ventilation system does not remove the exhaust air in the calculated volume (for example, it is dirty and requires cleansing);
- there is insufficient air supply from the outside.
Plastic windows are sealed enough to allow natural air flow. Thus, the ventilation system is disrupted, which entails the formation of the above side effects affecting health.
The organization of airing rooms by opening windows is not always appropriate. So, in the spring-summer period of time, when the apartment is cooled by air conditioners, opening the window leads to the flow of hot air, and can also cause breakdowns in operation air conditioner.
It should be noted that according to sanitary requirements, airing of premises should be carried out at a time when there are no people in them.
In the absence of normal air exchange, the room should be ventilated at least two to three times a day. However, with stable operation of the ventilation system, ventilation of the room by opening windows is not necessary, since the air circulation provided by it complies with the sanitary standards for enclosed spaces, in which there may be people
Thus, providing plastic windows with additional ventilation means is a necessary measure.
Ways to improve indoor ventilation
Despite the significant minus - an obstacle to the natural circulation of air - the main advantages of plastic windows ensured their widespread use.
They really make life more comfortable, so quite progressive solutions have been developed to eliminate the shortcoming:
- special fittings that provide restrictive window opening and low ventilation of the room;
- wall supply valve;
- window ventilation valve;
- dampers with an opening mechanism.
When choosing a method for providing ventilation, you need to choose the most convenient control method - manual or auto.
Special fittingsand does not provide constant air circulation, since it is based on opening the window and fixing a certain position. Nevertheless, at sharp high or low temperatures outside the window, its use is not justified from the point of view of maintaining the thermal balance inside the room.
Dampers with opening mechanism (they are also called ventilation slats) have a wide variety of designs. Their regulation is carried out manually, and the installation must be designed at the stage of preliminary measurements. Ventilation strips are individual parts that are built directly into the window structure. Their main disadvantage is considered to be a complete violation of the sound insulation of plastic windows.
When ordering windows from the manufacturer, you can prescribe the presence of a hole in the window. Such a design of windows violates the tightness and sound insulation and is not used for supply ventilation. But it is suitable for use as a hood for portable air conditioners
Wall vent valves are different in design and method of air intake into the room. Simple ones have a ventilation grill on the outside and a special plug inside the room.
Existing electrical options are equipped with fans, filters and air heaters. These ducts provide a global solution to the problem of air circulation and are used in large offices and locations where air conditioning is constantly in use. The main disadvantage of such a solution to the ventilation problem is the need to make a through hole of a sufficiently large diameter in the outer wall. And any interference with the facade of the building requires the permission of the management company and the executive authorities.
And finally, the final version of the organization of ventilation in the room - window vent valve. Usually they think about this ventilation system at the stage of ordering windows, however, when building company houses developers almost never think over these moments, leaving the solution of the ventilation issue to the future tenants.
It should be noted that building codes provide for the presence of special ventilation valves in metal-plastic windows.
You can solve the problem of ventilation of plastic windows with your own hands. Further in the article, the stages of self-introduction of ventilation into a plastic window will be considered.
Installation instructions for the ventilation valve in the window
Modern supply valves have a very practical shape and are easy to install.
The developers have given them a modern design, which, together with the small size of the structure, allows them to fit perfectly into a plastic window without disturbing the overall design.
The supply valve has a miniature size and practically does not violate the tightness of the window. So, in case of slanting rain, it will ensure that the interior of the room is kept dry, and in case of strong wind will ensure the flow of air specified by the manufacturer into the room
The main plus of the ventilation valve is the round-the-clock supply of air to the room without the need to open windows.
There are two types of valves:
- manually operated;
- with automatic control.
The difference lies in the presence of sensors in automatic valves. They independently regulate the volume of supply air entering the room, depending on the readings of air humidity, the percentage of carbon dioxide in the room. The ventilation valve automatically opens the flaps more or less, letting in the required amount of fresh air into the room. Also in valves with automatic control, manual regulation is provided.
The main advantages of a ventilation window valve are:
- the absence of noise with large volumes of air intake, its presence does not affect the sound insulation of the window;
- filtration of the air entering the room;
- the ability to adjust the supply air volume;
- air distribution throughout the room occurs in a vertical plane;
- the ability to install on window profiles of any kind;
- ease of installation of ventilation in a plastic window with your own hands.
Installing a valve in a window requires minimal construction skills and few working tools. It consists of five stages.
Next, we will consider the step-by-step process of installing the valve into the window.
Stage # 1 - preparation of tools and materials
The first stage includes preparing the necessary tools and materials for work and determining the place where the valve will be installed.
When preparing, you need to pick up the following tools: a clerical knife, a screwdriver or screwdriver, double-sided tape, a ruler.
Design and principle of operation of a standard valve: 1 - acoustic outer visor; 2 - section for air passage; 3 - damper for manual regulation of air supply; 4 - the inner part of the acoustic valve; 5 - direction of the supply air stream
Now let's talk about the materials that are required for the manufacture and installation of the supply valve.
This will require:
- a plastic headset that will play the role of a valve (or a purchased valve, the price of which is around 1000 rubles);
- three pieces of sealant of different lengths (one along the length of the valve);
- self-tapping screws;
- three plugs for attaching the valve.
After the materials and tools have been prepared, it is necessary to determine the location of the ventilation valve. So, the valve should be located at the top of the sash and approximately in the middle. A ruler is used to mark the further location of the valve.
It is worth noting that when choosing the location of the valve, you should try not to hook the window fittings when installing.
Also at this stage you need to prepare the plastic window for installation. To do this, carefully remove the rubber seal. For this, with the help of a clerical knife, neat cuts are made and a further recess of the sealant layer.
Stage # 2 - attaching the valve to the dowels
The second stage begins with the installation of fixing dowels into the grooves where the rubber seal was located. This is necessary for further fastening of the valve in the window sash.
Two fixing dowels are installed at the edges, and the third one is in the center between the first two.
Be sure to proceed carefully when installing the supply valve. It is important to choose the fasteners of the required length so as not to compromise the tightness of the window frame. It is also important to carry out the installation correctly and avoid mechanical damage.
Next, the valve is installed directly. To fix it, double-sided tape is first applied, after which the valve is installed on the window in the desired position.
After that, the valve is fixed to the window profile using self-tapping screws. They are screwed into already installed dowels.
Stage # 3 - installation of the seal
At this stage, instead of the removed seal, insert two seals prepared or supplied with the ventilation valve.
The function of the valve ensures the flow of air. To do this, the standard seal for the plastic window must be replaced with the seal from the kit. Its length is 35 cm, so it will be necessary to remove the same piece of sealant from the window. Removal is carried out on the frame opposite the installed valve.
This completes the process of installing the valve in the plastic window. It remains only to adjust it.
Stage # 4 - setting and adjusting the valve
After installation, it is necessary to adjust the volume of air entering the room using a special engine provided in the valve design. The power level increases from the far left to the far right.
The installation of a ventilation supply valve on the window handle is considered quite functional. This operation is not performed independently - in order to equip ventilation in the handle, you need to order this option in advance from the window manufacturer
It is worth noting that the presence of the air supply regulator (engine) in the extreme left position should only be during routine maintenance.
This valve position is not allowed in daily use. Also, in this position, it cannot be closed.
DIY valve making instructions
Despite the rather complex design, the supply ventilation valve can be made by hand. Further in the article, we will consider the simplest manufacturing method.
The main function of the valve is to provide free flow of air into the room. The homemade product is based on the physical property of air - when heated, its flows move upward.
To make a homemade valve you will need:
- stationery knife;
- a small piece of plastic lining;
- double sided tape;
- cotton wool or foam rubber.
Opening the window, pay attention to the stationary rubber seal, which is applied to the window and frame around the perimeter.
In order to create the necessary air draft, you need to perform the following steps:
- in the lower part, we cut off a small piece of the seal from the window frame (size from 5 to 10 cm);
- in the upper part we cut off the same length of a stationary rubber seal, but already directly from the window.
Thus, getting from the street into the space between the frame and the window, the cold air will warm up and gradually go out through the upper opening into the room. The simplest device for providing air from the outside is ready.
The presence of a rubber seal ensures the tightness of plastic windows. The photo shows: 1- seal on the window frame; 2 - seal on the window
Many stop at this, however, with such ventilation, dust and dirt from the street will get inside the room, settling on the frame, window and getting inside.
To avoid this, you can do the following:
- carefully cut the plastic lining across the section, making a strip a couple of millimeters wide;
- fill the spaces of the plastic compartments with cotton wool or foam rubber;
- fix the resulting structure with double-sided tape in place of the cut of the stationary rubber seal.
The resulting device in its functionality will not be inferior to the supply valves manufactured at the factory, and at a price it will come out much cheaper.
If this method of organizing the air flow seems difficult to you, we recommend that you read the instructions for creating window sill ventilation.
Conclusions and useful video on the topic
This video shows how you can install a do-it-yourself ventilation supply valve:
And this video describes in detail the steps for making a supply valve with your own hands:
Installing a supply valve will eliminate the problems of fogging plastic windows, mold formation, and the appearance of an unpleasant odor in the room. At the same time, there will be no need to take care of ventilation, regularly opening windows - ventilation will be provided around the clock at any time of the year.
Manufacturing and installing a supply valve in a window is not particularly difficult - you can cope with the work on your own with a minimum set of tools and lack of skills. The whole process of installing the ventilation valve, if you follow the instructions above, will take about 40 minutes of your time.
If you still have questions about the installation of a window valve or its manufacture, you can ask our experts and other site visitors - the feedback form is located below. Also here you can share your personal experience of installing the supply valve in plastic windows, add unique photos for installation or DIY.
