Ventilation cleaning: cleaning ventilation ducts in an apartment building

Many residents of multi-storey buildings, especially old buildings, can tell you what culinary preferences their neighbors have, what they treated themselves to for dinner and what they served for lunch. However, we are not talking about telepathy; the neighbor’s menu can be recognized simply by the smell that is felt in the apartment.

If this happens constantly, it means that it is necessary to clean the ventilation, which has ceased to cope with the functions assigned to it. Our recommendations will help restore normal air exchange in the apartment. Minor blockages can be eliminated on your own, but to solve more complex problems you will have to call in specialists.

We will tell you how the ventilation system of a house works, what are the reasons and signs of its malfunction. Here you will learn how to organize the removal of exhaust air and the supply of fresh air. For visual understanding, photo selections, diagrams, and videos are attached to the article.

Functional purpose of ventilation

The air we breathe in the apartment only seems clean. In fact, it absorbs all the odors coming from the kitchen, carbon monoxide from the stove. It contains particles of dust, lint from clothing, carpeting, and pet hair.

Harmful microorganisms and bacteria accumulate in the air, which contribute to the development of serious diseases; moisture and steam coming from the bathroom cause the formation of fungus and stains. All this negatively affects the microclimate of the room, contributes to the appearance of lung diseases, allergies and other ailments.

Ventilation helps to avoid negative health consequences, as it performs several important functions:

• ensures the supply of clean air to the apartment,
• allows you to remove odors, dust, bacteria, carbon monoxide and other harmful components from the room;
• regulates humidity levels.

Ventilation is one of the vital utilities of an apartment building. The State Commission will never accept a facility that has no or faulty ventilation system.

If there is insufficient air circulation and poor ventilation, mold and mildew may form on the walls of the room

Construction of a general house ventilation system

Indoor ventilation is a complex engineering system; its arrangement depends on a number of factors, among which the most important is the total number of floors of the building.

The installation of ventilation shafts in multi-storey buildings is carried out according to different schemes, For example:

1. Each apartment has its own exhaust duct with access to the roof.
2. The exhaust ducts coming from the apartments are connected into one horizontal box, which collects all the incoming air and then leads it to the roof through a common duct.
3. Satellite exhaust ducts exit from each apartment into a common shaft leading to a warm attic, which is used as an intermediate chamber.There is one large hood in the attic to exhaust all the air to the roof.

Ventilation performed according to the first scheme is effective for low buildings. It was very common in earlier times, when houses were generally built no higher than four floors. The installation of such a system requires a lot of space, and it is impractical to use it for tall buildings, so today it is practically not used.

The second scheme was widely used in Khrushchev-era buildings and in buildings of 9-16 storeys. In new buildings, the latter scheme is most often used, which is considered the most effective ventilation system for high-rise buildings.

The figure shows four diagrams used for arranging an exhaust system in apartment buildings. The first is used in 3-4 storey buildings, the second and third are used in 5-9 buildings, the fourth scheme is used in modern high-rise buildings (+)

Natural air exchange in the apartment

There are a number of requirements that ventilation in residential premises must meet.

In accordance with GOST 30494-2011, it must provide:

• air quality indoors not lower than permissible limits (up to 1000 CO2 cm3/m3);
• optimal humidity premises within 30-60%;
• air flow speed no more than 0.2 m/s.

Multi-apartment buildings use natural ventilation. In each apartment (in the bathroom, toilet, kitchen, storage room) there are exhaust ducts through which exhaust dirty air leaves the room. Streams of clean air enter the apartment through vents, cracks in windows and doors.

So that air can circulate freely throughout the apartment, small gaps of 1-2 cm are left between the floor and interior doors

This ventilation scheme was previously used everywhere in the construction of five and nine-story buildings. In the past, wooden windows were installed in houses, which, due to the large number of cracks, performed their function perfectly.

However, in new houses this scheme does not work effectively, since metal-plastic window structures are sealed and do not allow air to pass through. In modern buildings, forced ventilation systems and a variety of supply and exhaust devices, which ensure optimal operation of indoor ventilation.

The supply ventilation unit can be located directly above the double-glazed window, as in the figure, or on the wall in close proximity to the window structure

Reasons for ineffective hood operation

Problems with the operation of the exhaust system are familiar firsthand to owners of apartments built in the Soviet era. Residents of new buildings are, for the most part, deprived of the pleasure of being present at their neighbors' meals, since new houses are equipped with modern forced ventilation systems.

Such systems do not allow foreign odors to enter the apartment.

Cobwebs, dirt and dust accumulated in the exhaust duct are one of the main reasons for insufficient air circulation in the room

Reason #1. The decrease in ventilation efficiency in old houses is, in principle, a fairly predictable process. The main reason is a simple blockage of the ventilation duct, which over time accumulates debris, dirt, dust and other waste coming from the premises.

As a result, the outlet narrows and becomes unable to fully process the dirty air taken in.

In apartment buildings united by a common ventilation shaft, pollution from individual ducts enters the general building system. Gradually, the mine becomes clogged with debris and can become completely clogged. A process that lasts for years can lead to the functioning of the ventilation system being paralyzed.

This problem can be solved by air duct restoration and eliminating the root causes of their partial or complete blocking.

Reason #2. Another prerequisite that contributes to the deterioration of air exchange is the presence of a powerful kitchen hood in the neighbor’s apartment. However, this is quite understandable. Intra-house natural ventilation is designed for air flow up to 90 m³/hour.

One hood creates an air flow of more than 1000 m³/hour, naturally, neighboring ventilation ducts leading into the common shaft suffer from this. What if there is not just one hood, but every other neighbor has one? The answer is obvious.

A hood significantly improves the microclimate in a neighbor’s kitchen, but it can also have a negative impact on the operation of natural ventilation in other apartments connected by a common building ventilation shaft

Reason #3. Replacing wooden windows with metal-plastic ones is also a factor that negatively affects the performance of the ventilation system. It turns out that the tightness inherent in modern double-glazed windows does not always play into the hands of residents of old houses.

In Soviet times, only the lazy did not scold builders who made mistakes in installing windows and doors. As it turned out today, the “culprits” worked strictly according to instructions for the benefit of the residents, because For the full functioning of natural ventilation, cracks are needed, which were abundant in old wooden windows.

The holes provide a constant flow of fresh air from the street, and sealed metal-plastic structures, on the contrary, block it. As a result, humidity in the room increases, windows fog up, and mold and mildew form on the walls.

Modern double-glazed windows cannot provide adequate air exchange in an apartment in a multi-storey building that uses a natural ventilation system. Foggy windows indicate excessive humidity in the room and the need to use forced ventilation devices

Reason #4. To a large extent, the operation of the ventilation system depends on the season. Most often, problems with the hood appear during hot periods, while in winter the exhaust hatch functions properly.

The fact is that the efficiency of a natural ventilation system is directly dependent on the difference in temperature inside and outside the building.

In summer, the temperature outside and in the apartment is almost the same, which is why problems arise. According to the old SNiPs, it was assumed that in hot weather air exchange would be carried out by ventilating the room with open windows.

Signs of an urgent need for cleaning

The reasons for poor ventilation performance listed above indicate one thing - the system needs constant monitoring and periodic cleaning.

You can understand that the ventilation duct needs to be cleaned by the following signs:

• dust, cobwebs, and debris have accumulated near the exhaust vent;
• the ventilation grille is covered with black deposits, soot and grease;
• in the summer, the apartment began to heat up very quickly;
• after wet cleaning, dust appears again after a short period of time;
• the drafts that arise in the apartment when opening the front door have become much weaker than before.

To finally make sure that the ventilation needs to be cleaned, you can check further every vent. This is quite easy to do using available tools. When checking the draft, it is necessary that at least one of the windows in the apartment is open.

Such a grille clearly indicates that the ventilation in the apartment is practically not working, and the exhaust vent requires urgent cleaning

Home methods for checking the performance of ventilation ducts:

1. Bring a burning candle, lighter or lighted match to the ventilation grille. If there is good draft in the channel, the flame will be directed towards the exhaust. A fire that burns evenly indicates a lack of ventilation.
2. Take a sheet of paper or a piece of newspaper and apply it to the hole. During normal operation of the ventilation system, the paper is attracted to the grille and does not fall.

If it turns out that the ventilation does not function at all or works extremely poorly, it is necessary to clean it. Cleaning of ventilation ducts in an apartment building is carried out by specialized services. Their arsenal includes inspection and cleaning equipment ventilation ducts

But if the need arises, each resident of the house can clean their section of the air duct independently.

When checking draft using an open flame, you need to be extremely careful not to accidentally set fire to cobwebs and accumulated debris inside the vent. This especially applies to residents of gas-connected buildings, where a fire may occur due to a gas leak in one of the entrance apartments

Ventilation inspection by licensed services

The ventilation system is a common property, and the management company is responsible for its maintenance and safe operation. Government Decree No. 410 developed rules that should guide management companies when inspecting and cleaning indoor ventilation ducts.

According to the Rules, inspection of chimneys and ventilation, as well as their cleaning, must be carried out by specialized licensed companies. The check is carried out during any reconstruction or repair of the system, as well as if a lack of traction is detected.

Diagnostics of the functioning of the exhaust duct is carried out with a special device - an anemometer, which measures and analyzes the air flow speed

The frequency of scheduled inspections is three times a year (before, after and in the middle of the heating season). Specialists have professional equipment that they use to check the performance of the ventilation system.

A pneumatic brushing machine is used to clean dirt. In addition, the canals are disinfected.

Self-cleaning of the ventilation duct

Despite existing rules, many management companies do not show up at residents’ apartments for years to check the functionality of the ventilation system. Therefore, residents of high-rise buildings are forced to periodically diagnose and clean their exhaust vents themselves.

If the exhaust hole is slightly dirty, you can achieve results using a regular brush

The ventilation hatch can be cleaned with minor dirt, but if dirt has accumulated in it for years, then it is better to call specialists.

Self-cleaning is carried out as follows:

1. Remove ventilation grilles, they are well cleaned of dirt and dust and washed under running water.
2. Clean the walls of the ventilation duct, which can be reached. For work, use a metal brush or wire.
3. Clear the hole remove debris using a vacuum cleaner.

Actually, this is where all homework on cleaning ventilation holes ends. If there is reverse draft in the air duct and the smells of neighbors are carried into the apartment, you can replace the old ventilation grille with model with check valve.

If they did not lead to the desired result, and the draft in the channel remained at the same level, then there is a blockage in the common shaft. This is the work of special services that can be called through the Criminal Code.

Licensed companies use professional equipment and special cleaning technologies, which are selected after a thorough examination of the canal and taking into account its current condition

Upgrading the system to improve performance

In old houses, mechanical cleaning of the ventilation shaft, even by specialized services, does not always bring the desired effect. However, it is possible to increase air circulation in the apartment. There are several quite accessible ways to improve ventilation.

If you decide to replace old wooden windows with modern metal-plastic structures, choose double-glazed windows equipped with a micro-ventilation function. If ordinary plastic windows are purchased, additional devices can be installed on them to provide fresh air from the street.

For example, there are ventilator valves, you can additionally purchase special fittings that allow you to close the windows loosely.

Fittings for multi-stage ventilation will allow you to organize more efficient ventilation in the apartment

Special supply and exhaust fans allow you to increase air circulation in the room. There are window, ceiling and wall devices. In the toilet and bathroom you can install an exhaust fan right at the entrance to the ventilation duct instead of a decorative grille.

Organizing a forced exhaust system, the functions of which is performed by a conventional fan, will help solve the problem of bathroom ventilation.

The fan operates from the electrical network; it can be connected to a general switch and then it will turn on along with the light. You can draw an additional line and connect the device to a separate switch so that it works autonomously.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

You can learn how to independently check the operation of ventilation in an apartment from the video:

What to do if home ventilation is not working well, restoring the functionality of the exhaust duct:

How to professionally clean ventilation shafts in apartment buildings:

Ventilation plays a leading role in ensuring safe living in an apartment. A careless attitude towards this system and neglect of the rules of care can lead to health problems, and for residents of gasified houses it can result in even more serious consequences.

Therefore, it is necessary to monitor the condition of ventilation and, if necessary, contact specialized services.

If you have experience in cleaning the ventilation duct of an apartment, please share the information with our readers. Leave comments and ask questions on the topic in the form below.