How to clean the ventilation in an apartment with your own hands: suitable tools and work procedure

Hearing the aromas of cooking dishes throughout the apartment is not very pleasant, is it? And if at the same time the windows in the kitchen begin to fog up, and the air in the bathroom becomes musty and stale, the reason is most likely a malfunction of the ventilation system.

It is necessary to fix the problems as soon as possible so as not to risk the health of all residents, as well as the condition of the furniture and other interior items. In addition, the well-being and tone of not only household members, but also neighbors directly depends on the quality of ventilation. But how to clean the ventilation in an apartment with your own hands and what will you need for this?

We will examine these issues in detail in our publication - we will talk about how to establish the cause of unfavorable microclimatic conditions in a room. We will also consider the main methods of cleaning ventilation yourself, supplementing the information with a selection of thematic photos, videos and diagrams.

When is it time to clean your ventilation system?

Dust in the air duct, both dry and oily, is highly flammable. In apartment buildings, this is also fraught with the spread of toxic fumes and suffocating smoke.

You can determine the need to clean the ventilation in a particular apartment building based on several criteria:

1. A large amount of cobwebs and fine dust forms on the ventilation grille and around it.
2. In summer, the room is stuffy, which was not there before.
3. Dust accumulates on the floor and surfaces of objects within 12-24 hours after wet cleaning.
4. The room feels characteristically damp and condensation forms on the glass.

As a rule, the reason is trivial - critical blockage of the ventilation ducts. But the issue may also be due to the failure of ventilation equipment. It is not advisable to wait for obvious signs of malfunction to appear. Regular maintenance will prevent damage to repairs, active spread of fungal spores and deterioration of microclimatic conditions.

To clean the ventilation duct, use plastic round whisks. Their twigs do not break off. An ordinary broom, preferably made from spruce branches of coniferous trees, is also suitable for this purpose.

Ventilation systems should be cleaned twice a year. Specialists can set other deadlines after analyzing the condition of the air ducts, but, as a rule, manipulations in summer and winter are sufficient. Preventive inspection - at least once a quarter.

Causes of ventilation system malfunctions

Ventilation stops working in the following cases:

1. After incorrect installation of metal-plastic windows.
2. As a result of an imbalance caused by third-party interference in the system.
3. Due to mistakes made by the architects.

Similar problems occur not only in winter, but also in summer. If air exchange disruption is caused by replacing windows, it is necessary to ventilate the room more often.Wooden windows have small gaps through which ventilation occurs, while plastic windows close tightly, so the air circulation stops.

Some modern double-glazed windows provide a micro-ventilation function. You can also install ventilation valve for window.

Ventilation shafts in old multi-storey buildings are usually lined with brick. Dust and moisture cause the material to deteriorate, resulting in collapses. Large parts getting stuck block the flow of fresh air. Insects, birds and pieces of construction debris can get into the air ducts during renovations on the top floors.

But do it yourself cleaning all ventilation ducts prohibited in an apartment building. This should be handled by special services. With your own efforts, you can restore order only in the branch adjacent to the common channel.

Before removing the grille, you must remove all excess from under it. Otherwise, a large amount of accumulated dirt and dust may fall on furniture and interior items.

With regular cleaning of the channels, the close space can be blown out with a vacuum cleaner. It is advisable to use a device with the ability to switch the direction of air injection and equipped with a compressor

An imbalance in air exchange can also occur due to the fault of neighbors if they connect a powerful exhaust system. This issue can only be resolved by installing such equipment.

Heat can also affect natural ventilation in an apartment building. Air circulation stops if the air temperature outside and indoors equalizes. In summer, additional methods of ventilation will most likely be needed.

You cannot do without the help of a master if mistakes were made during the design and construction of the building. In this case, additional exhaust equipment is installed.

Procedure for checking ventilation

The functionality of the ventilation ducts can be checked using available means.

The easiest way using a lit match:

1. It is necessary to open the window in any room.
2. Bring the flame to the ventilation grille. You can take not only a match, but also a candle or lighter.
3. The serviceability of the system is determined by the deflection of the fire towards the ventilation duct.

Employees of public utilities, in particular the gas office, do not recommend using this method to check ventilation in an apartment building if the building is connected to the main gas supply. Even the most insignificant gas leak may cause a fire or explosion.

Some ventilation grilles are equipped with nylon mosquito nets. They should be changed every time you clean them. Instead of the torn one, you can glue a new one using second glue

A safer way to examine the canal is with a sheet of A4 paper. Regular toilet paper will also work. The sequence of actions described above remains unchanged. Only instead of a flame, you should attach a sheet to the grate. It should stick to the surface of the ventilation duct.

If the paper is attracted weakly or does not react at all, you will have to look for the reason. The procedure must be repeated for each ventilation grille. In most apartments they are located in the bathroom, kitchen and toilet.

When should you contact the security services?

Current legislation regulates the inspection and cleaning of ventilation systems by licensed companies. In residential premises, measures must be carried out without fail when a deficiency or complete absence of traction is detected. An inspection will also be required after completion of repairs and internal redevelopment of the premises.

Installing an additional box with a non-return flapper valve in the kitchen will eliminate backdraft and maintain natural ventilation when the hood is turned off

And if cleaning must be carried out twice a year, as indicated above, then the frequency of scheduled inspections is more stringent - three times a year. As a rule, the time is chosen before, in the middle and at the end of the heating season. Specialists use professional equipment to analyze the performance of the ventilation duct.

After ventilation duct checks utility service specialists must issue a certificate with a hologram, certified by a seal. The document is drawn up in two copies.

The act must contain the following mandatory information:

• canal length, size and location;
• chimney material;
• places where heating devices are connected;
• design features, including transitions and narrowings, causing disruptions to the normal operation of the system;
• assessment of the tightness and density of the structure;
• presence of blockages and blockages;
• condition of internal partitions;
• presence of traction;
• the condition of the seams, if brick channels are being assessed;
• the presence of protective grilles;
• condition of caps and other devices.

Specialized cleaning companies use various equipment to clean ventilation ducts.Their services also include diagnosing the degree of contamination.

Air Duct Cleaning Devices

Utility services use several units to clean the ventilation system:

• powerful industrial vacuum cleaners;
• electromechanical equipment;
• reagents and chemical compositions;
• purification devices with several filters;
• vacuum installations;
• brush pneumatic drive units.

Flexible shafts can be used to clean the air channels yourself. They should be attached to a drill or screwdriver.

You can also make a ruff yourself. You will need 5-6 plastic bottles of the same size, from which you need to cut off the bottom. Then use scissors to cut strips from the bottom to the neck. The width of each should be from 4 to 5 mm. All received workpieces should be secured with nuts, washers, and bolts with caps. The weight can be made from lead, an iron can and a steel rod. All that remains is to string steel tubes 90 cm long onto a plumbing cable and screw them to the head

In the apartment, you will also need a vacuum cleaner or a broom with a long handle, a wire with a metal hedgehog on the handle, rubber gloves, and a respirator.

Step-by-step process for cleaning ventilation

Now let’s talk about how to properly clean the ventilation in an apartment. A chimney sweep kit with a flexible shaft will greatly facilitate this task. You can find it in almost any hardware store or market. The brush-ruff must fit the size of the ventilation duct. It must be screwed onto a flexible shaft, and the other end secured in the chuck of a screwdriver or electric drill.

The device can be used in multi-apartment panel buildings.In such objects, ventilation shafts have the following structure: the individual duct of the apartment rises only to the height of the top floor, after which it moves into a wide common duct. And it is not possible to clog it, since the parameters are about 25x80 cm. Therefore, it is necessary to clean it only to the height of the upper floor.

Violation of operating standards, as well as errors made during design, are the main causes of poor indoor air quality. Dirt accumulated in the ventilation duct, as well as on the heating and humidifying elements, serves as fertile ground for microbes

Cleaning the ventilation system includes mandatory disinfection of parts of the installation, fan blades, silencers and valve surfaces. All work is carried out manually, including by specialized companies.

It’s easier to clear the blockage with two people:

• it is necessary to work with gloves and safety glasses;
• measure the length on the flexible shaft, which should be equal to the height of the floor plus the thickness of the ceiling;
• You can use electrical tape or other adhesive tape to mark;
• remove the ventilation grille;
• insert a brush attached to a flexible shaft into the ventilation duct;
• while one partner turns on the drill at low speed, the other must move the brush upward, guiding it with a flexible shaft;
• the location of the mark on the shaft opposite the entrance to the ventilation duct means cleaning the duct to its entire height;
• Without stopping the rotation, it is necessary to remove the shaft with the brush back.

The same method can be used in private houses and apartment buildings, but only on the top floor. In this case, the shaft is made of brick without a common channel. And each individual channel ends on the roof.To determine the length of the flexible shaft, the height of the floor, attic and ventilation duct located above the roof of the building must be taken into account.

Ventilation problems can also be caused by disturbances during the construction phase. Wooden ventilation ducts must be galvanized. The inner base is treated with felt and then plastered

Brick air ducts can be cleaned using a special brush on a rope, which is attached to a weight. Cleaning is carried out from the roof. The brush must be lowered into the channel.

But it's not that simple. It is almost impossible to independently determine which of the brick shaft channels leads to the apartment. There are two options: act blindly or find drawings of the ventilation shaft.

Ways to improve the performance of the ventilation system

Checking the condition of the ventilation system will help determine which ducts are clogged. If the ventilation does not work in the rooms, bathroom and kitchen, the problem is caused by a common channel and you will not be able to fix the problem yourself.

One vertical shaft from common property is located at each entrance. And it is forbidden to clear the blockage yourself. Ventilation cleaning should be carried out by the management company at the place of residence. The application must be submitted in writing. The organization will determine the condition of the shaft, clean the ducts and, if necessary, repair the ventilation system in the apartment building.

The air must pass through the ventilation duct at least two meters vertically to ensure normal air exchange in the apartment. On the top floors this is quite problematic due to the attic space.Ventilation is vented outside in several ways: with direct output to the roof, using sealed horizontal ducts and an intermediate ventilation chamber

If the problem is found in only one place, the cause is a local blockage, which can be eliminated as follows:

• remove the decorative grille;
• You can clean it of deposits - you can remove dirt, dust and soot using gentle detergents.
• The walls of the ventilation duct should be treated with a scraper; any remaining dirt can be removed with a vacuum cleaner.

Aggressive reagents are not recommended. They can corrode and damage the walls of the ventilation shaft. When cleaning, beware of hornet and wasp nests. Debris should also not get from the ventilation duct into the common air duct.

We provided a detailed analysis of the causes of ventilation failure in a house and apartment in our other article.

After checking the traction, you need to install the grille back. Then check the draft by opening the window.

If cleaning the ventilation does not help, you can improve air circulation in several ways:

• installing a hood;
• using supply valves;
• improving air circulation between individual rooms.

In modern houses, supply and exhaust ventilation is installed even at the construction stage.

In old-style buildings, the apartment will have to undergo serious redevelopment to equip it with such a system. Natural ventilation in this case is more preferable, if, of course, it copes with its task. You can improve its performance using the methods listed below.

With the natural type of ventilation, exhaust air exits through ventilation ducts built into the wall.Fresh air masses enter the apartment through gaps in doors and windows. The quality of air exchange largely depends on wind speed, outside temperature and the state of general house ventilation.

Method #1 - installing a hood

It happens that natural ventilation does not cope with its function. Especially in old multi-storey buildings. The channels in such objects are so tightly clogged that it is almost impossible to clean them yourself.

In such a situation, installing additional devices for forced evacuation of exhaust air - hoods - will help. They are installed in bathrooms, toilets and kitchens, which will prevent the spread of odors and water evaporation throughout the apartment.

Such ventilation equipment is not intended for uninterrupted operation; it is enough to turn it on when necessary.

A local ventilation system is used in the bathroom, kitchen and toilet. Household exhaust fans are suitable for this purpose. They have high performance and minimal noise levels

The fan can be mounted inside the air duct or at the outlet of the ventilation duct instead of the grille. In bathrooms, this device is often connected to a light switch. But you can connect separately. We recommend that you read fan connection diagrams.

In the kitchen, the hood and the air duct leading to it are placed directly above the stove. The main task of the device is to remove odors from cooking dishes. Installation hoods in the kitchen easy enough to do yourself.

Method #2 - installation of supply valves

If the hood does not improve the situation, you can install supply valves. Additional holes in the wall will provide fresh air.As a rule, for placement, choose the distance between the window opening and the heating radiators. This arrangement makes them less noticeable.

The pipe from the outside of the building is located at an angle to the wall. This scheme helps prevent debris and water from entering the apartment. The valve is also equipped with sound insulation from the side of the room. To adjust the degree of opening, special dampers are used.

Supply valves are suitable for apartment buildings with a common forced ventilation system. The device does not affect the temperature reduction in heated buildings. Install them next to the radiators of the central heating system

For installation of a supply valve no special skills required. Ventilation openings must be equipped with sensitive sensors. The part helps to recognize the level of humidity and automatically triggers by opening the plug to supply fresh air to the apartment.

Method #3 - improving air exchange between rooms

Air circulation problems can also be caused by tightly closed doors. The same method with a sheet of paper discussed above will help identify this problem. Only in this case it is necessary to open all the interior doors. The attraction of paper indicates a violation of air circulation between the rooms of the apartment.

It can be improved by using a gap of a few centimeters between the floor and the bottom edge of the door, or by leaving the doors ajar. You can also make special holes for better air passage.

In rooms with high humidity levels, in addition to increasing the gap under the door, a small fan can also be used. You can connect it yourself

In a bathroom or toilet where there is a threshold and there is no talk of any gap, you can make several holes arranged in a row. The tilt should be inward.

A fine-mesh mesh can be used as decoration. The design will not affect privacy in the room and will ensure proper ventilation.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

How to independently check the operation of the ventilation system is discussed in the story:

Useful information about ventilation in apartments of residential buildings:

Available information about the principles of natural ventilation:

Cleaning the ventilation in your apartment yourself is not the best solution. If there is no other way out, follow all the recommendations listed above. Under no circumstances should you climb into a vertical riser. And now you know how to clean a horizontal ventilation duct in an apartment building.

Often, apartment owners themselves are to blame for the decrease or complete absence of internal air exchange. Especially when ventilation openings are covered with finishing materials during repairs.

If you know other ways to clean the ventilation in an apartment, tell other users about them - leave your comments under the article. You can also ask questions on the topic or post unique photographs.