Cellar ventilation device with one and two pipes: overview of important technical aspects

Owners of private houses, as a rule, use a cellar to store food. But due to the lack of windows, the room is deprived of a normal level of air exchange.This leads to increased humidity, the formation of mold and mildew, and accelerated spoilage of food, which is very unpleasant, isn’t it?

Do you want to prevent such problems, but don't know how? We will tell you a solution - after all, properly organized ventilation of the cellar with two pipes will help ensure air flow. And you can do it yourself.

The main stages of the work and the rules of arrangement are discussed in detail in our article. The material is supplemented with visual photo instructions and provided with detailed video recommendations for organizing optimal climatic conditions in the cellar. Having studied which even a beginner will be able to understand the basics of installing a ventilation system at home.

Requirements for arranging a basement

As a rule, every private house has a basement. Many residents of the private sector equip utility rooms in it, cellar, arrange saunas, gyms, relaxation rooms, which requires the arrangement of a complex system forced ventilation.

However, most often the basement is used for storing food supplies, which, although they require a certain microclimate, do not require a forced exhaust device.

In this case, it will be enough to make a natural supply and exhaust ventilation.

Lack or insufficient cellar ventilation is the main reason for increased humidity and mold formation

However, in order to ensure the safety of food and the proper functioning of the cellar, it is necessary to adhere to certain rules in the arrangement of this room.

Let's look at them in more detail:

1. Eliminate natural light from entering the basement. There should be no windows in the basement; periodic use of electric lighting is allowed.
2. Organize a favorable temperature regime. To do this, the cellar is arranged in such a way that one of its sides is in contact with the outer wall of the house.
3. Ensure normal air exchange in the room, which is ensured by the presence of ventilation.
4. Maintain the required room humidity. The optimal figure is about 90%. This parameter also depends on ventilation.
5. Provide good waterproofingto prevent groundwater from entering the cellar.

From the above list of requirements for the proper arrangement of a basement, it can be seen that two of the five necessary conditions are provided by ventilation.

But in order for it to function effectively and create an optimal mode for storing food, you need to follow certain rules for its installation.

The most basic ventilation system is vents, which are installed in the basement on opposite sides of the house. They are suitable for small basements with a ceiling height of no more than two meters. To prevent debris from getting into the cellar and rodents from getting through, the openings are covered with bars

Insufficient ventilation of the room leads to an increase in humidity and the formation of mold; excessive ventilation can cause excessive dryness in the basement, which will also adversely affect the safety of the crop.

Therefore, here you need to adhere to the rule of the golden mean, but in order to comply with it, it is important to make the correct calculations, which depend on the size and characteristics of the room.

How the natural system works

The operation of a natural ventilation system is based on physical law. The difference in temperature inside the building and outside leads to air flow and constant air exchange.

Warm air from the inside rushes to the ceiling, and its place is taken by cold air masses coming from the street.

The figure shows a diagram of the distribution of warm and cold air flow in a closed basement when using supply and exhaust ventilation

There are no windows or other openings in the basement to allow air flow in and out. To organize constant air circulation in a closed room, it is necessary to equip it with exhaust and supply air ducts.

The first serves to remove warm, stagnant air from the cellar, the second ensures the flow of fresh, cold air from the street.

To ensure optimal temperature and good heat transfer in the room, ventilation ducts should be located at the maximum possible distance from each other.

The longer the distance the air flow travels, the better and more efficiently the room is ventilated.

The supply and exhaust air ducts must be installed in such a way that the air has room to “freeze.”This will help create good air exchange in the room and the desired temperature conditions for stored products.

Recommendations for choosing ventilation

There are several significant points to consider when designing a system. The operation of natural ventilation largely depends on the climate characteristic of a given area, time of year, and street temperature.

It is most effective in winter, since during the cold season there is a large difference between the indoor and outdoor temperatures, which ensures good air circulation.

But at the same time, there is a danger of excessively increasing air exchange, which is not good, because...frosty air can lead to freezing of the cellar, and, accordingly, the products stored there. Therefore, it is necessary to monitor the temperature and, if it drops significantly, close the vents.

In summer, when the difference between indoor and outdoor temperatures is minimal, air circulation may stop completely. Therefore, a supply and exhaust system based on the principle of natural ventilation is not suitable for installation in regions with hot climates.

In such climatic conditions it is necessary to use a combined ventilation system.

To arrange the ventilation of a small cellar, you can limit yourself to one pipe. But in order for it to simultaneously function as an outlet and intake of air, it must be divided along the vertical axis into two channels.

Each channel has its own valve, which regulates the intensity and speed of inflow and outflow of air flow.

You can check the functioning of such ventilation by attaching a piece of paper to each outlet.

When installing single-pipe ventilation, the pipe is divided into two independent channels, one of which is used to receive street air, and the other is designed to remove warm air masses from the room

Equipment for installing a ventilation system

For the arrangement of ventilation air ducts are used different types of pipes - asbestos-cement, plastic or galvanized metal - square, less often round, section.

Option #1 - asbestos-cement structures

Asbestos-cement pipes are resistant to corrosion, withstand frost and moisture well, and have a long service life. Such pipes are of sufficient length to allow installation of the air duct without welding.

Asbestos cement pipes have many advantages, but care must be taken when transporting and installing them, as they are fragile and can break.

Option #2 - galvanized metal pipes

Galvanized pipes are light in weight and relatively low cost, they are resistant to corrosion and easy to install.

Galvanizing is suitable for wet areas where it will serve reliably and for a long time under suitable operating conditions, but if these are not maintained the zinc coating may become damaged.

Pipes made of galvanized steel are quite often used as an air duct when organizing a ventilation system with your own hands. Their main advantage is their light weight and ease of installation.

Option #3 - plastic pipes

Most often used to organize ventilation plastic pipes. The smooth inner surface ensures good air flow.

Plastic air ducts do not require cleaning and do not rust, their service life is more than twenty years, and their price is noticeably lower than pipes made from other materials.

The main disadvantage of plastic structures is the high flammability of the material, so they cannot be installed in rooms where the temperature may rise to extreme levels.

How to determine the diameter of pipes?

The determining factor for the effectiveness of ventilation is the proportionality of the cross-section of the air duct to the area of ​​the room where it is installed. Calculating the required pipe size is easy.

Experts advise adhering to the following rule in calculations: per 1 sq.m. basement space needs 26 sq.cm. sections.

It turns out that for every centimeter of pipe diameter there are 13 square meters. see sections.Based on this, you can calculate the required pipe diameter using the following formula:

(S cellar × 26) ÷ 13

For example, if quadrature (S) the room is 8 sq.m., it turns out that for the cellar you need to purchase a pipe with a diameter of 16 cm.

(8×26) =208÷13=16 cm.

If single-pipe ventilation is installed in the cellar, then the diameter of the air duct should be larger. In this case, for a basement of this area it is recommended to use a pipe with a cross-section of 17 cm.

You may also be interested in information on calculating the area of ​​ducts, discussed in our other article.

Air duct installation rules

To organize a supply and exhaust ventilation system you will need two air ducts. To ensure uniform air circulation, pipes of the same diameter are used. To speed up the removal of stagnant air, it is possible to install an exhaust pipe with a slightly larger cross-section.

The air ducts are located at a considerable distance from each other in opposite walls of the room. This creates the most favorable conditions for ventilating the cellar.

It is desirable that there be as few pipes along the route as possible, and even better, there should be no bends or turns.

The farther the pipes are from each other, the better the air circulates throughout the basement.

The exhaust pipe is installed in one of the corners of the basement. Its lower end should be located near the ceiling (about 1.5 m from the cellar floor) so that all the warm air directed to the upper part of the room is completely removed outside.

The air duct passes through all rooms of the house and is discharged onto the roof at an elevation of one and a half meters above the ridge.

As air masses pass through the pipe, condensation accumulates, and in winter, frost forms inside it. To avoid this, it is necessary to insulate the air duct located outside.

To do this, a larger pipe is placed on top, and any insulation is placed in the resulting space.

The outlet is covered with a fine mesh. But it’s best to go to the head of the pipe install a ventilation deflector, around which an artificial vacuum is created, which helps to increase traction.

If the supply air duct is discharged through the roof, it is necessary that its intake opening is located below the edge of the exhaust pipe

The supply air duct is placed in another corner of the cellar, its open end should rise above the basement floor by 40-50 cm. It is necessary that the opening of the supply pipe be one meter below the exhaust pipe. The pipe can be run through the house and exit onto the roof of the building.

It should be taken into account that the intake inlet on the roof should also be located below the exhaust; in this case, a large difference in air pressure is created at the inlet and outlet, which increases draft and improves air flow. Therefore, the outer edge of the pipe is raised on the roof no higher than 20-25 cm.

The intake hole is led through the wall to the outside of the house at a distance of approximately 30 cm from the ground

Often, when arranging a basement under a residential building, the supply air duct is led through the basement ceiling into a hole made in the outer wall of the building.

On the outside, a grill is placed on the supply pipe, which prevents dust and debris from entering the opening and does not allow rodents to enter the cellar.

Inside the basement, special dampers must be installed in each air duct, the opening or closing of which regulates the intensity of air inflow and outflow.

The supply pipe can be removed from the basement by installing it outside the house. In this case, the air duct opening is raised above the ground by about 80 cm

Installation of a natural ventilation system

It is advisable to design and install the ventilation system during the construction of the house. During this period, all work is much easier to carry out than installing the air duct in a finished box.

However, this is not always possible; often the air duct is installed in a ready-made structure.

If ventilation is installed during the construction of a cellar, a recess is made in the ground for laying an exhaust air duct. A hole is left in the brickwork where the pipe is led out

If ventilation is installed in a free-standing cellar, then a hole is made in its ceiling where the exhaust pipe is led out. It is strengthened indoors and outdoors in accordance with the recommendations given above.

When installing ventilation for a cellar located under a residential building, the exhaust air duct must be installed in the place where the general building ventilation duct goes to the roof of the building.

On the opposite side of the basement, a hole is made in the ceiling or in the upper part of the wall to install the supply pipe. In a separate cellar, the pipe is led to the roof below the level of the exhaust duct.

In the cellar under a residential building, the outlet is made into the outer wall of the building. Inside the basement, the pipe is lowered to a distance of 30-50 cm from the floor.

The exhaust duct of the basement located under the house is usually built into a common air duct, and the supply pipe is discharged into the side wall

After installing the supply and exhaust air ducts, it is necessary to close their external openings and install dampers inside the pipes. Even with insulation in severe frosts, condensation can accumulate in the outlet channel, so it is recommended to install a tap at the bottom of the pipe to drain the water.

To check the operation of the ventilation system, apply thin paper to the inlet duct. If the air duct is working properly, the leaf will flutter.

Photo guide for installing a chimney

Let's consider a practical option for enhancing cellar ventilation by installing a high exhaust pipe.

According to previously performed calculations, such a solution will increase the exhaust air, and will also allow one to escape the zone of wind pressure created by neighboring buildings and trees. As planned, the pipe is installed on the ventilation duct:

Upon completion of the assembly of the exhaust pipe itself and the arrangement of the holes for its installation, installation begins.

The tall pipe will be reinforced with guy wires that will help it withstand gusty winds:

The home craftsman who developed and brought this idea to life installed a fan on the inlet as an addition. In this way, he improved air exchange, thanks to which he quickly gets rid of moisture in the cellar that is flooded during the flood period.

Features of the combined system

In cases where natural ventilation does not cope with its functions, a more advanced combined ventilation system is used.

Its operation is not influenced by various natural factors, it does not depend on the difference in temperatures inside and outside the building and can operate effectively all year round.

Combined ventilation is arranged in the same way as natural ventilation: using supply and exhaust pipes.

Additionally, a fan is mounted in the exhaust duct, which helps to quickly blow out stagnant air from the cellar, instead of which clean street air enters the basement.

In large rooms, the device is also installed in the supply air duct.In small basements, installing a fan on the input duct for constant operation is not economically feasible, since it will consume a lot of electricity.

Using a fan installed in the opening of the supply air duct, you can quickly dry the room if natural ventilation does not cope well with this task.

The figure shows how the duct fan should be installed in the exhaust duct

To equip the combined system, fans with a power of up to 100 W are used. Channel and axial devices are suitable for installation. The first ones are convenient because they are economical in operation and do not require large energy consumption. They can be installed anywhere in the duct.

Among duct fans The most effective are devices with an amplitude motor.

Axial fans provide more powerful airflow, but they also require significantly more energy. When installing devices of this type, it is recommended to also install check valveblocking the flow of cold air into the room.

Optimal microclimate in the cellar

To preserve food, it is necessary to create a favorable microclimate in the basement. The humidity level of the room is of great importance.

Equipping a cellar with a ventilation system is undoubtedly important, but it is far from the only condition for maintaining optimal humidity and the required temperature conditions.

It is necessary to make a good waterproofing of the basement and periodically carry out a number of measures to drain it. There are several ways to get rid of excess dampness.

With high humidity, you need to ventilate the basement more often.This is especially true in the summer, and if natural ventilation is installed in the cellar.

To get rid of dampness and lower the humidity level in the basement, you must ventilate it by opening the entrance hatch

To dry the basement, you can use simple but quite effective methods. For example, ordinary coarse table salt and quicklime absorb moisture well. They can be brought into the basement and left there for a while.

Another old method that our grandmothers used is to place a lit candle near the exhaust pipe. The flame creates a strong draft in the air duct, thereby accelerating the circulation of air flow.

This method only works in a small cellar, and even in this case it will take several days to dry the room.

To prevent the candle from falling, it must be placed on a flat metal surface.

You can dry the cellar using an electric heater, heat gun or fans that are installed in the middle of the room. But all these methods are quite expensive, because... will require large amounts of electricity.

Sometimes, on the contrary, it is necessary to increase the humidity in the cellar. In these cases, you can spray water using a spray bottle. A good method is to bring a box of wet sand into the basement or sprinkle the floor with sawdust; they must be periodically sprayed with water.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

You can learn how to install natural supply and exhaust ventilation in the basement from the following video:

Various ways to drain a basement are presented in the following video:

You will learn how to install a fan in the air duct from the following video:

A cellar is a closed, unventilated room in which unfavorable conditions are created that promote the formation of mold, mildew and dampness.

There is only one way to get rid of negative processes - by installing an effective ventilation system. For which it is not necessary to have special knowledge, almost every man can cope with this task.

Do you know another way to arrange ventilation and have been using it effectively for more than one year? Does your cellar ventilation system differ from the options discussed in our article? Please tell people who are encountering this issue for the first time about it - leave your comments here.