The main purpose of ventilation is to update the accumulated air in the room. Ventilation is exhaust, providing air removal, supply - supplying fresh oxygen from the street, and supply and exhaust, which ensures the removal and supply of fresh oxygen. As a rule, this is arranged in the kitchen, bathroom and in places c big amount people (restaurants, cafes), etc. It should be noted that the arrangement of this type of ventilation is not so easy. Such a system consists of a large number of parts: air ducts, a cooler, a heater, filters, a noise absorber, various sensors (air temperature, carbon dioxide level in the room, etc.). Installing supply and exhaust ventilation in an apartment is a rather complicated and multi-stage work, but with a certain skill and desire, installation can be done by hand.
Why is ventilation necessary?
For an apartment, it is designed to ensure movement in two directions - the supply of fresh and exhaust exhaust.
In apartments, this role is played by open vents and windows, which are assisted to some extent by the existing exhaust ducts of the kitchen and bathroom, which provide local ventilation. However, for large apartments such ventilation may not be sufficient.
The consequences of insufficient air exchange for a person can be the following:
- lack of oxygen can lead to disruption of the cardiovascular and central nervous system;
- exacerbated respiratory diseases;
- there is a decrease in performance;
- humidity rises in the room;
- fungus and other pathogens develop in the air.
Signs of insufficient ventilation of the room
- In summer, the humidity rises, and in winter it decreases relative to the natural background.
- In the kitchen, a greasy coating forms on the walls.
- Glass fogging occurs.
- A fungus appears on the walls in the kitchen and bathroom.
When these signs appear, it is worth thinking about organizing a forced supply and exhaust system in the apartment, since a lack of ventilation can be harmful to health.
Ventilation calculation
Supply and exhaust ventilation systems for an apartment consist of 2 parts:
- A supply ventilation system that ensures the delivery of fresh air from the street, its heating, cleaning, and, if necessary, cooling.
- Exhaust system, which is popularly called simply "hood". This device ensures the outflow of polluted air from the room.
The exhaust ventilation device is quite simple. It consists of an air duct and a mechanism that provides air outflow. Installation of filters, coolers or heaters is not required here. The only thing you need is a noise absorber, because if the hood is powerful, noise will be created from its operation.
The calculation of exhaust ventilation is as follows.
1. The volume of the room is calculated in a cube. m.
2. The resulting indicator is multiplied by 12.
Exhaust ventilation calculation example:
- The kitchen area is 2x3 m, the ceiling height is 2.5 m. We calculate the volume this room. IN this case it will be equal to 15 cubic meters. m.
- We calculate the power of the hood. It is equal to 180 cubic meters. m / h (15x12).
To improve the performance of the hood, it is recommended to open a window or window. In order to supply exhaust ventilation for an apartment was more economical, complex options are used. In winter, the exhaust air warms the incoming air. To do this, use a special unit - a recuperator. It is a kind of heat exchanger, where the air that has arrived from the street is warmed up, without mixing with the air discharged to the street.
Ventilation design
In an apartment, it begins with the design. Before carrying out the actual installation on paper, it is necessary to calculate:
- the number of meters of pipe that will be required for the outflow of air;
- how much air is needed for the flow of air ducts;
- determine the location of all nodes and think through all the details of the system;
- consider where the air intakes and grilles will be installed.
At this stage, it is necessary to take into account not only the location, but also the dimensions of the air ducts (in particular, the diameter of the pipes). It should be remembered that the larger the diameter, the more air flow can be provided. But modern apartments rarely differ high ceilings, so install wide pipes most likely won't work. The disadvantage of narrow air ducts is the presence of high noise, therefore, when calculating the supply ventilation, as a rule, a compromise is sought between the size of the pipes and noise indicators.
Features of installation, calculation
Supply and exhaust ventilation for a do-it-yourself apartment is installed at runtime finishing works, after completing all the "dirty" construction works(plasters, putties), but before installing the ceiling, since the main part of the ventilation system nodes is hidden there. As a rule, everyone is familiar with the principle of ventilation, but not everyone knows which components and assemblies should be installed. Mounting options for air handling units are diverse: apartment ventilation supply and exhaust system from the floor, balcony, loggia, under the ceiling, as well as on outer wall building.
The layout of the nodes of this system consists of:
- Air intake valve.
- An air filter that purifies the intake air.
- Heater (heater). This unit usually turns on at low temperatures, when the outgoing air flow does not have time to warm up the incoming one.
- Recuperator, which is a unit in which the incoming flow is heated. Install it to save resources.
- A cooling unit or air conditioner that is installed before leaving the air supply system. It is necessary to minimize the path through the cooled air ducts.
- If necessary, a fan or humidifier is installed along the flow path.
- With a very high power supply ventilation, a noise absorber is also installed.
In order for the supply and exhaust ventilation for the apartment to work as efficiently and economically as possible, an automatic control unit is installed that turns on / off various components (for example, it turns off the heating unit in summer and turns on air cooling, and in winter, on the contrary, the air is heated).
How to determine the power and efficiency of ventilation?
To install the ventilation system, you should calculate the volume of supplied and exhausted air.
- In residential premises, regardless of the number of people staying there, on average, 3 or more cubic meters should be supplied in 60 minutes. meters of fresh air per 1 sq. area meter.
- In places of public use, the oxygen supply should be 60 cubic meters. m./hour per person staying permanently indoors and approximately 20 cubic meters. m/hour for each temporary visitor.
The norms for the frequency of air exchange for 1 hour in rooms for various purposes are given in SNiP 2.08.01-89 * "Residential buildings".
Checking the efficiency of ventilation
To make sure that the supply and exhaust ventilation for the apartment is equipped correctly, you need to check the operation of the hood. This is done very simply: a sheet of paper or a lit match is brought to the table. If the edge of the paper moves towards the grate, or if the flame is directed towards ventilation duct, the system is working. If this does not happen, the channel is clogged. The reason for this may be cobwebs or leaves that have fallen into the duct. In this case, it is necessary to clean the channel.
Also, the air outlet in the apartment may not work if the neighbors blocked the channel during the repair. In this case, you should call a specialist to identify this place and resume traction.
Organization of proper supply ventilation in the apartment
Installation plastic windows can cause poor ventilation of the apartment, the formation of condensate. Supply and exhaust will help to find a way out of the situation. The influx of fresh air can be increased by installing special valves on the balcony, loggia. Exhaust air will be removed through ventilation grates in the bathroom, in the kitchen. However, more effective method- installation of a decentralized exhaust structure on the facade wall inside the apartment. Air exchange occurs through air ducts in the wall. The heat recuperator allows you to reduce the cost of heating the apartment by more than 70%, and the filter purifies the air. The unit is quite simple, you can install it without much difficulty with your own hands.
Benefits of Heat Recovery Ventilation
The supply and exhaust system, as you know, has a low efficiency. To increase it, a heat recuperator is installed - a unit that provides energy saving in the room.
Supply and exhaust ventilation for an apartment with recuperation works according to the following principle: the outgoing air is not immediately removed to the outside, but enters a special cassette, in which it heats the clean air coming from the street to room temperature.
The advantage of this system is that heated comfortable air enters the room, which does not require additional energy to heat.
System maintenance
This process can be divided into 3 stages:
- Maintenance of exhaust ducts (periodic cleaning with replacement of filter cassettes).
- Maintenance of pressure equipment (maintenance of fans).
- Care additional equipment- heaters, recuperators, air conditioners, etc.
Fresh air in a living space is not a luxury, but a vital necessity for the human body. Surprisingly, in our time, very few people pay attention to the issue of supply ventilation in city apartments. And there are still people who first hermetically seal window openings with plastic windows, and then install air conditioners naively believing that they will provide fresh and clean air in the room. Seems like this has been discussed many times before. household split systems operate exclusively in recirculation mode and drive air in a circle. And after all, many do not even open the windows on purpose when the air conditioner is running, thereby completely eliminating the flow of fresh air into the apartment.
Let's understand the problem together and the available options for solving it. Let's start with the basics. When a person breathes, he takes in oxygen and releases carbon dioxide. Therefore, for normal life, our task is to ensure the flow of fresh air and remove carbon dioxide from a closed room. Nominally, all city apartments have natural draft exhaust ventilation, which is directly related to overall height building and outdoor temperature. In particular, the draft of natural ventilation in the warm season is minimal. In order for ventilation to work, air flow is necessary (even if you install a fan at the outlet from the apartment). To do this, it is imperative to open the windows, that is, manually adjust the volume of incoming air into the apartment. And if the windows are sealed plastic and also closed, then there will be no inflow of fresh air from the street, and in fact the exhaust ventilation will draw air from the entrance through the front door.
If the windows are not opened, then the apartment will be stuffy - the first sign of an excess of carbon dioxide in the air. This is fraught with at least a deterioration in well-being and a decrease in brain performance. Many mistakenly assume that the so-called air washer will help in such a situation. But it works just like a household air conditioner and drives the air in the room in a circle in recirculation mode. Yes, it traps dust particles, but unfortunately it cannot turn carbon dioxide into oxygen. And air washers eventually become a source of various bacteria that form on the filter element. Exactly the same story awaits you with an air conditioner that often works without fresh air (I think many are familiar with a nasty smell when you turn on the air conditioner in a car - and so a sign of such a smell is the very frequent operation of the air conditioner in recirculation mode, as a result of the fact that they begin to multiply on the filter bacteria that got there from the air exhaled by a person).
Therefore, as in the presence of air conditioning, and air washing, we definitely need an influx of fresh air from the street. But here another problem arises - street air filtration. If you live away from highways and large industries, and the windows of your apartment overlook a quiet courtyard - then this will concern you to a lesser extent. But what about those who live with windows overlooking a busy avenue? After all, you will not only have to breathe exhaust from cars and street dust, but also put up with increased noise. And in this case it becomes obvious that the street air must be filtered.
The most universal solution to the existing problem is the installation of a supply ventilation system with forced filtration of the incoming air. A device that solves all issues related to the influx of clean air necessary to ensure the full functioning of a person. Let's study how it works.
2. Let's start with the installation. I have an apartment in an eight-story brick "Stalinist" building with windows overlooking the courtyard. To install the supply ventilation, you will need to do round hole diameter 120 mm outer wall Houses. In my case the thickness brick wall was 67 centimeters. According to current regulations in load-bearing structures it is allowed to make holes with a diameter of up to 200 mm without any coordination with the relevant services. Before starting work, check that the wall at the installation site is free of electrical wiring or fittings.
3. First, a guide platform for the drill is attached to the wall, then a hose with pressurized water is connected to cool the bit and a pumping line to a vacuum cleaner, which immediately collects all the dust and dirt from the drilling site. In terms of time, drilling lasts about 10 minutes, including the installation of an extension nozzle. The entire installation takes approximately 40 minutes.
4. Installed in the hole made plastic pipe with a diameter of 100 mm, wrapped with insulation around the circumference (this is necessary in order to prevent the appearance of condensate on the pipe in the cold season), two holes are made on the wall for fastening the ventilation unit. Below there is a hole in which the anchor holding the guide platform for the drill was fixed - it will be closed by the body of the device. A decorative metal grill is installed from the side of the street. The device can only be plugged into an electrical outlet using the included three-meter wire.
5. The kit comes with a wireless remote control that duplicates the control on front panel. The screen displays (from left to right): the temperature of the air coming from the street, the fan speed (3 modes), the set air heating temperature (in winter, the cold air coming from the street will need to be heated) and the indication of the night mode operation (you can set the target decrease in the temperature of the air heating and the duration mode operation in hours).
6. A three-stage air purification system is used here. At the top is a basic filter with a degree of purification F5 - its main purpose is to protect against coarse dust and particles the HEPA filter located after it (stands for High Efficiency Particulate Absorbing - high-performance particle retention) with antibacterial impregnation and filtration class H11 (filters with this level of filtration are used in medical institutions). The final is a carbon adsorption-catalytic filter.
7. For measurements, we will use a high-precision calibrated CO₂ sensor connected to the Testo 480 multifunctional measuring complex. The probe is able to measure the CO₂ level, humidity and temperature. The cost of such a device is more than 100 thousand rubles. By the way, from the available household devices capable of measuring the level of CO₂ in a room, I can recommend the Netatmo wireless weather station.
8. Filters after three weeks of 24/7 operation. With the naked eye, you can see how dark the base filter is. According to the instructions, the replacement interval for the basic filter is set to one year, and the HEPA filter will need to be changed at least once every 2 years. The condition of the basic filter must be regularly monitored because. A clogged filter can significantly reduce ventilation pressure and performance.
9. Inside the device, in the upper part, there is an electric damper that closes the round channel in the wall when the device is turned off. On the right, a thermal sensor is clearly visible, measuring the temperature of the outdoor air. In fact, it shows the temperature already in the device itself, and it is several degrees higher due to the heating of the air when passing through the wall. Also pay attention to the complete insulation of the primary chamber around the perimeter. This is necessary in order to exclude places with a sharp temperature drop (during operation in the cold season) where condensation is possible.
10. After primary purification, the air passes through a ceramic heater with a two-circuit connection used to heat the air entering the room.
11. Engineers seriously confused with the heater control circuit. Power is supplied in pulses at intervals sufficient to maintain the required outlet air temperature. The photo shows that at the first fan speed, the consumption is 15 watts. At a given magnification outdoor temperature from +15°C to +25°C the heating element switches on for approximately 2 seconds every 15 seconds. This control allows you to very accurately maintain the required air temperature with minimal energy consumption.
12. After heating element there are two main filters, and below them is a centrifugal motor with two blades. There are three air flow rates: 45, 70 and 120 m3/hour. For a better representation of the figures, one can be guided by the fact that for the normal life of an adult who is not engaged in physical work, an influx of fresh air in the amount of 30 cubic meters per hour is necessary. That is, for one person in the room, the very first fan speed will be more than enough, but it will need to be increased if there are more people in the room. Since the fan is located after the filters, we have a significant drop in air pressure, which in turn has a negative effect on the noise level. At the first speed of the fan, although we can catch the noise, it does not bother at all. In second gear, the noise is noticeable and you pay attention to it, but it will still be quieter than if you open the window overlooking the motorway. At the third speed, the noise already causes discomfort and it is worth using it only for quick ventilation of the room.
13. Let's take measurements with the Kanomax laser particle counter. There are three lines on the screen displaying the number of particles in the test room with a size of 0.3, 0.5 and 5 microns. Measurements on the street above, below in the apartment (filtered street air on the left). As can be seen, we have an order of magnitude reduction in the number of particles after passing through three filter elements. This is the data for my area and a quiet courtyard, with windows overlooking the avenue - the difference will be greater.
14. And now the most interesting. Plots for measuring CO₂ (green), temperature (yellow) and humidity (blue). First, the measuring probe was on the street, and then it was brought into a room in which there were three adults (not engaged in physical work) and the ventilation was turned off. On the left of the graph, we see a gradually stabilized level of CO₂ in the street, which is approximately 420 ppm (stands for parts per million, that is, 420 ppm = 0.042%). The level of CO₂ in the earth's atmosphere is 400 ppm, and in large cities with a lot of cars, this figure can reach 500 ppm. Next, notice an interesting jump in humidity when the probe was moved into the room - what happened excellent example the fact that in the cold season the air coming from the street must be heated. The same thing happened here - the temperature drop from +18°C outdoors to +24°C indoors led to a thin film of condensate on the measuring surface of the probe, hence the sharp increase in humidity, which immediately began to decrease after that. Now let's take a closer look at the green graph. IN closed room area 14 square meters three adults raised their CO₂ levels to 2200 PPM in just 20 minutes! Despite the fact that only 0.2% of the CO₂ content in the air is already considered dangerous for normal human life. At this point it was included forced ventilation at maximum speed (120 m3/h), as a result of which the CO₂ level began to decrease. In general, a lot of research has been done around the world on how the level of CO₂ content affects human brain activity. There is only one conclusion - fresh air is vital for a person.
15. Let's summarize. Any domestic air conditioners and air washers operate exclusively in recirculation mode and cannot reduce the level of CO₂ in the room. Moreover, the level of CO₂ will rise like an avalanche due to the breathing of people in the room. Therefore, it is absolutely impossible to use these devices with completely closed windows. But if the windows of your apartment overlook a noisy avenue, then opening the windows will lead to entry into the room not only of noise, but also of dust particles from the street. And since in our country there are actually no apartment buildings with a centralized ventilation and air conditioning system (in which filtered air is supplied from the street) - compact supply ventilation with filtering of incoming air is the only way to get fresh air in the apartment.
With forced ventilation, I completely stopped opening the window for ventilation - this is no longer necessary, besides, after filtering, the street air is cleaner and therefore there is less dust in the room now. Ventilation is turned on around the clock, almost always at the first speed and does not bother at all in terms of noise.
Another year has passed without notice since I published the annual report on the operation of the compact supply ventilation - the Tion O2 breather. I continue to share my experience. As I have repeatedly mentioned before, this device has dramatically changed the quality of life of our family. Before, I didn’t think at all that fresh air is not a luxury, but a vital necessity, and if in the summer we lived with constantly open windows on the windows, then in the winter they had to be closed due to the cold. At that very moment, that same autumn-winter depression, constant drowsiness and loss of strength began.
But all this is long gone.
I will not repeat myself, because I have written a lot of materials on the topic of why fresh and clean air is needed, which can be viewed by the tag. Forced forced ventilation is the main one in any modern dwelling, be it a city apartment or Vacation home. I hope this is obvious to everyone, so today I propose to consider options for what the market can offer customers in the segment of compact air handling units for an apartment (we will consider centralized air handling units in a separate article).
And I'll start with what happened over the past year.
The operating costs for fresh and clean air in the apartment consist of two parts. The first part is the cost electrical energy for heating the air coming from the street, and the amount of energy consumed directly depends on how well your central heating heats up. In our conditions, one breather consumes from 400 to 600 kWh of electrical energy per year. That is, it is an additional several thousand rubles a year. This is not only a negligible payment for the health of the family, but there are no alternatives (more on that later).
The second part of the costs consists of the periodic replacement of the filter elements. It is they who ensure the purity of the air coming from the street. Long-term observations made it possible to develop the following filter replacement scenario:
1. I change the carbon filter from odors once a year (more often).
2. I change the base and HEPA filters once every 2 years. Despite the fact that the HEPA filter can objectively work longer.
3. Twice a year I clean coarse dust (fluff) from the supply chamber and from the base filter with a vacuum cleaner.
In the photo on the left you can see the condition of the filters after two years of operation. And in the photo on the right, a comparison of the new and old HEPA filter. But HEPA filters are cool because as they get dirty, their filtering ability improves.
And this is another O2 breather installed in the second room. In 2014, we delivered the first breather, but after a year of operation, we realized that we definitely need a second one. The calculation of the number of breathers per apartment is very simple: 1 breather for a maximum of 2 people, otherwise there will be a lot of noise. Both breathers are connected to the Tion MagicAir control station. One of the breathers works completely in automatic mode guided by the CO2 concentration sensor and automatically sets the speed from 0 to 2 depending on the number of people in the room. The second breather works on a timer (speed 1 at night, 2 during the day). for automatic operation you need a second CO2 sensor in the room where the second breather is installed. In a good way, you would need to buy it so that both breathers work completely autonomously.
Honestly, I did not immediately appreciate the automatic control mode. We leave the apartment - the concentration of CO2 drops - the breather turns off. We return home - the concentration of CO2 is growing - the breather is turned on. There is no need to enable or disable anything manually, everything works automatically. Despite the presence of a mobile application for managing breathers, I honestly don’t remember when I last launched it. There is simply no need for this.
By the way, about PM2.5 particles. Since the beginning of this year I have been measuring air quality in Moscow and I can say that in general the air in the city is clean, but sometimes there are local emissions of particulate matter or just a flowering season (allergy sufferers will understand). The three-stage supply air purification system very effectively retains all solid particles and they do not enter the apartment. But, as it turned out, there is a nuance.
This phenomenon turned out to be detected precisely due to the fact that I began to use the breathers in automatic mode and they turned off when we were not in the apartment. On one of these days, I received a notification from my AirVisual home station (installed in my apartment) that a high concentration of PM2.5 particles was recorded. What happened?
The breathers did not work and the apartment was not created slightly overpressure compared with environment. And the exhaust ventilation shaft (in the kitchen and in the bathroom) has not gone away. And there was a suction of dirty street air through leaks and cracks in the enclosing structures - in particular, through cracks in window frames.
Thus, if the air outside is polluted and you do not have a breather, then, of course, it is worth closing the window, but this is not effective. And if there is a breather, then in no case should it be turned off in such a situation.
Now let's talk about alternative devices that are presented on Russian market. There aren't really that many of them. And the most surprising thing is that in terms of the totality of characteristics, the O2 breather (this particular model) from Tion has no competitors at all.
iFresh
It has very mediocre fresh air cleaning (no HEPA filter and absolutely no carbon filter), no intelligent heating control (go broke on heating), damper with manual control, you can not dream of automating control, it costs more.
Aeropac SN
It also has poor cleaning of the supply air (there is no HEPA filter, but at least there is a more or less normal carbon filter), there is no supply air heating at all (hello, drafts), a manually controlled damper, low performance, no automation. The only plus is that it's cheaper.
Lufter Jet Helix
It has a combined carbon filter (there is no HEPA filter), but its usable area is still less than that of the Tion. But it has a very compact body, automatic heating control and a quiet EC fan. It costs expensive. If he had the ability to automate control by a CO2 sensor, then he could seriously compete with Tion when operating in clean areas.
Ballu Air Master 2
Essentially a copied copy of Tion, supplemented incredible amount completely unnecessary options such as recirculation (there are no sources of PM2.5 particles in the living rooms, they are on the street - what to clean?) and aromacapsules (well, yes, allergy sufferers will especially "appreciate" this option). The design is copied from Tion, so the filtration quality is just as high, but there is a nuance - the ceramic heater is placed in front of the primary filter and protected by a primitive mesh. This means that, firstly, you will have to clean the mesh regularly, and secondly, the heater will still get dirty. In addition, such an arrangement of the heater reduces the useful cross-sectional area of the supply channel. This is the only competitor that has the ability to automate the CO2 sensor, but the control algorithms need to be improved, and the location of the sensor is not the best. And after all, this is already the second generation of devices, and the first was even worse.
Even this year, Xiaomi released its ventilator. You can’t buy it in Russia yet, and it doesn’t have supply air heating (although it will definitely be no worse than Tion O2 in terms of the quality of supply air filtration).
But that is not all. There are devices that are called a reversible heat exchanger.
Vakio and Marley
The problem with these devices is that they are almost completely useless and will not replace either a compact air handling unit or a full-fledged heat exchanger.
Firstly, they have very big problems with productivity (30-35 m3/h at maximum speed, and this is only enough for one person) and, consequently, with the noise level. Well, what did you want from an axial (not centrifugal) computer cooler. Secondly, their design does not allow for full-fledged filtration of the supply air. Thirdly, insufficient air exchange (due to performance limitations) will lead to the formation of condensate and freezing of the heat exchanger.
But the biggest problem is that a compact reversible heat exchanger can only work in a complex of two devices synchronized with each other - when one heat exchanger works for supply and the other for exhaust, and every 30 seconds they change roles. That is, you need to install at least two such reversible heat exchangers in each room, which makes the whole idea economically unprofitable.
Why won't a single heat exchanger work, which first works for 30 seconds for supply, and then 30 seconds for exhaust? It is enough to think about where the air will come from in the apartment when a single reversible heat exchanger turns on for blowing. That's right, from a common house exhaust ventilation shaft or from landing(with the appropriate smell). Although, in fact, the fan in such a heat exchanger will not be able to create sufficient static pressure to “overpower” the draft in the ventilation shaft. Therefore, any reversible heat exchangers are generally not applicable in apartment buildings with central exhaust ventilation. They are suitable for a small country house.
As a result, the most the right choice was and still is the Tion O2 breather in the Top version (MagicAir base station with Wi-Fi and CO2 sensor included). Do not forget that clean and fresh air is your health.
A healthy microclimate in an apartment can only be ensured by good ventilation. Modern building technology practically nullify the efficiency of systems natural air exchange. Therefore, consumers are increasingly thinking about installing supply and exhaust ventilation in apartments.
The importance of apartment ventilation
Signs of poor ventilation in the apartment:
- musty smell;
- aromas of the kitchen spread to other rooms;
- stuffy in the bathroom;
- the smell of air freshener lingers in the toilet for a long time;
- mold may appear in far corners and near windows.
But unpleasant odors- this is not the worst. Residents in an unventilated apartment suffer from a lack of oxygen in winter time: depressed mood, pain in the eyes and fatigue - these are just the very first signs of a lack of oxygen in the body.
Millions of dust particles, particles of the epithelium, pet hair, villi from carpets and clothes are in the air and enter the respiratory tract.
Children suffer the most from dust allergies, and allergy sufferers also have a hard time. Normal air exchange eliminates this problem. Together with the air flow, all harmful allergens and impurities are removed from the room.
Many owners of air conditioners are convinced that they are provided with fresh and clean air. This is a dangerous misconception: the air conditioner only filters the air, partially solving the problem of impurities.
But there is no more oxygen in the room. Only the most expensive premium models have an inflow function.
The problem is eliminated by installing supply and exhaust ventilation in the apartment or by increasing the inflow (outflow) of air. Supply ventilation in the apartment can also be adjusted by installing special valves on the windows.
Supply ventilation units
Supply ventilation units provide clean air to the apartment. At the same time, the outflow is carried out by the ventilation system of the house - the exhaust air is forced out through all possible slots and openings, including exhaust in the kitchen, bathroom and toilet. The result is a combined ventilation system.
Benefits of installing fresh air ventilation:
- relatively low price;
- air of optimal parameters is supplied to the room;
- compactness;
- selection of equipment for the parameters of each apartment;
- automatic control.
Before entering the room, the air in the ventilation unit is filtered and heated (during the cold season).
The supply unit for ventilation consists of:
- air duct systems;
- fan, heater;
- filters, silencer;
- automatic control unit.
The supply ventilation unit can be stacked, that is, it can be assembled from parts according to the type of constructor directly on site. The main disadvantage of the prefabricated supply ventilation unit is its large dimensions. Therefore, for the ventilation of apartments, small offices and cottages, compact monoblock units are more often used air handling units.
The compact supply ventilation unit is a single soundproof housing in which all working units are assembled.
Small size and quiet operation make such equipment attractive for apartment residents. Another advantage of the compact plant: costly design and calculation work, as well as commissioning activities are not required.
Individual supply ventilation unit
Individual compact units for forced ventilation provide air exchange within 100 cubic meters per hour, therefore they are designed to serve a single room. Such an installation works without an air duct, is easily and quickly mounted, does not spoil the decoration and design of the room. Supply ventilation units are produced for an apartment with. They are more economical. A plate heat exchanger is built into the body, which freezes over in frosts of more than -12 degrees. Therefore, the installation of such supply ventilation in an apartment is possible only in southern latitudes.
Supply ventilation unit Marta
Ventilation unit March made in the Czech Republic is a compact case with two control knobs: air heating and fan operation intensity.
The main advantage of the Marta type air handling unit: no air duct is needed, installation takes only an hour and a half. But there are also many disadvantages:
- the body is placed directly in the room;
- poor soundproofing.
The disadvantages of installing Marta supply ventilation far outweigh the advantages. Therefore, the equipment is in limited demand.
According to the reviews, the noise of the March ventilation unit at the minimum setting does not interfere with sleep, but at the maximum it is quite noticeable.
In reviews of the Marta air handling unit, the difficulty of replacing filters is mentioned. They must be ordered from official dealer and the price is quite high.
Consumers note a loose filter mount in reviews of the March air handling unit. It has to be additionally compacted with isolon or other material.
But the advantages of the Marta air handling unit include a neat and small case, which is hung on the lower half of the door to the balcony.
Supply ventilation unit Selenga
The Selenga air supply unit is manufactured by the Moscow company Ventmachine. It differs from the previous model by the presence of automatic adjustment. The Selenga air supply unit heats the air with a safe ceramic ten and purifies it by passing it through a carbon filter. The latter is quite expensive, but some craftsmen have learned to make suitable filters from improvised means.
The supply ventilation unit Selenga collects a lot positive feedback, works quite quietly and efficiently.
Air handling unit Sphere
Supply ventilation unit Sfera is currently out of production. The unit contains a whole system of filtration and air improvement: 2 photocatalytic filters and one carbon filter, an ultraviolet lamp.
The supply unit Sphere is controlled from the remote control, equipped air valve that does not let cold air from the street into the room. The temperature sensor allows you to accurately maintain the temperature set by the user.
Most of the components for the Sphere ventilation unit were supplied from Germany.
Duct supply ventilation
The duct supply ventilation unit in an apartment is a stacked system: a unit with equipment from which air is supplied to the premises through air ducts.
Full ventilation for the apartment, providing air flow. The complexity of the installation lies in the placement of the unit and ventilation ducts, which must be decorated or hidden under a false ceiling. Grids are attached to the outlets of the ventilation ducts. The choice of places for them is also very important for creating a comfortable environment in the apartment.
A household supply ventilation unit in an apartment should have an average capacity of 400 cubic meters of air per hour, and for country houses up to 2500 cubic meters. By purchasing a supply ventilation unit for an apartment, you should consider:
- static pressure;
- performance;
- noise level;
- complete set;
- functions automatic system management;
- air filtration;
- placement.
Performance. Without having special calculation skills, you can, on average, focus on the following indicators:
- for apartments with an area of 35 - 60 square meters. meters productivity of the supply unit - 200 - 350 cubic meters per hour;
- for apartments with an area of 70 - 130 sq. meters productivity 300 - 500.
static pressure. It depends on the length and shape of the air ducts, the number of additional filters. For apartments up to 90 sq. meters will do air handling unit ventilation with static pressure from 450 Pa.
Network resistance must be taken into account, which reduces the actual performance of the equipment compared to the maximum declared.
Noise level. Determined at the input and output. The acoustic power of the supply and exhaust ventilation unit is of the greatest importance when it is installed directly in the apartment. If you mount the equipment in a pantry or basement, the noise will not interfere. The output noise level indicates whether the hum through the channels will reach the living rooms. Silencers are used to reduce acoustic power.
Completeness. Any ventilation unit for an apartment should be equipped with automatic control and a control panel with a display.
Automatic controller options. Most simple systems only change the intensity of rotation of the fan, the temperature of the air supplied to the room. More advanced ones notify the owner of the need to clean the filters, have the ability to install different modes work for different times of the day. The most advanced are connected to the smart home system.
Air filtration. All supply and exhaust ventilation units are equipped with a coarse filter for the air supplied to the room. It catches fluff, coarse dust or particles of wool. Smaller particles are captured by fine filters, which is included in the optional package. An additional filter is necessary for residents of large cities with unfavorable environmental conditions. When deciding to buy it, you should know: it increases the load on the supply and exhaust ventilation system in the apartment and reduces its efficiency.
Place of installation. When choosing the location of the ventilation system, the need for its cleaning and repair should be taken into account. A special hatch is used to replace or remove the filter. It is desirable to mount the equipment before finishing the walls, since a hole with a diameter of up to 20 cm is drilled in the outer wall. It is done using a diamond drill, which is constantly washed by water. Yes, and it is desirable to hide the air ducts under the boxes before painting and plastering the walls.
Air flow in the apartment
When planning the ventilation system in the apartment, it is important to correctly distribute the movement of air flows. Clean air must be supplied to living rooms, flow through the corridors to the kitchen, toilet and bathroom. From here, the exhaust air is removed through the ventilation grilles. This air flow pattern provides high blood pressure in "clean" rooms and the expulsion of exhaust air from them, prevents air from being sucked from the toilet or kitchen into the living rooms.
When installing supply ventilation in an apartment, you should be aware that the exhaust ducts of natural ventilation are designed for the fact that in one hour the air in the apartment will be completely replaced once. At the same time, too intense inflow will increase the load on the exhaust system and it will stop working on other floors (the air from your apartment will be blown into the neighboring ones).
Combination of air handling unit and air conditioning
Often, the supply ventilation system is combined with air conditioning.
Conditioning methods:
- one channel air conditioner for the whole apartment;
- several split systems according to the number of rooms.
The first option is preferable, since it is the duct air conditioner that can be combined with the ventilation system. An excellent effect is also achieved when installing zone systems that provide the necessary temperature for each room without drafts.
A simpler option for an apartment is a supply ventilation unit with a cooler. That is, in the cold season, the air is warmed before entering the room, and in the warm season it is cooled.
The air handling unit can be supplemented with a humidifier.
Supply and exhaust ventilation with a heat exchanger
This is the most perfect type of ventilation for an apartment. The recuperator heats the supply air using the heat from the exhaust air. The mechanism allows you to save up to 70% of the energy used for heating in winter, and this is no less than 4.5 kilowatts per hour!
Such devices are very good for large apartments or country houses, the ventilation and heating of which requires significant funds. Supply and exhaust ventilation for an apartment with a heat exchanger makes it unprofitable in small and medium-sized apartments due to its cost. In addition, the air ducts are quite voluminous, it is difficult to hide them with low ceilings.
To learn how to assemble a supply and exhaust ventilation unit with heat recovery for an apartment with your own hands, see our video:
ACCORDING TO BUILDING REGULATIONS, VENTILATION IN EACH APARTMENT IS BY DEFAULT. USUALLY THIS IS A SYSTEM THAT CONSISTS OF TWO PARTS - THE EXTRACT AND AIR SUPPLY CHANNELS. HOWEVER, FRESH AIR IS ALWAYS NOT ENOUGH. WHY IS IT HAPPENING AND WHAT TO DO WITH IT? BE CAREFUL, A FUN LONG RIDE IS WAITING FOR YOU 🙂
How does conventional ventilation work in an apartment?
The ventilation of the apartment is largely formed according to Soviet standards. The hood is provided by fans installed in the kitchen and bathroom. However, air ventilation in the apartment is not limited to the exhaust air system, highest value has a flow. And this function is traditionally performed by cracks in windows and doors. In especially old houses, there are also cracks in the walls that have appeared over time. 🙂
It looks something like this:
However, the traditional “ventilation system”, together with the necessary air, allows noise, cold and dirt to pass through, and therefore is diligently sealed up for the winter or completely eliminated when repairing or installing sealed plastic windows. As a result, in most city apartments the situation looks very unattractive: the air outflow is working properly, but there is no constant inflow, and windows and vents are used to let in all the same noise, cold and dirt, but in much larger quantities.
What types of ventilation exist?
When you start thinking about installing a ventilation system for an apartment, the question inevitably arises: which one to choose? Of course, the first thing that comes to mind is a full-fledged ventilation system, with large shafts, like those through which cunning action heroes secretly travel. 🙂
However, if you install such a colossus in a city apartment or even in a private house, she will live there, since there will no longer be room for you. In addition, as a household device, this solution has a number of disadvantages:
- Need overhaul to install it.
- Limited compatibility: such a ventilation system can not be installed in every apartment.
- High price. Not like a Lamborghini, of course, but not like an Oka either.
- Excessive functionality: if 15 guest workers do not live in each room with tightly blocked windows, then you simply do not need ventilation of such power. And if they live, then you are unlikely to be concerned about ventilation issues. 🙂
As a result, the best solution for an apartment now is a supply, it is also a supply ventilation.
Why do you need forced ventilation in the apartment?
The primary task of the supply, like any other ventilation system, is to provide the room with a constant supply of fresh air. The role of the exhaust air outlet in this case is performed by exhaust fans already installed in each apartment. At the same time, you can choose what kind of atmosphere to form in your home and what level of comfort you require. Ideally, forced ventilation helps to create the correct air exchange in the apartment, which looks like this:
Compact air handling units for apartments are divided into three types: valves, mechanical ventilators and breathers. Valves, in turn, are divided into wall and window. In fact, all valves are the same gaps laid back in Soviet time in building codes, but already designed and made more accurately.
The flow of air coming from the valve is regulated only manually, without remotes and other bourgeois whim. In addition, the valves are devoid of filtration systems or it is represented by the simplest protection against insects. Such devices do not have heating, which means that the air enters your apartment exactly as it is outside the window, bringing with it an invigorating cold and the same street noise. However, if you live in an ecologically clean area, which, however, according to WHO, is almost gone, with a constant wind from a convenient side and without any sound sources nearby, then this solution is perfect. The valves work best in winter, when there is a difference in air temperature inside and outside.
Mechanical ventilators represent the next step in the evolution of the air supply. Depending on the manufacturer, they have different air supply capacities, but the process itself is already becoming controllable and adjustable, which means you can force fresh air into the room. In addition, mechanical ventilators already have a filtering system, again, which may vary depending on the manufacturer and cost, but mainly includes a coarse dust filter, at best, a simple carbon filter. In most cases, such devices also have technological advances in the form of a completely understandable control panel and remote control.
Today, the most powerful mechanical ventilator on the market includes base and carbon filters and air heating, which is practically necessary for anyone who does not live in the tropics and knows what winter is.
When installing a breather, the question of installation inevitably arises. In order for this device to be able to constantly supply you with fresh air, it is necessary to lay an air intake duct in the apartment. There is absolutely nothing to be afraid of - installation takes place in an hour and will keep your repair in perfect condition. However, if you still have any questions about this, I recommend reading here - it honestly told what is hidden behind this terrible word. And if you want to know what kind of work and at what prices you can carry out in your home by certified Tion installers, pay attention to this one.
How to make a ventilation system in the apartment?
That's right - smart! 🙂
Pick up ventilation
Living area, m 2
Ceiling height, m
Number of bathrooms
Stove in the kitchen
Number of persons
Family history of allergies/asthma
Area of residence
Temperature in winter °C
Air exchange from 290 to 480 m 3 / h
Cleaning filters G + F + HEPA + Carbon
Heater power from 3.4 to 5.6 kW
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