Instructions on how to independently clean the ventilation in the apartment
Many people forget about the existence of ventilation in an apartment if it works well. However, if problems arise, people remember them immediately, because mold appears on the surface of the walls due to poor air circulation. In addition, poor-quality ventilation leads to a damp smell in the room. To get rid of these troubles, you need to familiarize yourself with how to independently clean the ventilation in the apartment.
signs for cleaning
Before proceeding with cleaning, it is necessary to familiarize yourself with the signs that the ventilation system needs to be cleaned of debris.
These include in particular the following:
- Dust formation. If the hood needs cleaning, dust or other small debris will accumulate near the hood.
- Plaque. The need for cleaning is indicated by a dark coating on the grill surface. It may also develop a coating with particles of fat or soot.
- Rapid heating of the room.If the ventilation system begins to malfunction, the room heats up faster.
- Reduced draft. With poor air circulation, the draft becomes much weaker.
The design and purpose of the ventilation system
It seems to many that the air in the apartment is pure, but it is not. Indeed, it absorbs various odors that come from the kitchen or the street. It also contains dust particles, small lint and even animal hair. Over time, the air accumulates many dangerous bacteria and microorganisms that contribute to mold growth in the room.
Therefore, it is recommended to take care of the organization of a high-quality ventilation system, which performs the following functions:
- promotes the flow of clean air in the room;
- eliminate dust, bacteria, carbon monoxide and unpleasant odors from the room;
- normalization of humidity levels.
The main causes of blockages
There are six reasons why blockages in the ventilation can appear.
Accumulation of dust, dirt, grease
The main reason why the ventilation system begins to malfunction is the accumulation of particles of grease, dirt and dust. All of these contaminants gradually accumulate on the surface of mine walls or air circulation channels.
Most often, pollution accumulates due to too narrow channels through which exhaust oxygen moves from a bathroom, kitchen or living room.
As it moves inside the system, all the debris gradually accumulates. Over the years, the layer of mud increases, which is why the air moves much more slowly. Therefore, experts recommend periodically cleaning the ventilation system so that debris does not have time to accumulate in it.
Masonry collapse
The most serious cause of poor air circulation is the collapse of masonry. It is from bricks that a ventilation shaft is built in many houses. To solve this problem, you will have to take care of cleaning and repairing the broken mine. However, sometimes it is difficult to cope with such a problem on your own, and therefore many have to live with a damaged ventilation system.
Small animals and birds
Birds and other small animals often get inside the ventilation hood. This happens in winter, when warm air begins to rise from exhaust pipes, emanating from bathrooms or kitchens. Warm air currents attract birds, and because of this, they fly to the vents and begin to sit on them to warm up a bit. Most often, sparrows and pigeons flock to warm up, which is most common in cities. Some of the birds sitting on the pipes fall into the ventilation, due to which it begins to malfunction.
Another reason birds fall into pipes is because they are trying to build nests there. Therefore, chicks can be at the bottom of the mine, and not just adults.
hood
Sometimes when installing a range hood, people cut it into the ventilation duct. It's not worth it, because conventional ventilation is designed to pass about 90 cubic meters of air per hour. This figure is more than ten times lower than the productivity of most modern models of exhaust systems.Therefore, when the hood is built in, excess pressure is created inside the ventilation shaft, due to which air flows begin to be pushed into neighboring apartments.
Before installing an extractor hood in the kitchen, you need to consult a specialist to explain where it can be installed.
Replace wooden windows with plastic
It's no secret that a constant supply of fresh air is necessary for the ventilation system to work properly. If it is not there, the air circulation will deteriorate significantly. The use of a new sealed plastic glazed block impairs air circulation in the room, which leads to periodic fogging of the glass and the appearance of traces of mold on the surface of the walls.
To avoid problems when using plastic windows, it is necessary to periodically ventilate the room, even in winter. Some people recommend installing wooden windows, but they retain heat less well.
Seasonal characteristics
There are also seasonal characteristics that affect the quality of ventilation. For example, in winter it works well and without interruption, but in hot weather performance can degrade significantly. This is due to the fact that in winter the temperature difference between the outside and the inside of the building is too high.
In summer, the temperature difference is not so great, and therefore the air ventilation becomes worse. To normalize it, you will need to open the windows or install forced ventilation devices for better air circulation.
How to clean properly
Before you start cleaning, you need to familiarize yourself with how to do it correctly.
Coaching
First of all, you need to check the ventilation performance. There are two common ways to check exhaust ducts:
- Using a lit match, lighter or candle. The lit object must be brought into the channel. If the flame begins to move towards the hood, it means that it is working properly. However, when the flame does not change direction, the ventilation must be cleaned.
- Application of a piece of paper. It is applied to the hood opening. If it starts to gravitate toward the grate, cleaning isn't worth it.
Cleaning procedure
When cleaning the system, the following actions are performed:
- Remove kitchen furniture. If the hood is cleaned in the kitchen, it is necessary to get rid of all kitchen furniture. The floor is carefully covered with newspapers to keep debris out.
- Remove the grid. It is removed beforehand to facilitate cleaning of the ventilation duct. If the grill is too dirty, replace it with a new one.
- Cleaning. After removing the grid, start cleaning. To do this, you must put on construction gloves and clean the debris that is inside the channel. Work should be done carefully as there may be nails, glass and other dangerous debris inside.
How to upgrade a ventilation system
Sometimes in older homes, even cleaning does not help improve exhaust system performance. Therefore, it is necessary to increase air circulation in other ways. There are methods to improve ventilation. For example, you can install modern double-glazed windows that have a micro-ventilation function. Such windows promote air circulation in the room.You can also use special fans to improve airflow. These hoods are installed in the bathroom, toilet or kitchen.
Preventative measures
To prevent the ventilation system from becoming heavily clogged, it must be properly maintained. Experts recommend cleaning it periodically so that debris does not accumulate there. Preventive cleaning should be done at least once a month.
Also, special nets can be installed on the exhaust holes, which will prevent large debris from getting inside.
Tips & Tricks
Before you start cleaning the ventilation in an apartment building, you should familiarize yourself with the tips and tricks that will help you do it well:
- the hood is cleaned with protective construction gloves to avoid injuring your hands;
- to remove large debris, you need to use a metal scraper;
- if the channel is too dirty, seek help from specialists.
Conclusion
Sometimes the vent is clogged with debris and you need to clean it. Before starting work, you need to understand the causes of blockages and ways to eliminate them.