The problem of ventilation in the bathroom and toilet quite often appears in apartment buildings. Natural ventilation channels in such buildings are often damaged, as a result of which they cannot perform their functions. In addition to this problem, in old buildings, when laying ventilation ducts, air exchange calculations were made taking into account wooden windows, but not plastic ones, which do not let in even a gram of air from the outside. Therefore, in order to improve ventilation in the apartment and in the bathroom, in particular, a fan is installed in the bathroom.
Types of bathroom ventilation
Ventilation in an apartment is of three types according to its purpose:
- exhaust
(extracts exhaust air through the ventilation shaft); - supply air
(provides fresh air from the street into the room); - mixed
(organizes the movement of air in the room due to the exhaust and supply types).
As a rule, only exhaust ventilation
. The easiest way to organize air flow is in living rooms.
By design
Ventilation in the bathroom is divided into ductless and ducted. Ventilation of the first type occurs due to an opening in the wall through which the exhaust air enters the general ventilation duct of a residential apartment building. Duct ventilation is a complex of ventilation equipment, most often in the form of pipes running under the ceiling. Suitable for servicing large premises: office buildings, shopping centers, etc.
According to the organization system
air circulation in the bathroom, ventilation can be natural or forced.
With natural
(or gravity) ventilation system, the flow of fresh air is carried out through windows and doorways, and the effectiveness of ventilation depends on the difference in temperature and pressure outside and indoors - the greater the difference, the better the air exchange. Simply put, fresh air enters the apartment through the window and exits through the exhaust ventilation duct.
However, natural ventilation in the bathroom does not always cope with its task.
Here are a few reasons why the apartment is not ventilated:
- accumulation of debris in the ventilation duct;
- tightly closed windows and interior doors.
It’s easy to check the tightness of the doors in the bathroom - there should be a gap under the door through which a newspaper will pass. If you are not satisfied with the presence of cracks, install a door with a ventilation grill.
Blocking the movement of air masses leads to increased humidity - a favorable environment for the active life of bacteria, which can cause allergic reactions and respiratory problems. Humid air in the bathroom also promotes the formation of mold and mildew stains. Finishing materials will begin to deteriorate, pipes will begin to rust, the service life of bathroom furniture and plumbing fixtures will be significantly reduced, and the strength of the load-bearing structures of the house will decrease. All this is fraught with costs for further repairs.
The toilet in the apartment also needs high-quality ventilation so that unpleasant odors do not stagnate and cause discomfort to your household and guests.
What elements does the ventilation system consist of?
First you need to decide what type of ventilation system will be installed. Next, you need to prepare all the required elements, determining their sizes in advance. Here are the elements you will definitely need.
First, the fan. This is the main component of the system. It is built in:
- to the ceiling;
- into the air duct box;
- into the wall.
This unit is built directly into the air duct if it is planned to install a complex ventilation system. For example, a toilet and a bathroom are different rooms. Then separate ventilation openings should be installed in each room, and ducts and pipes should be diverted from them. And only later will these elements need to be connected to a single air duct.
Secondly, the air duct box. The material for its manufacture is metal or plastic. The cross-section is round or straight. Each system has its own advantages. For example, the rectangular version is easier to attach to the wall or ceiling. Above a suspended or suspended ceiling, its location looks ideal. But the round cross-section provides air removal more efficiently, because there are no internal corners.
Thirdly, parts for securing air ducts. Brackets are used (ready-made clamps or homemade elements). They are installed approximately every 0.5-0.7 m, it depends on the location.
Fourthly, swivel knees. Used when using a rigid box. Intended for:
- for installation of complex structures;
- when it is necessary to output through the ceiling or wall;
- if the direction of air flow changes.
Fifthly, couplings. Will be required to interface individual sections of the air duct.
Sixth, check valve. Necessary to prevent reverse flow of air masses after turning off the ventilation system. You will also need a check valve if there is strong wind outside.
Seventh, ventilation grilles. They must be present at the inlet and outlet of the ducted fan system. And if a surface-mounted axial fan is installed, then the grille is mounted on the outlet.
For instructions on how to install an air conditioner in an apartment yourself, read here.
Diagnosis of ventilation status
To check the ventilation in the bathroom and toilet, you must:
- open the window in any nearby room and the door to the bathroom;
- Attach a piece of paper or a napkin to the opening of the ventilation shaft.
The air flow, which is not obstructed by anything, should attract the sheet of paper to the air duct grille. If this does not happen or the sheet holds weakly, then the natural ventilation system is broken.
Here are a few more factors that will help you understand that the ventilation is faulty:
- the mirror fogs up a lot after taking a bath or shower;
- feels heavy, damp air;
- moisture accumulates on walls and furniture;
- black mold or other types of mold have appeared;
- unpleasant odors do not go away.
You might think that it is enough to clean the natural ventilation channels and breathing will become much easier, unpleasant odors will go away, and dampness in the bathroom and toilet will no longer spoil your expensive finishing and plumbing fixtures. However, this is not always enough.
A common myth in the world of indoor ventilation is that natural exhaust is productive all year round. Even if you do not observe condensation on the walls and mirror surfaces do not fog up, you should understand that the natural ventilation hood works when the air temperature outside the window is significantly lower than the temperature readings inside the room. The rest of the time it does not function.
The principle of operation of the gravity (natural) ventilation system is based on the difference in air density. Warm air is displaced by a cold stream, since it is lighter, and is discharged through exhaust ducts. This means that you can only get rid of dampness in the bathroom in the cold season if the window is open (or in ventilation mode), which is not always suitable for our frosty winters. Moreover, you will have to keep the doors open both in the bathroom and in the toilet.
Therefore, forced ventilation of the bathroom will come to your aid.
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Advantages of working with our company
Our company installs ventilation grilles in Moscow with a guarantee for the work performed and is ready to help all year round, regardless of the day of the week or time of day. Our staff includes only experienced performers with specialized knowledge and dozens of successfully completed orders under their belts. Thanks to this, we can easily install gratings of any type - single-row and double-row, wall, ceiling, movable and stationary from various materials.
Types of Exhaust Fans
Domestic fans that you can install in your bathroom include:
- channel;
- wall-mounted
A wall fan is fixed at the inlet of the exhaust vent, a duct fan is installed inside the air duct. Both types will ensure the removal of stale air and high-quality circulation.
Based on the type of design, fans are divided into:
- Axial
(aka axial). An advanced view of exhaust fans. Available in price and installation. The body of an axial fan has the shape of a cylinder; inside there is a wheel with blades, most often with a check valve. Rotating, the blades “capture” air and remove it from the room. The device is mounted at the entrance to the ventilation duct. - Radial.
A radial fan consists of a motor, a rotating wheel with blades, and is enclosed in a metal casing. It has a spiral shape, visually reminiscent of a “snail”.
The fan may have the following set of devices and functions:
- timer,
- humidity and motion sensors,
- operation from a light switch,
- separate switch key.
The first two options are quite expensive and have their own inconveniences when used. The motion sensor is most often installed in the door, which requires additional investment and time. The disadvantage of a fan with a timer is that if you linger in the toilet, the fan will stop working earlier than you expected. The motion sensor is inconvenient because under similar conditions (there was not enough time), you will have to open the door slightly for the sensor to work. This can put you in an awkward position, especially if you have guests in your apartment.
Choosing a model
In order for the exhaust vent to work smoothly at the maximum of its capabilities, you should be very meticulous in selecting the main functional product - the fan. Therefore, it is necessary to better study individual points that will facilitate the procedure for determining the type of ventilation structure.
Ventilation diagram
Noise level
It is quite natural that during operation, household appliances produce a certain level of sound. For ventilation equipment, this indicator is always indicated in its passport. Bathrooms and toilets allow you to install a system of approximately 35 decibels, which is considered a high level of sound insulation, since this sound is not perceived by human hearing. Fans with higher sound levels are already considered unsuitable for use due to their irritability.
Fan with power control
Engine
The device for the toilet room must have the necessary power, as well as a long safety margin. It is these indicators that the fan motor responds to. Upon inspection, you should immediately pay attention to its structure. There must be ball bearings and installed bushings, on which the life of the engine depends, as well as the level of noise produced. Such models are rightfully considered the most productive, durable, and silent.
Powerful fan
Performance
This indicator is considered one of the most important for the functioning of the entire ventilation system. Due to the performance, you can calculate how much fresh air reaches the bathroom or toilet space during 60 minutes of operation. It is necessary to understand that fan performance is directly related to the following parameters:
- area of the room;
- humidity level;
- number of active users.
High performance fans
The required performance of ventilation equipment can be established using a fairly simple formula. It is necessary to multiply the total volume of the required room by a multiple of the air exchange value, an indicator which, in turn, will be the value of the amount of complete change of atmosphere in the toilet space. For a bathroom, the approximate multiplicity will be equal to an indicator from 7 to 10 units.
Today, it is obvious that technology does not stand still, so the modern market already provides innovative ventilation systems with the following functions:
- automatic connection to the switch;
- independent work when a certain humidity level is reached;
- software installation of tasks according to various criteria.
Basic requirements for organizing forced ventilation in the bathroom and toilet
To select a suitable fan, you must first familiarize yourself with the requirements of SNiP (Building Norms and Rules) in sections SP 60.13330.2012 “Heating, ventilation and air conditioning” (updated edition of SNiP 41-01-2003) and SP 54.13330.2016 “Residential buildings multi-apartment" (updated edition of SNiP 31-01-2003). According to the standards of these sections, the volume of exhaust air in sanitary premises must be 25 m3/h.
Regarding noise level
, modern fans are distinguished by their low noise. In individual cases, you can use sound-absorbing materials by installing them inside the air duct immediately before installing the fan. You can also purchase a virtually silent fan, but you will have to spend some money.
