Fresh and clean indoor air is of particular importance for health, it affects a person’s mood, his vigor and sleep.
How ventilation works
The ventilation system is present in any residential and warehouse buildings. In apartments, as a rule, ventilation is installed in the kitchen, based on natural air circulation and carried out using one exhaust duct. Oxygen enters the room through door and window slots, and is removed through the channel due to the temperature difference. The space of the ventilation ducts should never be violated during the repair process, because of this, residents on the first floors can be left without ventilation.
Vent shafts are not without drawbacks. The functioning of such a system is influenced by atmospheric conditions - wind speed and air temperature. In the cold season, the circulation is provided by a noticeable temperature difference, for the same reason in summer it is minimized.
What is the alpine window for?
In most homes and apartments today installed plastic window systems, characterized by high tightness. Despite their convenience and heat preservation in the winter, they practically do not let air through, which reduces the quality of the ventilation system. Since it is irrational to refuse them, the way out of the situation is artificial ventilation, for example, an alpine window. Reviews about this device, as a rule, are positive, many note the arrival of a sufficient amount of air purified from exhaust gases and dust, as well as the improvement of the microclimate in the apartment. The Alpine window is a complex system that does not require the creation of drafts and is designed for office and residential premises.
Air exchange
High-quality air exchange affects not only performance, but also on human health. For its formation, compliance with several conditions is required:
- Removing contaminated air.
- The continuous circulation of oxygen throughout the house or apartment.
- Air intake from the street.
Alpine window, the price of which is within 3000 rubles, is able to ensure compliance with all these conditions. It is optimally suited for rooms with insufficient air exchange. Its use is especially justified in the old-family apartment buildings, in which ventilation does not work properly or does not work at all. The need for it increases when replacing wooden windows with modern plastic.
Alpine window: installation
The manufacture of this device is engaged in several domestic companies. For its installation, a hole must be created in the outer wall using diamond drilling, its diameter should be about 14 cm. A blower is placed in the hole, supplemented with sound and heat-insulating materials. From the side of the street, a fine mesh or lattice is fixed, which prevents the penetration of rainfall, debris and insects. The blower is closed from the inside by a special box, which has a damper control and a high-quality synthetic filter. The volume of incoming air is regulated by a damper. To change its position, use a pen or a special cord.
The Alpine window provides the necessary amount of already purified air, while standard ventilation removes the used air. If the natural system is not enough, a forced additional system is mounted in the duct.
The best option for installation is the space above the window. This device is indispensable in apartments located on the ground floors with windows overlooking busy roads, in crowded rooms and in rooms without windows. The Alpine window is not suitable for installation in the bathroom and in the kitchen, since it does not replace exhaust ventilation.
Increased efficiency
Regardless of the type of exhaust hood available, transfer grilles must be installed to ensure a continuous air flow to the exhaust devices throughout the entire travel path. For the proper organization of the flow, it is important that the most contaminated area is the last in the general chain. That is why ventilation in the kitchen and bathroom is of particular importance. In the absence of gratings, there must be free space between the floor surface and the door, its width must be at least 2 cm. Only in this case the functioning of the system will be sufficient.
As noted earlier, there is an influx of fresh air in two ways - forced and natural. Infiltration is the flow of oxygen through gaps and openings in wall structures, doors and windows.
Wooden standard windows are highly breathable. The incoming volume of oxygen through uncompressed spaces and crevices is sufficient for a medium-sized house. It is also worth considering the air flow provided by the doorways.
Difficulties in standard ventilation
Ventilation of the room due to a small opening of a plastic window or window leaves the following problems:
- in the cold season, the windows themselves and the elements adjacent to them begin to cool and contribute to the appearance of condensation;
- significant heat losses occur and, as a result, heating costs increase;
- full replacement of used air with fresh air takes place within 40-80 minutes, depending on environmental conditions;
- when the window is fully open, air exchange takes no more than 10 minutes.