Who should clean the ventilation in the apartment and how?

When is it time to clean your ventilation system?

Dust in the air duct, both dry and oily, is highly flammable. In apartment buildings, this is also fraught with the spread of toxic fumes and suffocating smoke.

You can determine the need to clean the ventilation in a particular apartment building based on several criteria:

A large amount of cobwebs and fine dust forms on the ventilation grille and around it.
In summer, the room is stuffy, which was not there before.
Dust accumulates on the floor and surfaces of objects within 12-24 hours after wet cleaning.
The room feels characteristically damp and condensation forms on the glass.

As a rule, the reason is trivial - critical blockage of the ventilation ducts. But the issue may also be due to the failure of ventilation equipment. It is not advisable to wait for obvious signs of malfunction to appear. Regular maintenance will prevent damage to repairs, active spread of fungal spores and deterioration of microclimatic conditions.

To clean the ventilation duct, use plastic round whisks. Their twigs do not break off. An ordinary broom, preferably made from spruce branches of coniferous trees, is also suitable for this purpose.

Ventilation systems should be cleaned twice a year. Specialists can set other deadlines after analyzing the condition of the air ducts, but, as a rule, manipulations in summer and winter are sufficient. Preventive inspection - at least once a quarter.

When is ventilation cleaning required?

Cleaning operations for household ventilation systems should be carried out at least once a year. The air in the room should be changed every hour, however, statistics do not show the best results. The condition of the channels, especially in old apartments, leaves much to be desired. Dirt accumulated on the walls over years of operation reduces the amount of moving oxygen in the system. Industrial ventilation ducts require more frequent maintenance. It is necessary to clean the channels of public catering establishments from grease in a timely manner.

Among the common problems that disrupt normal air exchange are foreign objects in the ducts and the collapse of bricks. Often, for some reason, residents independently block the ventilation ducts, which leads to disruption of the normal air flow in other apartments.

Various rooms need ventilation cleaning:

domestic use - apartments, houses;
catering organizations - restaurants, cafes, canteens;
hospitals and educational organizations, which will allow visitors to breathe fresh air;
production premises, since the air in them is highly polluted, so it is important to maintain ventilation in a timely manner;
shopping centers and office premises often have a complex ventilation system that operates intensively and requires timely cleaning.

Maintenance of air conditioning systems and climate control equipment should be carried out at the frequency established by the manufacturer and indicated in the operating instructions.

Types of ventilation

The ventilation system in the kitchen can be:

natural, that is, providing for the entry of fresh air into the room and the outflow of internal air due to the creation of special pressure;
supply air, which assumes that stale air is pushed out of the room by a stream of fresh oxygen;
exhaust, the work of which is to pull out old air from the room and the influx of new air masses due to pressure release;
supply and exhaust, anticipating the movement of air and exchange processes thanks to the installation of a special apparatus.

In most apartment buildings and private buildings, ventilation is done naturally. Such a system is considered simple, as it allows the exhaust air to be replaced through windows and doors. In this case, a hole with a grill, through which gas that is no longer suitable for breathing escapes from the room, is always placed in the upper part of the wall.

Both fresh and exhaust air circulate through the channels

Ventilation system for a private house

A ventilation system in a cottage is necessary for the same reasons as in an apartment. Using the pipeline, carbon dioxide-filled “exhaust” air is replaced with fresh air from the street. This can be done using one of two methods:

Installation of a system with natural circulation. In this case, air movement is carried out due to the difference in pressure inside and outside the room. It can be classified by the presence of adjustable valves. On this basis it is divided into organized and unorganized.
The device of a ventilation system with forced movement of air masses. Accompanied by the installation of fans. The method is more effective, but is energy dependent; if the power goes out, the system will not be able to work.

Cleaning cottage ventilation ducts

Before you clean the cottage ventilation, you should understand its design features and evaluate whether you can cope with your plans on your own. In fact, the air duct of a country house differs from those installed in apartments located in high-rise buildings. If in the latter case a vertically located channel is meant, stretching across all floors, here the device may be different.

Most often, the ventilation ducts of a cottage are combined into a single main and disperse across the rooms in a horizontal arrangement. This design increases their length and complicates cleaning activities.

Design of a ventilation system for a country house Source iceholod-service.ru

Healthy! For example, the installation of ventilation ducts built according to the diagram shown in the image will not allow cleaning without partially disassembling the pipeline or contacting specialists.

Some features of self-cleaning

As mentioned a little earlier, cleaning the ventilation ducts of a country house can be difficult due to their length and the large number of branches. This problem can only be solved if, already at the installation stage, you consider the possibility of disassembling the pipeline without damaging the components. This is not difficult to do, but in the future it will allow you to clean the ventilation duct yourself.

Self-cleaning method for pipelines Source mosecoservice.ru

For example, by dismantling a bend located on the attic or attic floor, you will have free access to descending branches and will be able to remove debris from them without much difficulty. Upon completion of the work, the pipeline is reassembled and continues to function with greater efficiency. If it is impossible to disassemble the system, you will have to use the services of specialists.

Disinfection of ventilation ducts and cleaning of air conditioning systems

Domestic and industrial ventilation systems operate without interruption. Unfortunately, air duct cleaning is not given the attention it deserves. Dust, dirt and grease accumulate for years and even decades inside on the walls. For this reason, ventilation may not work - a common occurrence in residential multi-storey buildings. These are good conditions for the proliferation of pathogens.

Normally, air duct maintenance is carried out at least once or twice a year. For industrial organizations, the legislation establishes the frequency of maintenance, taking into account the type of activity.

Signs you need cleaning

Before you begin cleaning, you need to become familiar with the signs that indicate that your ventilation system needs to be cleared of debris.

These include the following:

Dust formation. If the hood needs cleaning, dust or other small debris will accumulate near the exhaust vent.
Raid. A dark coating on the surface of the grate indicates the need for cleaning. It may also become coated with particles of fat or soot.
Fast heating of the room. If the ventilation system starts to work worse, the room warms up faster.
Reducing drafts. With poor air circulation, the draft becomes much weaker.

Causes of ventilation system malfunctions

Ventilation stops working in the following cases:

After incorrect installation of metal-plastic windows.
As a result of an imbalance caused by third-party interference in the system.
Due to mistakes made by the architects.

Similar problems occur not only in winter, but also in summer. If air exchange disruption is caused by replacing windows, it is necessary to ventilate the room more often. Wooden windows have small gaps through which ventilation occurs, while plastic windows close tightly, so the air circulation stops.

Some modern double-glazed windows provide a micro-ventilation function. You can also install a ventilation valve on the window.

Ventilation shafts in old multi-storey buildings are usually lined with brick. Dust and moisture cause the material to deteriorate, resulting in collapses. Large parts getting stuck block the flow of fresh air. Insects, birds and pieces of construction debris can get into the air ducts during renovations on the top floors.

But it is prohibited to independently clean all ventilation ducts in an apartment building. This should be handled by special services. With your own efforts, you can restore order only in the branch adjacent to the common channel.

Before removing the grille, you must remove all excess from under it. Otherwise, a large amount of accumulated dirt and dust may fall on furniture and interior items.

With regular cleaning of the channels, the close space can be blown out with a vacuum cleaner. It is advisable to use a device with the ability to switch the direction of air injection and equipped with a compressor

An imbalance in air exchange can also occur due to the fault of neighbors if they connect a powerful exhaust system. This issue can only be resolved by installing such equipment.

Heat can also affect natural ventilation in an apartment building. Air circulation stops if the air temperature outside and indoors equalizes. In summer, additional methods of ventilation will most likely be needed.

You cannot do without the help of a master if mistakes were made during the design and construction of the building. In this case, additional exhaust equipment is installed.

Ways to improve ventilation in an apartment

What to do if cleaning the ventilation did not help? It is quite possible that the air circulation inside the apartment itself is disrupted. By understanding the causes of this violation, you can improve air ventilation in your living space.

Poor air circulation between separate rooms

The first step is to repeat the test using a strip of paper, but at the same time open all the interior doors. If the paper is attracted under such conditions, then the air circulation between the individual rooms of the apartment is disrupted. To improve it, it is recommended when installing doors to make a gap of several centimeters between their lower edge and the floor.

If the doors are already installed or you don’t want to make such a gap, for example, in a bathroom or toilet, then you can drill a series of holes in the door, sloping inward. Subsequently, they should be decorated with fine mesh. This design will provide ventilation when the doors are tightly closed and will not violate the privacy of people in the bathroom or toilet.

Airtight double glazed windows

Another reason for poor ventilation may be the installation of plastic windows with double-glazed windows. In Soviet-built houses, the flow of fresh air from outside was meant through small cracks and gaps in wooden window frames. High-quality installed plastic windows in a completely closed state eliminate such replenishment. As a result, ventilation in the apartment is also disrupted. Therefore, if you are thinking about installing double-glazed windows, then preference should be given to models with a micro-ventilation system.

Already installed double-glazed windows, devoid of such functional features, are easy to modify yourself. There are inexpensive ventilation valves available for sale that are installed on the window frame and sash.

There are models of ventilation valves with manual adjustment and automatic devices that respond to increased humidity levels in the room.

Lack of natural ventilation

It is advisable to equip some rooms, such as the kitchen, toilet or bathroom, with additional ventilation devices so that water evaporation and odors are drawn out as quickly as possible, and not spread throughout the apartment. The simplest solution to this problem is to install a device that provides forced ventilation. A fan adapted for long-term operation in conditions of high humidity can be mounted at the outlet of the ventilation duct instead of a grille or inside the air duct.

As a rule, modern houses are equipped with a comprehensive supply and exhaust ventilation system already at the construction stage. But a major restructuring of the entire apartment is required if there is a desire to install it in old houses. The natural ventilation system, proven over centuries, is more preferable if it copes with its tasks properly, and to improve its performance it is enough to use the above methods.

Procedure and rules for cleaning ventilation

Putting things in order begins with clearing the surrounding area of household items (pots, pans, etc.), furniture is moved away or covered with film, and the floor is covered with film or an impenetrable blanket. An old newspaper and wallpaper are attached to the wall around the hole with tape, and a stepladder is placed. The following are the instructions:

unscrew the bolts on the protective grille and remove the product;
if a fan is installed, it should be removed if possible;
prepare a long thick wire, to the end of which a brush is attached;
push the device inside the line, gradually moving it forward, and gradually rotate the tip, touching the walls;
put on gloves, take a construction spatula or shovel, and clear out the trash;
The space at the edge of the hole is cleared with a vacuum cleaner.

The grille and fan are thoroughly washed under the tap and the deposits are removed with a brush. After washing, dry it and put it back in place. If a part becomes unusable, it is replaced with a new one.

Procedure for checking ventilation

The functionality of the ventilation ducts can be checked using available means.

The easiest way using a lit match:

It is necessary to open the window in any room.
Bring the flame to the ventilation grille. You can take not only a match, but also a candle or lighter.
The serviceability of the system is determined by the deflection of the fire towards the ventilation duct.

Employees of public utilities, in particular the gas office, do not recommend using this method to check ventilation in an apartment building if the building is connected to the main gas supply. Even the smallest gas leak can cause a fire or explosion.

Some ventilation grilles are equipped with nylon mosquito nets. They should be changed every time you clean them. Instead of the torn one, you can glue a new one using second glue

A safer way to examine the canal is with a sheet of A4 paper. Regular toilet paper will also work. The sequence of actions described above remains unchanged. Only instead of a flame, you should attach a sheet to the grate. It should stick to the surface of the ventilation duct.

If the paper is attracted weakly or does not react at all, you will have to look for the reason. The procedure must be repeated for each ventilation grille. In most apartments they are located in the bathroom, kitchen and toilet.

How to clean the ventilation system yourself?

Independent elimination of contamination is only possible in case of local ventilation blockage, when the operation of the system is disrupted in only one room. If the hood does not cope with its tasks throughout the entire apartment, then the source of the problem lies in the common channel. In this case, you cannot do without calling an experienced specialist. Only he can properly and efficiently clean the system.

Algorithm for eliminating local blockage:

Remove the outer grille and remove accumulated dirt, dust, hair and fur from it. Regular detergents are suitable for this.
Remove visible dirt from the walls of the ventilation duct with a scraper. Remove remaining dust and soot with a vacuum cleaner.

Cleaning the ventilation system yourself is a difficult and time-consuming process. It requires special care. Do not use aggressive chemicals for processing that can damage the walls. All operations to remove contamination should be carried out carefully, since debris should not enter the common air duct.

Technology and methods of cleaning

There are 3 effective ways to bring ventilation passages into proper condition.

Mechanical method. It is advisable when cleaning vertical channels, including when large objects or bricks get into them
Chemical method. The passages are washed using dirt-dissolving reagents.
Automated cleaning. It is combined using chemical and mechanical means

The last method is the most modern. The ventilation system in new buildings is in most cases equipped with automation, which periodically turns on the cleaning process. The vacuum unit sucks out debris and other contaminants. The condition of the canal walls is monitored using a video camera.

Applied mechanisms and devices

The most common cleaning method is mechanical. This method involves the use of both manual and automatic tools to remove simple dirt and debris.

Devices for the mechanical method are brushes on a cable (possibly supplemented with a drive device), compressors and brushing machines consisting of brushes, a flexible shaft, a hose for collecting dust and a vacuum cleaner.

Ventilation duct cleaning products

A chemical method is used to remove fatty deposits and soot. Special alkaline agents (some with a disinfectant effect) that break down fat are distributed on the inside of the ventilation duct. Next, the system is washed with a foam solution. Modern cleaners combine chemistry and the foam effect.

The walls are washed with a 2-5% alkaline solution at a temperature of 55-70°C. The product is kept in the canal for 15-20 minutes. In this way, parts of the hood are washed well. The substances used must be certified and harmless to people, since in most cases they are washed by hand.

To remove microorganisms when cleaning air ducts, the system is disinfected. Typically a spray bottle is used. In order to achieve maximum efficiency, an analysis is taken before cleaning to determine the types of pathogenic microorganisms. Based on the analysis, the chemical composition is selected.

Where to go if you can’t clean it yourself

It should be noted right away that cleaning the ventilation in an apartment building is the responsibility of a special organization that has entered into an agreement with the management company. It is prohibited to clean the vertical ventilation shaft yourself. And it is impossible to do this qualitatively with improvised tools and devices.

Therefore, you need to come to the office of the management company and leave a written statement, indicating the entrance number and house number. The thing is that one vertical ventilation shaft is often installed per entrance. Therefore, it will be easy to search for it if the entrance number is indicated.

Specialists who arrive on call must first take measurements of the air speed in the ventilation system. One froze from the side of the apartment, the other from inside the mineshaft. After which it is determined what activities will be carried out. By the way, in addition to cleaning, it is proposed to carry out disinfection or repair.

Please note that the question of who should clean precisely determines the responsibilities of the parties. That is, the management company does not do this itself. She simply monitors the requirements of the residents of the apartment building and their implementation by her employees or persons with whom there is an agreement to carry out certain events. But residents must demand the work be completed from the management company.

Stages of cleaning ventilation and equipment for work

Cleaning ventilation air ducts is a set of measures aimed at improving air quality, life and health of people. This technological process takes place in several stages:

Initial inspection of the system, allowing to determine the design of the ventilation ducts, as well as the degree of their contamination
Drawing up a work plan and cleaning method
Coordination of work stages and their costs with the customer
Signing a bilateral agreement
Preparing the premises
Cleaning of ventilation systems and air ducts
Work efficiency assessment
Cleaning the premises
Signing the work certificate
Delivery of the object to the customer
Preparation and delivery of a package of documents to the customer

All stages are carried out by qualified specialists who have all the necessary documents. Often, cleaning the air duct of an industrial enterprise is carried out at a considerable height. The company's employees are suitably trained to perform work at heights.

Often, nests of wasps and hornets are found in ventilation ducts.

Air Duct Cleaning Devices

Utility services use several units to clean the ventilation system:

powerful industrial vacuum cleaners;
electromechanical equipment;
reagents and chemical compositions;
purification devices with several filters;
vacuum installations;
brush pneumatic drive units.

Flexible shafts can be used to clean the air channels yourself. They should be attached to a drill or screwdriver.

You can also make a ruff yourself. You will need 5-6 plastic bottles of the same size, from which you need to cut off the bottom. Then use scissors to cut strips from the bottom to the neck. The width of each should be from 4 to 5 mm. All received workpieces should be secured with nuts, washers, and bolts with caps. The weight can be made from lead, an iron can and a steel rod. All that remains is to string steel tubes 90 cm long onto a plumbing cable and screw them to the head

In the apartment, you will also need a vacuum cleaner or a broom with a long handle, a wire with a metal hedgehog on the handle, rubber gloves, and a respirator.

Useful tips and tricks

Let's start by giving the main advice - you cannot clean the ventilation in the apartment yourself. But if there is no other way out, then do not climb into the vertical riser. Your options are limited, so you can only clean the horizontal ventilation duct that connects the shaft to the apartment. Now you know how to do this.

Sometimes apartment owners themselves are to blame for the fact that internal air exchange is reduced or completely absent. During the repair process, they cover the ventilation openings with finishing materials. Firstly, this cannot be done. Secondly, if this does happen, then try to correct the situation and bring it back to normal. Otherwise, you cannot avoid high humidity, unpleasant odors, mold and fungi.

If you nevertheless decide to clean the air ducts yourself, then try to prepare thoroughly for this event. To do this, you will need the tools and accessories described above, as well as a reliable stepladder.

How to ensure the functionality of air passages in the bathroom

Don't forget about personal safety
Ineffective air exchange in the room is indicated by the appearance of a veil of steam on the mirror surface and the deposition of liquid droplets on all internal surfaces. Or there is an unpleasant odor brought into the bathroom from the ventilation with reverse air flow. If the design of the house has a ventilation system, but it does not work, you need to know how to clean the ventilation in the bathroom. Please note the following:

If you find a channel heavily clogged with debris, it will be difficult to deal with it on your own, so it is better to turn to specialists.
If during the repair the ventilation grilles were masked with wall or ceiling panels covering them, direct access to them should be provided and the panels should be dismantled.
The fan or grille is cleaned. To do this, accumulated dirt is removed from the grate using a spatula or scraper from the chimney side. Fine dust and debris are removed with a vacuum cleaner.
Once in place, the grille is tightly fixed.
The draft in the bathroom is checked. If the result is unsatisfactory, you should try to check the operation of the shaft on the top floor of the apartment using the riser. If it works there, then the reason lies in the gap in the mine - a blocked air duct. In this case, you cannot do without the employees of the service company.

Timely and correct cleaning of the ventilation in the apartment ensures regular circulation of air flow. When installing fans in the ducts, the frequency of removing debris and dust may decrease, but these preventive maintenance operations cannot be canceled in general.

Cleaning the kitchen hood

It is an integral part of the ventilation system. The hood quickly becomes contaminated with grease, which reduces its efficiency.

Cleaning the kitchen hood

Briefly, cleaning is carried out in several stages:

Disassembly. The cover, metal grille, air filter, and air duct are removed.
Washing parts. Metal and galvanized parts are washed with warm water with the addition of a cleaning agent or soda. They are then rinsed under cold running water.
Drying parts. Each part of the hood is wiped with a dry towel.
Replacing the filter. The air filter can be washed in a mild soap solution or replaced with a new one.
Assembling and installing the hood in its original place.