When installing plastic windows in an apartment, you need to understand that this type of construction is almost completely sealed. You can open the window and ventilate the room, but when closed, fresh air from the street cannot get into the room due to the tight fit of the frame elements. Therefore, ventilation should be organized in an apartment with plastic windows. This issue cannot be ignored, otherwise you will have to face some difficulties during the operation of such housing.
Advantages and disadvantages of plastic structures
Positive sides of plastic windows:
- The room is kept warm. Sealing rubber bands, smooth, even profile and double-glazed windows fit perfectly, there are no cracks and drafts, the vacuum layer between the glasses is an excellent heat insulator.
- The appearance of the frame is very neat and presentable.
- Plastic does not need constant painting, it is durable and does not dry out like wood.
This design is convenient to mount, you can install a mosquito net. In comparison with high-quality eurowindows made of laminated veneer lumber, for example, plastic profiles are much cheaper.
Sealing eliminates the possibility of creating a natural circulation of air masses between the room and the street. Hence, there is a need for additional material costs for the equipment of supply and exhaust ventilation.
Plastic by itself does not belong to environmentally friendly products and, contrary to the assurances of manufacturers, can emit harmful substances when heated.
What does the lack of normal ventilation lead to?
The supply and exhaust system is considered normal if it provides the standard norms of humidity and air cleanliness in the room specified in SNiPs. This directly depends on its performance and the correct location of the supply valves. Unsuccessful arrangement of ventilation or lack of its capacity can lead to the following consequences:
- High humidity in the room. The walls are damp, streaks form on the glass, water accumulates on the windowsills.
- Blackening in the corners. Moisture promotes the formation of fungal colonies, which settle in shaded areas.
- Deterioration of health. In a poorly ventilated building, pathogenic bacteria actively accumulate. In addition, mushrooms release microscopic spores, which give allergic reactions and complications to the respiratory organs.
- Damage to furniture and interior elements. Dampness contributes to the flaking of parts of wood boards, swelling of coatings.
- Excessive dryness in the room. The problem arises when there is no ventilation and the heating batteries are very overheated. It is hard to breathe in the house and the furniture is drying out.
Dry air is poorly tolerated by indoor plants; additional humidifiers are required.
Ventilation valve
The design of the supply devices allows you to create a channel for the passage of air from the street into the room.Due to the narrow duct of such an element, the temperature regime in the room practically does not change in terms of cooling the room. In this case, circulation occurs continuously if the exhaust ventilation is properly organized.
There are supply mechanisms that can be installed directly on a frame made of a plastic profile, there are wall-type devices. In the first case, a simpler design allows you to mount the element yourself and rather quickly. Valves for installation in the supporting part of the structure require the organization of a channel through the entire thickness, which is not always possible without special equipment.
Ventilation valves can be with a fixed flow capacity and with the ability to adjust the width of the passage.
Flanged valves
This type of ventilation equipment cannot be called complete, since it has a very low performance. To bring the microclimate at home to a normal state, regular additional ventilation is required. From a constructive point of view, this is a simple element that is installed in a frame porch. The main purpose of such a component can be considered to be the ventilation of the area adjacent to the euro-window - the zone of slopes and the lumen itself in order to remove condensate, to get rid of the fungus in the corners.
Slotted devices
The most popular type of equipment for plastic windows to create a stable flow of fresh air. Install mechanisms in a horizontal impost or in the area of the sash on the upper profile. Structurally, a single element is a double-sided block system, where the outer block performs a protective function, preventing insects and dust from entering the house, and the inner one is responsible for the air throughput.
Devices can be adjusted manually, or there are automatic slot valves. Due to the upper installation in the house there is no feeling of passage of drafts, cold masses, gradually mixing with warm ones, do not bring discomfort.
Supply overhead mechanisms
Products of this type are the most effective among all considered. Their advantage is high throughput, but there are several significant disadvantages:
- Install devices between the wall and the frame. Therefore, housing should be equipped with such elements prior to installation of euro windows.
- Any noise that comes from outside easily enters the rooms. Because of this, it is impossible to use the product for ventilation purposes in very noisy areas of the city. This product is in demand for equipping warehouse and technical premises of various organizations and enterprises.
Overhead supply valves are simple in design and operation; they have a built-in coarse filter. You can install them yourself if you have an idea of installing plastic profiles.
Recuperators for household use
The principle of recuperation in the exhaust system is based on the transfer of heat from the heated air flow of the room to the cold air from the street using a copper heat exchanger. The process is possible due to the simultaneous movement of masses in opposite directions inside the device. At the same time, there is no mixing of streams.
The operation of the device is ensured by the functioning of two built-in fans with a suction impeller. It is controlled by an electronic circuit that can increase and decrease the air flow by adjusting the engine speed accordingly. The recuperators are economical, quiet and do not create a draft effect.
Supply and exhaust ventilation in a room with plastic windows
A standard exhaust system in a room where plastic windows are installed should contain:
- an exhaust fan with an exhaust air duct;
- a non-return valve to prevent cold air from entering through the vent when the engine is off;
- supply mechanisms that allow for a full air exchange between the external and internal environment.
For each specific room, it is necessary to calculate the performance of electrical and mechanical equipment. With the wrong choice of technical base, material investments in the system may be unjustified. This primarily concerns the operation of ventilation in the winter.
In the absence of the possibility of adjusting the performance of the ventilation system, up to 60% of the heat can go through the ventilation pipe in the cold season.