The humidity indicator characterizes the microclimate of the room along with the temperature and air quality. Heating appliances dry out the atmosphere, which causes headaches and breathing difficulties. High humidity in the apartment leads to the appearance of fungus, mold on vertical and horizontal surfaces, activates the vital activity of bacteria.
Indicators of the norm of humidity in the apartment
Humidity is the level of saturation of the atmosphere with water vapor. The absolute humidity indicator shows the actual amount of liquid in grams in one cubic meter of air (g / m3). Relative humidity expresses the ratio of the absolute value to the maximum humidity that can be at a certain temperature. Household hygrometers are used to measure moisture content.
Indexes for the apartment depending on the season:
- in winter - 35 - 45%;
- in summer - 55 - 65%;
- the average level is 50 - 55%.
A high indicator is sometimes recorded in the rooms of corner apartments, despite the existing heating - then the dampness must be removed. There will always be a humid microclimate in the bathroom and kitchen.
Ventilation organization
Natural ventilation is an economical way to get rid of humidity in an apartment. The method is subdivided into unorganized and organized versions.
The first method assumes that you need to regularly open windows and doors in order to remove dampness. In wooden frames, streams seep through cracks, and in metal-plastic windows there are no fresh inflows due to tightness.
Organized natural ventilation involves getting rid of damp air through a network of ducts and risers, which can be built-in or hinged. The principle of operation is based on differential pressure.
In an apartment, natural ventilation does not always work effectively, therefore it is recommended to apply forced supply and output of air flows. The system includes cleaning, temperature change, moisture reduction.
Consequences of high air humidity
An excess of water vapor has a negative effect on the body. In such conditions, harmful microorganisms multiply, and the number of respiratory complications increases. Runny nose, bronchitis, asthma, allergies can become chronic.
Damp room problems:
- breathing is difficult, stuffiness is felt;
- unpleasant odors arise due to the reproduction of pathogenic organisms in the dampness;
- washed laundry takes a long time to dry, dry items become damp.
High humidity in the apartment leads to deformation of furniture, decay of indoor plants. The structure of books and other products is changing. The human body loses more heat and people feel chilly. Fungi and mold release toxins, the spores of which cause dizziness, lethargy, and neurological diseases.
Types of ventilation
In the multi-storey sector, the ventilation of the apartments was formed according to Soviet patterns.There may or may not be electrical appliances in the exhaust openings of the kitchen, bath and toilet, which forcibly remove the exhaust air into the general system of channels and release it into the atmosphere. Of no small importance is the flow of fresh streams through leaks in windows and doors, which decreases in modernly finished openings. The traditional inflow has the disadvantage that dirt, exhaust gases, and cold enters along with the air through the slots of the windows. The opening of the transom leads to the fact that the unfavorable characteristics of the flows increase several times.
The forced supply and exhaust system will quickly reduce negative air readings, regardless of the weather outside the window. Microclimate parameters are normalized, the risk of mold growth will decrease.
Exhaust
The task of this type of system is to eliminate odors in the kitchen, bathroom and reduce humidity. The natural scheme works only due to the pressure difference between the shaft head and the room. Forced pulling allows you to lower the humidity in the apartment using electric fans placed in an exhaust hole or box.
Devices of axial or centrifugal action are used. Their power must correspond to the throughput of the ventilation shaft. The local system is installed where there are dangerous vapors or strong release of water vapor and provides normal conditions in this place. An example is a mechanical range hood over a kitchen stove.
Supply
The task of the system is to ensure the flow of air. The user sets the operating parameters and selects the level of humidity and comfort.
Supply units:
- valves (window and wall);
- breathers;
- mechanical types.
The valves are manually adjusted, the devices do not have filters and heating elements, only insect protection. They function effectively in winter with temperature differences and in windy weather.
The breather is a compact design that can clean street currents and heat. The device is controlled from an electronic remote control or a smartphone. It can operate in recirculation mode, renewing used air.
Mechanical devices come in different capacities and force the outside air. There are filters, their quality and quantity varies depending on the model and manufacturer. Standard kit includes coarse particle protection and carbon membrane.
Supply and exhaust
The system is installed in one room or can combine many rooms in a building. The circuit helps to reduce the humidity in the apartment by organizing the supply of oxygen and the removal of waste streams into the ventilation shaft.
The supply and exhaust system has a different set of functions from heating the incoming air to cleaning the used atmosphere with mixing a certain part of the external flow. Devices are mounted in the structure to reduce humidity, eliminate impurities. Economical units contain a recuperator to use the heat of the removed air and reduce the cost of heating the incoming air.
Features of ventilation in rooms of various types
Ventilation using a supply and exhaust system is an expensive solution. Such a system is installed if there are problems with the natural supply of air flows or if it is required to check the intensity of air exchange. The unit is usually installed in the attic and the ducts run under the ceiling of the premises. Air is supplied to the bedrooms, living rooms, dining room, and is drawn through the hoods in the bathroom, bathroom and kitchen.
Average indicators for premises:
- bath, kitchen, dining room - 40 - 60%;
- library, office, hall - 30 - 40;
- bedroom - 40 - 50%;
- children's room - 45 - 55%.
The reason for the improper operation of natural ventilation lies in design errors, clogging of the central and separate riser, and unfavorable weather. To remove humidity in an apartment, the hood must transmit at least 50 m3 of air per hour.
Kitchen
The kitchen belongs to the auxiliary rooms, it is not necessary to strictly adhere to the humidity standards in it, but it is worth striving for them. Natural removal of soot and fumes is not always effective, because depends on the strength of the wind, the temperature difference outside and inside. The lack of fresh air is felt in the summer, when it is equally hot in the kitchen and outside.
Proper ventilation is done to limit the spread of heat, combustion gases, odors and steam to other rooms. For this, at least 90 - 100 m3 / h must change, this level can be achieved with the installation of duct fans. A separate hood is mounted above the stove to draw in steam from the boiling liquid, while limiting the flow of water molecules into the surrounding space.
Restroom
Fans must effectively discharge air into the mine so that unpleasant odors do not spread throughout the house or apartment. There are devices with intelligent control that turn on automatically after a certain time, but more often ordinary channel views are set. The electrics are connected in such a way that the coolers turn on for a while after using the toilet or start working simultaneously with the lights on, and end after the light goes out.
For effective work, a good flow of outside air is required, otherwise, odors will remain in the bathroom, and a rarefaction of air will appear. Periodic ventilation will not help, therefore, artificial injection devices must be installed.
Bathroom
In this room, the problem is high humidity, which will spread to other rooms in the absence of ventilation. Electric fans must be installed in the bathroom for forced extraction of water vapor. There are models with an automatic humidity sensor, which gives a signal to turn on when a certain parameter is reached. A delayed start program is set after a person enters the bathroom.
Living spaces
People are regularly in the bedroom or nursery, so the humidity regime must be observed exactly. An exhaust hood must not be installed in the rooms, because the smells of their kitchen or staircase will be drawn in here with poor sealing.
It is better to install air handling units, ventilators and valves in the residential area. Another option is a precisely calculated supply and exhaust system. Devices with air heating and a set of filters for dust and suspended particles have proven themselves well.
The ventilation system with recuperation works effectively, when a network of air ducts is installed on the entire apartment, and technical units monitor the humidity, pollution and air temperature. The heat of the outgoing air helps to warm up the incoming air streams, and energy costs can be reduced.
