With the normal functioning of the ventilation system, a person does not even remember about it. The need to clean the air ducts and the entire system is usually remembered when traces of dampness, signs of mold appear on the walls of the rooms, the washed things began to dry much longer, the windows fogged up. All this is a sign of significant clogging of the ventilation system, which requires cleaning.
One of the main conditions for the normal well-being of a person is the presence of clean air in the house. If there is a violation of ventilation in the house, the working capacity of those living there decreases, they quickly get tired, allergies and various diseases appear.
The need for cleaning and disinfection
In order for a person to stay in their own home to be both comfortable and useful, the main parameters of the air - its temperature, humidity, and the like - must be maintained in a normal state. This is largely facilitated by periodic cleaning of the ventilation system and its disinfection.
Cleaning ventilation is a reliable way to avoid many of the negative consequences of dirty filters and air ducts:
- an increase in the number of fungi, the formation of mold and other pathogenic microflora;
- increased risk of fire as a result of strong dustiness of the ventilation ducts;
- reduction of the used area of the duct;
- failure of the hood and other similar equipment as a result of an increase in the load on it.
Along with cleaning, disinfection of ventilation systems is also carried out - disinfection of the inner surfaces of the channels and all equipment of the system.
Disinfection helps to prevent the multiplication of many bacteria, which can provoke the development of a large number of diseases. The frequency of such procedures is once every six months or a year.
Checking the ventilation
When the first signs of problems with the air duct and the entire system appear - condensation on the window panes, traces of mold on the walls, and the like - you should think about cleaning the ventilation duct. But before that, you should still make sure that the problem lies precisely in the clogging. You can check this with your own hands.
The easiest "popular" way to check ventilation is to bring a lighted candle to the grill of the system. If the flame deviates, the system works without any malfunctions, and it does not need cleaning.
However, it is not recommended to use this method: in case of gas leaks, it can accumulate in the air duct, during such a check, a fire or even an explosion can occur. And usually the deposits in the ventilation shaft burn very well.
A safer method of checking the duct is to use plain tissue paper instead of fire, which will deflect even if there is little airflow.
It should be remembered that such methods of checking ventilation may not give any objective results in the warm season: dense and heavy hot air can stagnate in the air duct even if it is not contaminated.
Two methods for cleaning ventilation
Many people believe that the ventilation system can function normally for a long time, but in any case, debris, dust, and various microorganisms gradually accumulate in it. At the same time, they get inside the dwelling along with the air currents, causing considerable harm to everyone living there. In addition, it is important to remember that untimely cleaned ventilation together with debris in it can cause a fire.
Cleaning the ventilation system today is carried out by one of two main methods - chemical and mechanical.
Among the advantages of the second method is the relative safety for people who work in the room, and for the system itself. But this method does not always allow you to remove serious dirt. It is for such cases that chemical cleaning is intended, which guarantees the achievement of a positive result in each case.
Cleaning ventilation using improvised means
One of the most common reasons for the malfunctioning of ventilation is a simple blockage of the air duct: fatty deposits, debris and dust, which gradually accumulate inside the duct.
According to the rules, residents of houses do not have the right to do anything with the main systems, including ventilation. As a result, cleaning and disinfection of ventilation systems is the work of a special service, whose employees have the right to carry out such activities, and are also familiar with the air duct system in each particular house.
But on the other hand, the landlords strive to maintain order in their home. That is why everyone should know how to clean the air duct and the entire ventilation duct system, or rather, how to carry out preventive cleaning of the ventilation duct that leads from the apartment to the common riser.
To do this preventive cleaning is quite simple:
- the ventilation grill is removed from the ventilation hole, all dirt and dust is thoroughly washed off from it. For this, you can use neutral chemicals;
- dirt and fat deposits that have accumulated on the walls near the hole can be removed with a scraper;
- then the air duct is thoroughly cleaned with a vacuum cleaner for 5 minutes;
- the final stage of preventive cleaning of the canal is wiping its walls with a damp cloth, after which it remains only to put the grille in place.
It is important to remember that when self-cleaning the ventilation, it is strictly forbidden to lower any heavy objects inside on a rope or use aggressive solvents and chemicals. Only the use of dry ice is allowed, which facilitates the dissolution of fat, after which it evaporates on its own, leaving no odors.
Equipment for professional cleaning
For high-quality ventilation cleaning, you can use a proven set of tools or modern equipment.
A set of "three" - a set of tools, consisting of a strong rope, heavy weight and a ruff. Such a set is often used for cleaning straight-through air ducts located vertically.
New methods of cleaning air ducts and ventilation ducts imply the use of a special type of equipment.
The most popular are the following.
Brushing equipment. Such devices are designed to work with air ducts of any shape. Most models of such equipment are equipped with hoses for supplying reagents for cleaning inside, as well as nozzles for spraying them. Often used to remove fat deposits from the surface of the ventilation duct.
Flexible shafts. Designed for cleaning channels of a small cross-sectional area, the diameter of which does not exceed 30 cm. A brush is also used with a flexible shaft; a drill is used as a drive for it, the number of revolutions of which is at least 900 per 1 minute.
A vacuum unit is a type of technique that cleans the system at negative elevated pressure. Such models are equipped with a high-power engine and high-purity filter elements. This type of equipment can be used to work with long air ducts, where they are able to effectively eliminate a large amount of pollution.
Disinfection measures
If the preventive cleaning of the system can be carried out with your own hands, then the implementation of its disinfection should be entrusted to specialists. There are many requirements for the implementation of disinfection, as well as the storage of chemicals that are used in this case, it is extremely difficult to adhere to them in everyday life.
Among the main requirements are:
- for the behavior of all such work with ventilation, only those chemicals that are determined by special instructions can be used;
- specialists who carry out all procedures must undergo special training;
- the devices used in the work, together with the equipment, must correspond to the selected cleaning agent, as well as to the work carried out.
Precautions
Persons who take part in the disinfection of ventilation channels must undergo special instructions, and when performing all work, adhere to important safety rules:
- do not allow disinfection solution to come into contact with open skin and eyes;
- when performing all work, it is necessary to protect yourself with rubber gloves, a respirator and goggles;
- upon completion of all procedures, hands should be thoroughly washed with soap;
- preparations are allowed to be stored at a temperature not exceeding 20 degrees;
- in case of contact of drugs on the skin, rinse it with plenty of water for 10 minutes, if necessary, immediately consult a doctor.
As you know, ventilation in the house performs several important functions:
- ensures the intake of a sufficient amount of fresh air inside the dwelling;
- removes exhaust air and various microparticles harmful to human health from the apartment;
- acts as a thermal regulator, and also maintains a suitable humidity level in the house.
That is why the ventilation system in the house needs periodic cleaning and disinfection, which will allow it to perform all the necessary functions.
