High-quality air exchange is one of the conditions for creating and maintaining a comfortable and healthy environment in living quarters. The circulation is created by arranging the supply and exhaust channels, with different levels of atmospheric pressure. Installation of the ventilation grill is carried out at the final stage of the arrangement of the system. Products perform practical and decorative functions after installation on the inlets and outlets of air flows. Not all real estate owners pay due attention to these details, considering them to be a useless subject for closing holes in walls. Meanwhile, the installation of ventilation grilles is a simple but responsible measure requiring a competent approach.
The meaning and role of the ventilation grill
High-quality air exchange is achieved by competent design and compliance with the installation rules of each element of the ventilation system. Even if one of them works incorrectly, the circulation will be disturbed, and may even stop altogether.
Installing a ventilation grill provides the solution to the following tasks:
- The passage of air masses to the extent necessary to remove suspended impurities and vapors generated during the breathing of living things, cooking, taking water procedures and restoring internal order.
- The supply to the premises of a fresh atmosphere, saturated with oxygen from the outside. This is an important factor for maintaining a proper level of immunity, preventing ill health, fatigue and diseases.
- Gas removal in the event of leaks and smoke generated during fires and fires.
- Obstruction of dust, debris, insects and small animals from entering housing.
- Masking holes in the internal and external walls, through which the inflow and outflow of air masses. If you choose and install a ventilation grill correctly, it will be an excellent addition to the interior of the room.
Products with their small sizes play an important role in providing a pleasant and healthy microclimate in the residential and auxiliary rooms of a private or multi-apartment building.
Varieties and characteristics
Thanks to the development of modern design and production technologies, the market is saturated with products of a wide variety of format, color, size and design features.
Products are classified into the following categories:
- Shape, size, color. Depending on the style and interior of the room, a square, oval, circle, plain or elongated rectangle is selected. Dimensions start from 10 cm and can reach 100 cm side or diameter. Along with standard white, manufacturers are ready to interest consumers with black, brown, green and yellow products. There are models with original patterns and ornaments.
- Material. The most common is plastic, characterized by lightness and affordable price. Low durability and UV damage limit their use outside the room. Wood products are appreciated due to their environmental friendliness and presentable appearance. They put wooden grates in living rooms in a conspicuous place. Metal gratings (iron, aluminum) are strong and durable. Most often, their installation is carried out on external walls, where the product is affected by mechanical stress, moisture and ultraviolet.
- Design. Regulated and unregulated models are on sale.For models of the first type, you can change the angle of the blinds and clearance using a movable shutter. To regulate the volume of air flow, some types of grilles are equipped with movable dampers, which are controlled by handles or cables. The second type consists of fixed parts. The presence of a check valve allows you to block the flow of air from the ventilation shaft when changing the direction of the draft.
- Place of installation. Products vary in their location relative to the street. External models are installed on the walls and socles, closing the supply air vents from the penetration of debris, insects and animals. Facade grilles are made of metal and are designed for mechanical stress. Internal grilles are used to mask the inlet and outlet openings in the external walls and partitions. Sometimes used in conjunction with a fan. Transfer models are designed to ensure air circulation between rooms without the use of electrical appliances. The products are also equipped with doors to kitchens, toilets and bathrooms.
You can put the grille on a wall, floor or ceiling, if ventilation ducts pass behind the plates.
The most common models
Before buying and hanging a grate, you should determine its purpose, the ability to independently install and maintain it in the future. If it is necessary to close the through hole between the rooms, a budget plastic product of an unregulated type is sufficient. When the grill needs to be fixed to the external panel of a multi-storey building, attention should be paid to durable steel products with a non-return valve and heating. In some cases, it may be necessary to install a flexible or collapsible duct.
To equip ventilation in an apartment or a house, you can choose models of this type:
- Rectangular supply and exhaust. Designed to ensure high-quality air exchange by organizing channels and openings connecting the street, rooms and vertical ventilation shafts. They are used as a filtering device and as an element of decor. Made of wood and plastic, have removable frames with mosquito nets. You can fasten products with screws and glue.
- Exhaust. They are used to mask openings through which exhaust air is forcedly or naturally discharged. Made of UV resistant plastic. The products located at the lower levels are made of metal and screwed with self-tapping screws with non-standard notches for the slots. Fixation is carried out on self-tapping screws and plastic dowels. The grilles are equipped with rotary shutters and valves to block the reverse draft.
- Ventilation grills for connecting a kitchen hood using a flexible duct. They are used in combination with a mechanical exhaust device designed to remove heat, smoke, fumes and moisture from the hob. Products are attached to a wall or suspended ceiling, over which an exhaust duct is mounted. The design is equipped with a non-return valve and provides for the removal of the mesh for cleaning from deposits. The installation is an insert of the grille with a valve in the middle or end of the duct passing to the external wall or vertical shaft.
- Rectangular shape. Intended for internal use. Are established in doors, window sills, screens of heating radiators. Serve for uniform and rational distribution of clean air in the rooms and the withdrawal of waste masses. The estimate for the arrangement of the apartment may be impressive, but the investments justify themselves.
- Metal. The scope applies to the arrangement of ventilation systems of multi-storey buildings, public and industrial buildings, decoration of the outlet openings of heating and circulating channels.The ventilation grill must be fixed with strong hardware, resistant to corrosion and mechanical stress. To improve the appearance of the metal can be painted with polymer paints.
At arrangement of one building lattices of all types and sizes can be used.
Basic installation methods
The installation location and orientation of the grill depends on its purpose and level of location.
The first thing to decide is the orientation of the blinds. They perform more camouflage than guiding function. Based on this, it is better to place products so that the lattice panels cover the grid. If it is under the ceiling, blinds must be installed upward. And vice versa - to put the ventilation grille on the floor should be blinds down.
It is advisable to hang models of large size and weight on durable and long self-tapping screws that can withstand heavy loads. If the grilles are mounted on a tile, it is better not to spoil it with extra holes, but stick it on a transparent or colored solution.
