Standards for the design of residential buildings provide for the preservation of the possibility of ventilation. There are many concepts for this task, but the provision of a natural air channel is its most popular solution.
Depending on the technical capabilities, there may be different options for organizing an air renewal system. The simplest technology uses natural ventilation valves that are integrated into walls or window openings. Basically, it is a small plastic or metal duct that forms a shaft for the passage of air currents.
When is a supply valve used
Until recently, the problem of organizing natural ventilation was not so acute due to the poor tightness of houses. Improvement in construction technologies has led to a reduction in gaps and crevices in openings and partitions, which was aggravated by the minimization of pores in finishing materials. Therefore, almost any modern house or apartment requires the integration of ventilation devices.
Especially the air supply valve is appropriate in homes wherecompacted windows in which there is a minimum coefficient of infiltration. At the same time, it is important not to forget that any natural channel, although it contributes to air renewal, worsens other insulating qualities. This applies to both heat transfer characteristics and sound insulation. Another thing is that the valves have a different design, and in some cases it is possible to strike a balance between these parameters.
Device selection criteria
When choosing a device, you should be guided by several parameters, but the main thing is the ratio between the volumes of removed and incoming air. The valve must ensure the equality of these indicators.
In some cases, you have to calculate the installation of several channels. For example, you can integrate an inlet valve into the wall in the kitchen, living room, bathroom, etc. This means that each room can have its own air duct.
Special attention should be paid to technical premises where the presence of gas or other heating equipment may impose special requirements on the characteristics of ventilation devices. To understand other nuances of choice, you should consider the types of valves in more detail.
Varieties of device
The simplest designs include valves that do not imply the possibility of adjustment. They constantly maintain a certain amount of throughput.
But more and more private home owners are turningfocus on adjustable and automatic models. They give more operational possibilities, and also differ in reliability. For example, if you install an adjustable supply valve in the kitchen wall, then the hostess will be able to adjust its parameters in accordance with the mode of use of the stove. At times of intense cooking, you can open the shaft for maximum throughput, and then reduce the opening to the optimum value.
Hygro-controlled valves are also common, the function of which is adjusted according to the level of humidity in the room. These are automatic devices that independently control the position of the ventilation flaps using a sensor.
How is the inlet valve installed in the wall?
The valves are placed at a height of about 2 m from the floor. According to experts, this is the most advantageous position of the canal in terms of comfort for residents. In the manned room at this level, the air is quite warm, which makes it possible to effectively warm up cold streams in winter without drafts. It is best to carry out such installation at the construction stage, since further installation will require the formation of a special hole.
Installing the supply valve into the wall with your own hands is quite difficult, since the operation requires the use of a gating tool. However, the rest of the installation is quite simple, and even a layman can handle it.
When the niche is ready, all fixing procedures can be performed usingaccessories included with the valve.
Features of installation in window openings
In some ways, this installation option is easier than in the case of a wall. Theoretically, this channel can be mounted in both wooden and plastic windows. But only on the condition that the introduction of this ventilation component does not reduce the strength of the entire box.
For installation, it is necessary to create a hole in the profile, and provide a protective visor on the outside. But there is another way to solve the problem.
Many manufacturers of frame structures made of PVC, even at the design stage, allow the technological possibility of integrating such climate devices. The user only has to determine which supply ventilation valve for PVC windows is better in terms of the reliability of the entire structure.
It is advisable to initially focus on models of the same brand that produced the window system. If there is no such product on the market, then valves that are suitable in size are preferred.
Inlet valve user reviews
A well-implemented system of supply valves, according to the owners, provides an efficient removal of exhaust air by replacing it with fresh flows.
Models with automatic sash adjustment receive the most positive feedback. The convenience of their operation and the optimal indicators of the formed microclimate are noted.
Also, many owners appreciate the performance of the filter,which can be supplied with a supply valve to the wall. The reviews emphasize that the presence of such a system eliminates the need to purchase special humidifiers and other climatic equipment with a cleaning function. At the same time, the valve itself is not so expensive compared to household air conditioners and split systems.
Conclusion
Trends in the ventilation systems market show that the consumer is increasingly turning to simple but effective solutions. Superfluous functionality and complex configurations used to optimize the microclimate characteristics are giving way to elementary devices, the operation of which is easy to manage and energy efficient.
Users who install the supply valve into the wall practically do not complain about the disadvantages of operating such devices. The only problem that causes concern for many consumers even at the stage of purchase is installation with the creation of a hole in the wall. Indeed, this is a time-consuming and in some cases costly operation, but you can also choose a simplified integration scheme in the form of installation through a window box.
