Exhaust ventilation on the balcony and loggia: options for organizing ventilation

Glazing of balconies and loggias is a great opportunity to get another, albeit not very large, warm and comfortable room. Agree that any isolated room needs to be ventilated, so exhaust ventilation on the balcony must be arranged without fail.

Without good ventilation, moisture will begin to accumulate on the glass of the double-glazed windows, and the dampness in the room will be felt more and more. If you do not solve the problem radically, then this can lead to the appearance of mold, and this is a direct threat to the health of the inhabitants of the apartment.

We will talk about the rules of the ventilation device and consider all the details of the work. We will get acquainted with the options for creating ventilation systems, dwell on the implementation of projects in detail. You will see that for the arrangement of ventilation, no special equipment or equipment is needed, and all the work can easily be done independently.

When is ventilation required on the balcony?

Initially, the balcony and loggia were an open type construction used for growing plants or drying clothes. The trend of glazing came later, but since the windows were with wooden frames, the structure of the material allowed for natural ventilation.

The situation changed with the advent of plastic double-glazed windows, providing almost complete tightness of the room.

Lack of ventilation leads to increased humidity in the room and the development of fungus and mold, which can become a threat to human and animal health

The benefits of such windows are obvious:

• High thermal insulation properties;
• High soundproof properties;
• Tightness;
• Long service life.

But along with a number of advantages, the problem of condensate arises, which inevitably has to be solved. Partially, the problem of excess moisture can be solved by high-quality insulation, but even these effective works do not eliminate the need for a ventilation system.

Causes of condensation

Warm moist air located on a balcony or loggia, when in contact with the cold surfaces of partitions or double-glazed windows, quickly reaches the dew point. As a result, the resulting vapor settles on the walls and glass.

Warm moist air on the balcony or loggia in contact with the cold glass of the double-glazed windows due to the lack of high-quality exhaust ventilation is deposited in the form of condensate

First of all, condensation forms on insufficiently insulated surfaces. But there is no escape from the excess moisture, even with quality insulation. Moisture will still continue to accumulate, albeit not so quickly. To eliminate it, a ventilation system device is required.

Signs of the need for ventilation

Any closed balcony or loggia (if quality glazing is performed) needs a ventilation device.

The main signs indicating the need for improved air exchange:

• Humidity increase, condensation;
• Fungal formation black mold;
• Palpable stale and stale air;
• Decay of wooden structures or natural fabric materials.

The lack of the above problems is not a reason to abandon the ventilation device on the balcony.

A ventilation system is necessary if:

• The balcony or loggia is glazed using modern double-glazed windows.
• Glazed unheated space is located on the last or first floor, which increases the risk of dampness.
• The room is used to dry things or store food.
• The room stores things that deteriorate in contact with moisture.
• Lack of regular airing by opening windows.

Other troubles may arise - when mold appears, it can get into other rooms of the apartment through drying things or objects.

Types of exhaust ventilation for a balcony and a loggia

When organizing a ventilation system on a loggia or a balcony with double-glazed windows, it is usually sufficient to provide air flow. However, in some cases it will be appropriate to install the hood.

Ventilation systems can be classified according to two main criteria:

• Airflow direction - removal or air supply can be arranged;
• The method of air exchange is natural ventilation or forced using fans.

Consider the principle of operation of each of the systems and dwell in more detail on the installation diagrams.

Airflow direction ventilation

As a rule, for the organization of ventilation of a balcony or loggia, it is enough to ensure the flow of air.

An air removal system may be required in the following cases:

• An electric barbecue or smokehouse is installed in the room;
• The room is used for smoking;
• The presence of animals;
• Growing plants that are sensitive to oxygen deficiency.

With a device of only supply ventilation, the air will be removed after entering the room through bathroom hood or kitchen.

Ventilation by air exchange method

Depending on the method of air exchange, natural and forced ventilation are distinguished. In some cases, a mixed scheme may be used when the air supply is forced, and its removal is natural.

Natural ventilation of the balcony and loggia

With natural ventilation, both air supply and exhaust are provided through ventilation openings without the use of fans. Such a system is notable for its simplicity; no electrical equipment is needed to create it.

The simplest and most effective example of natural ventilation is an open window. However, in cold weather, such ventilation is inefficient, since a large volume of cold air enters the room

Air inflow can be provided as follows:

• Keep windows open. This method is acceptable in the warm season in the absence of dust and noise on the street.
• Installation of windows with micro-ventilation function. A scanty sash provides an inflow of air, but prevents insects from entering the room, and significantly reduces the sound volume.
• Installation of a window valve, which even with a closed window provides air flow. The disadvantage is that such a valve is capable of letting in only a small amount of air, so it may be necessary to install several valves.
• Installing a wall valve. The bottom line is the same as with a window valve, with the only difference being that the valve is installed in the enclosure. Wall valve has a larger cross section, therefore, passes a larger volume of air.

Air is vented through a room bordering the balcony.

When installing the transfer grille in the balcony door, it is possible to effectively solve the issue of air removal into the room with its subsequent removal through the ventilation system of the bathroom or kitchen

Air flow from a balcony or a loggia into a room can be ensured as follows:

• Installation of a transfer grill in the balcony door;
• Installation of the valve in a balcony window or door;
• Installation of a wall valve in the wall between the loggia and the room;
• An open balcony door or a gap under the door.

Along with the advantages associated with the ease of installation and maintenance, natural ventilation has significant drawbacks, since the system’s performance largely depends on weather conditions, the operability of ventilation ducts, and there is no way to regulate the air exchange rate.

Forced ventilation of the balcony and loggia

Most often, forced ventilation of the balcony is done by supply; however, an option is also possible. supply and exhaust system. The disadvantage of the latter is that with improper installation, fresh air will remain only within the balcony and loggia, and will not enter the room.

The main advantages of forced ventilation are that weather conditions do not affect its operation, and the air exchange rate is determined by the power of the fan used.

When the ventilation device is installed, the fan is mounted on the wall, but a window installation option is also possible. Since the balcony and loggia have a relatively small area, it will be enough to install a fan with a diameter of 10 cm to ensure the effective operation of the ventilation system.

Due to the small size of the loggia or balcony, for the organization of effective ventilation, it is enough to install a fan with an outlet diameter of 100 - 150 mm

It is possible to increase the comfort of the supply system by equipping the fan with a humidity sensor. If there are several fan speeds, you can speed up the air exchange process, which can be quite important when smoking on the balcony or during the drying of clothes.

The supply and exhaust system is characterized in that instead of one fan, two are used. The first is responsible for the forced injection of air into the room, and the second - for its removal. The supply hood should be installed as low as possible, and the exhaust hood should be installed as high as possible, at the maximum distance from each other.

Disadvantage supply and exhaust system its complexity is considered, which is based on the exact achievement of a balance between the volume of injected and removed air. Too powerful hood will lead to the cycling of air exchange only on the balcony and loggia.

The principle of calculation of the ventilation system

There are no standards that would determine the amount of air exchange on attached loggias and balconies. But, if you are guided by the fact that this room is operated as residential, then you can use the standard of 30 m³ / hour per person. But in practice, this figure is even a little overestimated.

Of course, if you want to organize ventilation with your own hands, not only on the loggia, but also in the adjacent room, then you need to take into account the total volume of the room. For a loggia, an air exchange of 20 m³ / hour is quite enough. This indicator can be increased by 50% if, say, a loggia or balcony is used as a playroom for children.

To ensure air exchange with a volume of 20 m³ / h, an exhaust opening with a diameter of 100 mm will suffice, for 30 m³ / h - 150 mm.

DIY ventilation: rules and features

Consider the schemes that are most widely used in practice. Almost all the work can be done independently. To carry them out, you need only a small set of tools.

The most common scheme of natural supply ventilation, forced supply and forced supply and exhaust. Let us dwell in detail on the methods for implementing these schemes and the nuances of the work.

Natural ventilation

As mentioned above, it is easiest to organize the flow of air by conventional ventilation through an open window. However, a simple method has a lot of disadvantages:

• Dust gets in;
• Insects penetrate;
• In winter, cold air enters;
• Precipitation in the form of rain or snow.

Obviously, when it comes to ventilation on the loggia with modern double-glazed windows, all these inconveniences are solved by the presence of the micro-ventilation function.

The micro-air function provides fresh air, minimizing the ingress of dust and insects into the room. Also significantly reduces noise compared to an open window

However, if some problems are solved, then others immediately appear: even all windows open for micro-ventilation will not be able to provide air exchange in the required volume.

Window Valve Installation

A window valve is the easiest way to organize ventilation. The valve itself has such a device:

• Fence block (installed above the window);
• Indoor unit with nozzle, filter and adjustment mechanism;
• The connecting part passing through the window and connecting the outdoor and indoor units.

Such a valve, although simple to operate, but requires work related to the violation of the integrity of the window frame. Folded valves look much more preferable, when installing which there is no need to drill the frame.

The folded window valve is easy to install and provides good ventilation. The only drawback of the device is that it does not fit all double-glazed windows.

The fold valve is a narrow plastic duct installed in the free space between the sash and the frame. The principle of operation of the valve is that air through the valve enters from the street to the loggia. The filter prevents the entry of dust and insects.

Installation of diffusers and grilles

Lattice - a simple and functional device, can have a variety of design decisions. For installation, it is enough to drill a hole in the wall of the required diameter and fasten the grille with screws or sealant.

The drawback of the grill is obvious - in winter, cold air freely penetrates through the opening into the loggia or balcony room. Therefore, it is impossible to use the grilles at low temperatures, and the hole will have to be closed from the outside.

The diffuser completely eliminates the problem of cold air entering the room. To install it, you will need to make a hole in the wall using a punch and a special crown. Next, you need to prepare the slot for installing the device.

The diffuser does not require a connection to the mains, it provides normal air circulation, preventing the ingress of dust and noise

As a nest, you can use a ventilation pipe of the required diameter. It is enough to insert the pipe into the hole and fix it with mounting foam. The hardened foam is trimmed with a knife and does not require further processing.

It remains to install the diffuser in the prepared socket. In this case, pay attention to the latches of the device are fully locked. You can do without preparing the nest using a ventilation pipe, but simply fix the diffuser with plaster or sealant.

It is noteworthy that the diffuser can be not only supply, but also supply and exhaust. Such a device is able to organize a full-fledged high-quality air exchange in a small room.

Forced ventilation

The organization of forced supply ventilation involves the installation of one or more fans that will supply air to the loggia.

The fan is mounted on an external wall. As with grilles and diffusers, wall perforation is required. For the device of the hole, it is best to use a hammer drill with a special crown of the appropriate diameter.

When using a rotary hammer with a special crown, you can get a neat hole for the fan, which will minimize the installation and sealing of the device

First you need to lay the wiring cable and install the switch. It remains to connect the fan to the power cable, insert it into the prepared hole and fix it with plaster or sealant.

Such a ventilation system will work if necessary, it must be started in manual mode. When using a fan that can work in two directions, it is possible to organize the operation of the ventilation system for inflow or for exhaust. It should be noted that simultaneous work in two directions is impossible.

Modern models of fans are equipped with decorative grilles, which successfully hide from the view the unsightly interiors of the device. So you can not worry that the fan will violate the design of the room, and the grille will in no way affect the functionality and performance of the device.

Forced ventilation

With a large loggia or balcony, to ensure normal air exchange, you may need a full-fledged ventilation system. There is nothing complicated in this, in fact - instead of one fan, you need to install two.

The method of installing fans is no different from what was stated above when considering forced ventilation. When choosing a place, you need to take into account that warm air rises, so the exhaust fan must be positioned as high as possible.

The fan responsible for supplying air to the room should be located near the floor. The installation location of the fans must be selected so that the distance between them is maximum. With the correct location and use of air ducts, it is possible to provide ventilation not only of the loggia, but also of the adjacent room.

Other methods of ventilation

You can arrange high-quality forced ventilation by using a breather. Quite an expensive, but high-quality solution, since the device is highly functional. The breather is compact in size, effectively cleans the air of dust, smoke and odors. It can work in air heating mode.

Installing a breather is similar to installing a supply or exhaust fan. Perforation of walls is also required. The only difference is that there is a need for careful sealing.

Installation of a breather will allow not only to provide high-quality supply and exhaust ventilation of the loggia, but also to regulate the temperature in the room

Another way to organize the ventilation of a glazed balcony or loggia is to install an air conditioner. The high functionality of the device is determined by the model. But almost any modern air conditioner is capable, in addition to cooling and heating the room, to perform the functions of supply and exhaust ventilation.

Excessive humidity can not only cause discomfort, but also cause serious illness if it leads to the development of fungus and mold. Therefore, the ventilation of the balcony and loggia is a mandatory measure, as well as for any residential premises.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

Installation of the supply ventilation valve:

To make a high-quality ventilation system is not at all difficult, and almost any of the considered methods can be carried out independently. In most cases, ordinary supply ventilation will be sufficient.

But if you have the money, it will be better to install a breather and feel the comfort of using a multifunctional device that can be controlled remotely using a special application on your smartphone.

Want to share your personal experience in organizing ventilation on your own loggia or balcony? Do you have useful information or technological subtleties that may be useful to site visitors? Please leave comments in the block form below, ask questions and post photos on the topic of the article.