Wanting to warm the house, people sometimes bring it to the state of a thermos. After removing any gaps and installing airtight materials, the flow of clean air from the street is blocked. As a result, natural ventilation ceases to fulfill its functions.
Lack of fresh air is bad for household health, okay? To improve air exchange, you can install the supply valve into the wall with your own hands, after having studied the installation instructions.
All the necessary information is presented in our article. We will tell you how the wall inlet is arranged, give tips on choosing a unit, and also describe a phased technology for its installation.
Purpose of the supply valve
Wall air valves are designed to supply clean, fresh street air to the room. These devices can not be compared with open windows, letting in not only fresh air jets, but also all the noise, dust from the street.
The valve, equipped with a noise insulation layer, allows only clean air to enter the room.
If you compare the wall inlet with a window ventilation valve, then it is more profitable. This is expressed in the fact that it does not reduce the light transmission characteristics of windows, it works at any temperature, even underestimated. In addition, it functions autonomously, effectively protects against condensation. Installation takes only a few hours.
The supply valve is a simple and inexpensive device, but very functional. If you place it over a heating radiator, the air entering the room will warm up
These devices became popular after the old wooden windows began to be massively replaced with plastic ones. New window units significantly improved insulation performance, but a small amount began to flow into the room as well. Inadequate ventilation created a problem such as high humidity.
The heat in tandem with moisture creates wonderful conditions for the replication of mold, fungi. First, their colonies appear in hidden places - under the wallpaper, tiles and other decorative materials.
When multiplying, colonies of microorganisms become visible, it becomes more difficult to fight against mold - you have to destroy the old finish and replace it with a new one.
Wall Valve Design Features
The design of the valve is extremely simple.
Its main elements are:
- Air duct - plastic pipe. Through it, air from the yard enters the room. Its length should be greater than the thickness of the wall.
- Inner casing in the form of a cylinder. Most often it is made with plastic. The diameter of the body ranges from 6-13.3 cm.
- Filter - a layer of foamed polyethylene. It is located inside the housing and is designed to direct the air stream into the room.
- Protective cover. It is located at the entrance and is a barrier to the entry of various debris into the room.
During frosts, the pipe from the outside can be covered with ice. Condensation and its freezing lead to the formation of an ice crust and a decrease in the diameter of the supply valve.
In order to prevent this process, a rotary cover is installed. Since condensate flows down through the openings in it, an ice crust does not form.
Some supply valve models have an air duct equipped with a fan for forced ventilation (+)
The air ducts of individual products are equipped with a polyphom sound insulator. It reduces noise and protects the wall around the enclosure from freezing.
The wall valve may have a manual adjustment system or an automatic one. The second is equipped with a hygroregulation sensor, which detects the humidity level indoors. When this indicator is exceeded, the damper opens slightly, and the air masses enter the interior in a larger volume.
The degree of opening of the channel can be seen on the scale located on the valve head. Adjustment is carried out smoothly until the ventilation stroke is completely closed.
Manufacturers equip some more complex supply valves with a recuperator for heating the air mass. Sometimes in the kit there is a remote control that controls the heater and fan.
Wall inlet options
Each valve model has its own characteristics. They are distinguished by the cross section of the duct, the presence of such an option as complete closure of the device. The design of some provides for the possibility of installing sound insulation, while in others there is no such possibility.
The operation of some mechanisms is regulated manually, but there are also models with automatic adjustment. Different models of supply valves have different diameters, therefore they provide the house with clean air in different volumes. Different and length of supply valves, as well as the material from which they are made.
The design of the head includes a filter and a damper. The first element is designed to clean the air, and the second - to coordinate the amount of air (+)
The inner part of the head is inserted into the channel and fastened to the wall using screws through a gasket for sealing. Wall ventilator needs periodic maintenance.
The external grill is cleaned of contaminants at least once a year. Once a quarter, clean the filter in the head. At least once every 6 months, you must clean the pipe in the wall using a vacuum cleaner.
Choosing a supply valve, you need to check for what temperature range it is intended. Otherwise, in case of violation of this condition, he simply will not be able to function fully.
It is also important to choose the correct device for the length - the indoor unit must pass through the wall through
There are two types of valves: for air infiltration and for forced ventilation. They have one and the same function - supplying the building with fresh air.
The infiltration valve operates autonomously, it does not need to be controlled. It is almost invisible, effectively warms the air. You can install it both during the construction of the building and in the wall of the house where people have been living for a long time.
Where to install the supply valve
There are three main options for installing a supply valve:
- Above the heat source. In this case, the outside air enters the room already warmed up, and its convection is also stimulated.
- At a height of 2/3 of the window, which is about two meters from the floor, and at a distance of 0.3 m from the window slope. The air mass will be directed to the ceiling, where it mixes with warm room air.
- In places with high humidity. This may be the corner of the house that has already begun to mold.
Wall ventilators are installed not only in the walls of private houses, but also used to improve the supply ventilation in the apartment. Often they are placed on the lower floors of apartment buildings - the best place will be the space between the windowsill and the radiator.
These devices are in demand in children's institutions, where fresh air is especially important. With the help of this design, they provide the optimal microclimate in rooms for keeping animals and birds.
A ventilator or a ventilation unit can be installed on any wall. The valve does not affect the construction of the walls and does not spoil the appearance of the facade
It is a mistake to think that by installing one valve, you will solve the problem with a lack of clean air. This is only possible if a forced ventilation device is included in its design. When this is not the case, air exchange occurs as a result of the pressure difference indoors and outdoors.
One wall valve with a pressure drop within 10 Pa, which is observed under normal conditions, provides up to 30 mᶾ / h. This is the norm for one person.
With a larger pressure difference, the volume of air entering the room also increases. Therefore, to achieve the desired effect, you will have to install another valve additionally or forced ventilation.
Produce and supply valves, which are built into the ventilation shafts. This is usually done in the bathroom, in the bathroom, in the kitchen. Before mounting, you should test the traction. To do this, check the presence of air flow with an open window, using a lit match brought to the hole.
If it turns out that the existing ventilation is not functioning well, then the inlet valve installed in the wall will not guarantee the receipt of fresh inflow in the volume for which it is designed
These manual verification methods may not work during the hot season. The air warmed by the summer sun becomes heavier than during the cool. Because of this, the pressure in the ventilation duct will decrease and even with a satisfactory system, a flame or a sheet of paper will not be attracted.
Read more about methods for checking apartment ventilation in this article.
In addition, the following rules should be considered:
- If the throughput of the supply valve is quite large, and its design does not provide for adjustment, you cannot install two such devices opposite each other. In winter, when ventilation functions most actively due to the pressure inequality inside and outside, drafts will appear.
- The valve cover must fit freely in the space between the window sill and the heater. If the radiator is half-warm, then the air entering through the wide valve without adjustment will not have time to warm up and the room temperature will drop. And with an insufficient amount of incoming air, you will have to think about additional ventilation.
When choosing a valve installation location on the facade, you need to consider where this wall is directed. It is better when the air intake is not from the side of the street, where there is active movement of vehicles, but from the yard.
How to install the valve yourself
The most difficult part during the installation of the supply valve is to create a through hole in the wall. If it is provided by the project, then the work ahead is not at all complicated. When the house is built and it was not planned to install supply valves in its walls, you will have to do it yourself or invite a specialist.
Permission for this work is not required, because it is allowed to make single products in the bearing wall without any approval with a section of up to 30 cm. There are two ways to cut a hole in the wall.
Drilling a hole in the first way
Most often, a perforator is used to drill holes. First, a contour is marked on the wall, adding a tolerance to the diameter of the cylinder so that the body passes through the hole freely. Since the thickness of the bearing wall usually varies between 40 - 100 cm, the valve length is also selected within the same limits.
If reinforcement comes into the concrete body, it is drilled with metal drills
The next step is to drill a series of small holes from 10 to 12 mm according to the external outline of the contour. The distance between these holes is about 10 mm. Then, between the holes, the remaining material is knocked out using a hammer and chisel.
An ideal-shaped hole cannot be obtained in this way; moreover, chips and cracks on the wall are not excluded.
The second way to drill holes
Faster and more efficient you can get a hole using diamond drilling.
The drilling installation used in this case, supplemented by a diamond core bit replacing a drill, is equipped with:
- powerful engine;
- drilling drive;
- a set of diamond crowns with different diameters;
- resistant guide fixed on the bed.
Due to the fact that water automatically enters the drilling zone to cool the tool, the dust is also washed off. The hole in the wall will have exact dimensions and an absolutely smooth surface inside.
A step-by-step description of the diamond drilling process is as follows:
- Mark out a place to install the drill rod. To do this, on the wall lay a segment equal to the distance between the base anchor and the crown.
- Drill a technological hole using a hammer drill.
- The bed is fixed, for which the anchor is first driven into the technological hole. To prevent the bed from damaging the wall, lay a piece of soft material under it.
- The film is fixed to a floor length and a width of about 300 mm under a place intended for installation of a rubber cuff. This will prevent contamination of the wall with coolant.
- The cuffs are inserted into the body of the drilling machine, where a special place is provided for this. Next, connect the hose for the outflow of coolant, pushing it on the pipe and securely fixing with a clamp.
- Consistently collect a drill. At the end, put on the appropriate diameter diamond crown. To supply water, connect a hose to the handle of the unit.
- After reaching the working pressure by pumping the pump using a manual pump, wait until the installation reaches full speed and start drilling. At this time, the coolant irrigates the drilling site, not only cooling the tool, but also removing dirt.
When the wall thickness exceeds 50 cm, the length of the crown may not be enough to drill through it in one go. Therefore, at the first stage, the concrete core is knocked out of the crown, and then the extension cord is mounted and the process is continued.
After turning on the installation, the crown is brought closer to the wall until it is in full contact with it. After that, you can not put much pressure on the adjustment knob - this can lead to breakage of the teeth on the working diamond tool
After completing the drilling, the installation is dismantled in the reverse order. Wet concrete dust under the cuff is cleaned with a damp cloth.
Supply valve installation
Having prepared the hole, proceed to the direct installation of the valve. To do this, the channel for infiltration is driven into the intended place for it from the outside flush with the wall.
The pipe is pre-wrapped with insulation. Indoors, the pipe should protrude slightly. The free space remaining in the hole is foamed, and thermal insulation is inserted into the pipe. It will also protect against noise.
When drilling a through hole for a supply valve, it is necessary to observe a slope of about 3⁰ towards the yard. If this condition is not met, moisture will accumulate in the duct
The next step is to install the grill. The seat on the grill and on the outer wall is covered with silicone, then inserted into the duct. Next, the inside of the valve is mounted, having previously applied silicone to the seats. By attaching the filter washer to the inner wall, the installation process for the valve for inflow is completed.
Demanding models of supply valves
The supply valve is especially popular among consumers. Domovent. Its labyrinth shape allows for coarse filtration of air masses with the subsequent direction of the jet to the heater. It is equipped with a mechanical adjustment of the air supply and a filter that does not require periodic replacement.
Demanded and model CPV 125manufactured by a domestic manufacturer. Since its length varies between 400-1000 mm, it is always possible to choose a suitable housing for installation in the wall. Outside, this ventilation duct is closed by a round-section cast aluminum grill with a mosquito net located next to the grill.
The same valves are produced in Finland, but their cost is half higher than domestic ones. Products from China are also on sale and they are cheaper than those produced in Russia. Italian valves are distinguished by good performance. Kiv quardo. They are equipped with a square-shaped head that distinguishes them from their Finnish counterparts.
The KIV valve is produced in two versions - with a head in the form of a square (QUADRO) and with a round one. The first one looks more aesthetically pleasing (+)
Rectangular ducts have wall valves SVK-75. An improved variant of the supply valve is the breather "Tion O2". It has a rectangular shape, small dimensions and is equipped with heating, so it can function at low outdoor temperatures.
If the drilling of the wall for certain reasons cannot be carried out, then it is possible to improve the indoor climate using an air conditioner.
A good choice of products for installation in the wall:
Video about the usefulness of a vent valve with heat recovery:
If your home has a problem with the intake of clean air masses, a wall-mounted ventilation valve is the best solution. The market has a wide variety of wall inlet valves. Choosing a model suitable for a particular room is easy.
Have experience restoring fresh air? Or maybe they did the wall valve installation themselves? Please share information with our readers. You can leave comments and ask questions in the form below.