Ventilation
DAS buildings Männistö, Lukkari, Kelo, Venla, Juhani, Tuomas and Kirstinkoto have mechanical supply/exhaust ventilation with heat recovery. Other DAS buildings have
mechanical ventilation. The ventilation machines suck air from the kitchens, the WC and
the bathroom. This way the air will circulate in other spaces as well. The air
from the bedrooms will circulate to the shared spaces through the soundproof
valves above the room doors.
Do not block the valves! The ventilation machines and the exhaust air valves have been
adjusted so that the whole ventilation in the building is in balance. Blocking
the valves or adjusting them by oneself disrupts this balance and the
ventilation in the whole building changes. This basically means that, for
example, if half of the people living in the building block/shut the valves
above the windows, the apartments in which the valves are not blocked take in
twice the amount of replacing air from the outdoors because some of the valves
have been shut and this causes a stronger sensation of draft in the apartment.
Cleaning the ventilation valves regularly is the responsibility of the
tenants. The simple way to clean the valves is to wipe them with a clean, damp
cloth. The adjustments of the valves mustn’t be changed.
If the air indoors feels stale and/or the windows fog, it’s useful to clean the
exhaust air valves first. Check if the supply air valves are open and take out
the possible self-installed extra insulation pieces, such as tapes from the top
frames of the windows. Test if a piece of paper sticks on the vent by the suction.
If it doesn’t, make a note of fault by logging into the DAS tenant pages.
Cleaning the ventilation
valves
There are both exhaust
air valves and supply air valves in the apartment. The exhaust air valve is
usually located in the bathroom and in the kitchen. The supply air valves are
usually located in the room.
To clean, you need these:
- neutral or mildly alkaline
washing liquid
-
a soft sponge or a brush that
does not scratch the surfaces
Follow these steps:
1. Detach the valve from the wall by turning the frame counter-clockwise while
pulling it downwards, so the valve will come off. If there is a detachable
insulation piece, take it off for the cleaning. There is a cone-like part in
the middle position of which regulates how much air is circulating. Do not
change the adjustments by yourself because too strong circulation causes draft
and too weak circulation leads to problems with humidity and smell. Call in a
maintenance serviceman if you think that the adjustments are not right.
2. Prepare the cleaning solution
with a washing liquid that is neutral or mildly alkaline. The dirt will come
off easier if you let the valve soak in the liquid for a few hours.
3. Wipe the valve surroundings of
the valve canal with a cloth damp with the cleaning solution.
4. Wash the valve with a cleaning
brush in the cleaning solution. Dry the valve and place it back by turning the
frame clockwise while pressing it towards the ceiling
5. Clean the cleaning supplies
If the valve has a
broken insulation piece (foam), contact DAS maintenance or make a note of fault
on our website and it will be replaced.
photo: exhaust air valve