Ventilation

The houses are equipped with forced ventilation. Extractors exhaust air from the kitchen, toilet and bathroom. The system also ventilates other rooms conveying air from residential rooms to shared facilities via the sound-insulated valves located above the doors. It is important not to block ventilation valves, since extractors and exhaust valves have been adjusted to provide balanced ventilation in the building. Blocking or adjusting these valves will disturb the balance and change the ventilation of the entire building.

In older buildings, compensating air supply corresponding to the amount of exhausted air is drawn via the slots in the top frames of windows. In newer buildings, this is accomplished by compensating air valves installed on the walls with windows or in window frames. In buildings equipped with fresh air radiators, compensating air is supplied from the valve located behind the radiator. It is important to keep the slots and valves open since, if the compensation air supply is blocked, a pressure difference generating in the apartments activates the extractor to vainly exhaust air. Gradually, this makes air worse, moister and unhealthier.

Residents are responsible for cleaning the exhaust air valves located in kitchens, above the cooker, and in bathrooms. A simple way to clean the valve is to wipe it with a cloth moistened with washing-up liquid and finally remove any residues with a clean, damp cloth. Changing valve adjustments is forbidden. In some apartments, ventilation takes place via the kitchen hood extractor fan. The hood grease filter must be regularly cleaned, for example, by washing it in the dishwasher. If you need help in cleaning the filter, fill in a fault report.

If the indoor air feels stuffy or the windows fog up, first clean the exhaust air valves. Also check the compensating supply air valves and remove any extraordinary seals possibly installed in the top frames of the windows. Use a piece of paper to check whether the suction is sufficient to keep the paper attached to the exhaust air valve.