Regular ventilation of a room is essential to maintain a healthy living environment. This is why, in order to ensure the well-being of the inhabitants, VMC (Ventilation Mécanique Contrôlée) has been compulsory in France since 1969 (for all new housing).
Although it is particularly effective in renewing indoor air, it is not compulsory for older homes. But in this case, do you know how to ventilate a room without having a CMV?
Why ventilate your home?
For various reasons, it is not possible for everyone to install a controlled mechanical ventilation at home. However, renewing the air in a room is important for its preservation, but also for our health. Ventilating a room is also good for us psychologically, but there are other reasons why we should not neglect it.
1. To prevent degradation of the premises
Ventilation is your best ally against mould: it allows you toprevent the build-up of moisture in your room. Moisture that settles on the walls creates greenish and black spots where bacteria grow, and this is not without risk to your health.
Indeed, mould emits toxic substances that are aggressive to our respiratory tracts and can lead to asthma, bronchitis... they are also eye irritants and can be responsible for a large number of skin infections. The rooms that are particularly affected are the toilets, the kitchen and the bathroom. To counter the risks of dampness, you can consider buying a bathroom dehumidifier.
2. To remove bad odours
Smells of food, cigarettes, blocked drains... all these accumulate and settle if we do nothing. They settle on furniture, clothes and even wallpaper. Many people tend to use air fresheners or candles, which in fact only mask these polluting odours, without eliminating them. Ventilating your home is the solution to limit foul odours.
3. To prevent the growth of bacteria
Ventilation is the enemy of dust mites and other micro-organisms that invade our homes. Doctors recommend airing your home to fight infections due to micro-particles in the air. Renewing the air eliminates the bacteria in the air and purifies our living space.
4. This is important, especially in damp rooms
As you can see, the majority of the problems mentioned above occur in the humidity. This is why the bathroom is the room to be ventilated first. It is the wettest part of the dwelling, which makes it all the more favourable to mouldThis is the reason for the high level of humidity, the development of bacteria and other consequences of humidity. Vapours and condensation must be removed for our well-being.
How to ventilate efficiently?
Homes without CMVs are becoming increasingly rare nowadays. However, some houses do not have them, for example in buildings dating from the 1960s. In these cases you need to find alternative ways of ventilation to keep your home comfortable. Here are some ways of dealing with this problem some advice :
In bathrooms and kitchens: open the windows
This is the first and most important point: open the windows. Ideally, you should open every window in the room and the doors several times a day to create a draught which will pass through the entire space. Moreover, even if you have a VMC, it is recommended that you open the windows in your living space at least 5 minutes a day.
Also, be sure to leave doors open as much as possible, so as not to create an "unclean" atmosphere. It is especially important to leave bathrooms, toilets, kitchens, laundry rooms, etc. open.
Use an electric air dehumidifier
The electric dehumidifiers operate by a condensation system: they use a gas that compresses and cools humid air and expels it into warm, dry air. You can find them in household appliance shops and for all budgets. It can be an interesting alternative to CMV. It is an ideal device for rooms without windows (bedroom, office or dressing room for example).
Don't touch the air vents in the bedrooms and living room!
Don't block the vents on your windows! Many people make this mistake, except that these grids allow air to circulate and protect you in a simple way. Blocking them will seriously affect the air quality in your room.
Speaking of ventilation grilles: if the room does not have any, you can install them yourself. To create an effective ventilation system, you will have to drill a hole in the wall twice, so that you can install a grille at the top and another at the bottom. This will ensure that the air circulates and that the environment is kept clean.
An uncertainty, a doubt?
In this article we have listed the most effective ventilation techniques. However, if you have any doubts, problems or a particular room layout, do not hesitate to contact experts. You can find qualified professionals on the web who will give you their best advice.