Neglecting ventilation maintenance can, at worst, cause your home to go mouldy – we asked a professional for tips on better air

The maintenance of ventilation is the responsibility of the tenant. The main task of the resident is to monitor the condition and dirtiness of the central unit.

Poorly functioning ventilation puts the health of the occupants at risk and can cause damage to the building. In the worst case, it can even cause a home to mould.

The problems get worse the more people live in the house or apartment. Inadequate ventilation makes the air heavy and stuffy.

– Similarly, the more you shower and, for example, dry your laundry indoors, the higher the moisture load. This can even lead to moisture condensing on the interior surfaces of the walls and creating mould,” he says.

The task of ventilation is to remove indoor air containing carbon dioxide and replace it with fresh and oxygen-rich outdoor air.

– From the point of view of the house, it is essential that effective ventilation removes moisture, which can cause various types of damage to the house’s structures, says HVAC installer Kimmo Inkeroinen.

As a professional in the field, Inkeroinen comes across weekly that the residents do not know their home’s ventilation system.

Health protection engineer Karoliina Viitamäki confirms that not everyone understands that a property must be maintained and serviced throughout its life cycle.

Ventilation requires attention and maintenance

According to the law, fireplace chimneys must be sniffed regularly, but this does not apply to ventilation ducts. Taking care of their condition is the responsibility of the resident.

– The recommendations vary from five to even ten years. The need for maintenance of ventilation ducts depends, among other things, on the number of residents and the place of residence, says Karoliina Viitamäki

He states that if, for example, you live in a city along a busy street, the need for maintenance may be greater.

– I would hope that every property owner would be interested in their home’s ventilation system, and if necessary, would ask a professional to guide them in its use.

The resident’s most important task in the maintenance of ventilation equipment is to monitor the condition and contamination of the central unit. Neglecting to clean and replace filters may cause expensive equipment damage and increase electricity consumption.

HVAC installer Kimmo Inkeroinen says that it would be good to take a look inside the device at least every three months.

– Filters must be changed regularly and their condition should be constantly monitored, he reminds.

The resident can change the filters themselves and clean the inside of the device by vacuuming or wiping. According to Inkeroinen, for more demanding procedures, you should ask a professional to evaluate the situation.