A well-designed ventilation system is the foundation of a healthy, comfortable home, house or office in Warsaw. Its job is to keep bringing fresh air into a room while removing the stale air – either naturally or with the help of mechanical equipment. Ventilation shapes the microclimate of a space and the comfort of everyone who lives or works there.
When the flow of fresh air is too low, people tire faster, sleep worse and catch colds more often – a classic sign of oxygen deprivation. Without regular air exchange, pollutants released by building materials and interior furnishings also build up over time, which eventually affects the wellbeing of everyone spending time in the room.
Only a properly designed ventilation system can guarantee a steady exchange of air. In practice, air enters a room in two ways:
- Natural air exchange
- Mechanical air exchange
Natural air exchange
This type of air exchange is driven by nature itself – wind, the temperature difference between indoors and outdoors, and air pressure. The process can be supported by installing exhaust ducts, through which stale air leaves the building – most commonly found in kitchens, bathrooms and restrooms. Thanks to the natural draft created by roof deflectors, used air escapes freely and is replaced by fresh air coming in through gaps around windows and doors.
Modern PVC windows, however, are sealed tightly enough that almost no fresh air gets through on its own, so simply opening a window is really the only form of natural ventilation left in many homes today. Sometimes dust and unpleasant odours are drawn back in through the vents instead – experts call this the reverse draft effect. The fix is to install fans in the exhaust duct, which force the air to flow in the right direction.
Mechanical air exchange
As the name suggests, mechanical ventilation relies on equipment that replaces stale air with fresh air – regardless of the weather or the season outside.
Mechanical ventilation keeps the microclimate of a room under control: filtering the air, managing humidity, cooling and heating as needed.
At the design or renovation stage, the question of combining natural and mechanical ventilation often comes up. Kliwenta’s specialists always tailor the system to the specific building in Warsaw and the surrounding area, since different types of rooms are subject to different building code requirements.
Mechanical ventilation comes in two forms: local and general. Local ventilation serves a limited area, while general ventilation covers the whole room – which is why homes and apartments typically use general ventilation.
Types of mechanical ventilation
There are 3 basic types of mechanical ventilation systems:
- Exhaust
- Supply
- Supply-exhaust
The difference between them comes down to how each one generates the pressure needed for air exchange.
Parameters of ventilation systems for residential spaces
When choosing a ventilation system, functionality should come first – it needs to create a microclimate that meets the requirements for that specific type of room. Pollution sources and the building’s architectural features matter too.
The key parameters of air exchange are its volume and the number of air changes per hour. For residential spaces, the following guidelines apply:
| Type of room | Volume of air exchange per person |
| Living room, bedroom, children’s room | At least 30 m3/h |
| Library | From ½ to 1 m3/h |
| Kitchen with an electric stove | At least 60 m3/h |
| Kitchen with a two-burner gas stove | At least 60 m3/h |
| Kitchen with a four-burner gas stove | At least 90 m3/h |
| Bathroom, restroom | 25 m3/h |
| Storage room | 1,5 m3/h |
| Sports hall | At least 80 m3/h |
Ventilation system equipment
Kliwenta’s specialists recommend only high-quality ventilation equipment to their clients in Warsaw. The wide range of gear from leading manufacturers makes it possible to choose a system that precisely matches the needs of a given building.
Large, traditional installations can now be replaced with compact units that match them in every way that matters. A three-stage filtration system, for example, thoroughly cleans the air of toxic substances and unpleasant odours, while compact models blend into the interior instead of disrupting it. These solutions don’t require air ducts, suspended ceilings or ventilation shafts, and can be installed even after renovation work is finished. That’s why it’s worth consulting Kliwenta’s experienced specialists before making a final decision.
Ventilation by Type of Property
Every type of space has its own ventilation requirements. See the detailed solutions we offer for:
- apartments
- single-family homes
- offices
- food service establishments
- tower blocks and hotels
- shops and shopping centres
- swimming pool halls
Cost of a ventilation system design project
Quality is not the place to cut corners when designing and installing ventilation equipment. To get an estimated cost, simply share your building’s plans with Kliwenta’s engineers – based on that, we put together a mini-project and initial price range. Once every detail has been discussed, our engineers visit the site in Warsaw or the surrounding area, prepare a detailed design, and provide the final cost of the ventilation installation for that building or room. Want the work done to the highest standard? Get in touch with Kliwenta – we take on even the most demanding ventilation projects across Warsaw and the whole Mazovia region.
