Why do we need a ventilation grill for the windowsill?

Plastic windows often show condensation. It occurs due to uneven air circulation in the room. Often this happens when the window sills completely block the flow of air from the radiators. One of the most effective solutions to the problem of condensation on the windows are ventilation grilles. Their main task is to pass warm air from the radiators to the window structure through the window sill.

According to building codes, radiators should be installed directly under the window sills. This not only warms the air in the rooms, but also protects against condensation on the windows.To do this, the battery design should protrude slightly towards the windowsills.

However, these requirements are not always met. In recent years, plastic windows have been massively installed. Airtight window constructions are often installed, and window sills close radiators, interfering with the movement of air flows. This causes condensation to form on the windows.

Other causes of condensation on windows can be:

• high temperatures in the room;
• improper installation of window structures;
• high thermal conductivity of glass;
• lack of ventilation in the room.

Many modern glass packs provide tight fit, resulting in disturbed air circulation. Therefore, condensate may appear at the corners of windows, which is a favorable environment for the development of mold and harmful microorganisms.

Installation of ventilation grilles provides the required air exchange, which eliminates the appearance of condensate. They can be mounted on various types of window sills (plastic, stone or wood).In this case, the warm air from the batteries will rise, passing through the grilles to the windows. The cooled air will be lowered and also pass through the grill, which will provide ventilation of the room air.

Modern standards for the construction of multi-storey buildings take into account the possibility of including ventilation grids in the project. But in the majority of already existing buildings it is necessary to engage in the installation of gratings independently. At the same time it is necessary to choose the place where they will be fastened.

It should be borne in mind that convection gratings are considered an element of the interior. Therefore, when choosing a product, it is recommended to pay attention to its appearance.

Of great importance is the color of the grids. Usually it is selected in such a way that it fits the color of the glass. The most common white designs. Steel grates are often painted in gold or silver shades to create an original design.

Wood grates are rarely painted.Usually wooden surfaces are coated with a special varnish. It protects the material from negative external influences. It must be remembered that some varnishes and paints can produce toxic substances when heated. Therefore, you should choose a paint that will be resistant to high temperatures.

Thanks to the grilles in the room, an ideal microclimate is established. Air circulation allows to obtain optimal values ​​of humidity and heat. In addition to improving the ventilation of the air in the room and the ability to decorate window sills, the main advantages of ventilation grilles include ease of installation and maintenance.

When choosing a lattice, consider its length. It is recommended to choose a product whose length will match the length of the radiator. In this case, the ventilation structure itself can be implemented as a single element or it can have several grilles of small length mounted in a window sill in series. If you install an insufficiently long grille on only one side of the sill, then condensate will still appear on the opposite side of the window.

Besides the length, an important characteristic of the lattice is its cross section. It determines the area of ​​the holes for the circulation of air flow. The optimal cross section will be a value from 0.42 to 0.6, which will be an effective tool for combating condensation on windows. The larger the section, the more air the lattice can pass.

However, in some cases, large holes will not be the best option. If you plan to put various things on the windowsill, then it is better to choose gratings with small holes, otherwise various small objects can fall into them.

Sometimes grilles need to be replaced (if they become unsuitable for further operation). It is also recommended to ensure that the windows do not stand a lot of pots with indoor flowers. This is due to the fact that regular irrigation leads to the accumulation of condensate on the windows.

Today on the market there are many options for mortise ventilation grilles. Goods vary in size, color, material, form.They can be made from aluminum, steel, plastic or natural wood.

The most affordable option is to install plastic structures. They are sold in many stores, but are limited to a small number of standard sizes. Also, their disadvantage is the rapid fading under the influence of sunlight, which leads to a change in color. The average service life of such gratings is about 2-3 years, after which they must be replaced. This is due not only to color change and loss of an attractive appearance, but also to material deformations as a result of exposure to heat.

In most cases, aluminum gratings are the best choice. They are not affected by sunlight, are lightweight and relatively low cost. They are also durable, have a long service life.

Wooden products look more solid. They are environmentally friendly and safe, but they are more expensive and very demanding to care. Usually they are used in private homes as a supplement to wooden window sills. To protect against moisture, the surface should be treated with special tools.

The most expensive options are steel structures. They are durable and reliable. Often you can find perforated steel plates. A wide variety of sizes of such plates are on sale, which allows you to choose the optimal solution for each specific sill.

An additional advantage of steel plates is the possibility of dyeing them in different colors. For this purpose, powder paint with flame retardant properties is used. Therefore, these grilles can easily fit into any style of interior.

On sale you can find other types of steel ventilation grilles. The thickness of the steel in them is 2 mm, which allows them to withstand high loads. Therefore, on such lattices you can sit, and you can also place heavy objects on them. Similar designs are presented in various color shades, with different patterns. This allows you to create a harmonious design of the room. However, experts do not recommend to install such gratings in rooms with high levels of humidity, as this will deteriorate the characteristics of the material.

Quite popular are grilles of the type VRK-LN made from stainless steel. They are used in all types of rooms, including rooms with high humidity. Compared with other types of gratings, such designs have several advantages. They are distinguished by a high level of strength; they are not amenable to deformation processes during heating or physical stress. In addition, they are resistant to humidity and temperature extremes. Of the other advantages of these designs, it is worth noting a large selection of options in terms of design, as well as the possibility of dyeing products in the desired color using powder paint.

By design, lattices are usually rectangular in shape. Dimensions are standardized, but if necessary, you can order the manufacture of products with specific non-standard parameters.

Holes in the gratings are usually made in the form of cracks. But sometimes you can find other types of holes. They can be round or have any other shape. Now gaining popularity grilles with decorative holes in the form of various patterns.

Whenever possible to control the flow of air, the grilles are divided into unregulated and adjustable products. In the first case, fixed slats are installed.In the second case, the slats are mounted with the ability to adjust the angle of inclination. This allows you to control the direction and volume of air flow. There are also inertial types of grids that independently regulate the movement of air.

To create high-quality ventilation grilles can be installed inside and outside the room. When installing inside, pay attention to the location of the radiator. If it is deep under the window sill, then the grille is mounted as close as possible to the window. And if the radiator stands for the window sill, then the grille should be installed above the battery.

It is worth remembering that improper installation of ventilation grilles will cause them to incorrectly perform their functions.

For plastic or wood windowsills, installing ventilation grilles is fairly straightforward. It can be done independently. If the windowsills are made of concrete, it is better to use the services of specialists,as the installation process will require additional tools and experience with this material.

For installation, you will need a pencil or marker (to make markup), a grinder, a drill, and also some heavy object for pressing down the grid. Glue is sometimes used for plastic surfaces.

At installation of ventilating designs there is no need for removal of window sills. The procedure itself is quite simple and does not require special knowledge and skills. First, with the help of a pencil, it is necessary to mark the place of installation. Then grinder cut out the corresponding holes in the window sill. Instead of the Bulgarian allowed to use jigsaw.

The next step is the surface treatment of the cut holes. To do this, sandpaper is necessary to clean the surface of irregularities and sharp protrusions. Next, the grille is inserted into the hole.

To fix the grille, you can use silicone.Also, the fixation of the structure is often done with glue. To do this, before installing the grille, the edges of the holes should be spread with glue. After placing the lattice in the hole, you need to remove excess glue, and then press the product down with a heavy object for a while (until the glue dries).

It is worth noting that fixing with glue is not the best option. The fact is that when the need arises to remove the structure, it will have to be torn off from the surface. Therefore, it is better to ensure a tight fit of the structure with the help of accurate measurements of the holes. If the edges of the hole fit perfectly to the dimensions of the grille, it will be tightly fixed. In this case, if necessary, it can be easily pulled out.

Sometimes there are structures (mostly metal), which are fastened with bolts. This is another convenient fixation option.

On how to install the ventilation grill for the windowsill, see below.