Air-Box Comfort - micro-ventilation valve for plastic windows: description, installation, reviews

Plastic windows, on the one hand, are good. They have a huge number of advantages, but they also have a significant drawback - tightness. Complete tightness is bad because it disrupts microcirculation in the room being served, which is why it is necessary to install a separate ventilator.

Of course, you can get by with slot ventilation, but it has many disadvantages, including street noise. And for ventilation in this case, you can use inlet window valves, including the Air Box series of inlets (with three separate valve options).

Purpose of the device

The main task of the valve is to create an intermediate buffer between the street surface of the window and the room where air exchange can occur with the effect of a fresh influx. The window system in this case acts as a structural and load-bearing base for placing the device. Moreover, not every design can have an Air-Box Comfort micro-ventilation device built into it. A supply valve of this type is combined with PVC windows that have a rotary and tilt-and-turn adjustment mechanism.

Need for use

Thanks to modern elastic and high-strength seals, a high density of the sashes of plastic windows is ensured. The required rate of air exchange inside a living space should be ensured by natural ventilation, provided for in the designs of modern multi-storey buildings.

For its full functioning, it is necessary to bring outside air into the living quarters, which is prevented by almost hermetically sealed plastic windows.

Violation of standard air exchange caused by the tightness of window structures made of polyvinyl chloride profiles leads to excess air humidity inside residential premises, and this, in turn, contributes to the formation of condensation, the appearance of mold and fungi spores, and the accumulation of an excessive number of harmful and toxic gases in the home atmosphere .

By resorting to ordinary ventilation of the living space, the apartment owner negates all the advantages of plastic window structures.

When installing a standard plastic window:

1. The sound insulation of the room is compromised .
2. Emerging drafts pose a health hazard.
3. Seals and locks are subject to accelerated wear.
4. Deterioration of thermal insulation characteristics leads to increased heating costs.

To eliminate the paradoxical situation in which the installation of highly efficient, aesthetically attractive and reliable window systems made of plastic profiles leads to disruption of the microclimate and environmental situation inside the living space, supply ventilation valve devices are designed.

Valve design

The function of the valve is quite complex and important, but the device is simple. The basis of the design, in addition to accessories, is formed by two parts:

• External canopy with protective grille. Installed on the street side of the window.
• Directly the valve, which is mounted on the sash from the back side.

The main manufacturing material is ABS plastic, which is reflected in the texture of the Air-Box Comfort ventilation valve - white is used as the main color option in the family, but the manufacturer provides the opportunity to order in a different color scheme on the RAL scale. Also, some parts are made of polyvinyl chloride.

Among the working qualities of the design, one can note an average throughput of 30-42 m3/hour, water resistance and protection from insects. In fact, the main concerns of potential users of such valves are usually associated with the negative consequences of seal failure. But the grille provides protection from dirt, insects and other unwanted objects.

What types of products are there?

Ventilation valves are divided into the following types:

1. Slotted . These devices are divided into automatic and mechanical. Air enters the room through a channel measuring 170-400*12-16 mm. The advantage of the device is ease of installation, which does not require removing the window frames;
2. Seam type valves . The flow of outside air into the room is ensured through special rebate-type cuts. The advantages of the device are its low cost and ease of installation, which does not require removing the window frame. The disadvantage is due to: low throughput;
3. Invoices . The advantage of overhead valves is that they provide a large volume of air. This results in the following disadvantages: low heat and sound insulation, as well as the inability to install a valve on an existing plastic window.

Valve operating principle

The entry of air flows occurs under the force of atmospheric pressure in several stages. First, air penetrates into the channel between the sash and the frame in the area where the seals are placed, which are replaced during the installation process. Then, directly through the valve located on the sash in its upper part, the flows are sucked into the room. When organizing complex air exchange, a plastic window will perform only part of the ventilation functions. The greatest effect can be achieved if a stable removal of warm “exhaust” air is also organized in the room, for which special ventilation ducts are installed. If the exhaust system does not have an additional power drive with a fan, then the efficiency of the circulation will depend entirely on the pressure difference. Otherwise, natural inflow is carried out with the support of the force of the exhaust system.

For example, the optimal operation of natural air exchange is observed in conditions when the street temperature is no more than 5 °C. If the emphasis is on ventilation in hot weather, then experts recommend that you consider turning on forced exhaust in advance.

Small recommendations

When purchasing a product, you must pay attention to the completeness of the set. In addition, the following conditions must be met:

In addition, the following conditions must be met:

• Clean the valve periodically with a vacuum cleaner and a damp cloth.
• Do not close it completely in extreme cold to avoid freezing.

Some experts who have encountered such parts claim that their installation is impractical. You can get by by simply making slots in the plane of the frame. This opinion is purely personal, as the factory part has at least been tested for effectiveness and safety.

Features of valve modifications

The Air-Box line includes several versions of valves, differing in the nuances of their design and operational properties. In particular, the Comfort S modification is designed for installation on “fixed” plastic windows, and is also suitable for frame structures made of wood and aluminum. As for performance indicators, the inflow intensity is fixed at the same level of about 41 m3/hour, and the quality of noise insulation and flow filtration remains the same. In terms of installation options, the Air-Box Comfort S valve is more versatile, but it provides fewer options when choosing operating modes.

Another version of the supply valve of this brand is represented by the Standart design. This option is appropriate to use to ensure the window’s self-ventilation function, which will reduce the level of humidity in the incoming flows. Thanks to this solution, microclimatic conditions are regulated with minimal risk of natural condensation.

Technical specifications.

Typical installation of an Air-Box Comfort inlet valve

The easiest and most common way to install a valve without the need for milling. The working tools you will need are a Phillips screwdriver, a knife and marking devices. Before installation, you must open the window sash, remove part of the sealing seal with a knife and put in its place the special Air-Box Comfort valve gasket included in the kit. Then the device is installed directly:

• Plugs with a “skirt” pointing downwards are integrated into the groove points of the seal.
• In the upper part, along the direction of the bracket rods relative to the window, the valve is placed on the sash ledge.
• The device is fixed with screws through the brackets.
• The seal is installed. It is placed at the groove points between the supporting parts.
• The sealing material is inserted into the groove between the support fasteners.

Installation

Almost all companies that sell valves offer installation services. Their cost is low, but the amount of work is small. We suggest you read the instructions for self-installation. As an example, we will tell you how to install a slot-type ventilation device.

Required materials and tools:

• construction knife;
• screwdriver;
• ruler;
• valve;
• seal and plugs;

Step by step guide:

1. Remove everything unnecessary from the windowsill.
2. Open the window.
3. Measure the length of the purchased valve on the upper sealing rubber.
4. Using a knife, make two cuts and remove the intermediate piece.
5. Install a new sealing rubber instead.
6. Measure the distance from the edge of the window to the beginning of the new seal.
7. Set aside the same distance on the top sash of the open window and make a cut in the seal.
8. Measure the length of the future flap on the flap and make a second cut.
9. Remove the intermediate piece.
10. Instead of the old seal, install three plugs with the wide side facing up. They should move freely on the side of the window.
11. Install the plugs at a distance corresponding to the valve mountings.
12. Peel off a strip of double-sided tape on the valve and glue it to the window, pressing it tightly against the installed plugs.
13. Screw the screws into the fasteners.
14. Glue shorter seals between the fasteners.

Valve installation with milling

To perform the work, you will need an electric drill, a jigsaw, a mounting knife, a file and a marking tool with sealant. Installation is carried out in the following sequence:

• Contours are marked at the installation site. To facilitate this procedure, it is advisable to remove the window sash.
• At the fixation points, through holes with a diameter of 5 mm are made. Then the prepared holes are drilled to a diameter of 10 mm, which will create conditions for installing a structure with perforation.
• In the area between the two extreme fixation points, a through slot is made, the edges of which are subsequently cleaned with a file.
• The mounting strip of the Air-Box Comfort supply valve is attached to the surface of the flap overlay using self-tapping screws. Before fixing, the drill equipment must be treated with sealant, which will increase the density of the fixing unit.
• A groove is milled at the site where the frame is welded. The position of the valve is marked according to the template, after which a groove is cut out with a jigsaw.
• The outer part of the valve is installed on the outside of the frame. The element is also fastened with self-tapping screws and pre-treated with sealant.
• The sash is installed on the frame hinges.
• Assembly events. The window sash is put in place.
• The inner part of the valve is installed on the mounting plate using latches and clips.

Positive reviews about the model

Most users of this device note its advantages as a simple, easy to install and relatively effective solution to the problem of spot ventilation. Without radical changes to the window design and, in principle, without major installation, the owner has the opportunity to organize a ventilation system for a specific room. This is not the only product of this type on the domestic market, however, reviews of the Air-Box Comfort valve emphasize its advantages in terms of regulatory function. Using a special handle in the design, you can change the position of the damper, thereby controlling the intensity of the air flow.

Plastic windows or natural ventilation. What's better?

Before the advent of plastic windows, buildings relied on natural ventilation. Fresh air entered the room mainly through cracks in the windows and through hoods installed in the kitchen and bathrooms.

But, wanting to solve the problems of reducing heat loss, the penetration of excessive noise and secrecy from prying eyes, modern buildings everywhere began to be equipped with sealed plastic windows.

Important! You can read about the advantages of the presence of ventilation in plastic windows here: https://oknoudoma.ru/ventilyatsiya-plastikovyh-okon-kvartiry-zachem-nuzhna-i-sushhestvuyushhie-varianty-ventilirovaniya-pvh-okon/

The tightness of the plastic window structure disrupted the system of natural circulation and fresh air. At the same time, if you do not make changes to the ventilation system, in rooms with standard PVC windows installed, the humidity increases sharply and becomes stuffy. This arrangement of things can have a detrimental effect on the health of a person who spends a long time in a plastic-glazed room.

To create a favorable microclimate, the room needs periodic ventilation. To do this, you often have to open the doors - perform an action that inevitably returns dust, noise and drafts into the house, from which the installed plastic window was originally intended to protect.

Negative reviews about the model

The main disadvantages of the valve are expressed in its low efficiency as a means of ventilation and certain ergonomic nuances of application. As for the first aspect, many point out the uselessness of this solution as the only ventilation channel. In other words, without a parallel working forced exhaust system, there will be little benefit in such an improvement to a plastic window. Initially, it should be considered precisely as an addition to the main ventilation system. In terms of ergonomics, critical reviews point to the need for constant adjustment of the damper, since the operation of the valve is extremely dependent on weather conditions - temperature, wind and pressure. The situation is complicated by the fact that the valve is located high, which is why it is necessary to think through the appropriate conditions to ensure easy access to it.

Icing problem

The manufacturer, in the operating instructions for the Air-Box ventilation systems, warns that at street temperatures below -15.0°C, icing of the structure is possible, and the likelihood of this unpleasant phenomenon for Comfort products is higher than for Comfort-S and Standard "
Freezing of ice makes it difficult to adjust the damper and even breaks down individual window ventilation elements.

In order to reduce the likelihood of icing or frosting of individual parts of the structure, the user must adhere to the following requirements:

1. If the humidity inside the living space increases during wet cleaning , washing or cooking, the valve damper must be opened to its full value.
2. In severe frosts , the valve should be completely closed or opened - in the latter case, the heat deficit inside the home is compensated by increasing the power of the heating system.