Ensuring micro-ventilation of plastic windows with your own hands. Plastic windows: what is "micro-ventilation" Is micro-ventilation necessary in plastic windows

In the construction world, the installation of metal-plastic windows with double-glazed windows has long been considered the norm. It is much more convenient to use such glazing than ordinary wooden windows. Metal-plastic structures are easy and quick to clean, there is no need to paint them, and they serve for quite a long time.

The undoubted advantage of PVC glazing is its tightness. And this same feature is a bit of a problem. Keeping the temperature in the room, metal-plastic windows also do not allow moisture to pass through and do not allow fresh air to flow in. The micro-ventilation function will help to get rid of this problem.

How can micro-ventilation be arranged

The solution to the issue of air access to the room has 3 classic solutions:

  • installation of special fittings;
  • sash opening limiter device (comb);
  • installation of the supply air damper.

All solutions for adjusting micro-ventilation in plastic windows have their pros and cons, while all of them solve the main task - air ventilation in the room without drafts.

After considering all the details, you can decide on a solution suitable for a particular situation.

window fittings

Metal parts will ensure the opening of the window in different planes

When assembling the window, metal parts are installed in the groove on the profile, which provide various opening positions and hold the sash in the closed position. A micro-ventilation mechanism can be included in this system. Ideally, it is installed immediately at the time of assembly at the factory.

But if the window was mounted a long time ago, it is quite possible to install the mechanism in place. To do this, you should contact the experts. Any company involved in the repair of metal-plastic structures provides this service.

The mechanism fixes the gap between the sash and the frame, sufficient for air to enter (no more than 3 mm). It usually opens by turning the handle 45 degrees. There are mechanisms for multi-stage fixation (turning the handle by 15, 45 and 60 degrees).

This is the best solution, but not everyone will be able to implement it on their own.

Opening limiter

Methods of micro-ventilation in double-glazed windows

Installing a multi-stage opening fixation mechanism is the most budget option, and this is its main advantage. The comb itself is inexpensive, and anyone who knows how to use a screwdriver can install it.

Before installation, mark the places on the frame for drilling with a pencil. The tongue is usually installed under the handle:

  • remove the decorative trim, unscrew the handle;
  • attach the latch tab;
  • put a handle on top and screw the screws into their original places, put on a decorative trim;
  • screw the comb mechanism to the window frame.

This method has disadvantages: the likelihood of damage to the window profile and the rapid loss of the internal temperature of the room, even with a minimum gap.

The most technologically advanced solution to the problem of air flow is the installation of a micro-ventilation valve. It is mounted on the upper frame in the center of the sash part. You can do it yourself, detailed instructions are attached to the mechanism. Manual and automatic valves are available for sale. They differ in price and adjustment method.

Before any type of installation, replace the seal rubber with the one supplied with the assembly. To learn how to install a micro-ventilation valve, see this video:

When choosing this solution, it will not be possible to save, the cost of structures is quite high. But by installing the valve, you get constant air ventilation, the intensity of which can be adjusted.

At the same time, there is no noise, dust and insects inside the room. It is worth noting that ventilation through the valve will occur with the window closed, which is important for parents of small children and pet owners.

So, the easiest to install and budget is the option of installing an opening limiter. The most expensive and most functional is the valve device. The installation of a micro-ventilation system in window fittings will be average both in terms of price and capabilities.

Plastic windows are a modern solution for the improvement of every home. The disadvantage of PVC products is the lack of fresh air. This problem can be solved by conventional micro-ventilation. To do this, turn the window handle at an angle of 45 °.

The room must be ventilated 4 times a day for 15 minutes. Otherwise, the following ventilation of plastic windows is performed:

  • slot micro-ventilation, which involves the installation of a special mechanism in the profile of the structure, the size of the gap is 2-3 mm;
  • comb or multi-stage micro-ventilation, which consists in mounting different slots, this technology is not used in the folding system;
  • valve (mounted at the top of the window).

Installing a comb is considered the cheapest method of home ventilation. Installation work is carried out on the window profile. The comb is made of plastic. The technology under consideration has 2 disadvantages:

  1. Deterioration of heat and sound insulation.
  2. The fragility of the structure.

Slotted micro-ventilation of plastic windows provides for the installation of the system in the window profile (during production). Of the minuses of this technology, experts single out the formation of a gap (between the sash and the frame), through which dirt and dust will enter the room. A plastic window can be provided with forced ventilation. The mechanism used to supply the home with oxygen is convenient to use and has high efficiency.

A valve is mounted in the upper part of the sash. It provides constant circulation of air masses in the house. When installing the considered mechanism, the sound-proof and heat-insulating properties of plastic windows do not change. The valve is self-adjusting, but it is not adapted to work with significant temperature fluctuations. Therefore, growths of ice and snow form in the structure, the operation of the mechanism and the thermal insulation of the house are disrupted.

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Advantages of ventilation

The ventilation system provided in the plastic window has the following advantages:

  • preventing hot air from entering the house on hot days;
  • reliable protection against drafts;
  • air hygiene support;
  • ensuring constant air exchange in the house;
  • prevention of hypothermia in the children's room;
  • protection against formation of condensate on window sills;
  • long service life of the mechanism;
  • the ability to fix the window sash.

You can install such micro-ventilation with the help of professionals. Upon completion of installation work, specialists conduct briefings. If you turn the handle of the window frame by 45° and pull it towards you, then a gap of 1-3 mm will appear (after clicking). System installed successfully. Some mechanisms are mounted in the sash profile. In this case, micro-ventilation is triggered by turning the knob down by 135°.

Adjustment of such a system is carried out with the help of professionals. Otherwise, you will need a Torx screwdriver. Adjustment of the mechanism is carried out in two places (upper and lower loop). Pre-check the diagonals against sagging. From the lower element, the indicator should be longer (0-3 mm) than from the upper loop.

Master of Architecture, graduated from the Samara State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering. 11 years of experience in design and construction.


Unlike old wooden frames, modern plastic windows are more functional. It is not necessary to open them completely for fresh air to enter the room, it is enough to open the sash into the room or set the micro-ventilation mode. However, a situation often arises when the plastic window does not close from the ventilation mode. What to do in this case and what is the cause of the problem?

Modern window features

To ventilate and ensure normal air exchange, it is no longer necessary to open the entire window completely, it is enough to transfer it to one of the available plastic window modes.

To ventilate the room, it is enough to turn the handle up, and the sash will deviate to a predetermined position.


When the window handle is turned 45 degrees, the micro-ventilation mode is set

Micro-ventilation becomes available by turning the control handle at an angle of 45 degrees from the vertical. In this case, a gap of several millimeters is formed, which is quite enough for fresh air to enter the room.

Additionally, ventilation can be provided even without unlocking the sash, but for this you need to make changes to the design itself and install an additional ventilation valve.

These functions, as well as full opening and closing, are available thanks to a mechanism that is adjusted during the installation of the window package.

Closing problem and its causes

Sometimes a situation may arise when the sash cannot be closed. You should not immediately think about replacing the window, the reasons can be quite simple, and their elimination does not require a lot of time and money.


You can start fixing the problem with closing after studying the structure of the PVC window

As you can see, in most cases, the sashes on plastic windows do not close for elementary reasons. However, if nothing is done about it, the mechanism will gradually wear out. And the ventilation mode of plastic windows cannot be eternal, sometime you still need to close the sash.

In what ways to eliminate the problems that have arisen and how to adjust the micro-ventilation of windows?

Elimination of problems of closing of shutters

To adjust the window and return to normal settings, you need a minimum of tools and skills. It is enough to prepare pliers and a hexagon, usually four millimeters. How to adjust the sashes and fix most problems?

Sash tilt

The skew of the sash is removed by simply adjusting the position in the vertical or horizontal plane. To do this, on the inside of the window there are corresponding screws on the hinges, which are covered with decorative (protective) caps.


The skew of the sash can be eliminated by adjusting the bottom and side screws

The protection is removed and with the help of a hexagon they try to correctly set the position of the window sash. The bottom screw adjusts the position up or down, and the side screw adjusts left and right. In this case, you need to close and open the system several times to check how it locks. Adjust the screws, after which the problem simply disappears.

Loose fit

Loose fit is eliminated depending on the cause of the problem. If the seal is worn out (elasticity is lost, there are tears, etc.), then it must be replaced.


A worn seal can cause a loose seal

The same problem can be caused by an incorrectly adjusted regulating eccentric (summer mode is set in winter). The mechanism regulates the degree of pressing the sash and in the summer position the pressing is weaker than in the winter. The set mode is indicated by a marker located on the eccentric.


The degree of pressing the sash depends on the position of the eccentric

Using a hexagon, plastic windows are set to the winter position (“outside” mark). In the warm season, the marker is returned to summer mode.

wedge handle

To fix this problem, you will need to remove the sash from the frame. This is done by knocking out the pin from the top loop (after removing the protective cap).


To repair the handle, it is necessary to remove the sash

Now you need to insert the "scissors" into the groove where they should be. This process can be done without dismantling the sash, provided that the slopes do not interfere and there is access to the mechanism.

Sash in two modes

Violation occurs when the window is switched too abruptly and quickly from the ventilation mode to the closing mode. Fixing this problem is very simple. The sash is pressed against the frame by pressing on the upper corner. The lock is clamped to the frame. The handle is moved to open mode. The sash is locked.

Drainage frame

If the drainage frame has moved away, then it is returned to its place, having previously cleaned the entire window frame well.


The drainage hole is designed to drain water from the window unit

When the sashes sag due to the deformation of the entire window, it is impossible to do without the intervention of specialists. Most likely, a complete replacement of the window will be required. In this case, the problem arises as a result of wall movements or shrinkage of the house (if it was recently built). Replacement is carried out, making sure that such deformations will not be repeated.

If the window has changed its geometry due to improper installation, then all work on its replacement must be performed by the installer!

Micro ventilation setting

Micro-ventilation is a built-in function of a modern window, when by turning the handle to the desired position, the sash leaves a gap of several millimeters for air to enter from the street. But you can also install additional devices for organizing normal air exchange.

Comb control

The comb is an additional fitting that works as a limiter for the angle of the sash in the ventilation mode. The window can be installed with a slope of 30, 45 or 60 degrees.


Using the comb, you can set the desired level of ventilation

A plastic comb with recesses for the limiter is mounted on the frame. A hook is installed on the frame itself. It works like a limiter. When switching to the ventilation mode, the frame tilts, and the comb is placed with the desired recess on the limiter.

Valves for micro-ventilation

It is also an additional fitting that is mounted on the window profile. There are two types of valves: manual and automatic. Manually, the user himself sets the required mode of air flow. Automatic valves regulate themselves, providing ventilation depending on the temperature and humidity in the room.


Automatic ventilation valves adjust the level of ventilation depending on the climatic conditions

There are also systems that are located in the handle, they are more aesthetic, and in terms of functionality they are not inferior to their counterparts.

Modern windows allow you to set various modes to normalize air exchange. Minor problems can be completely eliminated on your own, simply by adjusting the window to the desired position. In most cases, closing problems occur with a normal settings failure.


From the article you will learn:

If an optimal microclimate is not created in the room, then any windows, including plastic ones, under certain circumstances, can become covered with water droplets from the inside. This phenomenon is called condensation.

In one of the previous articles, we have already considered, but now we note that in order to combat this phenomenon, manufacturers of light-transmitting structures have provided for the presence of a micro-ventilation function in their products. What is it and what is its essence, we will consider in this article.

The material would not be complete if it were not for the types of window ventilation that exist today, there are only three of them:

  • Comb. Provides multi-stage ventilation of the room.
  • . Located above the window sash.
  • Slotted (micro) ventilation. This type of ventilation, in fact, will be discussed in this article.

Why do you need a micro-ventilation mode?

As you know, PVC windows in the closed state, unlike the old wooden structures of the times of the existence of the USSR, hermetically close the window opening, practically preventing free air circulation.

With a large temperature difference in the street and indoors, the problem of unhindered air exchange becomes especially acute - the appearance of fogging becomes visible (remember the process of cooking in the kitchen). It is in order to prevent such a phenomenon that in modern plastic windows there is micro-ventilation system. PVC structures equipped with it allow air flows to freely circulate between the room and the street, thereby improving the microclimate in the apartment.

Microventilation mechanism.

This window function operates on the principle of forced ventilation. It is activated with a handle, by putting it in a certain position. The maximum possible micro-ventilation is set when the handle is turned at an angle of 45 degrees.

The intensity of such slotted ventilation is regulated by simply turning this knob. In this case, the maximum deviation of the sash from the frame is 1 centimeter.

Mode benefits.

Installing plastic windows in the micro-ventilation mode allows you to fill the room with fresh air, regardless of the time of year, only barely noticeably cooling it.

What is good for a person? With the use of slot ventilation, the room is cooled gradually, while there is no draft in it, unless of course there is a squally wind outside the window.

With the penetration of fresh air flows through the window, unpleasant odors, if any, dissipate, and the air in the apartment gradually acquires the necessary level of humidity.

Important! It is the high humidity in the room that is responsible for the appearance of mold, which is so harmful to the human body.

If a strong wind "looked around" on the street, and the double-glazed window was set to micro-ventilation mode, then you can not be afraid for the integrity of the wings - it will withstand any gusts and not be damaged.

And the last. You can buy PVC windows with a micro-ventilation function at any company that sells such products. The presence of such a ventilation system, even in a budget window model, is the norm today.

September 19, 2016
Specialization: master of interior and exterior decoration (plaster, putty, tile, drywall, wall paneling, laminate, and so on). In addition, plumbing, heating, electrical, conventional cladding and balcony extensions. That is, repairs in an apartment or house were done on a turnkey basis with all the necessary types of work.

Not in every house, the owners can afford to keep the sash in the hinged mode in winter due to the low temperature outside or poor heating. And this is where micro-ventilation on plastic windows will help.

Such a function in the cold period will prevent the windows from fogging up, and in the rest of the year it will serve for constant air circulation, that is, as natural ventilation. This mode can be provided by the manufacturer, or you will have to do it yourself.

I will tell you about all this below, and you can also get additional knowledge from the video in this article.

micro-ventilation mode

Option 1 - the function is provided by the manufacturer

I hope you know or have already understood what it is:

  • perhaps a similar function provided by the manufacturer is the most convenient option;
  • it turns out that such a lock has four positions, which are provided by the instruction: a handle lowered vertically down is closed, horizontally by 90 ° is open, vertically upwards is a folding mode and upwards at an angle of 45 ° is micro-ventilation;
  • therefore, in order to set the sash in this mode, turn the handle relative to the upper vertical by 45 ° and pull it towards you;
  • by installing the transom in this position, you provide a stable flow of air, which will save you from not only on the windows, but also on the walls;
  • in this mode, you should not be afraid of severe frosts - the room will not get cold from this;
  • but I want to note that the price of windows where the shut-off valve mechanism works in this mode will be higher than usual.

Option 2 - climate valve

Also, air circulation to maintain the microclimate is possible with the help of a climate valve. Such a device may be provided by the window manufacturer, or it can be inserted later with your own hands.

Now you can figure out how to make micro-ventilation of plastic windows with your own hands using a climate valve, if this function was not provided by the manufacturer:

  • a template is installed on the upper part of the sash on a horizontal profile, according to which the necessary holes will be cut;
  • but before installation, mark the crossbar so that the installation is in the middle - this is more aesthetically pleasing;

  • transfer the markup to the outside of the sash - there you will also have to install a template;
  • now you need to cut the chambers on one side and the other with a grinder - this way you create a niche for installing the valve.

Such devices have their own sound insulation, therefore, after their installation, the noise level in the room remains practically the same as before.

The drive sensors, which are made of polyamide fabric, do not require a power supply. They automatically react to the level of humidity due to their own compression ratio, and adjust the position of the dampers that let air from the street into the room.

Such a device is mounted very easily and quickly - for this you need to have a pencil, a tape measure, a grinder with a cutting disc for metal and a screwdriver at home (you can use a curly screwdriver).

The valve is held inside the profile by screws that are screwed in from the outside, as in the top photo, and by silicone sealant, which closes the joints and gaps.

In this case, the climatic valve of AEREKO JSC, whose representative office is located in the Russian Federation, was used.

Option 3 - comb

But, no matter how good the previous options are, the simplest comb can fully compete with them, which allows you to hold the sash in different modes. Moreover, such a mechanism is very easy to install with your own hands.

The comb itself consists of only two parts, this is a comb latch and a counterpart for constipation. In addition, you will need two more self-tapping screws with a length of no more than 14-15 mm, so that they do not rest against a metal profile and a diameter of 3-3.5 mm, a curly screwdriver or a screwdriver.

In order to install the comb, you will have to do a few simple steps, the first of which is to remove the handle from the sash. To do this, we pull the cover on the pressure plane and turn it horizontally, thereby freeing access to the fastener screws. We unscrew them with a screwdriver or a curly screwdriver and remove the handle.

Place the mating part under the handle and screw it into place.

The latch or comb bar is screwed to the vertical jumper of the frame - to do this, close the sash, install the comb as it will stand in the closed position, moving it 1 mm away from the sash, and screw it on.

Conclusion

If you want to have many opening modes, then the third option is most suitable for you, since it is easiest to adjust micro-ventilation on plastic windows with a comb. If you have any suggestions or questions - write notes in the comments, I will be happy to answer and help!

September 19, 2016

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