Plan ventilation cleaning and balancing together

Ventilation cleaning, airflow measurement, and balancing are separate tasks worth planning together. A cleaning quote does not automatically include measuring system performance or adjusting it to the design values.

Identify the system and gather records

Explain whether the home has natural ventilation, mechanical exhaust, or mechanical supply and exhaust. Provide equipment details, available plans, and previous measurement reports. If the system is unknown, ask for it to be identified first.

Mention changes in room use and observations such as drafts or unusual noise. These do not establish that cleaning is needed, but they help guide an assessment of system operation.

Check what the quote covers

Ask for separate descriptions of work on the unit, air terminals, and ducts, along with measurement and balancing. Ask what the target values are based on and what happens if a problem requiring repairs is found.

Motiva’s Finnish ventilation guidance (opens in a new tab) explains the relationship between cleaning and balancing. In a Finnish housing company or another building with shared management, coordinate the work with management so changes in one home are considered as part of the whole system.

Ask for results you can understand

Agree on a report covering the work, measurements, and any deficiencies. Ask whether the results meet the targets and what remains unresolved. A record of a visit alone will not help compare performance later.

Finally, ask which maintenance tasks belong to the user and how to select operating modes. Do not experiment with air-terminal adjustment settings. Investigating a stuffy home can help define further checks if the agreed maintenance and balancing do not resolve the problem.

If measurements or inspection reveal an equipment fault, request a separate proposal for servicing or replacing the ventilation unit. Expanding a maintenance visit into an equipment purchase is a new decision. Check which parts of the original job are complete and what still needs measuring or adjusting as part of the new installation.