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Air ventilation Espoo
Inspections, Maintenance and Installation
IVAeris specializes in the inspection, maintenance, cleaning, and renovation of air ventilation systems in Espoo properties. We serve housing companies, detached-house residents, and commercial premises throughout Espoo—from Tapiola to Leppävaara, from Matinkylä to North Espoo. Espoo has over 320,000 residents, and the city grows by thousands of new residents every year. The building stock ranges from the 1950s garden city to modern residential areas rising around metro stations, and each era has its own air ventilation challenges.
Espoo’s building stock and air ventilation challenges
Espoo grew rapidly from a rural parish into an increasingly urban city in the 1950s, and its population has increased tenfold since the wars. Unlike Helsinki, Espoo did not develop around a single, cohesive inner city, but as several separate centers—each with its own construction history and air ventilation profile.
Tapiola and the early residential areas (1950s–1960s): Espoo’s urban development began with the Tapiola garden city, built by the Asuntosäätiö foundation starting in 1953. Tapiola’s apartment buildings and terraced houses represent some of the best Finnish residential construction of their time, but their air ventilation is almost without exception natural (gravity) ventilation. In buildings that are seven decades old, shafts, vents, and the airtightness of structures are at a completely different level than what today’s requirements call for. After Tapiola, the 1960s area development agreements gave rise to Matinkylä, Olari, Soukka, and Kivenlahti—precast concrete suburban estates along Länsiväylä, where the typical system is mechanical exhaust air ventilation with a roof fan.
Leppävaara, Espoonlahti, and growth from the 1970s to the 1990s: The Leppävaara area grew significantly between the 1970s and 1990s, as did the outer parts of the Espoonlahti sub-region. In these properties, mechanical exhaust air ventilation is the most common solution. According to Espoon Asunnot, the first properties with apartment-specific mechanical supply and exhaust air ventilation were built in 1994—significantly later than one might expect.
New districts and the metro boom (2000s–): The opening of the West Metro triggered a strong wave of construction in Matinkylä, Niittykumpu, Tapiola, and Otaniemi. Suurpelto is an area built entirely in the 2000s. These properties have modern mechanical supply and exhaust air ventilation with heat recovery, but the systems require professional maintenance and regular filter replacement.
Detached-house dominance—Espoo’s distinctive feature: Compared to Helsinki, Espoo has far more detached houses and terraced houses, especially in North Espoo, Kauklahti, and the old Espoo area. In detached houses, maintenance of the air ventilation unit is the resident’s responsibility, and in practice many detached-house ventilation units have gone for years without professional servicing.
Typical air ventilation problems in Espoo
Espoo’s air ventilation issues reflect the city’s diverse building stock and environmental factors. Here are the most common challenges we encounter in our work:
Radon – all of Espoo is a radon area. Under the new Radiation Act, the whole of Espoo is classified as a radon area. In STUK’s measurement statistics for detached houses, the average radon concentration in Espoo is 153 Bq/m³ and the median is 101 Bq/m³. Espoo’s bedrock locally contains pocket-like enrichments of radioactive minerals, and fractured bedrock increases radon pathways into indoor air. Construction methods that have become more common in recent decades—slab-on-grade foundations, lightweight expanded clay aggregate (LECA) blocks, and hillside solutions—increase pathways for radon-laden air from the ground into the dwelling. Air ventilation plays a decisive role in radon control: correct pressure balance prevents radon-laden soil air from entering indoors, and sufficient air ventilation dilutes concentrations.
Neglect of maintenance for apartment-specific ventilation units. In newer apartment buildings and detached houses in Espoo, there is apartment-specific mechanical supply and exhaust air ventilation. Many residents do not know that the unit requires regular filter changes, cleaning of the heat recovery (HRV) core, and verification of airflow rates. Dirty exhaust air valves reduce extract airflow and can cause positive pressure—often indicated by fogging between window panes and freezing on the inner surface of the outer pane in winter. If prolonged, the situation increases the risk of moisture damage.
Kitchen hood combined with an HRV unit. Espoo’s building control authority requires a special assessment if a kitchen hood is connected to an apartment-specific HRV unit. Grease entering the unit must be prevented, or the unit’s suitability for exhausting greasy air must be demonstrated. This is a recurring stumbling block in design and renovation projects—a wrongly implemented connection quickly soils the HRV core and reduces heat recovery efficiency.
Stuffy air and uneven air ventilation. Too high a supply-air discharge temperature causes warm air to remain near the ceiling and not mix into the occupied zone. The resident experiences the air as “poor” or “stuffy,” even if the airflow rate is technically sufficient. At the same time, there may be draft near floor level.
Street dust and construction sites. Espoo’s intensive construction activity shows up in air quality. In HSY measurements, for example in Niittykumpu, high hourly PM10 concentrations and “poor/very poor” air quality index hours have been observed during construction periods. This loads ventilation system filters more than usual and highlights the need to shorten filter replacement intervals, especially near construction sites.
Our air ventilation services in Espoo
We provide Espoo properties with a comprehensive package of air ventilation services tailored to the specific characteristics of Espoo’s building stock.
Air ventilation inspection and commissioning – In Espoo housing companies, an inspection is the first step in planning a renovation. We measure airflow rates, pressure differentials, and assess the condition of the system. In detached houses, we also review the radon situation from an air ventilation perspective. → Read more about air ventilation inspections
Air ventilation cleaning – The City of Espoo has the air ventilation in its own properties cleaned on a five-year cycle. We recommend a similar cycle for housing companies and detached houses as well—especially in areas where construction activity or traffic burdens outdoor air quality. → Read more about air ventilation cleaning
Air ventilation maintenance – In Espoo’s detached houses and newer apartment buildings, servicing the apartment-specific ventilation unit is key: filters, the heat recovery (HRV) core, fans, and the control system are inspected and serviced professionally. We also help ensure correct operation when a kitchen hood is combined with an HRV unit. → Read more about air ventilation maintenance
Air ventilation installation and renovation – In Tapiola and Matinkylä buildings from the 1950s–1970s, the need for renovation is significant: upgrading from natural ventilation or mechanical exhaust-only to modern supply-and-exhaust air ventilation improves indoor air and helps control radon concentrations. → Read more about air ventilation installation
Air ventilation design and consulting – Espoo’s building control authority has its own city-specific interpretations of ventilation requirements, including verification of heat recovery efficiency, documentation of ventilation unit selection criteria, and presentation of control methods in the plans. We help you navigate these requirements. → Read more about air ventilation consulting
Price estimate and booking
The prices of our air ventilation services are the same in all cities within our service area. The most commonly ordered services in Espoo:
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Air ventilation inspection – from €155
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Ductwork cleaning – from €785
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Ventilation unit maintenance – from €355
Detailed pricing and direct booking: See all services and prices →
Do you need a quote for a housing company or a larger property? Contact us →
Service area in Espoo
We serve the entire Espoo area. Espoo is divided into seven major districts:
Greater Leppävaara (80,110 residents): Leppävaara, Kilo, Karakallio, Laaksolahti, Viherlaakso, Lippajärvi, Sepänkylä, Lintuvaara
Greater Espoonlahti (61,888 residents): Espoonlahti, Soukka, Kivenlahti, Nöykkiö, Kaitaa, Suvisaaristo, Saunalahti
Greater Tapiola (56,670 residents): Tapiola, Otaniemi, Westend, Haukilahti, Mankkaa, Laajalahti, Niittykumpu
Greater Matinkylä (48,759 residents): Matinkylä, Olari, Henttaa, Iivisniemi, Tiistilä, Suurpelto
Old Espoo (42,799 residents): Espoo Centre, Tuomarila, Muurala, Bemböle, Gumböle, Karvasmäki, Träskända
Greater Kauklahti (13,287 residents): Kauklahti, Kurttila, Vanttila, Espoo Manor
North Espoo (11,865 residents): Kalajärvi, Bodom, Röylä, Nuuksio, Siikajärvi, Lakisto, Velskola
Population figures: 31 Dec 2024
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