Replacing air vent

[Bubbauk]

Hey everyone, I am in the process of re doing my main bedroom and I have removed this air vent from the wall

http://img580.imageshack.us/img580/9998/imag1221l.jpg
http://img600.imageshack.us/img600/1350/imag1220h.jpg
http://img845.imageshack.us/img845/1884/imag1222b.jpg

It looks like it is very badly rusted and the previous owner had wall pappered over the top of it, this vent is just above window height, there is one in each bedroom.

Some people have told me to block it up but I don't think that is a good idea.

I have searched online but I can not find these anywhere, I am not even sure on the proper name, any help with this would be appreciated.

David

 

[JohnD]

You can get a plastic grille, or a "hit and miss vent" which allows you to close it simply if e.g. there is a strong wind from that direction.

These airbrick type ventilators are quite common in bedrooms where there is otherwise a lack of fresh air and risk of condensation from nocturnal breathing and perspiration. They are often blocked up by people who have an aversion to ventilation. In a bathroom or WC, you can often fabricate a way to re-use them with an extractor fan.

You could probably re-use your old steel ones if you used wire wool to take the rust off, brushed on Kurust, a metal-preservative primer, and your favourite colour of paint.

Avoid getting any vent which has little plastic strips that look like a venetian blind, they rattle annoyingly in the wind.

http://www.screwfix.com/c/ventilation/air-vents/cat840496

If there is a gas-fire in the room, you usually need a permanent vent that cannot be closed, for safety.