I have removed a few air bricks today to investigate what is behind them and have some concerns.
I have a 1930s semi. There is only 1 air brick at the front which is on the bay window (9x6 original louvered clay). Other houses in the street have at least 2 and some 3 but one has probably been lost due to a porch and the other side of the bay is a raised flower bed plus the gas meter (I think the gas pipe might enter somewhere near a possible airbrick behing the bed??).
The earth under the suspended floor is quite damp but no puddles, however some of the joists near the (cold?) walls have condensation droplets on them as well as on the gas pipe.
The bricks I have removed are at the rear and side of the house and I have some pictures. Worth noting none of them are sleeved and so plenty of insulation blocking airflow behind them...
One at the rear - note the joist inside, about 2" gap between joist and inner leaf.
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Another rear one, just over 3m from the first one. Again, a joist may(?) impede airflow?
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Third rear brick but looks pointless to me as there is solid floor behing this wall, and nothing on the inner leaf so whats it for? I plan to replace this with a solid brick.
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A side air brick - not a good path through to the under floor
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Another side air brick and a pic from the inside too
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One of the biggest issues all around is high ground level outside meaning the airbricks are close to floor level - is this in itself a problem? I cannot decide if a joist close to an airbrick will give it better ventilation or make it colder and more prone to condensation?? I have had a good feel around and all the cavity insulation is dry inside.
At the back of the house I effectively have 2 bricks over 3m apart. In between them is a double patio door. I feel like I should add an extra air brick between them but is it ok to do that under patio doors?
I have a 1930s semi. There is only 1 air brick at the front which is on the bay window (9x6 original louvered clay). Other houses in the street have at least 2 and some 3 but one has probably been lost due to a porch and the other side of the bay is a raised flower bed plus the gas meter (I think the gas pipe might enter somewhere near a possible airbrick behing the bed??).
The earth under the suspended floor is quite damp but no puddles, however some of the joists near the (cold?) walls have condensation droplets on them as well as on the gas pipe.
The bricks I have removed are at the rear and side of the house and I have some pictures. Worth noting none of them are sleeved and so plenty of insulation blocking airflow behind them...
One at the rear - note the joist inside, about 2" gap between joist and inner leaf.
View media item 68855 View media item 68856
Another rear one, just over 3m from the first one. Again, a joist may(?) impede airflow?
View media item 68858 View media item 68859
Third rear brick but looks pointless to me as there is solid floor behing this wall, and nothing on the inner leaf so whats it for? I plan to replace this with a solid brick.
View media item 68860
A side air brick - not a good path through to the under floor
View media item 68862 View media item 68863
Another side air brick and a pic from the inside too
View media item 68865 View media item 68866
One of the biggest issues all around is high ground level outside meaning the airbricks are close to floor level - is this in itself a problem? I cannot decide if a joist close to an airbrick will give it better ventilation or make it colder and more prone to condensation?? I have had a good feel around and all the cavity insulation is dry inside.
At the back of the house I effectively have 2 bricks over 3m apart. In between them is a double patio door. I feel like I should add an extra air brick between them but is it ok to do that under patio doors?