Are these air vents necessary?

[RonO]

I live in a 1920 end terrace brick house without cavity Walls. Every room in the house has at least one air vent about 7ft up the wall. Some of my neighbours have bricked these up saying they are no longer needed because we don't have open fires anymore. Is this assumption correct?

I know I must retain the air bricks that airate the space under the floorboards but would like to do away with the ones in the rooms because they are so drafty - but I don't want to cause future problems

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Try sealing them up with some rigid plastic and tape and see what happens, if you get through the winter without any condensation issues then fill them in.

 

[ricspeed]

i always get rid of them ...as said there were when there was open fires ...i usually knock off the plaster vent thing and dot and dab a peice of plaster board and plaster skim

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Please igonre ricspeed's poor advice.

 

[RonO]

Thanks guys. I usually have to seal them up in winter - living on top of a hill when the north wind blows could blow granddads toupe off otherwise

I've not had any condensation problems - so I guess the trowels can come out to play at the weekend

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Sounds good, you've done the waiting game already.

 

[ricspeed]

Please igonre ricspeed's poor advice.

whys that then ...never had any problem with condensation

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

You've been luck tis all.

 

[ricspeed]

i certainly was not suggesting any air vent for under floors which are required in the building regs be blocked ..just the ones which are not in any way ventilating a cavity and were there only because open fires were an original feature ....one of my properties (the one i'm living in )has had this done over 10 years without damp /condensation / mould and i have done the same to the current and past renovations where they were fitted also