Wall vents Vs window trickle vents

[u0362565]

Hi all,

We live in an older property that has high up wall vents in the bedrooms. Our windows are older and don't have trickle vents. However, we're getting our windows replaced and have the option to add trickle vents. My feeling is that we should just use the wall vents and not have trickle vents in the windows. I think it's either or and not both. I don't really want vents in the windows because it makes an unnecessary hole in it to allow draughts and noise through and they are typically restricted by blinds/curtains etc at night and maybe not as effective as a wall vent that is not covered up. I have to say that currently I have temporarily covered the vents so now we have no ventilation in the bedrooms and humidity overnight can typically reach 70-75% in cold weather but this is for a few hours.

Assuming this logic is reasonable has anyone converted a wall vent such as this (image attached) to have a background ventilator such as this fitted:

Wall vents for natural supply ventilation BLAUBERG WHM 100 DK | BLAUBERG

►Wall vents for natural supply ventilation BLAUBERG WHM 100 DK◄ ★at the official BLAUBERG Ventilatoren website ☑Description ☑Characteristics ☑Photos

blaubergventilatoren.de

My reasoning being it might look more modern than a grille and also allows control of how much air you let in out and it has a filter. I may also be able to add some acoustic damping to the remaining space in the hole around the 100mm pipe. The main issue for me is the filling in of the bits of the hole not covered by the passive ventilator. It's a fair bit of effort for maybe not huge gains functionality wise to leaving the standard grille with no control of air flow..

Anyone think this would be worth doing?

 

[Wayners]

I'd brick up the vents.
Get trickle vents in widows which we have as had no choice. They are permanently closed as we don't need them. I think they are useless anyway in our house and many others especially if you run a dehumidifier.
We run a dehumidifier to dry washing and run for 2 hours in the winter evenings to keep house at around 50 to 60 max humidity.
Been a real game changer for us

 

[fourtytwo]

Hi all,

We live in an older property that has high up wall vents in the bedrooms. Our windows are older and don't have trickle vents. However, we're getting our windows replaced and have the option to add trickle vents.

In my recent experience of the same situation I was told unless the room had MECHANICAL ventilation (meaning a fan) trickle vents have to be fitted by law. So I bricked up the old wall vents. IMOP the law is an ass in many respects including this one!

 

[Wayners]

I'd would like to get windows fitted then brick vents however.
I'm not sure if this was would cause a problem later if house is sold which is why I said go for trickle vents.

Seems we are so focused on air movement which I understand with modern mould and damp, but those vents are useless.

 

[richw]

If you really don't want trickle vents, just tell the supplier that you don't want them. If they don't want to play along, tell them you will go elsewhere. Someone will fit them without, regardless of nonsense eco red-tape.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

We live in an older property that has high up wall vents in the bedrooms. Our windows are older and don't have trickle vents. However, we're getting our windows replaced and have the option to add trickle vents. My feeling is that we should just use the wall vents and not have trickle vents in the windows. I think it's either or and not both. I don't really want vents in the windows because it makes an unnecessary hole in it to allow draughts and noise through and they are typically restricted by blinds/curtains etc at night and maybe not as effective as a wall vent that is not covered up. I have to say that currently I have temporarily covered the vents so now we have no ventilation in the bedrooms and humidity overnight can typically reach 70-75% in cold weather but this is for a few hours.

Older properties, typically had wall vents, to support combustion processes indoors - fires, none-room sealed boilers, and etc.. They are no longer necessary for that purpose in most homes, so can be bricked up. If you can avoid the trickle-vents, I would do so. 70-75 RH, is no reason to panic, mould depends upon cold surfaces, and lack of insulation.

Better, is a proper ventilation scheme - adequate extraction in the bathroom, likewise over the cooker, and avoiding drying clothing in the home - maybe run a dehumidifier.

 

[u0362565]

Thanks for the replies. The window supplier isn't enforcing trickle vents I think because the old ones dont have them. They said if the old windows had them they would be more likely to enforce. I guess it should be based on whatever the regs say but that is for new builds? Looking at the regs for Scotland they talk about natural ventilation with intermittent mechanical extractor is sufficient for air infiltration above 5m (hm2)@50Pa. But they seem to focus mostly on rooms generating moisture i.e. bathrooms/kitchens/utility as you'd expect. I can't see anything in the Ventilation section of the technical handbook that mentions trickle vents in windows. But that there should be natural ventilation but not by what means from what I can see. Other than gaps under doors..

We don't have a mould issue anywhere it's just I noticed since I can now monitor humidity in rooms that bedroom gets high overnight but that might be normal with door closed and no ventilation. Also we keep the house pretty cold overnight which doesn't help.

We actually have a dehumidifier but don't use it because to be effective for the bedroom I suspect it would need to be either in the room or just outside and I find it too noisy. Sort of related to this I had a look at these new decentralised single room MVHR fans but again they're not silent.. 30db+ I reckon you'd be aware of it. Not sure they're really designed for bedrooms.

I'm surprised trickle vents are a legal requirement, surely a wall vent is equivalent, better even. I haven't permanently blocked these up in case we need to demonstrate that they 'work' but I doubt it's a deal breaker for any future buyer.

 

[u0362565]

Ok minimum of 11000mm2 per room is what I'm getting from this now. If I square root that I get 105mm, maybe that is the vent size requirement.

 

[fourtytwo]

If you really don't want trickle vents, just tell the supplier that you don't want them. If they don't want to play along, tell them you will go elsewhere. Someone will fit them without, regardless of nonsense eco red-tape.

I think you will find it impossible to get a FENSA or other certificate without them potentially causing trouble when you wish to sell the property on. Remember DG comes under building control.

 

[u0362565]

Found this on Gov UK website-Document F volume 1 FAQs. Only applies to England though..
"What do I need to do if I already have a wall ventilator in my room?
When replacing a window in a room where there is already a wall ventilator present which meets the minimum equivalent areas in Approved Document F, volume 1, no further background ventilation needs to be added after replacing the windows."

In my view the wall ventilator is a better solution so will keep that at least in rooms that have them.

 

[richw]

I think you will find it impossible to get a FENSA or other certificate without them potentially causing trouble when you wish to sell the property on. Remember DG comes under building control.

No bother for me. I have a certificate too.

But they are pointless pieces of paper, aren't they? I've had them in previous properties I've bought, but they mean chuff-all. Doesn't tell you about the quality and remaining life expectancy of the installation, nor if they are the style/colour you want.