Air Vent Can I Cover Them Up

Yasmin02

Dear All

I was after some advice. I live in a flat and our front room has a big bay window with an air vent which onto our drive. But now the weather is getting colder we have a constant draught coming through even when we put the gas fire on the draught is still coming through and it is really cold.

If I am able to cover them up does anyone know the best material to cover it up with?

Thank you very much in advance.

Yasmin

Inactive

Most of them have a slide mechanism, to open/close.;)

Yasmin02

Hello

Thank you i will take a look but I do not think it does have any type of sliding mechanisim.

Yasmin

Angela

You must not block this air vent up otherwise the fumes from the gas fire will not go up the flue and come they will come back into the room.
It is there for a reason.
Maybe you could reposition your seating arrangements in this room so you dont get the draft directly onto you.
This air vent aids the fumes from the fire to go up the chimmney/flue you have.
Please please never block them up.

djheath

I think the key here are the words "gas fire".

I know certain regulations say that with a gas fire you must have adequate ventilation. I know in my flat, it used to have a gas fire and either side of the fire place there are two large air vents to reduce carbon monoxide.

I dont know for sure, but check the vent isn't needed to help the gas fire as you dont want to be gassing yourselves!

I could be barking up the wrong tree here though so get a proper recommendation first!

EliteHeat

A vent installed for a gas appliance will never have any kind of mechanism that allows it to shut.

Most gas fires will not require purpose built ventilation (excluding ALL all back-boiler gas fires and ALL decorative coal-effect gas fires) if their heat input is less than 7Kw,

However, if it is a gas-air vent, then it may be there for some other appliance in another area of your house.

You would need a Corgi to inspect your property to advise you best, but you can buy vents with anti-draft mechanisms.

Yasmin02

Hello Everyone

Thank you ever so much for your responses. Let me explain a little more.

I have a gas fire and a chimmney which i assume goes up to the top flat (i live in a victorian conversion) The air vent is below my bay window and just blows constant cold air into the room from our drive into the front room. Following everyones advice I will not just block it up and I will get professional advice for someone to come and have a look at it. I have a very similar air vent in our bedroom as well but this does not blow any air at all.

Thank you ever so much for everyone responses.

Yasmin

dander

you could redirect the air though, just lean a board or something in front of the vent, so there's still room for air to circulate through space at the side, but so it stops the air blasting straight out into the room.

Suzy_M

You can get a 'cowl' to fit over air bricks and ventilators. These still allow good airflow but cut down the cutting draughts you get when the wind hits the vent head-on.

adaze

If air is actually blowing in then you could change the vent set up for ones with baffles, this will make it impossible for a direct breeze to blow through, but will still allow air in. Or change the external vent cover to a "louvre" type one

Yasmin02

Hello

Great thank you very much for letting me know i will take a look at the most effective way to redirect the breeze it is so cold in my front room even with the gas fire on.

Thanks oince again for all replies.

Yasmin