New Buoild home with vents for 'Safety'

mafooouk_2

Hi...
Im really getting stressed out with my new build property. In every room that leads to an external wall (3 out of 5 rooms) there are vents that lead to the outside wall. These vents cannot be closed (literally, just a hole in the wall with a peice of plastic vent covering it). My builders have told me "you have to have it, its regulation because you have a gas boiler"... But im paying god knows how much to heat the place, just to have all the heat flood out the vents (if you put your hand over the vent you can feel cold air rushing through)..

Im told they are there for my safety by my builders
I'm told i should insulate, fill gaps, draught excluders etc by the govt

...but still, i have 4 vents, with cold air flowing through while i'm burning gas to head said rooms..

Any advice, please! i dont know who to turn to!! (Even if theres a builder or planning looking around who could give me the regulation name or number so i can read into it?)

Thanks

Matthew

Edit:
The vents say DO NOT COVER on them (like im going to die if i do)

Cardew

It works on the principle that humans who live in houses need to breath air with the correct amount of oxygen.

Modern houses can be almost airtight with all windows and doors closed.

Gas appliances(when lit) also need oxygen.

If there is competition for the available oxygen - appliances win and humans lose - causing death.

Vents allow in fresh air with lots of oxygen.

Obviously builders are going to play safe and follow the regulations. These regulations cover the possibility that you have CH boiler, open gas fire, gas cooker and 36 bunsen burners in every room.

Some people block off said vents, or partially block off vents and don't die.

jasmin10

My mum has a new build with the plastic vents you are on about but they only lead into the wall cavity, when she asked about them she was told that they are to let air into the cavity so it dosent get damp or someting. They do not go right through into the house only into the cavity. Her builder was Bryant.
hth

mafooouk_2

The vents have a hole cut behind them, and ducting through the vavity then another hold in the wall (brickwork outside) and then another vent outside. You can see daylight through them, so its not just going into the cavity

Just seems stupid that im paying to heat the home, and then being regulated to have a hole in the wall?

Abbey builders..

Matthew

jasmin10

Well like I say my mums just go from the outside wall into the cavity not through to her living room etc.

Gman0365

Have a look at the installation instructions for the boiler - if you have them. It will state whether or not purpose provided ventillation is required for the safe operation of the appliance. Also consider any gas fires and gas cooking appliances. Generally an openable window to outisde is sufficient for a gas cooker but it also depends upon the size of the room. If the boiler is in a compartment/cupboard then if the extra vents you have are required for the boiler to burn correctly then there should also be vents on the doors of the compartment.

The installation/user instructions really should be able to guide with requirements for ventillation.

mech_2

I say block them all up unless there's a gas appliance in the same room.

(or wood burner or any other fuel-burning appliance)

Decado23

mech wrote: »

I say block them all up unless there's a gas appliance in the same room.

(or wood burner or any other fuel-burning appliance)

I'd recommend anyone taking this advice also install a good carbon monoxide detector and check it's battery regularly at the very least. Carbon monoxide can be deadly and if i recall correctly is odourless

Shonk_2

First thing i did when i moved in was brick em up

i i want to let air in i will open a window

mech_2

Decado23 wrote: »

I'd recommend anyone taking this advice also install a good carbon monoxide detector and check it's battery regularly at the very least. Carbon monoxide can be deadly and if i recall correctly is odourless

Which is why I excluded rooms which might need air for a combustion appliance. By which I mean central heating boiler, solid fuel stove, open fire, gas fire, gas oven, multipoint gas water heater etc etc - just to be clear: anything with a flame.

A good many gas boilers are room-sealed and probably don't strictly need a vent anyway, but it's probably better to be on the safe side in case something goes wrong with the flue. One or two vents aren't going to lose much heat compared to 5-10 vents.