Window Trickle Vents

dannymccann

I dont know if its the right place but its to do with heating to a certain extent so....?

I live in a new build which is fully double glazed and all the windows have trickle vents we can open and close manually. My question is, obviously, when the vents are open the rooms are quite chilly, even with the rads on full (due to the builders skimping on the size of the radiators, they can just about heat the rooms properly :rolleyes: ) so when should they be used? Should they be open all the time to allow the rooms to air, whether we are here or not, or should they be opened for a couple of hours a day or what?

penrhyn

All mine are closed for the heating season. Normal coming and going changes the air sufficiently for me.

richardc1983

Its upto you, I have the lounge ones shut now, and leave the kitchen and bathroom and one of them open in the bedroom as I like these rooms to be fresh etc.

Its upto you.

jessilu1

I have mine open during the summer but at the moment (we still have snow) only the toilet, and kitchen ones are open, and it's surprising how cold it makes the rooms!

john1

dannymccann

I carry out air permeability testing on new build housing to check building regulations L1A conformance.

Mostly, the “normal production type” of window/door trickle vents I come across when testing are, totally inept at doing their job, as envisaged, of completely sealing off the outside air supply when closed.

So you will get air flow even when closed !

John1

dannymccann

Well John yes I had noticed that, they are surprisingly OK at keeping the wind out but a very fine chill comes through them when closed, but all our windows except the 2 bathrooms and and kitchen have big thick curtains covering them (thanks landlord ) so you dont notice it.

I left the 2 lounge ones open last night and it isnt actually too bad in there this morning, although I doubt sitting in there playing on xbox / watching TV I will have the same opinion!

Pincher

The trickle vent is for people who are too lazy to open the windows once a day. Just shut it during winter if it's too cold, and ventilate once a day by opening the windows.
I don't have trickle vent in my double glazing, and life goes on.

maxtweenie

Pincher wrote: »

Presumably you don't believe in people that haven't been house trained, and things going moldy from moisture build up.

Not at all, but I live in a 20 year old bungalow that due to modern insulation is prone to moisture build up. My windows are opened daily, and I also have trickle vents that are permanently open. However, I am NOT frickin' lazy because I have trickle vents. :rolleyes:

smjxm09

Partially defeats the whole object of having sealed double glazing to keep the heat in if people complain that their rooms are cold with the vents open. Might as well keep the unsealed single glaze

master_of_puppets

smjxm09 wrote: »

Partially defeats the whole object of having sealed double glazing to keep the heat in if people complain that their rooms are cold with the vents open. Might as well keep the unsealed single glaze

was just about to post the same:beer:

Pincher

smjxm09 wrote: »

Partially defeats the whole object of having sealed double glazing to keep the heat in if people complain that their rooms are cold with the vents open. Might as well keep the unsealed single glaze

It's cheaper than a central air conditioning system.

Like maxtweenie says, they build them too moisture tight to keep the heat in.

And then they say "That's OK, people open windows, don't they?"

And then they find moldy corners and moldy people with breathing problems from spores.

And then they say "For god's sake, what kind of morons are these people!"

And then somebody says "We should put in proper heat recovery ventilation systems, preferably with air-conditioning that humidifies and dehumidifies."

And then the developer says "What kind of moron are you, do you know how much a proper air-conditioning system costs. Let's just poke some holes through the insulation, call them trickle vents, and charge extra."

All because some people didn't open some windows to let the moisture out.