Trickle vents - good or not?

cajef

wallbash wrote: »

I think the question should be , how many times do you open/shut your vents.

Would not be without them, use them all the time, they are not draughty if used with a bit of common sense and as they should be, they are closed if there is wind on that particular window and open for ventilation on calm days.

Also very useful to keep the property aired while away on holidays and in hot weather when we are not there.

wallbash

Why do you need to air your property whilst on holiday ?
same as too air in Hot weather. I get home I open a large window .. job done.

bosseyed

I was under the impression trickle vents were now a mandatory feature on new windows, so you shouldn't be given the choice to have them or not?

Either way, we have them on ours and I've never really used them. They're closed 99% of the time, if things get a bit stuffy then we just open a window.

MrsBartolozzi

I think trickle vents might be a good idea if, when they are closed, they are as sealed as the double glazed window. What's the point of fitting expensive draught free glazing and then sticking a hole in it?

We have them on all our windows and I think they are stupid! Wind comes in even when they are closed - I mean if I wanted ventilation I'd open a window, when I want to be cosy with no draughts I close them - not possible with trickle vents (or are there new-fangled ones which are better?).
Rant over:o.

missile

I have trickle vents and when it's windy, get dreadful whistling even when vents are closed. I have resorted to removing the vent covers, covering the hole with cellotape then refitting the covers.

leveller2911

bosseyed wrote: »

I was under the impression trickle vents were now a mandatory feature on new windows, so you shouldn't be given the choice to have them or not?

Either way, we have them on ours and I've never really used them. They're closed 99% of the time, if things get a bit stuffy then we just open a window.

They were up until about 3 yrs ago but it no longer applies,luckily even researchers have got some common sense.

Its total madness for modern windows to have Pilkington "K" energy rated glass,Argon gas filled units that are designed to let the warmth from the sun in ,but not out and yet allow a gale through the trickle vents.Like other have said to air a room you open a window ,its dead simple...

cognitiveghost

Asked a couple more people at the window company and the answer was a definite no, if you don't have them already (in which case they have to fit them), don't get them! So am getting double locking windows so can lock them overnight while still getting a bit of air in, if I need to.

Thanks everyone!

Dr.Shoe_2

A good double glazing firm such as Everest will give you closers with two locking positions as standard.

Engineering_sense.

The problem is Humidity.
Without some ventilation in a habitable building there is the danger of a too high humidity building up (by simply breathing we increase the air humidity). A too high humidity promotes the growth of mildew and other airborne fungi. It might also show up as condensation. Too dry a building also may lead to problems with internal fiitings and structures such as timber.
Trickle vents are designed to supply the minium safe (recomemded)ventilation with out having to remember the need to crack open the windows.
Yes there is some heat loss due to this ventilation ,but it is small compared to drafty old windows.

Old buildings retro fitted with double glazing may be sufficently leaky as to avoid the need for trickle vents. But unless there are other means of controlling the humidity levels as a professional engineer I would always recommemd "trickle vents" in double glazing.

System

leveller2911 wrote: »

They were up until about 3 yrs ago but it no longer applies,luckily even researchers have got some common sense.

Its total madness for modern windows to have Pilkington "K" energy rated glass,Argon gas filled units that are designed to let the warmth from the sun in ,but not out and yet allow a gale through the trickle vents.Like other have said to air a room you open a window ,its dead simple...

on a new build maybe, but they could be mandatory in replacement windows, there is a requirement for ventilation in the building regs, obviously if you can satisy that in another way then no need for trickle vents, also trickle vents should be user controlled to prevent the "gale" through!