Advice on Trickle Vents on New House UPVC Windows

Babiesmummy_2

Wasn't sure where to post this !

We moved into a new house in June2010, when it started getting colder we closed the trickle vents on all the windows but still have a draught coming through them.

We had the double glazing firm come out that fitted the windows for something else so I asked him about the trickle vents and he said that is how they are supposed to be the only way to stop the draught is to un-screw the cover, cover with masking tape and then put the cover back on. We didn't bother with this as we have had blinds fitted to all the windows and it would have meant taking down all 12 blinds which we have had professionally fitted.

A technician from the house builders customer care team came out to fix another job and I asked him about the vents and he told me they should all have silicone around them to stop the draught when closed.

We put this to the house builder and were told it is a load of rubbish about the silicone around the vents and there is nothing that can be done.

We also have a gas fire in the sitting room which also has a draught coming through and have been told "there is no means of stopping the back draft from the fire as the back vent has to remain open at all times for safety reasons"

So we are currently living in a house full of draughts and it was my understanding that new builds were supposed to be energy efficient.

So I have no idea if either of these problems can be fixed and would love some advice from anybody in the know.


TIA

Kelly

cajef

I do not know what make of trickle vents you have but we have them on all our windows and there is no draught through them when they are closed even in a howling gale, sounds like you are being fobbed off to me.

Edit:- In our last house we never used the gas fire as we had the central heating on, we solved the problem by having the fire removed, blocking the vent and fitting an electric fire just for show.

Babiesmummy_2

cajef wrote: »

I do not know what make of trickle vents you have but we have them on all our windows and there is no draught through them when they are closed even in a howling gale, sounds like you are being fobbed off to me.

Thought as much.

docmatt

Babiesmummy wrote: »

.

A technician from the house builders customer care team came out to fix another job and I asked him about the vents and he told me they should all have silicone around them to stop the draught when closed.

We put this to the house builder and were told it is a load of rubbish about the silicone around the vents and there is nothing that can be done.

Yes the silicone thing is rubbish, all TV's are plastic only with no rubber gaskets or silicone.

We also have a gas fire in the sitting room which also has a draught coming through and have been told "there is no means of stopping the back draft from the fire as the back vent has to remain open at all times for safety reasons"

Yep this is true although there are certain living flame chimney cowels available that can eliminate some of the drafts. What does your chimney look like?

So we are currently living in a house full of draughts and it was my understanding that new builds were supposed to be energy efficient.

Yep, it's all a load of !!!!!!. I'm in the process of building a new build. the customer has specified gas filled triple glazing yet the BC inspector wants trickle vents on every window, a load of tripe :-(

So I have no idea if either of these problems can be fixed and would love some advice from anybody in the know.

Take a pic of the TV's, the good ones are the Greenwood ones. Yours may be a flimsy one, would be good to have a look. Measure the length of them too. If the length is the same as the greenwood ones ill give u details of a place where u can buy them cheap. You just unscrew and replace, dead easy

leveller2911

docmatt wrote: »

Yep, it's all a load of !!!!!!. I'm in the process of building a new build. the customer has specified gas filled triple glazing yet the BC inspector wants trickle vents on every window, a load of tripe :-(



I have a small joinery workshop and speak to Building Control on a regular basis and they tell me they cannot insist on trickle vents being fitted any more..Surely the rules should be the same for all areas/Counties .

Trickle vents = total waste of time and money