Extractor fan outlet through "air brick"

brayleyboy

I hope somebody can help.

I have a problem with mould on my kitchen walls. I'd like to get an extractor fan fitted. I've just had one in the bathroom and am very pleased with it.

The bathroom fan is vented through the ceiling/roof/soffits so was relatively cheap to install. However this solution is not possible in the kitchen.

There is however a pretty large airbrick in the kitchen (30cm x 15cm) which it seems is purely there to ventilate that room (although up until now it was blocked up!). I wondered if it was possible to vent a fan through here? I've had a pretty good look on the internet and havent found any mention of whether you can/cannot do this.

any comments would be much appreciated

moonrakerz

Be very careful with airbricks, they are there for a reason.

If you have gas, they let air into the room to aid combustion. If you then use it for an extractor fan to drag air out of the room ...............................

brayleyboy

Yes I apprecieate that, but we do not have gas at all in our property, it is all electric.

My thinking was that if i fit a wall mounted fan instead of a louvre vent on the air brick cavity, whilst the fan is not functioning then it will allow air to pass through the grill in the same way as a vent, and when it is working then it will clear all the steam & dirty air from the kitchen.

I just wondered if this reasoning is correct or if there is some reason why you should not do this

jennifernil

An air brick might not provide a very secure mounting for an extractor fan, it would depend on what it was like. Most extractors have shutters that close to stop drafts when they are not on, but some also have a "trickle ventilation" setting.
An extractor in a kitchen is a good idea and has been required in new builds for some time now (in Scotland anyway).

Avoriaz

moonrakerz wrote:

..if you have gas, they let air into the room to aid combustion. If you then use it for an extractor fan to drag air out of the room ...............................

The air “dragged” out of the room by the extractor fan will be replaced by air drawn in.

OP, an extractor fan will be more efficient than an air brick though it will only ventilate the room when it is switched on.

If the air brick is not strong enough to support a fan, you might be able to strengthen it by filling the holes with concrete or cement or by replacing it with a solid brick. Alternatively, it might be possible to mount the fan on a section of wood and attach that to the wall.

Are you sure the mould is caused by condensation and not by rising or penetrating damp? I suggest you get professional advice as damp is a serious problem.