Do I need Trickle Vents?

leveller2911

Trickle vents are no longer compulsory on replacement windows. Finally common sense has prevailed. Some Local Authority Building inspectors "like" to see them but cannot insist on the being fitted.

The lasted building regulations want all new windows to be air tight,energy efficient glazing and draught proofed which is excellant so why would anyone want to allow draughts through the window fabric when you can open a window when ventilation is required.

Totally illogical to make a window energy efficient and then stick a hole in it..


When you need ventilation just open a window......

[Deleted User]

leveller2911 wrote: »

When you need ventilation just open a window......

We would not have bought a house without trickle vents, dh was a structural engineer and often had to deal with big problems caused by lack of ventilation. Trickle vents can be left open while away from home and do not invalidate your insurance.

Grovey1

I have just fitted 2 house full of windows and customers only wanted trickle vents in the kitchen and bathroom but as leveller2911 said you don't have to have them. Also don't be fooled by A rated and C rated if you look on the energy saving trust it will show you how much you could save per year look at the difference between A rated and C rated (not a lot).Then look at the difference of how much a company charge between A rated and C rated will take a few years to get your money back.

leveller2911

kittie wrote: »

We would not have bought a house without trickle vents, dh was a structural engineer and often had to deal with big problems caused by lack of ventilation. Trickle vents can be left open while away from home and do not invalidate your insurance.

Well as your DH was a structural engineer he would be well aware that any required ventilation can be achieved by opening a window. The vast majority of modern windows have a "night vent" opening on the fastener which means they can be locked in an open position. If trickle vents are fitted but kept closed then there will still be damp issues so why make trickle vents that can be closed?.Trickle vents will not address penetrating damp from walls and floors .

People need to learn how to open a window and "air " the rooms in the same way that we have done for centuries.

Unless you go away for months on end leaving a house air tight will not cause any problems whatsoever.

slinkydonkey

Thanks for everyone's feed back on this ive decided not to get trickle vents ..I figure I'll just open a window or get them added latter if I really must.

leveller2911

slinkydonkey wrote: »

Thanks for everyone's feed back on this ive decided not to get trickle vents ..I figure I'll just open a window or get them added latter if I really must.

They can be retro fitted but it can be a pain to do...........

Clive_Woody

leveller2911 wrote: »

Well as your DH was a structural engineer he would be well aware that any required ventilation can be achieved by opening a window. The vast majority of modern windows have a "night vent" opening on the fastener which means they can be locked in an open position. If trickle vents are fitted but kept closed then there will still be damp issues so why make trickle vents that can be closed?.Trickle vents will not address penetrating damp from walls and floors .

People need to learn how to open a window and "air " the rooms in the same way that we have done for centuries.

Unless you go away for months on end leaving a house air tight will not cause any problems whatsoever.

I think most people are pretty clued up when it comes it opening windows, most can achieve this with minimal training.

The night vent/storm catch or whatever you want to call it is fine if you are home but if you go out and leave the windows locked on these catches you will most likely invalidate your home insurance if you are broken into. Windows left on this sort of catch can be levered open much more easily than a fully closed window.

The benefit of a trickle vent is that you can open them and go out leaving the house secure. Opening and closing a trickle vent is quick and easy to learn and can be a huge benefit in preventing damp.

Clearly trickle vents are a bit like Marmite, love em or hate em.

cajef

Clive_Woody wrote: »

Windows left on this sort of catch can be levered open much more easily than a fully closed window.

The benefit of a trickle vent is that you can open them and go out leaving the house secure. Opening and closing a trickle vent is quick and easy to learn and can be a huge benefit in preventing damp.

Clearly trickle vents are a bit like Marmite, love em or hate em.

Agreed, so called night vents may be alright on the upstairs bedrooms of a house but we have a detached bungalow and there is no way I would leave our windows on them anyone could easily reach and force a window, we use the trickle vents all the time when out of the property.

andrewf75

We're having an extension built and have been informed that we need trickle vents in the window and bifolding doors that we are putting in. Is this not right?

leveller2911

Clive_Woody wrote: »

The benefit of a trickle vent is that you can open them and go out leaving the house secure. Opening and closing a trickle vent is quick and easy to learn and can be a huge benefit in preventing damp.

QUOTE]

As I mentioned previously you can safely go on holiday for a month and leave your house air tight and you will not have a damp problem when you return, leave it for months on end and you will,especially around the chimney breast.

Condensation and "dead air" in rooms can be solved by opening windows. Many people are confusing this with penetrating wet rot and porus brickwork which is a totally different thing and can't be solved by trickle vents.

People are mistaken if they believe they need to open trickle vents when they go out for an evening.

If people learnt to open a window there isn't any need for trickle vents and the fact that Building Control no longer make them compulsory means common sense has prevailed.

I agree they are like Marmite........:D