PVC Vents

Cotta

Hi All,

I have old style PVC windows that lack vents, as a result unless the window is open regularly the bedroom ceiling suffers from dampness. Is it possible to add window vents?

thebaldwindowfitter

yes they can be fitted

leveller2911

Never seen the logic in fitting trickle vents. Why make a window as energy efficient as possible with Softcoat Low E glass, fill it with Krypton gas etc and then stick a trickle vent in it.

If a room needs airing open the window.......Its been the best way to air a room ever since the romans.

Just to add fitting trickle vents in windows is no longer part of building regulations , even they Government have finally woken up to the fact.

I would hazard a guess that the source of the damp may not be solved by trickle vents.

As an example, many properties get a small patch of mould in the corner of the ceiling where an internal wall meets and external wall in the top bedrooms/bathrooms. This is where you get a "dead" spot, air doesn't circulate right into the corner and this can't be solved by trickle vents. It can be helped by making sure the insulation in the attic fully extends to the eaves (but not covering the vents) and making sure there is some form of insulation in the cavity.

Cotta

Opening the window for the day clears the wet but leaves the room/house too cold, what are my options if not the vents?

leveller2911

Cotta wrote: »

Opening the window for the day clears the wet but leaves the room/house too cold, what are my options if not the vents?

You shouldn't need to open the window for more than an hour a day and even then just open it 1" or so.You will get far more air circulation from this than you will from an trickle vent.

If the windows are old but in good condition you could try having the double glazed units replaced with more efficient glazing, this will help reduce condensation (you will never completely get rid of it) to a minimum.

I would also look into other reasons why there is damp patches.

Just down the road from me is a little old thatched cottage and every day they hang their duvet on the window sill to air,as long as its not raining of coarse. This is a bit excessive but there is logic within it. For one thing bed bugs don't like cold duvets...

Cotta

It's really the damage done by the damp that's causing problems, mould and wet patterns on the wall.

thebaldwindowfitter

Cotta wrote: »

It's really the damage done by the damp that's causing problems, mould and wet patterns on the wall.

this is down to your heating pattern in the house i can bet that you have your heating on timed it comes on at around 6am goes off at 10am then back on at 3 goes off at 10 then you go to bed

thebaldwindowfitter

leveller2911 wrote: »

Never seen the logic in fitting trickle vents. Why make a window as energy efficient as possible with Softcoat Low E glass, fill it with Krypton gas etc and then stick a trickle vent in it.

If a room needs airing open the window.......Its been the best way to air a room ever since the romans.

Just to add fitting trickle vents in windows is no longer part of building regulations , even they Government have finally woken up to the fact.

I would hazard a guess that the source of the damp may not be solved by trickle vents.

As an example, many properties get a small patch of mould in the corner of the ceiling where an internal wall meets and external wall in the top bedrooms/bathrooms. This is where you get a "dead" spot, air doesn't circulate right into the corner and this can't be solved by trickle vents. It can be helped by making sure the insulation in the attic fully extends to the eaves (but not covering the vents) and making sure there is some form of insulation in the cavity.

I agree with everything you say apart from the trickle vents not being part of building regs stupidly they still have to be fitted where they are there originally

leveller2911

Cheers TBAF , that slipped my mind. Can you shed some light on the logic of that?.. If they were on there before you have to fit them again..

thebaldwindowfitter

yes if the house has trickle vents they must go back on the new windows stupid i know when spending so much on energy saving windows

martin1959

Sorry if this is a silly answer, but have you considered a dehumidifier?


We have two running for a few hours a day in winter, in our North facing bedroom and they have stopped all the 'damp' patches forming.