New house - draught on window trickle vent

TCPIP_Fox

I’ve noticed two of the 3 trickle vents on the bedroom window has a draught coming through.  It does look like both of them aren’t closing fully, as I can see a small gap.  Is it better to get them replaced or just use some silicone to close it up?

tacpot12

No! It's better to live with the draught is it a source of fresh air that will keep the room ventilated and avoid condensation forming. Really trickle vents shouldn't have ANY way to close them off - even when fully open, they only allow a small amount of air to leave and enter the property.   

ryan7

New house? I'd be raising this issue with the builder. It may only seem small but years down the line you'll be annoyed you didn't flag it at the time.

TCPIP_Fox

ryan7 said:

New house? I'd be raising this issue with the builder. It may only seem small but years down the line you'll be annoyed you didn't flag it at the time.

Sorry, new as in a bought one already built. This house was built in 2016. 

TCPIP_Fox

tacpot12 said:

No! It's better to live with the draught is it a source of fresh air that will keep the room ventilated and avoid condensation forming. Really trickle vents shouldn't have ANY way to close them off - even when fully open, they only allow a small amount of air to leave and enter the property.   

Understand that, but closing the flaps should stop the draft coming in and not making the room cold. 

aoleks

TCPIP_Fox said:

tacpot12 said:

No! It's better to live with the draught is it a source of fresh air that will keep the room ventilated and avoid condensation forming. Really trickle vents shouldn't have ANY way to close them off - even when fully open, they only allow a small amount of air to leave and enter the property.   

Understand that, but closing the flaps should stop the draft coming in and not making the room cold. 

As mentioned before, a fully open vent is not enough to make your room cold, a closed one even less, despite a draught.

what temp is your heating on? What about TRV?

TCPIP_Fox

aoleks said:

TCPIP_Fox said:

tacpot12 said:

No! It's better to live with the draught is it a source of fresh air that will keep the room ventilated and avoid condensation forming. Really trickle vents shouldn't have ANY way to close them off - even when fully open, they only allow a small amount of air to leave and enter the property.   

Understand that, but closing the flaps should stop the draft coming in and not making the room cold. 

As mentioned before, a fully open vent is not enough to make your room cold, a closed one even less, despite a draught.

what temp is your heating on? What about TRV?

Got you.  TRV is set to 4, thermostat is showing 21c.  Today isn’t cold, but the other day when it was windy the room was a bit nippy even when the heating was on.  All the other rooms were nice and warm.  Maybe there’s a draft coming the gaps between the window and wall? Probably need to check that. 

knightstyle

When we moved into a new build 10 years ago the first thing I did was to unscrew the vents, tape up the holes and replace the vents as there was a dark dirt stain inside each of them where dirt was blowing in even when closed.
Never had any problems with damp, mould etc.  after a while several neighbours did the same.

TELLIT01

If it's only the vents in one room which are causing the problem I would be inclined to tape them over.  As long as that room isn't constantly closed off from the rest of the house it shouldn't be a problem.  If the problem is a draught coming in at one end, either fill the gap with silicone or a small piece of tape. 

TCPIP_Fox

TELLIT01 said:

If it's only the vents in one room which are causing the problem I would be inclined to tape them over.  As long as that room isn't constantly closed off from the rest of the house it shouldn't be a problem.  If the problem is a draught coming in at one end, either fill the gap with silicone or a small piece of tape. 

I decided to do that and made a huge difference, to the point the room was making me a bit too hot.  I have a habit of opening windows anyway during the day, so just going to leave them taped up.