Air bricks and vent?

mizzbonita

I have owned my flat for nearly 14 years now and had it repointed 2 years ago. 

I’ve been having some small damp issues on the side of the property but then I saw these air bricks at the front of my property and did some research on them. 

Are they too low? There’s one to the left side and right side of the front. Also what is this vent at the front of the property that is below ground level? Should I be concerned about it?

My pointing needed redoing in this area as some of the mortar was shot. Now I’m wondering if this is all related?

I know I’ve been here for 14 years abs only asking questions now but I don’t know a great deal about these things. 

MikeJXE

Some photos would be a good idea 

mizzbonita

The vent at the front of the property 

mizzbonita

Air brick at the front left hand side. There’s another one at the right front side as well. 

I should point out the damp issue is unrelated to these. 

mizzbonita

MikeJXE said:

Some photos would be a good idea 

Sorry just posted some 

MikeJXE

I suspect you have suspended floors,  wood ?

They are air bricks for ventilation under the floor 

Are there any at the rear of the property or is it just the bay window ? 

mizzbonita

It’s just the bay window area. 

I have one at the rear but it’s higher up. But the rear of the property is part of an old extension built. 

The side of the property is pebbledashed so it’s hard to tell. 

I’ve been told water is probably getting in round the side as the pebbledash is at ground  level so breaching the DPC. I’ve been advised to have a shingle drainage system installed but that’s a separate issue. 

mizzbonita

Yes wooden and I believe they are suspended floors 

The patio at the front slightly slopes away from the property 

MikeJXE

mizzbonita said:

It’s just the bay window area. 

I have one at the rear but it’s higher up. But the rear of the property is part of an old extension built. 

The side of the property is pebbledashed so it’s hard to tell. 

I’ve been told water is probably getting in round the side as the pebbledash is at ground  level so breaching the DPC. I’ve been advised to have a shingle drainage system installed but that’s a separate issue. 

Pebbledash breaching the DPC could be the cause of damp

I see you have injected DPC and you say the air brick at the back is higher, what do you mean by that ? Higher than the DPC or higher but still lower than the DPC ?

The use of air bricks below a suspended floor is to create an airflow to enable the timber joists to breathe, usually at opposite sides of the property 

mizzbonita

Here’s a pic of the rear and it’s a vent as opposed to an air brick? 

mizzbonita

MikeJXE said:

mizzbonita said:

It’s just the bay window area. 

I have one at the rear but it’s higher up. But the rear of the property is part of an old extension built. 

The side of the property is pebbledashed so it’s hard to tell. 

I’ve been told water is probably getting in round the side as the pebbledash is at ground  level so breaching the DPC. I’ve been advised to have a shingle drainage system installed but that’s a separate issue. 

Pebbledash breaching the DPC could be the cause of damp

I see you have injected DPC and you say the air brick at the back is higher, what do you mean by that ? Higher than the DPC or higher but still lower than the DPC ?

The use of air bricks below a suspended floor is to create an airflow to enable the timber joists to breathe, usually at opposite sides of the property 

Ok thanks that makes sense. I suppose the slightly sloped ground and my bay window ledge offers some flooding protection