How to Block Trickle Vents on UPVC Windows
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 8 ก.ย. 2024
- If you find that trickle vents on UPVC windows let in too much cold air or noise, there is a simple way to block them. Use aluminium foil tape. This stuff is specifically designed to retain heat, and withstand moisture, et cetera. Before you stick the tape make sure the area is clean.
If you do have condensation problems, you can easily remove the tape.
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We moved into a new build and heating bills are ridiculous. You can feel the cold air coming in from these trickle vents which in turn increases energy bills as you have to have heating on longer. Wgen you wake in the morning all tge heat has escaped. This is a great option, thankyou👍👍
New builds will skimp at every possibility, so you may have the cheapest of the cheap trickle vents installed. There are options to have aluminium vents that are of good quality and snap shut tight. You could go the extra mile and use some clear sealant when installing the new vents just for peace of mind.
Thanks for this, very interesting. I have to fix the vents on our new triple glazed windows which let in more noise than the old double glazed, non-vented units. The "acoustic vents" are the problem; very poorly designed but since the regs changed this summer they're mandatory. Madness!
I am pretty sure you fit windows like for like. If your old windows didn't have vents, then your new windows don't need them. Not every house needs trickle vents, because they maybe designed to be airtight and have automatic systems to condition the moisture indoors.
@@Christopher_T_Paul thats not what building control are telling me
Thank you for this. I have a window that just sounds like it’s open and it’s these flaps! On a windy day recently it’s absolutely awful and it’s a new build.
Unfortunately, house builders use the cheapest windows they can buy. I've lived in two new builds over the last five years and all the windows and doors were poor quality.
You need to pack thr hole with rockwool to cut out outside noise it works a dream and helps reduce cold spots
Spend mega money making our homes thermally efficient then drill holes in our windows. Most of us are quite capable of opening windows for ventilation. My trickle vents on my new windows will remain permanently closed so totally pointless. If I notice an increase in noise I will inject the gap with sealant. Update - notice that they are also cold spots as only a piece of thin plastic which flips in and out so I think some kind of insulation will be necessary. Also on windy days they are not a perfect seal and I can feel a draught. I have never had damp issues in the rooms without trickle vents so this is a complete nonsense.
As much as they are a requirement to have trickle vents fitted & yes they do prevent condensation and mould, at what point is too much air vented, that it's excessive?
When it's windy I find we get a cold breeze through them, and even when closed they let a considerable amount of air through, I wonder if not both sides but only one of the slits in the trickle vent could be closed off to reduce the volume of air passing through, but still venting the house to reduce moisture build up inside.
Definitely something that most windows manufacturers fit as an after thought, and not really thoroughly designed into the window as they could design silent flow trickle vents.
If closing off trickle vents a positive ventilation system ideally needs fitting, in older houses I have observed that old windows are replaced with new UPVC double glazed with out trickle vents, and these houses are often prone to damp, mould and condensation so yes they serve a purpose.
we have trickle vents and we still get mould and moisture build up around the window and there open all the time can you explain how they prevent mould as ours don't???
Not every home is the same. Your lifestyle maybe causing more moisture than other people. However I guarantee those trickle vents will be helping keep moisture levels lower.
@@meridiusuk8567 they don't because they can't exchange moist air for dry air enough to combat the moisture a single person expels
I wrapped it cellophane without any adhesion and let pressure fill the gaps!
My vents let air in and out as designed, however I have electric heaters and the vents never allow the property to warm up, so to all these people who say this is a bad idea, what solution do you suppose I use?
The vents are there to help release moisture from air in your home. You could seal them up and use a dehumidifer when needed or splash out £500+ and have an automatic system that will manage the moisture in your living spaces and vent it through your loft.
You may not even have a moisture problem at all and you can live quite happily without trickle vents and not have any issue with mould build up.
Jut get some paper and put it between the flap and the hole. This is also removable in summer, costs nothing as you can just use junk letters or envelopes cut to size.
You could also take a small section of loft insulation, and push it into the gap. As long as its not too tight, it should come back out if needed. I still think foil tape is the best option, as this is specifically designed to reduce heat loss, and can be peeled off if there are condensation problems.
But you need the trickle vents through winter, this is when you are likely to have a moisture build up.
@@Christopher_T_PaulIn my house I have zero condensation still after blocking the vents.
@@PorterB Then your house doesn't need them. Not all houses do, depends on your lifestyle, if you have extractors or even if your house isn't that air tight.
Step back a generation or so when we all had single glazing, open chimneys, lime mortar and no insulation, condensation wasn't much of an issue.
@@Christopher_T_Paul Mine is a new build built in 2018 so. Even if houses need ventilation, you don't need a trickle vent on every single window or even in every room, least of all the minimal quality ones that come with new builds that are nothing but a long hole above every window pane. These trickle vents are literally the worst method possible of dealing with condensation, much better would be air conditioning which for whatever reason the UK decides not to put as default into houses.
Will using sound proofing foam like people use in music studios be an idea to stop noise along with aluminium tape? Then I could simply unpack the foam if needed.
The problem with expanding foam, is that once it's in, it's there for life. If you do have any condensation problems, you will not be able to remove it completely. If your windows are new, it may also affect your warranty.
Fibreglass loft insulation, provides good acoustic qualities, so you could try forcing that into the gap, if you have some spare in your loft/attic. But again, I'm not sure how effective it may be.
Block of vent and buy a POV unit to prevent damp reduces heating bill no end!!!! Trickle vents just let cold air in and for £300 for a POV unit its fresh filtered air coming in and no spiders and cold
piv*
OP - is that a Bellway house out of interest?
No, it's a Redrow, but I've also lived in a Barrett, and they all have poor quality windows, doors and fittings.
Well redrow is Barratt now. We live in a Barratt new build and the trickle vents are the main problem.
Isn't the point of trickle vents to stop damp inside your home? The air should be recycled regularly and the differential temps from outside and inside is what causes the damp.
I hate my trickle vents but I hate damp more
Correct. You shouldn't block or close trickle vents. They allow movement of air/moisture.
By blocking them, you're more likely to get mould/damp in your home.
Open the windows more often. My trickle vents are a complete waste of time and money. The draughts and noise are like having single pane glass or open windows. I will be removing these the first time I get the opportunity.
@@markturner6755 spot on. Ive had acoustic double glazing put in and the trickle vents make them almost useless. just open windows. I also live in an old property so airflow isnt really an issue.
I live by a busy main road and the trickle vents mean the noise is far worse with our new double glazing than it was with our old wooden windows and secondary glazing, and I feel like it really shouldn’t be this way. I will be blocking them up as soon as I can figure out how.
Buy a POV unit and block vents
The latest is that the external fins on the trickle vents are proving to be excellent homes for some kind of masonry bee which is filling them up with mud. Basically it’s a bee hotel. Annoyingly though, the buzzing resonates inside. These are just not thought through.
Boggles my mind that people pay thousands for better thermal rated windows but then permanently leave the trickle vents open to allow all that cold air through. Just buy a small dehumidifier if you're that worried about the moisture.
Doesn't make much sense, does it? New homes shouldn't suffer from condensation or damp problems, so it's pointless having these trickle vents.
I put bubble wrap over mine
block your vents and you will get condensation mould. they are there for a reason.
This is why I would recommend using tape, rather than putting expanding foam in the gap. If you do get condensation problems, you can simply peel it off.
I've had this setup for several years, and no problems with mould.
Mate I lived in a home without trickle vents for over 30 years and never had an issue with mold. So why do I need them in my new build to freeze my nuts off?
@@heliumfreak5364 Because new builds are much more air tight, so the CO2 and moisture builds up at a much faster rate than an old less air tight building.
@@DrBenVincentexactly hence the reason for them. What you can do Is put tape on them and prick some holes in them to reduce the airflow a bit. But to cover them completely is not a good idea.
Open your windows , change air in your house every day , its common sense , a trickle vent will never vent a room , they only keep condensation off the glass , but that condensation will always be in the house , again open your windows .
you going to pay a lots more once moist trapped inside the room and destroyed your decoration.
When upvc windows were first used, it was found that the tight seals, compared with traditional draughty windows, led to condensation and mould build up, so trickle vents were introduced under public health law because mould spores can be very, very dangerous to the lungs. They are required by law and the Building Regulations have recently been tightened up on this point. The recent case of a child dying in a mould infested apartment underlines why. It is completely irresponsible to block them up. Which would you rather have - a bit of a draught or a lung condition? By the way, some designs seal better than other.
To be honest, you can just put the window on the latch. Most people do, and only close the window when it's really cold. Having a constant draft, probably isn't great for your health either. Plus, if you live on a busy road, would you want petrol and diesel pollution coming into your home? I wouldn't.
I'd rather have a few dead kids than have to hear road noise coming through the vents on my triple glazed windows tbh 😂.
Filled mine with sealant and much better sound insulation.
can you explain why we get mould and we have trickle vents and they are open all the time as are windows and around the windows have a lot of moisture??? plus, we get alot of drafts. I dont get how these work if you still have mould problems
How to block vents.... DON'T!
If you have have mechanical ventilation in a new build flat, you don’t need trickle vents
I don’t need trickle vents, I know how to open a window for ventilation. The vents let in a lot of noise and I am by a main road so it’s extremely noisy and causes me a lot of anxiety to have to listen to traffic all day. So I am blocking up the vents.
As mentioned by other commenters, this is extremely bad advice.
Read Building regulations Part F, it explains that you need background ventilation to 8000mm2 in habitable rooms.
If anyone is having issues with heating their house or excess noise. Speak to a reputable Double Glazing Company as there a options on the market which can assist.
It’s almost like you think people don’t know how to *open* their windows for ventilation.
Those regs are really for landlords and newbuilds where tenants aren't as thoughtful about taking care of a property. Nonesense to suggest a homeowner shouldn't have the freedom to properly insulate his/her own home.
@@BanjoPixelSnack this is the exact reason trickle vents are not required lol. People wouldn't ventilate their house and would grow mold everywhere. So now we're paying the price for those dummies
This is very bad advice, Its a very bad idea to block your vents, you will damage your building and potentially yourself, if your cold put a jumper on, if its noisy (if that is a thing) then put your airpods in
I can open windows. Too much clever
Yeah I’m going to spend all night and day forever more wearing iPods in my own house so I don’t have the listen to the traffic on the massive roundabout outside my house. I don’t think so.
I can relate to complaints here listed (noise, cold, nobody-mentioned-draft? or dust?) **BUT** today window and rooms are practically sealed!!! You don't have drafty installation of windows as mastic sealant or tape is sealing window with wall. You don't have lime plasters (and mortars) to breath excessive vapour out (or in, as needed). Then the scary (in my view thing), leaving the condensation and mould that you will say "and this is coming from where??!?!?", →→→ the elevated levels of CO2. You will not know that you are getting drawsy, you will not know why you had a bad night sleep, you will not know why you child does not perform in school as s/he could (no way you can live again and compare, the two!!!). If you can - get professional to look on your house, if you can not - educate yourself: ask CHAT GPT (or "google" - why do I need trickle vents. If you are not convinced - ask and insist to ChatGPT "I can not sleep due to drunkards passing my window at night", "there are trucks passing on the motorway/highway all night", "I feel draft", "my heating bills are beyond my financial means that I have", "I either heat or eat". Pleople, I can hear you and see validity in your comments. Please please please - see bigger picture (and I do not suggest to use put airpods - it is not good for your health and you want to be part of your house/family too). If you possibly can - to avid noise consider moving bedroom to room facing garden ... etc etc. Just don't take any smart-looking advices without proper considartion. Each day (and particlarly night) where your brain and body breaths in air with more than 1000ppm of CO2 is causing you to go downhill. (Mind extracting excess vapour from kitchen and bathroom WHENEVER you use them →→ search why and how important that is!).
Here are general guidelines for CO2 levels:
Normal outdoor levels: Approximately 400 ppm.
Acceptable indoor levels: Typically below 1,000 ppm.
Ventilation standards: Some standards recommend maintaining CO2 levels below 800 ppm or even lower in certain settings.