Trickle Vents

Mull3t

Mull3t

Mull3t

Soldato
Joined
13 May 2008
Posts
3,659
Location
Leicester
Hi All,
Moved into a new build back in a September and by law the windows have to have trickle vents. I find them more of a hinderence than anything and was wondering if anyone has any experience with ‘filling them’. Obviously I would want to not fill the mains ones such as kitchen or the bathrooms as could do without additional moisture building up whilst the house dries out.

I’ve looked at the vents and from what I can see no easy way to remove the vents so looks like I am going to have to fill them with something.

Would prefer not to be something permanent as who knows in a few years I may want to remove what ever I use to fill them with!

Main reason is I find even with them closed it still brings in a slight draft, not much but imagine it won’t be helping the energy of the house, but also because it is effective 2 ‘holes’ in each window I think it is letting in external noise.

Mixed opinions when you google the question so thought I’d ask the trusted OCUK lot!

Cheers
 
We moved into a new build at the beginning of November and we don't seem to have any issues with drafts or noise, and there's still lots of construction work going on around us so plenty of noise and as soon as the vents are closed it's practically silent, ours is a Persimmon home so I doubt they've picked anything but the cheapest as well.

I'd maybe get them checked or ask the developer before filling.
 
they are there for a purpose, especially in a new build.
You can upgrade them to acoustic trickle vents if you are worried about noise - filling them in is a bad idea imo
 
All new builds will be tested for air movement as part of the energy assessment and must meet a standard. The presence of a trickle vent will have a minimal effect on air movement let alone the impact on energy use even if there is a ‘draft’ when they’re closed.
 
Might be worth me uploading an image later, but the cover is very thin and I’m convinced it’s accounting for external noise as it doesn’t make a difference if closed or not.

When I say draft, it’s nothing major. Barely noticeable you can just feel a small amount of your finger is up close.
 
If the problem is noise (although in the op you mentioned drafts as the problem) do as the_r_sole suggested and put some acoustic vents on.
 
The trickle vents are super, super necessary.. the noise stops.. damp doesn't.. unless you want to be scrubbing black mold off your walls perpetually every 2-3 months, keep the trickle vents open.. Us humans breathe huge amounts of unseen water, add on washing, cooking and drying of clothes, you soon find the inside of your house is so humid, it's more like a jungle environment! It's not very noticeable, but to molds, it's perfect, nice and warm with moisture.. I know it seems stupid, but un-blocking the vents at the top of the room/windows allows the warm air from the heating to sweep this moisture out. It is part of the cycle, if you block the output expect problems..
 
I had this problem, mainly noise so what i did was to remove the vents and fill with expanding foam, once dry cut off any excess and re drill the holes for the vent but not going right to the edges as before sound was traveling around the hollow frame, my windows are now a lot quieter and vents still work.
 
Thebug said:
I had this problem, mainly noise so what i did was to remove the vents and fill with expanding foam, once dry cut off any excess and re drill the holes for the vent but not going right to the edges as before sound was traveling around the hollow frame, my windows are now a lot quieter and vents still work.
Click to expand...

Interesting. I've noticed more noise since we had some new bay windows fitted, whether the vents are open or closed. I may give that a try.
 
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