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Wall ventilation & BER Certificates & Gold Shield heating

  • 10-09-2009 10:01am
    #1
    chelseafc
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2 ✭


    Just after moving in to my rented apartment. Notice that all rooms, bedrooms, bathroom and kitchen / living space has ventilation built into the wall (grilles). On inspection of the vents in the bedrooms, I noticed that they were stuff with paper, so I went and removed the paper.

    So why did previous tennants block the vents, I understand they allow ventilation into the rooms, but they do not have the hit and miss grilles, which you can close, just permanent opening vents. The apartment is approx 12 years old.

    Also, still have not recieved a BER Certificate in relation to the apartment, the letting agent stated the land lord would provide this information. As I do not know too much about this thing only what friends tell me, what is the law / actual situation with BER.

    Oh, the apartment has electric Gold Shield Heating, I understand how the storage heaters works, but a bit unsure how the water heating works. Do I just set the switch to timer and leave on 24/7 or just switch on a night time so as to have hot water all day the following day.


Comments

  • #2
    gizmo555
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,948 ✭✭✭gizmo555


    chelseafc wrote: »
    So why did previous tennants block the vents, I understand they allow ventilation into the rooms, but they do not have the hit and miss grilles, which you can close, just permanent opening vents. The apartment is approx 12 years old.

    Presumably they found it too drafty, but the vents are there for a reason. Apartments built in recent years are notoriously prone to mould and mildew caused by lack of ventilation and condensation, especially if laundry is regularly being dried on a clothes horse. Maybe you could prevail on the landlord to fit closeable grilles, so you can reduce the ventilation in windy weather? Among the minimum legal standards for rental accomodation is adequate ventilation.
    chelseafc wrote: »
    Also, still have not recieved a BER Certificate in relation to the apartment, the letting agent stated the land lord would provide this information. As I do not know too much about this thing only what friends tell me, what is the law / actual situation with BER.

    Properties offered for rent or sale since Jan 1 this year must have a BER Cert. You are within your rights to ask for it. However, since the main purpose is to allow you to compare running costs of rental accomodation before deciding which to rent, I'm not sure how much benefit it will be to you now you've moved in.
    chelseafc wrote: »
    Do I just set the switch to timer and leave on 24/7 or just switch on a night time so as to have hot water all day the following day.

    If it's the typical Gold Shield home type control, when you set the switch to "timer" it will only heat overnight at the cheap rate. There will usually also be a "boost" control which will heat water at any time if you run out during the day.


  • #3
    Jimbo
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,379 ✭✭✭Jimbo


    As Gizmo said, ask for adjustable openings to be fitted to the vents.
    Its not very healthy to have them permanently closed.

    The BER rating on the apartment is likely to be very poor if both hot water and space heating is provided by electricity. This may be the reason why you haven't recieved one yet.


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