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Excessive cold air from air vent

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  • 18-10-2020 10:17am
    #1
    masterboy123
    Registered Users Posts: 5,716 ✭✭✭


    We bought a new home with A3 energy rating. But the air vent in bedroom is providing cold air in excess at night, to an extent that I can feel the air gusts on my skull and it's very uncomfortable.

    Builder says he can't block the air vents. Is there an alternative option to solve this issue? Any advice?

    My neighbour has put up duct tape covering half of the vent. But it doesn't look great aesthetically.

    Please see attached image of air vent:

    20201018-101127.jpg


«1

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    #2
    Biker1
    Registered Users Posts: 369 ✭✭Biker1


    Anti draught vents are widely available and should do the trick. Because this is your only means of ventilation under no circumstances should you restrict the airflow like your neighbour did.


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    #3
    masterboy123
    Registered Users Posts: 5,716 ✭✭✭masterboy123


    Thanks for the tip.

    I will check it out now.

    Is it DIY job?
    Biker1 wrote: »
    Anti draught vents are widely available and should do the trick. Because this is your only means of ventilation under no circumstances should you restrict the airflow like your neighbour did.


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    #4
    Yellow_Fern
    Registered Users Posts: 2,570 ✭✭✭Yellow_Fern


    The vent is there incase you close the windows. In other countries such vents are not needed as people are aware of the importance of opening the windows daily.


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    #5
    Water John
    Registered Users Posts: 21,113 ✭✭✭✭Water John


    These heat exchange vents have been mentioned in another thread. I have no experience of them but it's an interesting option. It's a heat exchanger. Beware it requires a 6 inch vent.
    https://www.google.com/search?q=suedwind%3A+ambientika+solo&oq=s&aqs=chrome.2.69i57j69i59l3j46i131i199i291i433j0i131i433j46i131i199i291i433j0i271.3140j0j15&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

    https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057496673&page=5


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    #6
    con747
    Registered Users Posts: 5,764 ✭✭✭con747


    masterboy123 wrote: »
    We bought a new home with A3 energy rating. But the air vent in bedroom is providing cold air in excess at night, to an extent that I can feel the air gusts on my skull and it's very uncomfortable.

    Builder says he can't block the air vents. Is there an alternative option to solve this issue? Any advice?

    My neighbour has put up duct tape covering half of the vent. But it doesn't look great aesthetically.

    Please see attached image of air vent:

    20201018-101127.jpg

    Put something like this in, if your handy with diy should be easy enough. Just measure the dimensions on the hole. https://www.goodwins.ie/products/anti-draught-black-hole-ventilator-bm725-white-outer-cowl-3461399.html?filter_set[]=1413,1453,1497

    Don't expect anything from life, just be grateful to be alive.



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    #7
    masterboy123
    Registered Users Posts: 5,716 ✭✭✭masterboy123


    300€ looks expensive to me plus installation cost
    Water John wrote: »
    These heat exchange vents have been mentioned in another thread. I have no experience of them but it's an interesting option. It's a heat exchanger. Beware it requires a 6 inch vent.
    https://www.google.com/search?q=suedwind%3A+ambientika+solo&oq=s&aqs=chrome.2.69i57j69i59l3j46i131i199i291i433j0i131i433j46i131i199i291i433j0i271.3140j0j15&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

    https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057496673&page=5


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    #8
    masterboy123
    Registered Users Posts: 5,716 ✭✭✭masterboy123


    Will this effect the BER rating?

    I will check if there is a 6 inch hole in the wall.
    con747 wrote: »
    Put something like this in, if your handy with diy should be easy enough. Just measure the dimensions on the hole. https://www.goodwins.ie/products/anti-draught-black-hole-ventilator-bm725-white-outer-cowl-3461399.html?filter_set[]=1413,1453,1497


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    #9
    Telly
    Registered Users Posts: 520 ✭✭✭Telly


    Is it just the inside vent? We have one of these and close the shutter in the winter. We got them in B&Q for a tenner yrs ago.


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    #10
    sydthebeat
    Subscribers Posts: 40,981 ✭✭✭✭sydthebeat


    masterboy123 wrote: »
    Will this effect the BER rating?

    I will check if there is a 6 inch hole in the wall.

    From a BER point of view, If it's closeable it doesn't count and your BER improves.

    If it's non closeable it counts as ventilation losses


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    #11
    masterboy123
    Registered Users Posts: 5,716 ✭✭✭masterboy123


    This looks good and cheap option. I wonder if this will cause development of mould?
    Telly wrote: »
    Is it just the inside vent? We have one of these and close the shutter in the winter. We got them in B&Q for a tenner yrs ago.


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    #12
    steamsey
    Registered Users Posts: 686 ✭✭✭steamsey


    You cold try the internal close-able vent. Close when windy or very cold. But probably a good idea in an A3 home to open very regularly to refresh air.

    You could also try a DR21 external draught reducing vent cover. Pretty easy to install if you can get to external vent.

    Two threads on them here. They work.

    Not much point in having an A3 house if cold air is blasting in all winter.

    https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057939173

    https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=109987340


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    #13
    Water John
    Registered Users Posts: 21,113 ✭✭✭✭Water John


    The item I put up would be a Heat Recovery gizmo. Houses that are A3 should have a full heat recovery ventilation system. That costs €5/6K.


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    #14
    Telly
    Registered Users Posts: 520 ✭✭✭Telly


    masterboy123 wrote: »
    This looks good and cheap option. I wonder if this will cause development of mould?

    We’ve had these years and not a sign of mould


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    #15
    KungPao
    Registered Users Posts: 4,781 ✭✭✭KungPao


    Water John wrote: »
    These heat exchange vents have been mentioned in another thread. I have no experience of them but it's an interesting option. It's a heat exchanger. Beware it requires a 6 inch vent.
    https://www.google.com/search?q=suedwind%3A+ambientika+solo&oq=s&aqs=chrome.2.69i57j69i59l3j46i131i199i291i433j0i131i433j46i131i199i291i433j0i271.3140j0j15&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

    https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057496673&page=5
    Does anyone have an idea of how much one of these would cost inc installation (hole needs drilling)?

    We will be getting new windows (planning to lose the trickle vents) so will need ventilation. Would be very interested in a few of these - maybe just downstairs.

    Would love a proper ducted heat recovery sytem upstairs. A idea of price if you know would be super too. Cheers.


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    #16
    masterboy123
    Registered Users Posts: 5,716 ✭✭✭masterboy123


    I have checked the dimensions of our vents and it is 25 cm (width) x 17 cm (height).

    I can't seem to find this in local stores yesterday which were open.

    Any idea where I could find it?
    Telly wrote: »
    We’ve had these years and not a sign of mould


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    #17
    downwesht
    Registered Users Posts: 526 ✭✭✭downwesht


    Turn the vent upside down,you will have the same ventilation but the draught will be directed towards the ceiling,I did this and it worked.


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    #18
    Water John
    Registered Users Posts: 21,113 ✭✭✭✭Water John


    KungPao wrote: »
    Does anyone have an idea of how much one of these would cost inc installation (hole needs drilling)?

    We will be getting new windows (planning to lose the trickle vents) so will need ventilation. Would be very interested in a few of these - maybe just downstairs.

    Would love a proper ducted heat recovery sytem upstairs. A idea of price if you know would be super too. Cheers.

    Don't know, Probably have to get the units yourself and then having a handyman to install, if you can find one. Reaming a 5 or 6 inch hole doesn't qualify as fun.
    If you're looking at a MHRV system for upstairs it would make sense to make it whole house, usually €5/6K. Really only necessary and worthwhile where a building is well sealed.


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    #19
    KungPao
    Registered Users Posts: 4,781 ✭✭✭KungPao


    Water John wrote: »
    Don't know, Probably have to get the units yourself and then having a handyman to install, if you can find one. Reaming a 5 or 6 inch hole doesn't qualify as fun.
    If you're looking at a MHRV system for upstairs it would make sense to make it whole house, usually €5/6K. Really only necessary and worthwhile where a building is well sealed.
    Cheers.


    Yeah, I had to drill, drill, and drill again, then bash through recently for a kitchen extractor - definitely not fun, hoping to avoid having to do it again. Handyman probably for the best.


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    #20
    homewardbound11
    Registered Users Posts: 893 ✭✭✭homewardbound11


    The BER specialists will know this here but is it even possible to get a BER of A3 without controlled ventilation?


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    #21
    Biker1
    Registered Users Posts: 369 ✭✭Biker1


    Not only is it possible to achieve an A3 with natural ventilation it is acceptable in the 2019 reg's. Utter madness!!


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    #22
    sydthebeat
    Subscribers Posts: 40,981 ✭✭✭✭sydthebeat


    Biker1 wrote: »
    Not only is it possible to achieve an A3 with natural ventilation it is acceptable in the 2019 reg's. Utter madness!!

    2019 regs are bringing ratings to A2

    And under tgd f 2019 every air tightness test that is less than 3 m3/hr/m2 requires MHRV.


  • Options
    #23
    TheChizler
    Registered Users Posts: 9,400 ✭✭✭TheChizler


    Water John wrote: »
    These heat exchange vents have been mentioned in another thread. I have no experience of them but it's an interesting option. It's a heat exchanger. Beware it requires a 6 inch vent.
    https://www.google.com/search?q=suedwind%3A+ambientika+solo&oq=s&aqs=chrome.2.69i57j69i59l3j46i131i199i291i433j0i131i433j46i131i199i291i433j0i271.3140j0j15&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

    https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057496673&page=5
    I was thinking these sounded great but something was niggling at me, I just realized they might have a fundamental flaw. These work by extracting air at say 17 litres/s for 70 seconds, with the heat from the air accumulating in the ceramic, then reversing the flow for another 70 seconds, dumping the stored heat into the house in the fresh air, most of the heat is recovered. Sounds great.

    Until you realize that the 1190 litres of stale air extracted has to be immediately replaced with air from somewhere else: leaks elsewhere in the house. The same is true when the flow is reversed and 1190 litres of fresh air pumped into the house has the displace the same amount, which is pushed out though those same leaks. So effectively you have this heat exchanger, which is theoretically 96% efficient in its own right, alternatively causing the same amount of warm air elsewhere to be dumped directly outside, and cold air drawn in. Is this any better than a basic extractor fan? Maybe it only loses half the heat as a normal fan?


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    #24
    Water John
    Registered Users Posts: 21,113 ✭✭✭✭Water John


    You raise a very pertinent point. It's a cheapish solution to a problem. Possibly a second basic vent in a cool part of the house.

    OP that's a very large vent? In old money that's 10 inch by 6.5 inches.


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    #25
    un5byh7sqpd2x0
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,862 ✭✭✭un5byh7sqpd2x0


    Water John wrote: »
    You raise a very pertinent point. It's a cheapish solution to a problem. Possibly a second basic vent in a cool part of the house.

    OP that's a very large vent? In old money that's 10 inch by 6.5 inches.

    I'd suspect those are the dimensions of the vent cover.


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    #26
    masterboy123
    Registered Users Posts: 5,716 ✭✭✭masterboy123


    Vent cover is 25 cm (width) x 17 cm (height), which is almost the same in inches that you have posted.

    Water John wrote: »
    You raise a very pertinent point. It's a cheapish solution to a problem. Possibly a second basic vent in a cool part of the house.

    OP that's a very large vent? In old money that's 10 inch by 6.5 inches.


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    #27
    FitzElla
    Registered Users Posts: 126 ✭✭FitzElla


    I posted another thread on a similar problem. It is a little frustrating to find an A3 house that is super air tight and insulated and then find vents (aka big holes in the wall) everywhere as acceptable ventilation.

    Has anyone retrofitted MHRV have an idea of cost? Would it be possible to re-use the existing MEV extract ducting? Would only mean having to put in the supply side which would be mostly upstairs.


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    #28
    TheChizler
    Registered Users Posts: 9,400 ✭✭✭TheChizler


    FitzElla wrote: »
    Has anyone retrofitted MHRV have an idea of cost? Would it be possible to re-use the existing MEV extract ducting? Would only mean having to put in the supply side which would be mostly upstairs.
    Tangent to the conversation but I wonder would it be possible to install ducting through a disused chimney flue? In my house that would allow direct ventilation to every room without any visible ducting.


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    #29
    un5byh7sqpd2x0
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,862 ✭✭✭un5byh7sqpd2x0


    I've exactly the same problem as the OP, also in an A3 house. My house came with the "hit & miss" vent covers internally which are as useful as a chocolate teapot when closed as the draft (and the light & noise) still comes in through them.


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    #30
    masterboy123
    Registered Users Posts: 5,716 ✭✭✭masterboy123


    Our vents do not even have the options to cover it.

    I am searching online if I can get a cover slider if at all possible?

    Thank you all.
    Athena Quiet Sandalwood wrote: »
    I've exactly the same problem as the OP, also in an A3 house. My house came with the "hit & miss" vent covers internally which are as useful as a chocolate teapot when closed as the draft (and the light & noise) still comes in through them.


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    #31
    listermint
    Registered Users Posts: 33,613 ✭✭✭✭listermint


    Just get the square covers which push the air out to the sides the direct it correctly flat to the wall rather than out on you. Your measuring in wrong btw. Measure just the pipe diameter that's what your covering should be 110mm. Take off old vent fit new. Paint wall around.


    Also tell your neighbour to take his tape off. He will get mould in his bedroom. That's not where you want it .


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