Vents - open or closed

from_atozinc · 12-01-2016 08:51PM #1

Hi

I have vents like in attached pic in rooms around the house.

I presume they are meant to be left open, but if that is the case, why is there the option to close them also ?

What is the purpose of these vents ?

martinr5232 · 12-01-2016 09:05PM

Yes they should be left open they are to keep fresh air circulating.
If air is not circulating you could get mould and damp.

from_atozinc · 12-01-2016 09:10PM

martinr5232 wrote: »

Yes they should be left open they are to keep fresh air circulating.
If air is not circulating you could get mould and damp.

Thanks. Was wondering should I leave them open.

Reason I'm asking is cause whatever smell is in kitchen, food cooking, burnt food etc seems to circulate all around the bloody house. It's a big enough 2 storey house so I was guessing the smell must be via the vents. So I was thinking of closing some of them.

Or maybe it's another issue.

gutteruu · 12-01-2016 09:32PM

Without vents in a room with a fire, there is a risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. I close mine half way in winter but rooms with a fire I leave fully open.

GM228 · 12-01-2016 09:34PM

I assume the same applies to vents built into modern windows also as I have both types. I do have mine open but still get mould around some windows.

martinr5232 · 12-01-2016 10:31PM

from_atozinc wrote:

Reason I'm asking is cause whatever smell is in kitchen, food cooking, burnt food etc seems to circulate all around the bloody house. It's a big enough 2 storey house so I was guessing the smell must be via the vents. So I was thinking of closing some of them.

Sounds like the smells are getting into the cavity and circulating around the house.

Take the cover down and see is there a four inch pipe going between the inside vent cover and the outside one sounds to me like it hasnt been done.

from_atozinc · 12-01-2016 10:38PM

martinr5232 wrote: »

Sounds like the smells are getting into the cavity and circulating around the house.

Take the cover down and see is there a four inch pipe going between the inside vent cover and the outside one sounds to me like it hasnt been done.

Hi. Are you saying that the vent inside the house should have a corresponding vent on the outside of the house directly ilopposite and that they should be joined together via a pipe.

martinr5232 · 12-01-2016 10:40PM

from_atozinc wrote:

Hi. Are you saying that the vent inside the house should have a corresponding vent on the outside of the house directly ilopposite and that they should be joined together via a pipe.

Yeah thats exactly it they are supposed to let fresh air in from the outside.

from_atozinc · 12-01-2016 10:57PM

martinr5232 wrote: »

Yeah thats exactly it they are supposed to let fresh air in from the outside.

Ok thanks. And you think this corresponding vent may not be on the outside of the house at all and all the smells are flowing around within cavity with nowhere to escape - only to vents in other rooms.

Steve · 12-01-2016 11:09PM

How old is the house?

Does it / did it ever have a forced air heating system (usually vents in floor to supply air, walls to return it)?

Does it have a heat recovery system?

from_atozinc · 12-01-2016 11:25PM

Steve wrote: »

How old is the house?

Does it / did it ever have a forced air heating system (usually vents in floor to supply air, walls to return it)?

Does it have a heat recovery system?

Hi.

House is about 12 years old.

I'm not sure but I think the answer to both questions is NO.

Blazer · 12-01-2016 11:28PM

I close mine during the winter as they let in a ridiculous amount of air and the house would be freezing.
I have 3 nest alarms positioned around the house all interlinked and they are both smoke and carbon monoxide.
Fair enough in rooms with fire but seriously? in every room?

Steve · 12-01-2016 11:35PM

from_atozinc wrote: »

Hi.

House is about 12 years old.

I'm not sure but I think the answer to both questions is NO.

I'd say you are right for a 12 yo house.

Did you look to see if there was an external vent (on the wall outside) that corresponds to each internal one?

What about the 100mm pipe? is it there? Should be easy enough to take off a cover, normally just 4 screws - or even shine a torch through the vent you should see it.

It's possible the smells are just naturally percolating through the house and what you need is a better cooker hood - preferably one that vents to the outside.

Cocoon · 12-01-2016 11:42PM

Steve wrote: »

I'd say you are right for a 12 yo house.

Did you look to see if there was an external vent (on the wall outside) that corresponds to each internal one?

What about the 100mm pipe? is it there? Should be easy enough to take off a cover, normally just 4 screws - or even shine a torch through the vent you should see it.

It's possible the smells are just naturally percolating through the house and what you need is a better cooker hood - preferably one that vents to the outside.

That's interesting I have a 18 year old timber frame house, there definitely is no pipe connecting the two vents inside and outside. Should I rectify this?

from_atozinc · 12-01-2016 11:52PM

martinr5232 wrote: »

Sounds like the smells are getting into the cavity and circulating around the house.

Take the cover down and see is there a four inch pipe going between the inside vent cover and the outside one sounds to me like it hasnt been done.

If the 4 inch pipe is not there......... Is that an over sight or cutting corners exercise / laziness by the builder ?

from_atozinc · 13-01-2016 12:00AM

Steve wrote: »

I'd say you are right for a 12 yo house.

Did you look to see if there was an external vent (on the wall outside) that corresponds to each internal one?

What about the 100mm pipe? is it there? Should be easy enough to take off a cover, normally just 4 screws - or even shine a torch through the vent you should see it.

It's possible the smells are just naturally percolating through the house and what you need is a better cooker hood - preferably one that vents to the outside.

I will look at these things tomorrow evening - thank you.

Even today in kitchen, I kinda cleaned the wood pellet stove and there was a smell of ashes and this smell seemed to go all over the house. So nothing to do with cooker and cooking and extraction fans etc.

Steve · 13-01-2016 12:03AM

I'm no expert on this - all I know is how my own house is built, I've added some outside vents myself for a tumble dryer and a hood. I looked at how the other vents were done and there is a pipe in all of them.

Basically, from inside to out, the walls are made from:
Plasterboard -> plastic damp proof membrane -> insulation -> cavity block -> render.

The theory is you don't let warm moist air into the insulation layer or it will condense on the cold side and that will cause mould to start growing and cause 'damp smells'.
The pipe is supposed to allow air in / out without contacting the brick or insulation.

@ Cocoon, I'm not familiar with timber frame construction but would imagine the same principle applies. Maybe someone with more experience could answer that.

from_atozinc · 13-01-2016 12:09AM

I had a quick look at the vent there with a flash lamp with lights turned off but I just cannot properly see in. The mesh is too fine.

Also, typical, the vent is not screwed in. It seems to be hammered in to the wall with 4 nails.

Steve · 13-01-2016 12:15AM

Welcome to the 'boom' builders houses..

Behind some of my vents, I found the remains of the plasterboard where they had created the hole with a few hits of a hammer..

martinr5232 · 13-01-2016 12:16AM

from_atozinc wrote:

If the 4 inch pipe is not there......... Is that an over sight or cutting corners exercise / laziness by the builder ?

Seen as its a 12 year old house anything is possible.
I seen a house before with vent covers stuck to the walls but no holes in the walls to vent.

from_atozinc · 13-01-2016 08:46AM

martinr5232 wrote: »

Seen as its a 12 year old house anything is possible.
I seen a house before with vent covers stuck to the walls but no holes in the walls to vent.

Christ, that's basic !

jonon9 · 13-01-2016 06:36PM

martinr5232 wrote: »

Seen as its a 12 year old house anything is possible.
I seen a house before with vent covers stuck to the walls but no holes in the walls to vent.

Iv see that as well, years ago I rented an apartment in this newly built complex and I noticed the vents were glued to the wall and no actual vent holes.

jca · 13-01-2016 06:40PM

martinr5232 wrote: »

Seen as its a 12 year old house anything is possible.
I seen a house before with vent covers stuck to the walls but no holes in the walls to vent.

That's the best system, keeps the house warm:D

the_pen_turner · 17-01-2016 04:20PM

iv seen dummy vents before. basically a homeowner didn't want to do the work before selling or renting and just cheated.

make sure that there is a pipe . the pipe is the mist important part after the holes.
it prevents air getting in to and out of the cavity. also the pipe should be sealed to the wall around it with foam or silicone
make sure there is a fall out on the pipe so that any condensation will flow out and not in.

Vents - open or closed

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