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Can I block up vents with expaning foam?

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Comments

  • #52
    FlipperThePriest
    Subscribers Posts: 693 ✭✭✭FlipperThePriest


    CoBo55 wrote: »
    More untrue assumptions, at least you didn't call me/us Trump supporters. 55% all day every day as reported by 3 hygrometers. The heating (oil) (outside burner) runs for 2.5 hours a day, no stoves or open fires. Yes, all my children are Vaccinated, I'll just nip that one in the bud. I have been in an Aeroplane so I know the earth is round.

    You must be the 1 out of 10 so. It still shouldn't be advised, because the other 9 won't be as wise to it. There's a reason why it's in the regulations. Not everyone bothers to keep an eye on these things or check humidity, and a lot of people were brought up in leaky houses and don't really see a difference.


  • #53
    CoBo55
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,315 ✭✭✭CoBo55


    listermint wrote: »
    You've brought me around with this one,

    It's totally amazing. The engineers and architects in Ireland have been doing it wrong all these years.

    Would you mind putting together a letter to the construction industry federation Ireland to tell them how vents are a con. They'd make a saving on the effort of leaving these slots open or core drilling. Win win all round

    They aren't a con, they need to be controllable, not a piece of cheap plastic stuck over a badly plastered wavin pipe, no core drilling in my house. When you shut a vent, it should be shut simple as that. I have closed mine permanently and used common sense to ventilate my home. People here need to realise the chasm that exists between the drawing board and the building site.


  • #54
    listermint
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 34,104 ✭✭✭✭listermint


    CoBo55 wrote: »
    They aren't a con, they need to be controllable, not a piece of cheap plastic stuck over a badly plastered wavin pipe, no core drilling in my house. When you shut a vent, it should be shut simple as that. I have closed mine permanently and used common sense to ventilate my home. People here need to realise the chasm that exists between the drawing board and the building site.

    There's also a massive chasm between saying il do something and doing it. That's closing or opening windows. Humans are incredibly infallible which is why these are designed around them.

    Note you can buy vent covers that do all of what your saying and more hence the point of this thread and the legitimate options given to the OP.

    No one has yet to dispute that vents in many new builds are poorly implemented due to cost.

    But the simple fact is , they are needed.


    The home owner can improve on them . Of course.


  • #55
    Melanchthon
    Registered Users Posts: 1,118 ✭✭✭Melanchthon


    MicktheMan wrote: »
    Interesting question that.
    Were the other places you lived colder in winter?
    We have a relatively moderate climate here (i.e. it doesn't really get cold in winter like it would in central or eastern Europe) so the "efficiency" of our ventilation systems is significantly lower than colder regions. This then means that it is more difficult here to rid the moisture from houses.

    Well one of them was canada so pretty cold alright, but anyway stayed in lots of airbnbs and stuff in various countries and none of them that I recall seem to go in for the Irish "lets punch a hole in the wall" approach.
    I see one poster has put up about testing your humidity to keep it below 60% which is interesting to see a figure given.

    I am curious about the air flow requirements and so on in terms of actual figures, because we see people claiming that it will be a disaster of black mold if vents are blocked but not giving the figures and thats counter to my lived experience (which is that heating and using a small dehumidifier in certain areas is more important, having got black mold in very draughty places and none in less vented ones, I do genuinely leave windows open for hours a day though as not particularly cold sensitive)


  • #56
    Iodine1
    Registered Users Posts: 380 ✭✭Iodine1


    listermint wrote: »

    Note you can buy vent covers that do all of what your saying and more hence the point of this thread and the legitimate options given to the OP.

    .

    Where can these alternatives be got? All I see in hardware stores are flimsy plastic which make no reduction in the gale blowing in on a windy night.


  • #57
    CoBo55
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,315 ✭✭✭CoBo55


    Iodine1 wrote: »
    Where can these alternatives be got? All I see in hardware stores are flimsy plastic which make no reduction in the gale blowing in on a windy night.

    Exactly. It'll probably be assumed we're too poor/stupid to buy them.


  • #58
    DublinDilbert
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,390 ✭✭✭DublinDilbert


    Iodine1 wrote: »
    Where can these alternatives be got? All I see in hardware stores are flimsy plastic which make no reduction in the gale blowing in on a windy night.

    I fitted 3 of these, they do reduce the cross section of the vent, but do work quite well:-

    https://www.goodwins.ie/products/anti-draught-black-hole-ventilator-bm725-brown-outer-cowl.html?name=vent&type=simple

    They are quite easy to fit, you can just pack around them with insulation to seal around the outside.

    I'd rather fit something like this than block a vent altogether.


  • #59
    PCros
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,078 ✭✭✭PCros


    DublinDilbert wrote: »
    I fitted 3 of these, they do reduce the cross section of the vent, but do work quite well:-

    https://www.goodwins.ie/products/anti-draught-black-hole-ventilator-bm725-brown-outer-cowl.html?name=vent&type=simple

    They are quite easy to fit, you can just pack around them with insulation to seal around the outside.

    I'd rather fit something like this than block a vent altogether.

    If applicable to yourself did you notice any reduction in street noise?


  • #60
    cletus
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,050 ✭✭✭cletus


    I was looking at something like the link above, but the outside vent for my sitting room is one of those steel ones, and it's set into the stone work around the front of the house. Is there some sort of internal baffle system that works? I'd like to reduce both sound and breeze


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  • #61
    DublinDilbert
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,390 ✭✭✭DublinDilbert


    PCros wrote: »
    If applicable to yourself did you notice any reduction in street noise?

    Yep it does cut it down a good bit, i'd notice the difference between the rooms that have them fitted and the ones that don't, in terms of noise.


  • #62
    DublinDilbert
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,390 ✭✭✭DublinDilbert


    cletus wrote: »
    I was looking at something like the link above, but the outside vent for my sitting room is one of those steel ones, and it's set into the stone work around the front of the house. Is there some sort of internal baffle system that works? I'd like to reduce both sound and breeze

    Leave the steel grill in place. The one which i've linked to above, should fit within the space of a single cavity block. It comes with an outer vent cover, but you don't have to use it.

    You can slide these into place from the inside, so don't remove the grill. Always put a light angle down to the outside so any water will run out. Your steel grill is probably about 8" wide, so you'll need to pack around this to stop wind/air traveling around it. You could probably pack in some sand and cement/concrete around it if you have room. I've also put rigid insulation to fill in the gap too, but maybe cover it in tin foil to stop it getting wet. Most builders skips will have a small amount of rigid foam insulation (foil backed stuff). You can also use a hand full of attic insulation on the room side to seal it in place.

    You could even get an off cut of plywood and make up an adapter with a hole in the middle of it to accept the core vent and fill in the reset of the space around the steel grill. Then some expanding foam or what ever you like.


  • #63
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 14,344 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    listermint wrote: »
    Like Twitter should this site start tagging posts with warning messages when they have no basis in factual evidence.

    Things like 'i know a few people' and 'no one needs'

    Its like sitting beside the lad in the pub going on about Fiats and Renaults.

    Depressing stuff all the same.

    Dam the experts. Sure why do they bother their arse putting these things on plans in the first place when KKV on boards says they arent needed.




    Right, sure who needs real-world experience when we can just read a fact-sheet.


    OP can sit in his cold house afraid that blocking a vent will kill his family, but anyone who posts otherwise is a moron from the pub. :)


  • #64
    listermint
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 34,104 ✭✭✭✭listermint


    [Deleted User] wrote: »
    Right, sure who needs real-world experience when we can just read a fact-sheet.


    OP can sit in his cold house afraid that blocking a vent will kill his family, but anyone who posts otherwise is a moron from the pub. :)

    How are you still going.

    Does it hurt ?


  • #65
    CoBo55
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,315 ✭✭✭CoBo55


    listermint wrote: »
    How are you still going.

    Does it hurt ?

    Is he not a Trump supporter?
    Anti-Vaxxer
    Flat earth supporter...


  • #66
    listermint
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 34,104 ✭✭✭✭listermint


    CoBo55 wrote: »
    Is he not a Trump supporter?
    Anti-Vaxxer
    Flat earth supporter...

    Probably most people that open threads the way he did and dispute years of engineering and architecture over thoughts and prayers tend to lean towards the science of trump.

    I thought you were writing to CIF Ireland to let them know how to save even more money. Owners can simply open their windows..jobs a goodun.


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  • #67
    CoBo55
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,315 ✭✭✭CoBo55


    listermint wrote: »
    Probably most people that open threads the way he did and dispute years of engineering and architecture over thoughts and prayers tend to lean towards the science of trump.

    I thought you were writing to CIF Ireland to let them know how to save even more money. Owners can simply open their windows..jobs a goodun.

    No no, It's me you called the Trump supporter not the op.
    I never said I was writing to the CIF, you told me to but I chose to ignore it as I don't think you're playing with a full deck.
    Any chance of a link to one of these fantastic controllable vents you claim exist outside the drawing office? I'd love to see one.


  • #68
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 14,344 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    listermint wrote: »
    How are you still going.

    Does it hurt ?


    I've never been better. No holes in my walls either. :)


  • #69
    RonaVirus
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 114 ✭✭RonaVirus


    Lumen wrote: »
    You're risking lung cancer from smoke inhalation.

    There's a good chance there's a chimney to go along with the stove so I'd say he's grand.

    I've one vent in my house, been closed since I bought the place and painted over. Nothing but a heat sink really.


  • #70
    Lumen
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 31,137 ✭✭✭✭Lumen


    RonaVirus wrote: »
    There's a good chance there's a chimney to go along with the stove so I'd say he's grand.
    There's no way you can know that without knowing at least the output of the stove and the air tightness of the building. The height of the chimney stack is also relevant.

    I can't believe that anyone who understands how stoves work would recommend running one in an unvented room.


  • #71
    Basq
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 44,029 ✭✭✭✭Basq


    Sorry to hijack this but seeing as this is a popular issue - can I install these shutter dampers (they do indicate they're more for extractor fans however) to prevent draughts? I have a solid fuel stove in my sitting room but the air vent is directly in line with our couch, so you can actually feel the draft coming in on top of us on the couch.

    I opened the vent and, apart from it being looking like someone literally punched a hole in the wall, it's essentially a 100mm PVC pipe going from outside vent to inside vent.

    So thoughts on reducing draught somehow? Thanks!


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  • #72
    listermint
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 34,104 ✭✭✭✭listermint


    Basq wrote: »
    Sorry to hijack this but seeing as this is a popular issue - can I install these shutter dampers (they do indicate they're more for extractor fans however) to prevent draughts? I have a solid fuel stove in my sitting room but the air vent is directly in line with our couch, so you can actually feel the draft coming in on top of us on the couch.

    I opened the vent and, apart from it being looking like someone literally punched a hole in the wall, it's essentially a 100mm PVC pipe going from outside vent to inside vent.

    So thoughts on reducing draught somehow? Thanks!

    No you are meant to have an open fixed vent with no sliders or obstructions on it for rooms with a stove installed.

    My advice would be in phoning up the original installer and see what they say. The answer will coincide with actual advice and not the dangerous information being proliferated in this thread which frankly should be tagged.

    Lives have quite literally been lost in this country messing around with ventilation where there's open fires and or gas fires.

    My relating a poster to trump supporter that I made earlier in this thread is because they tend to flood the space with waffle , nonsense and lies based on perceptions and not facts. They do this to push out other voices so that people will get frustrated and leave. It's a calling card.

    It shouldn't be allowed on the forum when we are dealing with peoples lungs and noxious gases.


  • #73
    listermint
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 34,104 ✭✭✭✭listermint


    RonaVirus wrote: »
    There's a good chance there's a chimney to go along with the stove so I'd say he's grand.

    I've one vent in my house, been closed since I bought the place and painted over. Nothing but a heat sink really.

    This poster goes through various threads throwing in one liners of contrasy advice they are especially fond of down playing the global pandemic amongst other subjects.

    They should be ignored completely on any issue of importance that involves the safety of your and or your family.

    Note their username .


  • #74
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    listermint wrote: »
    No you are meant to have an open fixed vent with no sliders or obstructions on it for rooms with a stove installed.

    My advice would be in phoning up the original installer and see what they say. The answer will coincide with actual advice and not the dangerous information being proliferated in this thread which frankly should be tagged.

    Lives have quite literally been lost in this country messing around with ventilation where there's open fires and or gas fires.

    My relating a poster to trump supporter that I made earlier in this thread is because they tend to flood the space with waffle , nonsense and lies based on perceptions and not facts. They do this to push out other voices so that people will get frustrated and leave. It's a calling card.

    It shouldn't be allowed on the forum when we are dealing with peoples lungs and noxious gases.

    No disputing the noxious gas element of your post.


  • #75
    CoBo55
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,315 ✭✭✭CoBo55


    listermint wrote: »
    No you are meant to have an open fixed vent with no sliders or obstructions on it for rooms with a stove installed.

    My advice would be in phoning up the original installer and see what they say. The answer will coincide with actual advice and not the dangerous information being proliferated in this thread which frankly should be tagged.

    Lives have quite literally been lost in this country messing around with ventilation where there's open fires and or gas fires.

    My relating a poster to trump supporter that I made earlier in this thread is because they tend to flood the space with waffle , nonsense and lies based on perceptions and not facts. They do this to push out other voices so that people will get frustrated and leave. It's a calling card.

    It shouldn't be allowed on the forum when we are dealing with peoples lungs and noxious gases.

    Are you actually reading what people are posting? I'm the one you called a Trump supporter, if you read what I posted you'll see I don't have any solid fuel appliances in my house. I never advised anyone with a stove to block the room vent, I think that would be foolhardy in the extreme. I've never heard of anyone being overcome by a water filled radiator yet which is what I have. Any sign of a link to one of those drawing board vents?


  • #76
    CoBo55
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,315 ✭✭✭CoBo55


    listermint wrote: »
    This poster goes through various threads throwing in one liners of contrasy advice they are especially fond of down playing the global pandemic amongst other subjects.

    They should be ignored completely on any issue of importance that involves the safety of your and or your family.

    Note their username .

    That is so childish.


  • #77
    listermint
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 34,104 ✭✭✭✭listermint


    CoBo55 wrote: »
    That is so childish.

    No whats irresponsible is telling people they can block up a vent in a room they have a fire in. This is off the back of that poster being genuinely just out for the jollys . Read the post history.

    Theres plenty of people on this forum here that provide years of personal and or industry experience to people with DIY queries. Then there is people like yourself if give anecdotes and push down real advice.

    I would love to see you sign some of this advice you give into a contract with any of the homeowners out there and see how long it lasts.

    Meanwhile other posters are telling people legitimately to follow guidelines and rules and regulations are there for a reason. Im in no doubt you wouldnt put your name to paper on your own advice.


  • #78
    chooseusername
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,858 ✭✭✭chooseusername


    Quote;

    Theres plenty of people on this forum here that provide years of personal and or industry experience to people with DIY queries.

    They are unlikely to engage in a thread like this.


  • #79
    listermint
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 34,104 ✭✭✭✭listermint


    chooseusername wrote: »
    Quote;

    Theres plenty of people on this forum here that provide years of personal and or industry experience to people with DIY queries.

    They are unlikely to engage in a thread like this.

    Its post like this that make people leave the forum altogether. Amongst a string of other awful advice. Enjoy the playground then.


  • #80
    CoBo55
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,315 ✭✭✭CoBo55


    listermint wrote: »
    No whats irresponsible is telling people they can block up a vent in a room they have a fire in. This is off the back of that poster being genuinely just out for the jollys . Read the post history.

    Theres plenty of people on this forum here that provide years of personal and or industry experience to people with DIY queries. Then there is people like yourself if give anecdotes and push down real advice.

    I would love to see you sign some of this advice you give into a contract with any of the homeowners out there and see how long it lasts.

    Meanwhile other posters are telling people legitimately to follow guidelines and rules and regulations are there for a reason. Im in no doubt you wouldnt put your name to paper on your own advice.

    I never told anyone to do anything, people aren't sheep. I said that I had blocked vents in my home, the same home that has an outside boiler and NO solid fuel appliances, as a consequence the house is much warmer. I'm not repeating myself forever to you. Any sign of those controllable vents?


  • #81
    chooseusername
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,858 ✭✭✭chooseusername


    listermint wrote: »
    Its post like this that make people leave the forum altogether. Amongst a string of other awful advice. Enjoy the playground then.
    Apologies ListerMint,
    my comment was not aimed specifically at you,
    more at how a genuine question becomes a battle of keyboard warriors.


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  • #82
    Xtrail14
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 253 ✭✭Xtrail14


    People are gone soft from going vegetarian and sitting on office chairs all day and eating Jamie Oliver vegan food.
    Leave the vents and man up.


  • #83
    RonaVirus
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 114 ✭✭RonaVirus


    Lumen wrote: »
    I can't believe that anyone who understands how stoves work would recommend running one in an unvented room.

    Every house I've been in has a stove and no vent in the same room, or any room.

    Unless you live in a passive house I wouldn't be worrying about vents.


  • #84
    kevin306
    Registered Users Posts: 183 ✭✭kevin306


    We have a stove installed in sitting room without any ventalaltion, and also cavity insulation on top of that. I was unaware of the risks associated with no vents as most households I've been in albeit not new builds have no vents in sitting room. Is this a costly exercise to install a vent in an old house (approx 60 years)?


  • #85
    Alkers
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,868 ✭✭✭Alkers


    kevin306 wrote: »
    We have a stove installed in sitting room without any ventalaltion, and also cavity insulation on top of that. I was unaware of the risks associated with no vents as most households I've been in albeit not new builds have no vents in sitting room. Is this a costly exercise to install a vent in an old house (approx 60 years)?

    No, should be about 100e for someone to core the hole for you, then add the cost of whatever vent you chose. Maybe more expensive if this is an upstairs room


  • #86
    kevin306
    Registered Users Posts: 183 ✭✭kevin306


    Alkers wrote: »
    No, should be about 100e for someone to core the hole for you, then add the cost of whatever vent you chose. Maybe more expensive if this is an upstairs room


    Great thanks, and is sitting room enough? Should each room in the house be ventilated?


  • #87
    FileNotFound
    Registered Users Posts: 2,004 ✭✭✭FileNotFound


    kevin306 wrote: »
    Great thanks, and is sitting room enough? Should each room in the house be ventilated?

    Definitely a vent in any room that has a source of combustion (gas cooker, stove, fire etc.). If its an old house its probably venting more than you wish in most rooms anyway unless you really sealed it.

    If you have an SDS drill you can get the wall bits in Lidl for less than 20 euro and reduce the installation cost by a bit of DIY. If not would be easier to get someone to come do the job, should be quite quick and straightforward.


  • #88
    dathi
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,410 ✭✭✭dathi


    RonaVirus wrote: »

    Unless you live in a passive house I wouldn't be worrying about vents.

    passive houses generally do not have hole in the wall vents as they are designed to have a mechanical heat recovery ventilation system installed to comply with the ventilation requirements set out in the building regulations


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