Trickle Vents

What are trickle vents?     A Trickle vent is a very small opening in a window to allow small amounts of ventilation in spaces. Trickle vents are used extensively in the UK and Europe integrated into window frames to provide minimum ventilation requirements for naturally ventilated spaces. Trickle vents are often put into new upvc window frames, but can also be fitted into older frames which are already fitted in your home.

What problems could trickle vents help with?    Trickle vents will help to avoid problems associated with poor ventilation such as condensation, and could also help to cut down on draughts in areas which may actually be over ventilated.

Will trickle vents fit my old upvc windows?    Yes, trickle vents can easily be fit to older style windows.

Will trickle vents not make it more draughty, or even noisy on a windy day?    Trickle vents tend not to make it more draughty than usual, on very windy days you may feel some difference. Trickle vents are closeable if required using a little flap on the canopy inside

To vent or not to vent?

Condensation - It’s a problem that we get asked about regularly, especially at this time of year as the outside temperature drops and we all reach for the heating controls.

So what is condensation?

Very simply - Condensation occurs when moist air comes into contact with air, or a surface, which is at a lower temperature.

We have been told that we must insulate our homes to save the polar bears, so we have now insulated our homes so much that we have not left escape routes for the warm, moist air. So it settles on the coldest parts such as window panes and creates those annoying misty, wet patches. Disturbingly condensation can also settle in places where it can’t be seen and the first sign of a problem may be mould or rotting.

How do we get round this?

The first and simplest step to start with is ventilation – we need to create an escape route for the moisture. This doesn’t mean that all the warmth you’ve paid for needs to escape, you just need to find a balance and you could do this by fitting trickle vents to your existing double glazing window frames.

Trickle Vents do as they say …. they let a small amount of air trickle through allowing moisture to escape and fresh air to come in. This can also help prevent that stuffy head feeling that can occur when the central heating is on so its good for your health as well as your home.

Fitting trickle vents to existing window frames is quite a simple job for someone with a decent standard of DIY and patience – its not a job to be rushed.

Handles and Hinges have trickle vents available in White Brown and Tan in various sizes. Click here to see the range: Trickle Vents Range.

There are many factors involved in the causes and solutions to condensation which can be very in depth, and a good article outlining many factors can be seen here http://www.diydata.com/problem/condensation/condensation.php