Talk to me about trickle ventilation

[guilty100]

I'm ordering new aluminium windows later today, and I've been offered two options, one with, one without trickle vents. No cost difference. 1920s semi, with a modern extension to bang up-to-date regulations.

Do I want trickle vents or not?

The builder says the building is breathable and they make make it cold.

I had new double glazed PVC windows in a 1900 Victorian terrace and opted for trickle vents.

However, our are very rarely opened as the house breathes well (yours will too, most older houses breathe very well) and they create a really fucking noticeable draft.

It was extra cost and it was a real waste of money

So you can close them? And when you do there is no draught? That is good to know - I envisaged this opening that would let in freezing winds all winter!

My house breathes plenty. Way too much, in spite of my efforts to upgrade the insulation!

I’ve got them but mine is a 1980s built house and I find it can get a bit stuffy without them. It’s nice to have the option if there’s no difference in cost.

Yes you can have them open or closed

Tubby - yes, I'm thinking that if I'm not paying more (this is all part of a building quote that's already been put together) is there any downside? I am a bit worried about how they will look, but I'll just have to talk to the company about getting the sleekest option I can. I think they might be especially useful in the kitchen- I always seem to have clouds of steam in there (though I don't currently have proper extraction and will be putting this in as part of the work).

Yes, you can close them. Ours are always closed apart from our third bedroom which is never used and the kitchen which gets steamy and isn't used apart from at cooking times when it's hot anyway.

The drafts aren't like huge gusts of wind but if you're sitting under the vent or in the "direction" of the vent, you can feel the cold air coming through.

I don't think our windows look any worse with them on. They're just useless

at bella. I think mine will probably end up closed a fair bit of the winter!

I remember my parents having one of those air blocks you had to have because of a gas fire, and the draught that used to come through it was bone-chilling if you were in the way! It couldn't be closed either!

I don’t like them. In our last house they whistled and howled when it was windy and they never sealed shut properly and were always draughty. I prefer leaving the windows open slightly with the window locks locked.

there are plenty of people who moan about condensation. Trickle vents allow you to add ventilation without opening the window.

If you don't like air, you can close them.

I like air, and generally have the windows open a lot more than average - BUT my house is north-facing, has high ceilings, and we are in a very cold/rainy part of the UK. In deepest darkest winter it used to be absolutely baltic until I put on external wall insulation. I'm keen not to do anything that would reintroduce cold.

there are plenty of people who moan about condensation. Trickle vents allow you to add ventilation without opening the window

But if your house breathes well anyway, you shouldn't have this problem

If you don't like air, you can close them

Horrible, snippy thing to say. As you said, OP, you can open windows to let some air in and if the house breathes, it'll feel airy anyway.

*bellaHadid' I don't think PigletJohn is being snippy. He/she's just always straight to the point and the most helpful DIY expect on this forum! A legend on Mumsnet in general, saved many Mumsnetters from plumbing disasters over the years

I read it as a joke .

Both bella and pigletjohn have really helped me out here, and I'm grateful to both.

They certainly help with ventilation guilty but I don't think an older house will absolutely need it, that's usually because they are draughty. If your insulation has made the house very non-draughty (made up word) now, id get the vents. But insist on seeing a sample or at least a photo first. In winter: shut windows + heating + breathing + hot showers + hot cooking = condensation. You may want the option of open small vents rather than open windows at that point!