‘Trickle Vents’ in PVC Windows and Doors

[MoseSchrute]

We’ve just moved to a relatively new build house (20 years old) and all the windows have these useless trickle vents in them. Even when shut they allow a draft through an otherwise close window.

I understand that a house can’t be hermetically sealed shut but none of our previous houses had these. I will always open a window to air the house (much to DH dismay) daily but these vents feel pointless.

Any idea on how to temporarily seal them and also if the only way to get rid of them once and for all, is to change out all the windows?

I believe you can get just the vent replaced with a fitted strip that seals it. A decent UPVC fitter would be able to advise.

Thank you @BreadSaucery

I don't think you'd be allowed to replace the windows for ones without - they're required by building regs now afaik. I vaguely recall a conversation with a surveyor on the subject.

They do piss me off. Any sound insulation from the double glazing is lost because of those stupid things.

User is right we recently replaced our windows. One had trickle vents so we were forced to have trickle vents again in that window but not the others.

I was also used to just opening the windows everyday, albeit briefly in winter. It makes no sense to me either.

They are required to meet the current building regulations for trickle ventilation if you get rid of them you have to replace with a different source of low level constant ventilation or you are likely to have problems with condensation within your home. There are other solutions but they are the cheapest and easiest.
Older homes weren't required to have them as there were other sources of trickle ventilation (wall vents, draughts from less insulated and sealed construction)

Trickle vents only need to be on if the previous window on had them , if you are replacing a window that doesn’t have them on then the new one doesn’t need to have them .
New builds and extension windows will need to have them.
I’ve never seen a building inspector check one , but a bloke I’ve done some work for on a couple of houses has stuck them on before ( inside and out ) then removed them after final inspection 😀

You can unscrew the inside one off and fill the hole with silicone ( clear ) or expanding foam then screw it back on when dry . You will still have the ugly vent but it will be sealed from the draft and any sound that comes through them 👍

Silicone sealant as above.

That said the first thing I did when we moved here was add them to all the windows and for this house it was exactly the thing to do. The condensation and damp went more or less instantly, but we do live somewhere very quiet.

Thank you all wonderful people, that’s very helpful info. DH can’t work out how to pop them off without damaging them, but we can’t have another go. I’ll get some silicone sealant too

With the number of people who complain about mould, condensation and damp, I'd keep them.

Pigletjohn.

The voice of sanity in a mad world.

@PigletJohn Would you recommending changing them out to better vents, where they can be shut properly with draft but also still open them when required? Or would all trickle vents be this drafty, even when shut?

Send them to me, we’ve none in our bathroom or DDs room and guess what, condensation and mould.

Although if your house is fairly new it should be able to breathe properly without them.

@YesPleaseMary that's an incorrect assumption newer houses are more airtight due to higher levels of insulation so require trickle vents or another background ventilation source like MHRV to ventilate the space and remove condensation.
All houses have moisture in them just due to being occupied by people who breathe, wash and cook. The better you insulate it the less your house can breathe so it gets trapped and causes issues.
Better insulation also needs proper ventilation to work properly.
This is why they or another source of background ventilation is a now a requirement for new windows.

Poor insulation and ventilation can also cause condensation, it can be a tricky subject.

Ah I didn’t know that, thank you. We’ve got cavity wall insulation in our 1930s end terrace, which I think is causing our condensation problem despite air bricks in the walls. Windows are opened every morning after I’ve hoovered the water off them.

Whatever you do, don't try and tape over them! The previous owners of our house did this with some sort of clear tape (not sellotape) and the damp got under it so they were all mouldy! Was a bugger to get all the stickiness and mould stains off them.
Have replaced the wi does now, still have vents but they are different and not draughty when shut! Check if they can be replaced for another design.

Our tricle vents can be shut of you just move the plastic bit and seals shut
Our are always open though as dh sees a lot of condensation in houses as part of his job so insists
Plus our house is new build terrace and boiling hot always , we never have radiators other than towel rail
On upstairs

Thanks all, I wasn’t aware it being so complicated. I suppose I’ve never lived in such a ‘young’ house before.

I’m sorely tempted to seal our living room ones due to outside noise (not terrible noise, but would rather not hear it). Can’t decide if worth risk of condensation etc! It sounds like it’s be difficult to reverse.

One word of warning if you block / shut off trickle vents. When we moved into our house, one bedroom had issues with condensation and mould. Turns out the window had been installed by the cowboy builder upside down and he'd just switched handles over to cover up mistake / make it look right. Trickle vents were in the top of the window so useless! Got contracted out to fit window correctly and never been a problem since.

I would be very wary of sealing trickle vents, it could lead to problems down the line.

A hole at the bottom of the window is more likely a water-drain than a vent.

As said OP, you should be able to remove them from the inside & seal up the gap with Silicone if you want. You can always pick the silicone out again if you have condensation/air quality issues.

Like most regulations, they are mainly to the benefit of the worst case / lowest common denominator.
Only you know what sort of lifestyle you have, but the odds are high that if your property isn't overcrowded/your not drying washing in every room, & you occasionally open a window to air the place out, you will see no issues in blocking them up.

They are important to balance heat and ventilation to prevent condensation. Insulated cavities won’t be any good if glass in windows remain cold and the occupants breathe out hot air. There needs to be high quality double glazing, with trickle vents for the house to breathe.

Getting rid of trickle vents is pure folly. Over heating a house and sealing it is pure folly.

It's a building regs thing now.

I keep a hot house but even in the winter I always have one open trickle vent in the kitchen, bathroom and teens bedroom.