My most read post of ALL TIME on this website is a little post I wrote all the way back in 2009 and was an open letter for the attention of Tyson Anderson about trickle vents. Apparently they’re not that boring after all. It’s also probably partly due to some decent SEO results for that post. Regardless, since it was published six years ago it has attracted 26 comments. I can’t say that they’re all that positive.
Click to read original post
“Squeezing Silicone Gunge”
Check out the latest comment to be left on that original post by Hannah Reynolds:
It’s been very enlightening to read all these posts about trickle vents, as 6 months ago I had to have new windows and trickle vents after replacing my 28year old windows that the seals on the glass were broken. I live on a busy road which lorries and buses use all the time. Had my installer out to see what I have to put up with, even had the MD of the company up to see my noise and wind problem. I have been robbed off with: “well why did you ask for them?” When I told him it’s was his salesman extolling the virtues of trickle vents I thought that after 28yrs these must be an improvement. So here I am with the problems all previous posters have written and have added myself to the list. I told my window fitter and his boss that For winter I WILL BE SQUEEZING SILICONE GUNGE INTO THE 5 vents in the front of my house and in Spring they will be removed completely and faced with a uPVC strip to cover both inside and out. Glad I read these posts as I felt It was just me.
If you read the rest of the original post, plenty of the comments left by home owners are along the same lines as this one. The one thing I can gather from these comments is that above all else, the problem lies with noise and wind.
The very nature and design of trickle vents mean that air will ventilate through them, something that many home owners do not want, when you consider that many change their windows to keep as much heat inside as possible.
For those involved in the production and sales of them, and those involved with building control, they will say that they’re a good thing for background ventilation. The building is better ventilated and there is an obvious benefit for people’s health. Home owners will reply and say that if they want ventilation they will open a window and get it that way. No noise. No drafts. The energy efficient window doing it’s job and no heat being let out unnecessarily.
Where they’re required
There are of course circumstances where trickle vents are required by law:
- on new windows where the existing windows being removed currently have them
- on windows being installed into an extension
- on windows being installed into a new-build home
These are probably the three best known scenarios where trickle vents are absolutely needed. No ifs, no buts. And when these are explained to home owners, in my experience almost all are prepared to accept that, although many times I’m told they will stay shut!
Could the requirement for trickle vents be expanded? Well, it’s been attempted before on previous building regulation updates, but was met with strong resistance. The previous plan was to have all replacement windows fitted with them, regardless of whether the old windows had them or not. This never came to pass, and in reality, may not happen for quite a few years to come.
Home owners are unequivocal, they do not like them. I can’t see that attitude changing any time soon, no matter what argument
I have trickle vents on my windows in the new extension due to building regs. Now I like the idea that because the windows and sealing tapes are so efficient I need ventilation to prevent a damp, condensation rich room, so I support the idea of having them. My problem is the actual vents themselves are so low grade and poor quality in their assembly they don’t work. If someone out there invests some time and effort to make the opening and closing action as efficient and smooth somewhere close to the windows themselves I reckon they would switch to… Read more »
As a trickle vent manufacturer I am pleased that the products are at least being discussed, albeit positive or negative,this can only be of long term benefit by improving customer knowledge and education. I can however reassure the Sheffield foundry Guy that the new products on the market from Glazpart address any concerns on an improved action. I would also like to invite Hannah Reynolds and the DGB to our stand (hall 2, 263) at the Fitshow 2016 where we will be able to demonstrate the issues related to wind and noise and how to solve them with a trickle… Read more »
Dean, thanks for your comment. I’ll be there at your stand, hope you’ll have plenty of coffee to go round!
Dean, I’ll be on stand 312 at FitShow so if you if you can help me with mine please pop over and say hello
We have a new build property near Carlisle – built 4 years ago by Story Homes and uPVC double glazed windows with trickle vents supplied by World Group in Carlisle. The rear of our property faces south across a slightly rising field and hill. So when the prevailing south west wind blows strongly in winter, the trickle vents leak and cause draughts even when closed. So we duly report this to the builder and said the trickle vents were not fit for purpose: If the double glazed windows cause no draughts when closed then the same should be true for… Read more »
I’m absolutely staggered by the self-righteous indignation exhibited on this subject by people who know nothing about it – as demonstrated not only on this site and on this thread but on this subject (and others to do with human welfare) across the UK. Millions of pounds are spent by the UK government every year in its attempt to improve residential building quality and safety – viz. to improve our living conditions – and yet disgruntled homeowners and jobbing builders and so called ‘professional’ double glazing purveyors still refute their government’s considered and researched and investigated attempt to help them… Read more »
I do not want and will not buy double glazing with trickle vents, you can do what you want! If you are stupid enough to install trickle vents then that is your look out, I however have installed heat reclaim ventilation, a much , much better option with full control, stick your vents somewhere dark and damp!
I believe in good manners and kindness, trying to explain something to people while calling them morons, idiots and implying they have no idea what they are talking about is a bullying behaviour of a problematic, egotistical, self absorbed individual. When people ventilate their homes by opening windows they choose the time of day that they feel comfortable dealing with a bit of extra noise, cold, wind etc, not everyone wants to sleep when a draught or cold or extreme noise is allowed to come in at all times. A lot of people are light sleepers, they want to maintain… Read more »
Trickle vents.
My issue is the fact that the once sealed A rated frame now has a large hole with exposed opening to the outside world!!! allowing cold air to enter part of the frame.
surely the A rating has been compromised.
Sorry to correct you BUT, it is NOT a Building Regulation requirement to install TRICKLE VENTS in replacement windows, EVEN when the existing windows have them. It IS a requirement to consider and provide BACKGROUND ventilation, (which can be achieved by trickle vents) but the regulations state that providing the “window designer” demonstrates that any alternative solution provides: Background ventilation which is adjustable, direct to the outside air, keeping the window “relatively secure” and is over 1.7m from the floor height, then alternative means of back ground ventilation will be permitted. in the case of sash windows this is achieved… Read more »
Alan – have a situation as you described where we have replaced windows with t.v’s but didn’t put tv’s back as the new windows can be securely locked in the ajar position….an architect described that tv’s are “one of the options for back ground ventilation” — be interested to know if you can refer to any “legal” notice etc Thankyou