Best type of ventilation for my property - and costs

Zudecke · Post by **Zudecke** » Sat May 06, 2023 7:20 am

Hi

We have the ground floor if a terraced house in London, which doesn't have any proper ventilation beyond one air vent under the floorboards.

I'm wondering what might be the best + affordable ventilation system for the property (in all 4 rooms) with as little property disruption as possible.

We're bawsd in London, so have to factor any London premium for such work.

Many thanks

Z

aeromech3 · Post by **aeromech3** » Sat May 06, 2023 8:14 am

What windows do you have?
What heating or is there a gas or open fire.
Most double glaze units now have trickle vents at the top, and do you have a mould / damp problem which is why you are asking?

Zudecke · Post by **Zudecke** » Sat May 06, 2023 8:19 am

aeromech3 wrote: ↑Sat May 06, 2023 8:14 am What windows do you have?
What heating or is there a gas or open fire.
Most double glaze units now have trickle vents at the top, and do you have a mould / damp problem which is why you are asking?

Hi and thanks for your reply!

We have a single glazed (very rotting) timber sash bay window.

We don't have a mould problem that I can see, but we do have a problem with extreme condensation buildups (in the morning for example), particularly in winter. There's just no ventilation whatsoever, so we resort to window opening and dehumidifiers for now.

As a side note, we are planning to replace the bay window with a double glazing version, with trickle vents in the bear future. However, I believe we should also seek ventilation points throughout the rest of the property too..

Neelix · Post by **Neelix** » Sat May 06, 2023 9:00 am

Do you have extractor fans which vent outside in the kitchen and bathroom?

big-all · Post by **big-all** » Sat May 06, 2023 9:06 am

you should not get any ventilation from a vent underfloor that shows a failure as its to vent the underfloor area
all rooms should be air tights to the outside world with windows heat and extraction used for excess moisture removal

Someone-Else · Post by **Someone-Else** » Sat May 06, 2023 10:07 am

big-all wrote: ↑Sat May 06, 2023 9:06 amyou should not get any ventilation from a vent underfloor that shows a failure as its to vent the underfloor area

I can't help but wonder is the floor vent because they have a gas fire in the same room* Donkeys years ago when I was small and the parents had central heating installed a floor vent was installed too, something to do with the regulations.

* Maybe installed when previous owners had central heating, who knows

Zudecke · Post by **Zudecke** » Sat May 06, 2023 10:32 am

Neelix wrote: ↑Sat May 06, 2023 9:00 am Do you have extractor fans which vent outside in the kitchen and bathroom?

No, we only have one extractor fan (electrical), inside the bathroom.

When I said we have an undeegorund vent, i mean it's under the step of the house's front door.. Maybe I misled you all with that comment!

For all I trenta and purposes, there are no plastic or air brick gents anywhere in the property.

Would photos help?

Someone-Else · Post by **Someone-Else** » Sat May 06, 2023 10:57 am

Zudecke wrote: ↑Sat May 06, 2023 8:19 am I believe we should also seek ventilation points throughout the rest of the property too..

I have to ask, why?
Would I be right in assuming you have seen something like a whole house ventilation system? (A central box with a fan, and ducting to rooms)
Even if you haven't been looking at such a thing, they all need something you have overlooked. They need a way for air to get into the house, so that may be your answer, you need a vent in each room.

Where I am we have DG for all windows, yes, they have trickle vents, but even so we still have 2 small windows open (To look at them you would think they are shut, they are open that little) If I were designing a house or doing a lot of alterations to this one, I would install through the wall to outside vents in every external walled room.

The vent brick by the front door will be to allow underfloor air flow. You should have similar at the back of the house.

Neelix · Post by **Neelix** » Sat May 06, 2023 12:57 pm

Zudecke wrote: ↑Sat May 06, 2023 10:32 am
Neelix wrote: ↑Sat May 06, 2023 9:00 am Do you have extractor fans which vent outside in the kitchen and bathroom?
No, we only have one extractor fan (electrical), inside the bathroom.

When I said we have an undeegorund vent, i mean it's under the step of the house's front door.. Maybe I misled you all with that comment!

For all I trenta and purposes, there are no plastic or air brick gents anywhere in the property.

Would photos help?

So opening windows is extremely important to ensure you have adequate ventilation all year round

Zudecke · Post by **Zudecke** » Sat May 06, 2023 1:03 pm

Yes, opening windows is good but not practical all the time right? Air vents are a thing and a consultant said we should get something

big-all · Post by **big-all** » Sat May 06, 2023 1:09 pm

ventilation is a very subjective thing
a house can have zero provisions for ventilation and the normal use will provide enough air movement to stop excess moisture and stale air being a problem
all you need do is tackle any problems as passively as possible
excessive ventilation can mean extra energy usage in heating and ventilation

Zudecke · Post by **Zudecke** » Sat May 06, 2023 1:12 pm

big-all wrote: ↑Sat May 06, 2023 1:09 pm ventilation is a very subjective thing
a house can have zero provisions for ventilation and the normal use will provide enough air movement to stop excess moisture and stale air being a problem
all you need do is tackle any problems as passively as possible
excessive ventilation can mean extra energy usage in heating and ventilation

As I mentioned though, we do have a problem with excessive condensation. We've been told airflor is a problem, but don't have anything scientific to share.

I'm told all property's need at least some ventilation. We have none..

big-all · Post by **big-all** » Sat May 06, 2023 1:18 pm

Zudecke wrote: ↑Sat May 06, 2023 1:03 pm Yes, opening windows is good but not practical all the time right? Air vents are a thing and a consultant said we should get something

consultant is no more no less than a person you speak to "consult with"
it only has any gravitas when actual qualifications tell you its not a 18 year old yts lad[government based pointless scheme youth training scheme] in his first week off learning
so treat his comments as a sales pitch until you know different

Zudecke · Post by **Zudecke** » Sat May 06, 2023 1:19 pm

big-all wrote: ↑Sat May 06, 2023 1:18 pm
Zudecke wrote: ↑Sat May 06, 2023 1:03 pm Yes, opening windows is good but not practical all the time right? Air vents are a thing and a consultant said we should get something
consultant is no more no less than a person you speak to "consult with"
it only has any gravitas when actual qualifications tell you its not a 18 year old yts lad in his first week off learning
so treat his comments as a sails pitch until you know different

So what would do if you were me?

big-all · Post by **big-all** » Sat May 06, 2023 1:25 pm

what are the problems you are trying to solve ???
is it damp??
is it stale air ??
or somthing else