covering up air vents
 

ok i know air vents are there for a reason but i've got one here that is making my living room freezing (especially being sat under it on the pc) its as if i've got a window open, is it ok to cover it up? :rolleyes:

Re: covering up air vents
 

When i covered mine with a piece of paper the british gas engineer told me off. Theyre there for a reason i got told and not to cover it up again. Which i havent done since.

Re: covering up air vents
 

:(

Re: covering up air vents
 

Never ever cover air vents up shaz, they are there for a reason, if under floor it they stop things like Dry Rot, which believe me is a very expensive exercise to get rid of

Re: covering up air vents
 

Do NOT block them if you have a gas or solid fuel fire

Re: covering up air vents
 

My windows have 'trickle vents' - some can be shut and some can't.
The ones that can't, I blocked with polystyrene foam.
I choose the time when windows are open for an air change -midday when the temp is at its best.
It is important to ventilate rooms that have gas appliances, because they use up oxygen in the burning.

If I was in your shoes I would block that vent - but ensure your own safety by changing the air in the room for half an hour every day - and get a carbon monoxide detector

Re: covering up air vents
 

Re: covering up air vents
 

Shaz, ask our resident gas engineer Derek and take his advice, the rest of us are only guessing.

I have no such vents anywhere in my old house but it is draughty enough anyway. The gas fire is never off during the day on the living room trying to combat the heat loss through the old original bay window.

Re: covering up air vents
 

people guessing or not, it aint rocket science- vent means ventilation simple as, block em means No Ventilation.:rolleyes:

Re: covering up air vents
 

right i have the vents in the windows too which seem to get stuck on 'open' not long after we had new windows put in so there is air constantly coming into and going out of the room....where's Derek when i need him? i won't block it till i know for sure that it will be safe

Re: covering up air vents
 

Until you find out for CERTAIN what It's purpose is I would leave it open.I can't remember a case of people dying from an open vent.But a closed one that needs to be open is very dangerous and can be fatal.

Re: covering up air vents
 

cheers everyone

Re: covering up air vents
 

Many air bricks above floor level were installed to circulate air in the cavity.
After cavity wall insulation is installed, their purpose is gone.
They may well be needed if you never have the sense to open windows on a regular daily basis.
I sit here now at midday with all windows open.:D

Re: covering up air vents
 

They probably fitted windows with trickle vents as standard. You may find that they are sufficient and you don't need the other ones any more. Were your windows recently fitted?

Re: covering up air vents
 

about 6 years ago Neil

Re: covering up air vents
 

Until Derek is back off his Hol's
Ventilation requirements for Fireplaces, Stoves and gas fires

Re: covering up air vents
 

Or

Carbon Monoxide

Re: covering up air vents
 

Thank you for you're curiosity and being sensible enough to ask when bringing this subject up.
If because of it you have caused someone else on here to check their vent's and if blocked have cleared them, you might just have saved an innocent life.
:)

karma on it's way.

Re: covering up air vents
 

i won't say thanx because you may just bite my head off for saying it...but thanx anyway :)

Re: covering up air vents
 

Good find Less

That explains why my fire is 6.9KW, just below the need for a vent. I would guess a lot are under 7KW. I will say on your fire somewhere Shaz

Re: covering up air vents
 

just had a look at the fire Neil and i can't see anything

Re: covering up air vents
 

Mine is a pretend coal one and the rating plate is where the gas knob is. I am sure there will be a rating plate on it somewhere.

Re: covering up air vents
 

mine is one of the cheapo council (sorry 'Twin Valley') ones, i still can't find it, its been in for 6 years (they did the windows, doors and kitchen at the same time just as T.V where taking over) its a monstrosity, a few months after putting these fires in they decided the rest of Blackburn where getting the flat to the wall fires with nice fire surrounds and we where left with this crap

Re: covering up air vents
 

They should have left you with the instruction book for the fire. The info should be in that.

Re: covering up air vents
 

I think you will find there should be a plate easily visible on the fire, otherwise although only a technicality, it would be a reason for failing it, anyway our tame expert will know.:)

It is certainly the case when doing PAT testing on electrical/electronic equipment.

Re: covering up air vents
 

Less is right in what he says don,t cover them,be safe.

Re: covering up air vents
 

thanx for that Mallard

Re: covering up air vents
 

I have spoken to Flashy, there used to be a back boiler in the room, in which case it could be life threatening to block the vent up, as the replacement boiler was installed into the kitchen, and the current fire is less than 7 kw input, then in this instance it is safe to block up the vent, I am most impressed that Flashy had the sense to ask the question prior to blocking the vent, I happen upon blocked vents fairly regularly, and it is usually because the owners are experiencing nausea or the appliances are not working properly! If you have a vent in a room with a gas appliance please, for your own safety, DO NOT cover it up without taking advice from someone who is QUALIFIED to give that advice.
Trickle vents in windows are NOT to aid the burning of fossil fuels in appliances or grates, but to help prevent condensation.

Re: covering up air vents
 

Don't have air bricks or anything like that in my flat but have the vents in the windows which I have open 24/7.............which seems to work ok........when I was in my own house always had windows open to some degree as i have to have some fresh air flow or I cough my lungs up....so I think it's wise to have fresh air flowing through the house......

Re: covering up air vents
 

thanx for the phone call Derek, your a star ;)