New Build - Noisy Vents

chops018 · 24-01-2023 11:48am #1

Hi all.

Bought a new build recently.

When it's windy the vents make noise. So the ones on the wall make a vibration sound and you can hear the flaps.

Bathroom vents, which have a fan, make a flapping/ticking sound during wind too.

Raised it with the builders. They said they were installed to regulations so nothing they can do. I said well would you be happy in a house trying to sleep with vents making noise like that.

I've never heard of this happening with vents before.

Any thoughts?

If it persists only thing I can think of is to get an engineers report and threaten to sue in respect of the vents!

(House was snagged twice btw, unfortunately some of these things are only seen upon moving in!)

sydthebeat · 24-01-2023 1:00pm

builder used cheap products

the grills over the vents are most probably the cheapest "hit and miss" grills you can buy, like this:

https://www.screwfix.ie/p/map-vent-adjustable-vent-white-229-x-152mm/7374D?gclid=CjwKCAiAoL6eBhA3EiwAXDom5tEEWVD-GmjWQcnYThozotkNdpSrY1uLQf3sr-9Sq7FrZ3JuXo9d7BoCM1IQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

the intermittent mechanical vents in the bathrooms etc most probably dont have a backdraft damper, and probably have a front cover which looks like this:

https://www.screwfix.ie/p/manrose-flap-vent-white-125-x-125mm/59530?tc=AI6&gclid=CjwKCAiAoL6eBhA3EiwAXDom5tJFM_W0e0rWpZQbloFRR9khD06aUPZJ-dkgEo4f9d4pKC7F52MigxoCo7AQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

this isnt a snagging issue, and unless your contract with the builder specifically stated what products to use, then sueing is not an option either.

chops018 · 24-01-2023 1:04pm

Both of your links are exactly what was used, ha!

Ok, well fair enough, but surely the noise level should not be like they are? In my mother's house, and other people's houses, who have those kind of vents, they do not make the noises I've described.

An engineers report/test would hopefully confirm this.

Otherwise, sort myself by changing them out for more expensive vents? Or else buy those wind covers?

sydthebeat · 24-01-2023 1:08pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120150197#Comment_120150197

older houses would be much draftier, so the pressure that is cause by wind blowing on the side walls, which is shaking these grills, are less in older houses.

this really comes down to the contract with the builder. is this a house in a scheme, or a one off ?

Calahonda52 · 24-01-2023 1:12pm

An engineers report/test would hopefully confirm this.

waste of time and money.

I have been working with sound and sound attenuation since 1975 so I have heard a bit.

Without an agreed dB threshold for the noise the vents make, you are ...... up the downpipe.

The other point about noise is, especially in cases like this, once you hear it it gets into your head so rather than waste money on engineers reports spend it on getting proper vents/ vent covers.

You will wake up at 3 am on a calm balmy windless night and convince your self that the vents are making noise.

Lots of kit out there

https://www.partel.ie/partel-products/ will give you some ideas

chops018 · 24-01-2023 1:20pm

Thanks both for the replies.

It's a new build estate. So obviously builders cheaped out on the vents!

Fair enough, I suppose down the line I will look at changing vents - probably won't be a crazy cost!

keno-daytrader · 26-01-2023 5:22pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120150293#Comment_120150293

Vents on a newbuild house? Im confused..... What is the airtightness standard that they followed?

chops018 · 26-01-2023 7:09pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120161346#Comment_120161346

Yes, it's a new build. I was told, and presume, it's all within regulations. Sure, don't they have to upload all that stuff to the BCMS system? It's A2 rated anyway. Seems they just used cheap vents as per the links in the second post!

sydthebeat · 26-01-2023 8:45pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120161346#Comment_120161346

you can still have "natural ventilation" in a new build house.

not a great idea, but still allowed.

Ronney · 27-01-2023 9:43am

Slightly Hi-jacking the thread. But looking for a cowl for a vent off a flat roof that would dampen the wind. Had a standard Mushroom type cap and was getting a lot of whistling in windy conditions (Roof in a very exposed location)

keno-daytrader · 27-01-2023 1:43pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120162257#Comment_120162257

Thanks Syd, thats absolutely bonkers to me, build must be to nzeb regulations now but they would allow vents, you have to wonder who comes up with these regulations and then still lets holes in the walls.

Just to the OP, so there isnt an MVHR unit, just holes in the walls with vents?

sydthebeat · 27-01-2023 1:51pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120164997#Comment_120164997

essentially the regulation say that you must get an air tightness test carried out prior to occupation of the dwelling.

This must shown an air tightness result of less than 5 m3/hr/m2

If you get a result of less than 3 m3/hr/m2 then you are supposed to have had installed a mechanical ventilation system

If you get a result between 3 and 5, then 'natural ventilation' can be used.

There are no calculations available to show that natural ventilation can work at air tight levels below 3

Yellow_Fern · 27-01-2023 5:49pm

Id love to know how common hole in wall vents are in new builds. Absolute bonkers. But I guess we are in a housing emergency.

chops018 · 27-01-2023 7:41pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120164997#Comment_120164997

Yep - correct, no MVHR unit, just holes in the walls with vents from what I can see. Which I actually don't mind to be honest, so long as they didn't vibrate or make noise in the wind! It's an A2 BER, but after getting the keys you'd wonder how they get these BERs signed off!

-=al=- · 27-01-2023 7:49pm

Had a noisy bathroom vent that used to drive me nuts! It may not be of use for your situation, but I ended up putting a small bit of tape on one side of the noisy flaps to stop the plastic on plastic ticking and seemed to work pretty well. Quick simple solution for the time being until it can be sorted out properly

MicktheMan · 27-01-2023 8:31pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120165038#Comment_120165038

There are no calculations available to show that natural ventilation can work at air tight levels below 3

and also plenty of empirical evidence that, in our climate, natural ventilation doesn't work well at air tight levels 3 and 5

chops018 · 28-01-2023 12:49am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120166950#Comment_120166950

Funnily enough, the site carpenter suggested putting felt for under furniture on the flaps. Said if I get some he will put it on for me. So I might try that.