Noise from external air vents

Tom Cruises Left Nut

Hi Folks

We have standard external vents in each room. Just a pipe through the wall with covers on each end.

Is there any way to dampen outside noise coming through them without compromising air flow ?

Thanks

10-10-20

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058291731/noise-from-external-air-vents

There is a device called a black-hole vent:

https://www.goodwins.ie/products/stadium-anti-draught-black-hole-ventilator-bm725-brown-outer-cowl-3461398.html

Except, it's not a direct-fit for the existing vent pipe as it's designed to be installed at the time of build and isn't an easy retro-fit. That said, it can be done and I have one here which I'm retro-fitting, but I have already had to drill out the old pipe - messy job. As for the effectiveness of the device, I won't know until it's fitted and patched back up.

10-10-20

20220210_151932.jpg

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20230410_220236.jpg

Right, well I just fitted the black-hole vent, and...it's a pig of a job to retro-fit. The old pipe was difficult enough alone to remove, then the hole had to be widened to fit the new pipe and the black-hole device.

Orientation of the blackhole isn't important, that's why it looks skewed.

Tom Cruises Left Nut

That looks like some job, has it done anything is the question!

10-10-20

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120465796#Comment_120465796

Agh I'm kinda annoyed as I didn't get to put the external cowl on last night as I was waiting for the repaired render to set, but today the room was freezing and there was a significant gust of wind coming through it. I do think that the black-hole has attenuated the noise somewhat when compared to the original vent, but I swear I never had such a cold room either. The external noise of the birds and rain is very noticable now given that I have three triple-glazed windows in the same room!

I'll hold off reservation until I have the cowl installed, but I do think I'll be fitting an adjustable vent on the interior anyway.

10-10-20

Just to get back to this... It's a year later and the external cowl and internal face-plate are on. One thing that I have noticed with the Black Hole over this Winter is that the room is less chilly when it's gusty. It's definitely reducing the amount of noise too, you get different frequencies coming through, but it's better than a gaping hole, that's for sure. So yes, happy with it, even if it's a faff to retro-fit.

Supercell

Whats the blue/grey stuff you have filling the gap?, always find filling large gaps after i been let loose at a job hard to fill in nicely.

10-10-20

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121808008#Comment_121808008

Low-expansion air-tight foam. I had it left over from a window job.

https://www.goodwins.ie/products/soudafoam-window-door-sws-gun-foam-750ml-4017006.html

I put bonding coat plaster over that as it's very easy to work with. Then finished it off with a bit of plaster. Then covered it all over with a massive vent. 😂