We do get asked how to cure damp and mould around windows and the first question we ask is "what ventilation do you have in the room , read more below on how why it happens and your route to ventilation

The windows you have will require slots cutting through them that are the correct dimensions. By drilling holes this will not allow enough air through because of the bridges between the holes.

Here is a simple way to show how damp appears in a room Imagine you put your hand in a plastic bag and seal it at the wrist. If you leave it for about 10 mins it will start sweating and the bag will get moisture resulting in condensation on the inside surface.Without opening the bag the moisture will never go. Handlestore only supply vents that can be screw fixed onto your existing frame. You may have screw-fixing points already that can be re-utilised, or it is more likely that you will have to drill two new holes. Drilling into a plastic frame is easy but you need to ensure that you have marked the position of the fixing points carefully. The best way to do this is to hold the vent in its position and then drop a pencil into the fixing holes to make a mark. All of our vents are provided with the correct screws for uPVC frames but you will need to use a 2mm drill for the screw to tighten correctly. There are two options to consider when positioning the vents on your window. The first is to put them on the outer frame of the window at the very top of the window or alternatively to position them at the head of the opening window itself. The latter may be easier to do as you can take the window off by the hinges and place the complete unit on a table or bench to carry out the work. It is also easier to assess whether any reinforcement is present within the window unit (uPVC) by withdrawing some of the screws to view the screw type. Drill point screws are used for reinforcement metal and self tappers are most likely to be for uPVC only.

The new vent may contain a series of lugs that need to go inside the slot in your window. It is most likely that the new vent is too big for the slot and you need a narrower vent or you will need to slice the lugs off with a sharp knife (Stanley type). The same principle is causing Damp and Mould in our houses. As a general rule most of the country is insulating their homes to save fossel fuels & keep energy bills down. The only problem is with that is the rooms we sleep in every night (and breath & sweat water) are gradually gathering water just like the hand in the plastic bag mentioned earlier. The plastic vent is so long it doesn't fit perfectly flat onto the surface of the window. In that case consider the aluminium vents which are more rigid and sturdy.

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The new fixing centres are pulling the plastic vent down flat but under tension. Release and re-position carefully.

If you are installing new vents to comply with gas or building regs then please ensure that you are familiar with the requirements for airflow.Take the window out of the frame if it is easier particularly if you decide the vent is the best option to place the vent otherwise it will be done in the head of the window where there is no interference from the glass.

We should point out that there may also be extra difficulty with uPVC if there is a metal reinforcement section inside the hollow profile of the frame. This can be the case but not always and the metal can be either aluminium or galvanised steel. The metal sections tend to be quite thin but the galvanised surface of steel is difficult to drill through.

Upvc Trickle Vents are sometimes called Slot Vents as they cover over the routed slot that has been created on the top of the Upvc window or door.There are many forms of trickle slot air vents made from materials such as Aluminium or Upvc. Trickle Vents are available in many sizes to suit the air vent created

It is recommended that you screw the vent down into position using a hand screwdriver not a drill or any other mechanically/electrically operated device. The screws will appear quite tight but this is important to cut a suitable thread into the plastic. Provided you don’t over-tighten the screws the vent will be adequately fixed. All vents are provided with two cover caps to disguise the screws and finish off the installation by simply pushing into place. The overall length of the slot against the screw fixing points size (ensure there is enough room past the slot at each end to get a screw into the frame. When you take the existing vent off the window you will see a slot or two slots cut through your window. Here is a simple way to show how damp appears in a room. Imagine you put your hand in a plastic bag and seal it at the wrist. If you leave it for about 10 mins it will start sweating and the bag will get moisture resulting in condensation on the inside surface.Without opening the bag the moisture will never go.