How to Install an Air Brick Vent Cover?
If you are looking for easy tips to install the air brick covers then you are on the right platform. You know, they are special bricks with holes in them that allow air to circulate. Due to holes, the flow of air beneath the floor of structures with a suspended timber floor. This air circulation air guarantees that cold or damp air does not sit in any voids or empty space. Due to this empty space, timbers and other materials will be destroyed. After some time, you realise it’s too late, and you may pay a significant cost to get it fixed.Keep reading to learn more about air brick vent cover.
If we talk about the air bricks, earlier it was composed of clay, but newer models are constructed of plastic. The new one is less likely to break and allows for more airflow than clay counterparts. Furthermore, some homes feature cast Iron grilles instead of air bricks that are often referred to as vent bricks.
Easy Steps to Install an Air Brick Vent Cover
Step 1:
Before beginning, you should understand that air bricks should be put into the walls. So this will facilitate your house with a free flow of air with hollow floors. It is recommended to use high-quality Air Bricks otherwise, it can become blocked or broken with time. Make sure you have a product robust enough so, they are working properly.
Step 2:
You can use Air bricks to vent a cavity wall, avoid under timber floors, or a room. Majorly in cases where a gas appliance is present. A sleeve would be fitted into the hollow of an air brick cover to ensure proper ventilation.
Step 3:
You need to use a different type of sleeve typically utilised. Specifically, one that can be staggered so that the vent is higher outside of the property. You need to install an air brick vent cover to ventilate a cavity wall as suggested.
Step 4:
You are just surprised that this is a clay air brick that has been baked. These high-quality air bricks are extremely resilient and simply be painted to match the surrounding wall. They are available in two sizes to match either one or two bricks.
Step 5:
In case you want more ventilation, you should choose the double-sized vent. In addition to this, you have to cut two bricks in half to fit the air brick into the wall. No doubt, it is critical to pick an acceptable location for the air brick vent cover while positioning it. So that the vent is installed beneath a window and brickwork above it is supported by a window sill. In case you reside in a flood-prone area, don’t put the vent too low otherwise water will pass through.
Step 6:
Generally, special air bricks prevent water from entering them in the event of a flood. So, these items should be utilised in flood-prone locations. Furthermore, these plastic air vents are joined together to form a larger vent. These vents were purchased with a built-in fly screen to keep insects from creeping into the air brick covers.
Step 7:
While doing installation make sure you’re wearing the proper PPE including safety glasses and work gloves. In the very first step, remove a brick from the wall by drilling a number of holes around it. If the majority of the mortar has been drilled away from brick, it will be very loose. In addition to this, it can be dragged out of the wall.
Step 8:
Make sure you drill all the way around the brick. After this, link all of the holes together so the block should now be loose. The brick can be removed using the tool bolster chisel and club hammer. However, this is not the recommended way because the shock may dislodge other bricks in the wall. Therefore the drill is by far the easiest and best method!
Also Read: How to Make a Cozy Backyard for Your Relaxing Time in 2022
Step 9:
Using the bolster chisel, you may lever the brick free once the mortar has been removed from around it. In case you try to knock the brick inwards, it will be more difficult to remove.
Step 10:
After removing the brick, you’re left with a hole. Clean the area with a gentle brush to remove any loose mortar from the surrounding bricks.
Now you need to wet the existing bricks so that when we apply the mortar. The bricks do not suck the moisture to dry out and crack too rapidly. For this, you can use a paintbrush and some clean water, or a garden sprayer.
Step 11:
After this you can use a small trowel, apply the mortar, making sure to cover the bottom and all sides. You should use a rapid-setting mortar here, but the regular mortar is preferable. This allows you to work for longer. For this apply a generous amount of mortar to the bottom and sides of the air brick before inserting.
Step 12:
Then, apply a little layer of mortar to the top of the air brick before carefully inserting it into the hole. But make sure it is at the proper level. After this, pack mortar under one of the corners to keep it in place. When you’re satisfied with the level of air brick, you can point out any gaps that surround it.
This wall has already been cement washed, the finish does not need to be flawless. The reason behind this is that it will be painted later. Otherwise, if you put the vent in a brick wall that hasn’t been painted you should be careful.
Step 13:
After this, you can rub the mortar with a damp sponge to get a flush finish. Moreover, this wall will be repainted once the mortar has dried.
Important Aspects to Consider while Installing an Air Brick Vent Cover
- In case your home has a wood floors foundation, air bricks should be installed beneath the bottom level. This will allow air to move and is also known as ventilation. As they do not sit directly on the ground, these sorts of floors are known as hollow floors. This gap is important because most buildings have wooden floors on the bottom floor. If the air in this space is not allowed to move freely, it might become stale and damp. Moreover, humid air can contain a lot of moisture, and the warmer it is, the more moisture it can hold.
- Whenever the central heating is turned off at night and the room cools, and joists become cooler. If we compare it with the humid air surrounding them, allowing condensation to collect on the wood.
- Condensation is just water from the air settling on the wood, and moist wood can rot from the bottom, causing the boards and joists to rot. Afterall the sole solution, of all kinds of condensation-related issues, is ventilation. It is important that air temperature should regulate as a result of the circulation of air beneath the flooring. This will ensure that there are no cold spots to encourage condensation formation.
Final Thoughts
Now, you know how vital they are but also make sure your air brick covers are free of debris. It means to say you need to clean it simply and remove anything heaped against them. You can use a brush to ensure the holes are clear of all the sections. If you face the issue that ground level has risen above the level of your existing air bricks. In this situation, you need to dig away the earth or install special telescopic air vents. Keep in mind, if the dirt has clogged the holes you should look beneath the flooring. This will ensure that any barrier to the vents is completely removed. We hope you keep the air brick vent cover free and clear, so air will flow freely under your ground floor timbers. You can choose unique and vintage style air bricks at Ironmongery World.
Thanks for reading!
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