HARTIE'S TOUCH

EASY TO FIT Premium Window Trickle VentReduce Condensation & Damp We have been manufacturing & installing windows, doors & glass for 30 years.We only sell tried & tested products that we use on a daily basis. Free Postage & Packing please see tab aboveWe aim to despatch same dayPrice includes VAT at 20% Made in EnglandThese are not seconds or “B” stock A robust smooth slim elegant modern rounded designwith integral flyscreen in the external hood and fixing screws Grey – Anthracite – Ral 7016Black is – Ral 9005Brown – Rosewood is – Ral 8017Tan – Golden Oak is – Ral 8003Cream is – Ral 1015Irish Oak is – Ral 1011Agate Grey is – Ral 7038Bright White is – Ral 9016 Please see all sizes in the collection of images in the gallery Small is 300mm, just under 12 inches longLarge is 400mm, just under 16 inches long Suitable for uPVC, timber and aluminium windows and doors. Can be fitted into an opening sash, outer frame, frame extender or add-on. These are high quality trickle vents that will not fade or change colour in sunlight, manufactured in UV stabilised high quality uPVC which achieves a water tightness limit of 400 passclesTested in accordance with BS EN 1027:2000 independently acoustically tested, accordance with BS EN20140-10:1992,ISO 140-:1991 Modern LivingIn a world of increasing environmental concerns and rising energy prices the modern home has become much more energy efficient. Generally this is a good thing but there can be some associated drawbacks with this new way of living. Up to about the late 1960’s there was natural ventilation in many homes because of the lack of double glazing, poorly fitting windows and doors and open fire places. Present attitudes have eliminated natural ventilation by the use of double glazing, draught excluder, fitted carpets (preventing air movement up through suspended wooden floorboards) and the removal of open fire places with the introduction of central heating. Buildings have been effectively sealed and provide better conditions for condensation and airborne contaminants from flooring materials, furnishings and cleaning products. Not to mention exhaled air and (possibly) tobacco smoke can build up and are adverse to health. Damp can arise from the many sources of water vapour in the modern house. Current building regulations require ventilation be fitted to new homes to maintain a flow of healthy fresh air through the house and prevent internal air contamination and damp. However they are often omitted from replacement windows because their function is not fully understood and because of the increased costs. And yet indoor air quality and effective ventilation is more important now than ever, not only for the buildings but for its occupants. The Repercussions of Air Tight HomesFresh Air is healthy, stale air is not. Here’s why The usual concentration of oxygen in the atmosphere is 20.9%. Without adequate ventilation this level is reduced surprisingly quickly by breathing and combustion. The air we breathe is a mixture of gases including nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, water, argon, and trace gases. Each day we inhale around 14,000 litres of air as we take about 26,000 breaths (That’s equivalent to about 150 full bathtubs) As we process a breath of air we remove a certain amount of the oxygen and exhale unwanted gases. If the house or room does not allow the air to be replenished with fresh air the oxygen levels drop as we re-inhale the same air again and again. This is obviously unhealthy. If there is a smoker in the house the used air will also contain some very toxic gases which will be breathed by all the occupants in the house. There are many articles on the physiological, biological and physical effects of poor air quality.Moisture is produced in abundance in modern living conditions. Inadequate ventilation cause damp, mould & rotPlease find below some of the sources Breathing, PerspiringAn average person inhales and exhales a volume of half a litre of air with every breath. The exhaled air is at 100% humidity. This means that two sleeping adults produce 1 ½ pints of moisture every 8 hours which is absorbed as water vapour into the atmosphere. We perspire 24 hours per day this is partly why we need to consume 3 litres (5 ½ pints) a day, 1 litre of those is supposed to be had through food.Cooking, Tea MakingSaucepans and kettles generate steam which is absorbed by the surrounding air. An average gas cooker can produce approximately 1 ½ pints of moisture per hour by burning gasWashing Up, LaundryThe vapour cloud given off by hot water is rapidly absorbed into the atmosphereBathing, Washing and Wet ClothingThese are major sources of water vapour in the home. Remember even cold water constantly evaporates into the atmosphereHome HeatingA flueless gas heater can produce up to 2 to 3 pints of moisture per hour. Paraffin heaters produce 8 pints of moisture for every 9 pints of fuel burnedIndoor PlantsA frequently unrecognised source of water vapour. Not only from plants but the soil they are inFlushing Toilets Water is atomised every time you flush. Water and the other are expelled into the atmosphere without being seen. Time to move your toothbrush to another room!!Pets and Animals Pets also have the same effect as humans on emitting moisture and odours in the home. Aquariums and fish tanks are another source of water evaporation into the surrounding atmosphereFridge and Freezer Fridges remove moisture from the fridge mechanics and expel this moisture at the rear as vapour near the condensing coil To illustrate how much water vapour is in the air, fill a glass from the cold tap. Water droplets will form on the outside of the glass as moisture from the air condenses on the cold surface, like dew on a cold morning.The normal moisture content of air is dependant on air temperature the warmer the air the greater capacity to hold moisture average humidity is about 40% to 60% with optimum humidity being 50% for a healthy human environment. Humidity falling lower than 40% is also adverse to a healthy environment but excess moisture in the air will be absorbed into the fabric of the building causing damp and rot. Hence roofs are vented as are wooden suspended floors. Poisonous Gases and VapoursCarbon dioxide might be grabbing all the headlines but its carbon monoxide that is the killer. The emission of carbon monoxide from badly serviced heating systems in poorly ventilated rooms has caused death in extreme cases. In some areas radioactive Radon gas can permeate up from the ground and build up in poorly ventilated houses. Methane and Second hand tobacco smoke which contains over 4,000 chemicals, including 43 known cancer-causing (carcinogenic) compounds and 400 other toxins. These include nicotine, tar, and carbon monoxide, as well as formaldehyde, ammonia, hydrogen cyanide, arsenic, and DDT . Volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) are gases or vapours emitted by various solids or liquids, many of which have short- and long-term adverse health effects. Household products that emit VOC’s include paint, paint strippers, cleaning supplies, pesticides, glues and adhesives, building materials and furnishings. Consequently, concentrations of many VOCs are higher indoors (up to ten times higher) than outdoors. VOC’s are compounds that have high enough vapour pressures under normal conditions to significantly vaporize and enter the atmosphere. A wide range of carbon-based molecules, such as aldehydes, ketones and other light hydrocarbons are VOC’s. Other Causes of Household Air PollutionElectrical devices and some man made products such as Nylon, rubber and plastic produce positive ions which attract atmospheric pollutants, dust particles and harmful airborne matter into interior spaces, all obviously unhealthy. Conversely, negative ions enhance your feeling of well being. Mother Nature constantly produces negative ions outside the home, from rainfall and wind for example, but not having adequate ventilation means negative ions will not get in. To experience the affect of negative ions take a shower or turn on a cold tap and place your head close to where the water is striking the surface of the sink. You will smell a sweet cold odour. This indicates the presence of negative ions, the same as after a rainstorm, sitting by the sea or a waterfall. That is why the Victorians recuperated near the sea and is why you find the shower invigorating. OdoursWe emit odour 24/7 through perspiration and breathing as do all pets and animals. Any materiel that is in a moisture laden atmosphere will give of a musty odour as does any room closed for a period of time from the main house without adequate ventilation. Cooking creates a multitude of odours so does the ingredients. The toilet obviously is a candidate for odours as are porches or boot rooms which houses coats and shoes. Cleaning chemicals used around the home. Tobacco smoke or an open fire or naked flames used for heating or show. Regulations, Recommendations & FiguresIt is the law that ventilation be provided in every new house or extension built onto an existing property and any rented property. The calculation for ventilation required for a new home takes into account the size of the dwelling, amount and types of rooms etc. This is too complicated to explain here.The recommendation for ventilation in existing properties is approximately 4000mm2 (one large vent) of fresh air for a habitable room like a living room or bedroom and 2000mm2 (one small vent) for a non habitable room like a toilet, bathroom, cloak room or porch. If there is no ventilation except the habitable room then 8000mm2 is recommended (two large vents). Recently specifications have changed adding new terminology now trickle vents have a measured air flow in equivalent area (EA) requiring further explanation. Home owners can easily become confused making it difficult for the salesperson to justify the product and additional expense when replacing the windows and doors. To illustrate this point please consider a typical scenario: Sales person “ Here you are Mrs Smith all your windows incorporating eco glass to save you on your heating bill fitted and guaranteed for only £3500 ” Mrs Smith “ Yes that looks good but what are these trickle vents on your quote? ” Sales person “ They allow you have ventilation in your home all of the time. It’s a good idea and helps stop condensation ” Mrs Smith “ I am replacing the windows because they are draughty and my windows don’t cause condensation at the moment ” Sales person “ The new windows will be airtight, and this may cause condensation to form on them which is why we have the trickle vents. Trickle vents aren’t draughty, you can close them if you wish ” Mrs Smith “ Why should I spend money on something that I will not use? I want lower heating bills. That’s why I want new windows but to buy new windows with a hole in them to let air in! No thank you! ” Faced with this scenario the sales person often omits the trickle vents as it complicates and may jeopardise the sale, especially when condensation on the windows is mentioned. In brand new houses occupants often fill the vents with cotton wool and close them without realising that the bricks, timber, concrete and other materials in average three bedroom houses absorb approximately 1500 gallons of water during construction which will dissipate into the internal air during the drying out period which can take up to a year. Occupants of bed-sits which are built to building regulations will have fire doors with fire strips so smoke can’t enter or leave the room. Obviously neither can fresh air but even if trickle ventilation is fitted tenants often close them due to the previously explained misunderstanding of their purpose. For ventilation to work properly a minimum of two vents is needed. One in isolation will do very little, more than one vent allows cross ventilation, fresh air in and stale air out. If only a single outside wall is available then one vent should be at least 600mm above internal floor level and the other at least 1.6meters above internal floor level.The difference in air temperature from floor to ceiling will aid in the air circulation through the vents. Trickle VentsUsed in toilets, porches, conservatories, cloak rooms, living rooms, kitchens, bedrooms and hallways etc. They are available in many colours and designs normally fitted in to the sash, vent (opener) or head of a window or door. You simply control with a finger touch lever to open or close the vent. Can easily be retro fitted to an existing window or door with a series of holes ranging depending on trickle vent design and size from 8mm to 13mm. Circular clear plastic vents can be fitted into the glass but this will affect the longevity of a double glazed unit, not a common solution anymore and very expensive to buy and fit. Please Note – Mechanical ventilation that uses a motorised fan to extract air from the kitchen can not be solely replaced with trickle ventilation as all trickle vents are for background ventilation and will not remove cooking smells or toilet odour efficiently. If a gas appliance is fitted then permanently open ventilation is mandatory as it can be a life saver some 10,000mm2 is the minimum where the gas appliance is located. When gas does not burn properly, as with other fuels such as coal, wood or oil, excess carbon monoxide is produced, which is poisonous. You can’t see it. You can’t taste it. You can’t even smell it. But carbon monoxide can kill without warning in just a matter of hours. You are particularly at risk when you are asleep because you cannot recognise the early symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning.These include tiredness, drowsiness, headache, nausea, pains in the chest and stomach pains.These symptoms can mimic many common ailments and may easily be confused with flu or simple tiredness. Every year about 20 people die from carbon monoxide poisoning in the U. K. Many others also suffer ill healthYour appliance was poorly installed Your appliance is faultyYour chimney or flue is blockedYour Ventilation is poor and not enough fresh air in the roomYour appliance not checked or maintained regularlyNon GAS SAFE engineers to install or maintain your appliances In a bedroom especially a bed-sit, fitting a trickle vent to a windowand another in a different room allows cross ventilation Optimum results will be achieved in air circulation, minimising moisture and air quality relatedproblems, minimising the loss of valuable heat while retaining maximum intruder security Please check all measurements and suitability before ordering.Exact product colour displayed may vary depending on setup and quality of the device used to view. Any Item sent back with buyers remorse will be subject to a discretionary charge of 25% of the full sales price or £1.50 flat fee, dependant on which one is the greater.Open Monday – Friday 9am – 4.30pm

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