blocking hot air vents.

[Chris Holford]

Have just made an offer on a 70s property which had had ducted hot air heating. This has been replaced at some time with a gas boiler and conventional radiators. The original vents for the hot air have been left in place but now seem to serve no useful purpose. Can they be blocked off? -any suggestions of the best way to do this? It occurred to me to remove the metal grilles, fix a piece of plasterboard in the holes and skim over to give a smooth finish; is this a reasonable idea?

[Andrew May]

That's what I did the other week. Seems to work. One problem that I did have is that there was no wall below the vent, just the metal vent covered with some metal gauze. But stuck the plasterboard on with no-more-nail type adhesive and it seems OK so far.

For the floor vent in the kitchen I filled with rubble. Sealed with some cement and tiled over.

That was a couple of years ago and there have been no problems since.

Andrew

[The Natural Philosopher]

[The Natural Philosopher]

remove gauze, stuff with newspapers, bash gauze back about 3/4" below desired finished level and fill with bonding plaseter.

skim and sand back flush?

[Adrian C]

Wow. Great potential for easy install of network, telephone, TV and speakers, and plumbed in Beer Taps ;-)

[Doctor Drivel]

It must have been some dumb bathroom changer who did that who knew nothing of heating systems. How sad.

[Chris Holford]

In article , charles writes

Now I've moved in I find that the double glazing does not have any ventilation slots. If I block the redundant hot air vents the rooms would not have any ventilation at all if the windows are closed. One room has a gas fire connected to the chimney so presumably that room needs some air inlet when the gas fire is used; how best to do this? Do the other rooms need ventilation?

[NT]

Best way is to replace gas heater with a balanced flue one. Not as good: make hole in wall, sleeve the cavity, fit grille.

NT