Mechanical subfloor ventilation

[JIT]

Hi,

A Victorian era period home (c1900), has recently had new vents installed along the front and right side (along the alley way) of the house (it is a single-fronted, semi-detached home).

Will adding mechanical subfloor ventilation make much more of a difference to the subfloor ventilation in this property? How important is it? Are the new vents alone enough? This is an invesment property.

GSJ

[journeyman Mick]

GSJ,
I'll try to answer your questions (by asking some more ):

...................Will adding mechanical subfloor ventilation make much more of a difference to the subfloor ventilation in this property? .......................

How long since the vents were installed? Have they made an appreciable difference? Do they provide the required flow for the M2 involved? (there's a formula for mm2 of vent per M2 of building, don't know it off hand) Is it possible to fit vents to the other two sides of thje building to give a cross flow? Once you've exhuasted all these possibilities and there is still a problem, then it's time to start considering different options (ie mechanical ventilation)

...................How important is it? .......................

How important is what?:confused: Ventilation per se, mechanical ventilation or just the vents. It's important to have adequate ventilation to prevent issues with fungal decay and termite activity as well as unpleasant smells, how you achieve it is not as important as just achieving it.

................... Are the new vents alone enough?.......................

See above. Have you given them time to do their stuff? It may take some months (I'm guessing) for adequate vents to draw out moisture if the soil under the building is very wet. You may need to get a soil moisture meter and test under the building to see if the vents are having an effect. Once the soil stops drying out then you will know if the result is acceptable. If it isn't, then is the time to look at further options.

...................This is an invesment property........................

And this has what, exactly to do with the problem? We're not talking about gold plated tap fixtures here, we're talking about a structural problem. These need to get fixed right, period.


Mick

[JIT]

Mick,

The vents were installed maybe 4 months ago...I may do the soil moisture test to see if it has had an effect...I don´t think it is possible to put vents on the other 2 sides from what the chap who did the job tells me...the left side is attached to another terrace house and the rear of the house is sitting on concrete and there is no space for a vent...

I think I will probably end up putting a mechanical vent system to ensure the most effective ventilation of the subfloor space...

Thanks,

GSJ