Recommend me an air vent

[thebadger7]

Hi - can anyone recommend a nice square air vent suitable for exterior use?

I bought some of these thinking they look quite nice, and didn't consider that iron rusts!

Air Vent Cast Iron 5.1/2" x 5.1/2"

Air Vent Cast Iron 5.1/2" x 5.1/2": Authentic looking cast iron Air Vent finished in Antique Iron.. Face fixed. . Size: 140 x 140mm (5.1/2"

www.broughtons.com

Cheers

Luke

 

[a twig]

Painting the ones you have in Rustoleum or similar not an option?

 

[thebadger7]

Yeah could do - they're pretty high up on gable ends so need to last 10-20 years tho

 

[Stevers]

If they are cast iron then they won't rust nearly as badly as mild steel.

 

[Flyfisher]

If they are high up and therefore barely visible, at least in detail, do they have to be cast iron? Have you considered a stainless steel alternative, painted black if required? Also, one with an insect screen perhaps?

 

[thebadger7]

They're on the gable ends to ventillate the chimney flues, so the idea is I'll have three of them running down the middle of the wall - so lower ones will be quite visible hence trying to get ones in keeping

I'm thinking painting well in Hammerite, plus insect mesh, should be OK

Or I guess something like this - bigger and not as nice, but more functional (always the trade off!)

 

[Stevers]

Or I guess something like this - bigger and not as nice, but more functional (always the trade off!)

Knowing how small chimney cowls look once on top of a pot, I wouldn't worry too much about the size of anything at height.

 

[a twig]

I used those square terracotta brick ones to ventilate one of our old closed off chimneys - pretty unobtrusive even in a stone wall

Bit of brass insect mesh attached to the inside face so you didn’t have to look at it but it still kept the insects out

 

[a twig]

Just out of interest - why the middle one rather than just venting top and bottom? Or have I misunderstood?

 

[Stevers]

I used a traditional 9"x3" buff clay vent brick externally for the bottom external vent of my basement chimney flue. There's no insect mesh fitted, and that's so for all our floor vents, but I would never ever leave any sort of gap that might let a mouse in anywhere near the ground.

 

[thebadger7]

Just out of interest - why the middle one rather than just venting top and bottom? Or have I misunderstood?

There are 3 flues for 3 floors
So adding a vent to the bottom of each flue

 

[a twig]

Gotcha - makes sense, I was thinking you were venting one flue in three places and getting very confused!