For many home improvement projects, bring paint on walls, a few new floor tiles, or new windows into mind. But did you know that something as tiny as air brick covers might really have an impact on your home? These small and affordable touches fight to protect your house, allow for better airflow, and eventually save you money.
What Are Air Bricks?
In an older house, they find their way near the bottom of the walls. These bricks enable air under the floorboards or through cavity walls, hence ventilation to prevent dampness and mould.
Wet and cold air is kept out of a home by these air bricks, thereby keeping the home friendly and dry. Against this best protection, air bricks do have a few drawbacks-they allow pests in, they let leaves and dirt fall through, and they allow too much cold air in during winters.
Benefits of Using Air Brick Covers
Here are some great reasons why installing air brick covers is a smart idea:
1. Keeps Out Pests
Small animals like mice, insects, or even frogs find their way through air bricks that are left open. They are sat out if an air brick cover is provided, yet they allow for unhampered circulation of air.
2. Prevent Water Penetration
The water from rain and snow would have entered through those open-air bricks. Being close to the ground particularly invites water to splash from the garden hose. Air brick covers will help stop the ingress of water, thereby minimizing any chances of dampness and damage within your walls or floors.
3. Stops Debris and Dust
Leaves, dust, and other debris will clog the air bricks and stop them from doing their job. The cover keeps them clean and free, hence keeping your house well-ventilated.
4. Save Energy
In certain types, the covers of air bricks for external use reduce draughts and heat loss, meaning less heating is needed in the winter months, thus saving you money on energy bills.
5. Safety
Some of these are fitted with a mesh that acts as a fire barrier. This is useful for houses with suspended timber floors, where fire can quickly travel underneath.
Where Should You Install Air Brick Covers?
Usually, air bricks are installed just above ground level around your home’s outside walls. That is why external air brick covers are most needed here.
They could also be inside the house, especially near areas of underfloor spaces or in older kitchens and bathrooms. Covers can be placed there, but unless advised by a professional, a cover should never completely block airflow.
How to Install Air Brick Covers
Installing air brick covers is generally a quick and easy process:
- Measure the Air Brick: Take note of the dimensions and shape of the opening to buy the appropriately sized cover.
- Choose Your Cover: Choose your cover depending on your needs and the material, be it plastic for light protection or metal for stronger protection.
- Fix It in Place: Most covers can be screwed to the wall or clipped on with fixings provided; others adhere with adhesive pads.
If you are not comfortable with DIY, a handyperson should be able to install them in less than an hour.
A Small Fix With Big Benefits
It’s the small changes that really make the big difference. Air brick covers can keep pests, moisture, and heat loss away from your home while allowing fresh air to enter. They’re cheap and easy to install and require zero maintenance.
Conclusion
If renovating an old house or merely trying to make the home energy-efficient and pest-free, external covers of air brick act as a wise and simple solution.
