Vent-a-matic vent

[danielj]

I have two circular static vent-a-matic vents in one of my windows.

Can someone tell me what exactly they are for, and which way they should point (they can be rotated)?

This is where they are placed:

Untitled

• danielj
• 27 Jan 2010
• 1

 

[Burnerman]

They look like the poor mans expelair, where natural air currents cause the fan inside to rotate....we used to put these on loo windows where there wasn't any electric supply near.
John

 

[danielj]

I don't think it's the kind that is meant to rotate on its own. When I said it rotates, I just meant that you can rotate the whole frame by hand -- and I'm not sure which direction it's meant to be pointing in (air comes in facing down / air comes out facing up OR air comes in facing up / air comes out facing down)...

 

[Burnerman]

Ok I can't really see from the picture, but I thought they were the type that had their own internal rotating fan that spun with prevalent air currents.
Either way, I can see any purpose for these things here but they may have provided ventilation for something in the past. Do they go outside, or just into another room?
Maybe others will know better.
John

 

[danielj]

These are the ones: http://www.simonairmanagement.co.uk/category/VentAMatic/product/Simon_Static_VentAMatic/

They go outside, and I am bothered by the amount of cold air they're letting in - that's partly why I would like to know which way they should be pointing...

 

[Burnerman]

To provide ventilation for a gas fire, I guess...I can't see what difference they make whichever way they point, but I'd be inclined to keep the louvres downwards.
John