If you’ve recently refurbished your home and noticed condensation on windows or small patches of mould, you might be kicking yourself. You might be realising that by insulating your home to the max, you have actually turned it into a well-sealed trap for moisture.
You have probably been told to just fit trickle vents, but you haven’t spent tens of thousands on high-performance windows and insulation only to poke a hole in the frame and let the cold air back in.
Why Trickle Vents Often Fall Short in Refurbished Homes
Trickle vents are small slots at the top of windows designed to let a tiny amount of outside air in, helping to reduce condensation. In older or draughty homes, they can help manage moisture. But in tightly sealed, energy-efficient homes, they often struggle to keep air moving consistently.
Is Opening Windows Enough to Prevent Condensation and Mould?
Opening windows can help, but it comes with downsides. Cold air entering the home reduces warmth, noise comes in from outside, and security or pollution concerns may make it impractical.
Additionally, the frequency and duration homeowners would need to keep windows open to keep moisture levels consistently low, is much greater than most people expect.
“The long-term fix for condensation and mould isn’t more vents,” says Pallister. “It’s engineered air that works for your home.”
For reliable mould prevention in refurbished homes, a controlled ventilation system is essential. Modern mechanical ventilation with heat recovery removes stale, damp air while bringing in fresh air and recovering heat to maintain comfort and energy efficiency.
This means no cold draughts, no wasted energy, and no guesswork.
Ventilation Without the Visual Compromise
Another common reason homeowners rely on trickle vents is aesthetic concern. Ventilation is often seen as a necessary ugliness and trickle vents feel visually safe because they’re small, familiar, and largely out of sight. But modern ventilation no longer has to mean bulky grilles or intrusive ductwork.
VENTI’s decentralised ventilation systems have been designed specifically with refurbished homes in mind, where appearance matters just as much as performance. Units feature clean lines, discreet wall finishes, and compact profiles that blend quietly into living spaces.
A Smarter, Tailored Ventilation Strategy for Modern Homes
For bedrooms and living rooms, decentralised units like FLUXO or AUREN quietly supply fresh air while extracting stale air.
Rooms that naturally contain higher levels of moisture, such as kitchens and bathrooms benefit from continuous mechanical extract fans, such as the ARIA, which handle moisture spikes before condensation becomes a problem.
Together, these systems can provide a complete solution, tailored to the specific needs of your home.
“Modern, airtight homes demand engineered ventilation, not guesswork,” says Pallister. “One-size-fits-all ventilation is inadequate. Every home deserves a bespoke, room-by-room strategy.”
VENTI helps homeowners move beyond passive solutions like trickle vents or opening windows. Through our Ventilation Strategy Services, we review your home’s layout and usage, designing a plan that ensures proper airflow and compliance with building regulations.
Our Air Passport documents the design and verification, giving peace of mind that your home’s ventilation works efficiently, now and in the future.
Trickle vents alone may provide some relief, but for lasting comfort and protection, modern refurbished homes need engineered ventilation solutions.
Contact VENTI today to explore supply-only decentralised units, full ventilation installations, or a bespoke strategy to keep your home mould-free, comfortable, and energy-efficient.
Editor’s note: This post was originally published in October 2025 and is republished with minor edits to remove jargon and improve readability.
Last Updated on 20 February 2026 by Bradley Pallister