What are Silenceair^® acoustic ventilators?

They are first and foremost a ventilation device. They are designed to let fresh air into your home through small vents in your wall, just like the ventilators you see high on the walls of older style houses. The advantage of Silenceair^® acoustic ventilators is that they let the air in and keep the noise out.

How do Silenceair^® acoustic ventilators work?

Silenceair^® products principally consist of a box with a ventilation passage running through the centre of the device from one side to another. This passage is lined by a special arrangement of tubes called ‘acoustic attenuators’. As air moves through the ventilator, it passes over these tubes and sound waves are deflected inside. The sound waves are channeled in such a way that they cancel themselves out, significantly reducing the noise moving through the passage. See the Using Silenceair acoustic vents in your home section of the FAQs for further information.

How do Silenceair^® products differ from other products?

Most traditional ventilation products rely on foam-lining and baffles in the ducts to reduce noise, but these can reduce airflow. There is also the problem of build-up of dirt, dust and small insects in the pores of the foam, leading to loss of performance over time and the growth of bacteria and pathogens. The foam itself may also physically deteriorate.

The new technology at the heart of Silenceair^® products eliminates the need for foam-lining and allows a much freer passage of air into your home. Silenceair^® products are made from recyclable polypropylene, mixed with fire retardants and UV protectants and are virtually immune to environmental degradation.

Why should I choose Silenceair^® acoustic vents?

The patented technology behind the Silenceair^® products provides a more effective and efficient solution to ventilation and passive noise reduction than existing technologies and products. Silenceair^® products are easy to install and have a flexible design that can be incorporated and updated with your home décor. The Silenceair^® system is environmentally sustainable, requires no energy and is fully recyclable. It can be used as a whole-home ventilation system or to solve specific ventilation and acoustic problems in particular spaces.

What are Silenceair^® products made from?

Silenceair^® products are made from fully recyclable plastic that has special additives to protect against ultraviolet light and fire. They also contain recycled material where possible.

The packaging is fully recyclable and degradable and is designed to naturally break down if placed in a landfill.

Are Silenceair^® products environmentally responsible?

• Silenceair^® products are passive; they do not need electricity to work
• They reduce the energy consumption of your house by reducing the need to run your air conditioning system
• They eliminate the construction costs and material requirements associated with alternative acoustic ventilation systems
• With basic maintenance, they can last indefinitely

Which type of Silenceair^® acoustic vent is for me?

This depends on the thickness and construction type of the walls in your house. Please refer to the Installing Silenceair wall vents section of the FAQ, or go to the shopping cart pages for full product choice and installation information.

What level of sound insulation do Silenceair^® acoustic vents offer?

Silenceair^® wall vents can reduce airborne noise by up to 85% (similar to a plate glass window). The patented technology at the core of all Silenceair^® acoustic vents has been designed to be especially effective at reducing those sound frequencies to which humans are most sensitive (250-3,000 Hertz) and reduces noise by up to 34 decibels at 1600 Hertz.

In bad weather, do Silenceair^® wall vents let in water?

Silenceair^® wall vents have been designed to allow the free passage of air, while restricting the entrance of moisture. The exterior louvres and the configuration of the unit itself effectively prevents precipitation from entering the building. In extreme weather conditions, the adjustable louvre on the inside plate can also be used to shut down air flow.

Do Silenceair^® wall vents keep out insects?

The exterior louvres have an integrated fly screen to keep out the insects. The louvres can be removed for periodic maintenance, such as washing the flyscreen.

Can I paint over the interior / exterior face plates?

Yes. A range of colours is available, but you can paint the face plates to match any colour you want. Plain white versions of the interior and exterior face plates are available for this purpose.