Air brick clearing in Exeter
Professional air brick clearing services in Exeter and surrounding areas. Local, reliable handyman - no job too small.
Price Guide
£60
Typical Duration
30-45 mins
Location
Exeter, Devon
Blocked air bricks cleared to restore proper underfloor ventilation. Stops damp problems before they start - particularly important in older Devon houses.
Those Little Grilles Actually Matter
Air bricks look insignificant - just some holes in your wall near ground level. But they're vital for keeping your house healthy. Block them and moisture builds up under your floors, leading to damp, rot, and that musty smell you can't quite place.
💡 Pro tip: In Exeter's older houses with suspended timber floors, air brick ventilation is your first line of defense against floor rot. Check them twice a year.
What Happens When They're Blocked
| ✅ Clear Air Bricks | ❌ Blocked Air Bricks |
|---|---|
| Fresh air circulates underneath | Stagnant, damp air trapped |
| Timbers stay dry and sound | Moisture builds up in joists |
| No musty smells | House smells damp and old |
| Floorboards last for decades | Expensive rot repairs needed |
What You Get
🔧 The Full Service
| Stage | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Locate | Find all air bricks around property |
| Clear | Remove all debris, webs, mortar |
| Check | Test airflow is actually working |
| Advise | Flag any other ventilation issues spotted |
📦 You're Left With
- All air bricks flowing freely
- Proper underfloor ventilation restored
- Advice on keeping them clear
- Peace of mind about damp prevention
Pricing Guide
| Job Type | Estimated Time | You'll Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Standard house (4-8 air bricks) | 30-45 mins | £60 |
| Heavy debris or render removal | 1 hr | £60 |
| Multiple properties or extensive work | 1+ hrs | £60+ |
Based on £60 minimum (first hour) + £50/hr after. Often combined with other maintenance jobs.
Perfect For Your Project If...
✅ Musty smell - often the first sign they're blocked
✅ Damp patches - appearing on ground floor walls or under carpets
✅ House survey flagged it - buyers hate damp issues
✅ Preventative maintenance - check them regularly, avoid bigger problems
Why Choose Us for Air brick clearing in Exeter?
Blocked air bricks cleared completely
Proper airflow restored to underfloor spaces
Helps prevent damp and condensation issues
Check for other blocked vents while there
What to Expect
Step 1: Check All Air Bricks
I'll walk around your property and identify all the air bricks, noting which ones are blocked or partially blocked.
Step 2: Clear the Blockages
Remove all debris - leaves, webs, mortar, whatever's in there. Sometimes need to chip away render if someone's plastered over them.
Step 3: Test and Advise
Check the airflow is working, and let you know if there are any other ventilation issues I've spotted while I'm down there.
🔧 DIY Tips
Want to maintain them yourself? Here's how:
🔧 Tools you'll need
- Old screwdriver or similar poker
- Wire brush
- Torch to see what's inside
- Small trowel or vacuum
- Gloves
📐 Checking and clearing
- Walk around your house at ground level
- Identify all air bricks (usually every 2-3 meters)
- Look through the holes - you should see daylight or underfloor space
- Poke out loose debris with screwdriver
- Brush clean with wire brush
- Check airflow with hand or piece of tissue
⚠️ Common DIY mistakes
- Only clearing the outside - sometimes blocked deep inside
- Missing some because they're hidden by plants or paving
- Thinking they're just decoration - they're essential
- Leaving them until there's a damp problem
💡 Pro trick: Put a reminder in your phone to check air bricks every spring and autumn. Takes 10 minutes and can save you thousands in floor repairs.
Rather leave it to a pro? No problem - that's what I'm here for. Give me a call.
Good to Know
🎨 Getting exterior work done? Tell your builder NOT to render over air bricks. Happens more often than you'd think, especially with inexperienced teams.
Paving or landscaping? Make sure new paths or soil don't cover your air bricks. I've seen gardens built up so high that all ventilation is blocked - recipe for disaster.
Old Exeter houses? Many have air bricks that are original Victorian or Edwardian. They still work perfectly well if kept clear, and they're often rather nice to look at once cleaned up.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do air bricks matter?
They ventilate the space under your floor. Block them and you get damp, musty smells, and eventually rot in floorboards and joists. Particularly important in older Exeter houses with suspended timber floors - you need that airflow underneath.
What blocks them?
All sorts - leaves and debris build up, spiders make webs, mortar from repointing work drops in, sometimes people actually fill them thinking they're drafty. Render going over them is surprisingly common when houses get external work done.
How do I know if mine are blocked?
Musty smell under floors, damp patches appearing for no obvious reason, or you can just look - if you can't see through the holes, they're blocked. In older houses, check them annually as part of general maintenance.
Can't I just poke them clear myself?
You can try, but it's often more blocked than it looks from outside. I've got the tools to properly clear them and check the airflow is actually working. Plus I'll spot if there's a bigger issue like broken bricks or render covering them.
How long does it take?
Usually about half an hour to clear a few air bricks around a house. Longer if there's heavy debris or I need to chip away render that's covered them. I'll often check all of them while I'm there - might as well.
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Got multiple jobs?
Make the most of your first hour - I can often tackle several small tasks in one visit. List everything you need done when you call!
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