10 in. Rectangular Exterior Vent for Kitchen Exhaust Fans

A:  If the siding material is so heavy that it effects blower performance, Hide-a-Vent recommends using Azek instead. It can be planed down to the same thickness as other siding materials and painted to match. Azek, a wood substitute is made of a foam core PVC. Therefore it is not terribly dense or heavy. Yet is long lasting and resistant to the elements. Using Azek instead of other materials is discussed on the installation page of the Hide-a-Vent web site.

A:  This product is simply plastic so I don't think it is going to have significant insulating properties. What makes this unique is that you attach the same exterior cladding that is on the rest of the house to it; so that the vent is hidden when closed. Now if that cladding has insulating properties that is certainly going to increase the protection from cold air infiltration. In my experience when cold air gets in it is not because the vent is bad but because the vent is not completely closing or the flapper is to light and any small breeze opens it. So if this unit is properly installed with the correct cladding attached it usually works great. If hover you are in a very cold and windy area you may also elect to have an additional item called a back draft preventer installed in the duct work leading to this vent. That would act to further prevent draft from bringing cold air into the house.

A:  Got mine right on time fits great looks good and very well made thanks

A:  This product is only produced in the off white color seen in the pictures. It can be painted. However when installed properly with a piece of the siding attached, you don;t really see much of the vent to begin with.

A:  Ours came in white so we were able to paint the small portion not covered with siding with our house color.

A:  This product does not come with a bird screen. When the door is open the air being discharged should dissuade any bird from entering. And when the fan is off the door should then prevent a bird from entering. I am aware that some inexpensive aluminum hoods have screens because over time the thin metal can distort leaving the door ajar. but this should not happen with ours.