T-14 venting......

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white-out
Posts: 150
Joined: Wed Feb 27, 2019 9:21 am
Location: ohio

Can some one tell me what size vents to use for a T-14 house? I'm in Ohio and would like them to close/plug during this time of year. Do I need one for each nest cavity? Is it recommended to vent the top of the box between it and the roof?

I'm so far behind and hope to get everything on the poles by next week. Thank you for any help offered! Doug
Whippy
Posts: 1023
Joined: Thu Jan 19, 2017 11:15 pm
Location: Plano, Texas
Martin Colony History: See Signature

Hey, White-out.

Here is what is on my T-14. There is one on every compartment.

Coolwhips
Attachments
T14 Vent2.JPG
T14 Vent2.JPG (154.03 KiB) Viewed 6099 times
T14 Vent1.JPG
T14 Vent1.JPG (149.33 KiB) Viewed 6099 times
2016 - many visitors
2017 - 1 pair, 3 fledged
2018- 2 pair, 12 fledged
2019 - 4 pair, 21 fledged
2020 - 15 pair, 67 fledged
2021 - 29 pair, 117 fledged
2022 - 35 pair, 130 fledged
2023 - 43 pair, 196 fledged
Whippy
Posts: 1023
Joined: Thu Jan 19, 2017 11:15 pm
Location: Plano, Texas
Martin Colony History: See Signature

Look closely at the T-14 and you can see where they are placed.
Attachments
T14Assembled.JPG
T14Assembled.JPG (159.4 KiB) Viewed 6099 times
2016 - many visitors
2017 - 1 pair, 3 fledged
2018- 2 pair, 12 fledged
2019 - 4 pair, 21 fledged
2020 - 15 pair, 67 fledged
2021 - 29 pair, 117 fledged
2022 - 35 pair, 130 fledged
2023 - 43 pair, 196 fledged
Whippy
Posts: 1023
Joined: Thu Jan 19, 2017 11:15 pm
Location: Plano, Texas
Martin Colony History: See Signature

I did a search on the web for 2 inch plastic vents and came across many who offered them in different styles. Lowes has vents, Home
Depot has vents and so on. Here is a link to a place that has just about any kind of vent you would want. I do not know where the ones I have were purchased as they were given to me along with the T-14.

https://www.roundvents.com/2-round-whit ... -100-2.htm

I do not have any personal experience with this company. I just added this as an example of whats out there.

Good luck to you.

Coolwhips
2016 - many visitors
2017 - 1 pair, 3 fledged
2018- 2 pair, 12 fledged
2019 - 4 pair, 21 fledged
2020 - 15 pair, 67 fledged
2021 - 29 pair, 117 fledged
2022 - 35 pair, 130 fledged
2023 - 43 pair, 196 fledged
4th Gen Martin Fan
Posts: 1498
Joined: Thu Jul 04, 2013 1:19 pm
Location: TN/Collierville
Martin Colony History: I have been exposed to purple martin sounds in utero when my mother went out to get my father away from his martin colony.
I played around the martin colony every summer and watched as my father maintained his colony. In the late 50's until the 70's he did not notice European Starlings in south Texas.
When old enough, I helped maintain his colony. My primary task was eliminating English House Sparrows with a 1956 Benjamin 317 .177 air rifle.
When I settled into my own home, I started my first colony with an original Trio Castle and Trio Grandpa. When I moved again, I did not put up any martin houses. Frustration with European Starlings in the Southeast US was overwhelming.
Found PMCA Forum and learned about modern enlarged compartments and SREHs.
Inherited my father's last martin house, a Trio Grandma, modified it to modern specifications and have had good results since then.

Coolwhips,
I agree that the 2" vents with screens are an excellent way to vent compartments on a T14. I believe the screens help reduce the chance of wasps getting into the compartments through an unscreened vent.
Are your vents caulked in place or are they just pressed in place and held by the knobs?
How do you propose that white-out closes off the vents during early spring cold weather in northern climates or spring cold snaps that can occur in southern climates (example: the recent tragedy that happened in Texas)?
Mark.
Firm believer in HOSP/EUST Control, Enlarged Compartments, SREHs, Pole Predator Guards, Owl/Hawk Guards, Mite/Parasite Control, Housing Insulation, and Vents for Compartment Cooling.
PMCA Member.
ToyinPA
Posts: 2227
Joined: Mon Apr 10, 2006 6:07 pm
Location: PA/Avis
Martin Colony History: The 1972 St. Agnes flood wiped out all the Martins in my area. One day, in 1997-98, 5 or 6 Martins landed on the power wires crossing my back yard. I had no house for them. They kept coming back day after day. We got a martin house a few weeks later & they have been coming back every year since. I average 12-15 pair per year.

The round vents just push in. They have tiny knobs on them to hold them in place. You'll need a hole saw to cut all the holes. We made a jig from cardboard to cut them all in the same location. I have 2 vents in each cavity on my houses. Holes are best cut towards the top back sidewall of each cavity.

I got the 2 inch plastic vents here: https://www.ventmyhouse.com/2-round-whi ... 2-plw-100/ Note: I have no affiliation with this company.

You can use duct tape over the vents during cold snaps.

Toy in PA
PMCA Member
Whippy
Posts: 1023
Joined: Thu Jan 19, 2017 11:15 pm
Location: Plano, Texas
Martin Colony History: See Signature

Thanks for the follow up Toy.

Another way you can close the vents is to swap them out with same size plugs since these will snap in rather than need to be glued in.

This in reference to Marks question.

Thanks.

Coolwhips.
2016 - many visitors
2017 - 1 pair, 3 fledged
2018- 2 pair, 12 fledged
2019 - 4 pair, 21 fledged
2020 - 15 pair, 67 fledged
2021 - 29 pair, 117 fledged
2022 - 35 pair, 130 fledged
2023 - 43 pair, 196 fledged
Unk Bond

Hello Whippy
You bought up venting. And it turned my thinking cog's on. :)
So I Googled [ Small round vents. Found sizes from one inch to 4 inches.
So my thoughts were nice in hot weather.

Cold weather what to do. My coffee grinder said. Why not cut a disk circle to cover round vent.
Now
Drill one hole in top of are round disk circle. To be bigger in diameter than are screw we will use
Now drill a screw hole at the top of are round vent. Screw round disk to be flat. Loosen screw and slide the disk circle to one side and re- tighten are screw for hot weather. For cooler weather. Loosen screw and cover round vent. And re-tighten the screw. [ Later
Last edited by Unk Bond on Fri Mar 05, 2021 5:46 am, edited 1 time in total.
white-out
Posts: 150
Joined: Wed Feb 27, 2019 9:21 am
Location: ohio

Thank much for the speedy replies! I Order them today from the link Toy posted.

Unk, I think I will try that out.......if I take something off, I get to search for hours when I need it again!
Whippy
Posts: 1023
Joined: Thu Jan 19, 2017 11:15 pm
Location: Plano, Texas
Martin Colony History: See Signature

White out.

Don't make things too hard. Get the hole plugs from Trio that plug the round holes. Get the vents of the same size. All you gotta do at that point is just swap them out.

Hang on before ordering anything and let me lower my Trio tomorrow morning and I'll fit the vent I have into the entrance hole to see how it matches up. If the vent fits into the entrance hole then you'll have it licked.

Coolwhips
2016 - many visitors
2017 - 1 pair, 3 fledged
2018- 2 pair, 12 fledged
2019 - 4 pair, 21 fledged
2020 - 15 pair, 67 fledged
2021 - 29 pair, 117 fledged
2022 - 35 pair, 130 fledged
2023 - 43 pair, 196 fledged
Whippy
Posts: 1023
Joined: Thu Jan 19, 2017 11:15 pm
Location: Plano, Texas
Martin Colony History: See Signature

So here it is:

The Trio round hole plug is just a bit bigger than the event. In addition, the S&K round hole plug, although clips in, is the same as the Trio round hole. Heres a photo of the Trio round hole plug. The measuring tape is indicating the inner portion that clips into the hole.
Attachments
TrioRoundPlug.JPG
TrioRoundPlug.JPG (154.02 KiB) Viewed 6017 times
2016 - many visitors
2017 - 1 pair, 3 fledged
2018- 2 pair, 12 fledged
2019 - 4 pair, 21 fledged
2020 - 15 pair, 67 fledged
2021 - 29 pair, 117 fledged
2022 - 35 pair, 130 fledged
2023 - 43 pair, 196 fledged
Unk Bond

Hello Whippy
Your wench arm. That sticks out from the pole. Could you tell me how long it is. Thanks [ Later
4th Gen Martin Fan
Posts: 1498
Joined: Thu Jul 04, 2013 1:19 pm
Location: TN/Collierville
Martin Colony History: I have been exposed to purple martin sounds in utero when my mother went out to get my father away from his martin colony.
I played around the martin colony every summer and watched as my father maintained his colony. In the late 50's until the 70's he did not notice European Starlings in south Texas.
When old enough, I helped maintain his colony. My primary task was eliminating English House Sparrows with a 1956 Benjamin 317 .177 air rifle.
When I settled into my own home, I started my first colony with an original Trio Castle and Trio Grandpa. When I moved again, I did not put up any martin houses. Frustration with European Starlings in the Southeast US was overwhelming.
Found PMCA Forum and learned about modern enlarged compartments and SREHs.
Inherited my father's last martin house, a Trio Grandma, modified it to modern specifications and have had good results since then.

Toy,
I saw the tabs on the vents that were offered by both vent suppliers. Thanks for the clarification from both you and Coolwhips that the vents are pressed in place and not permanently glued in place.

Coolwhips,
I saw the wide variety of plugs that are available from the vent suppliers. Now that I know the vents are not permanently glued, I agree that switching out the screened vents with plugs solves the problem of early spring cold weather. I have various thicknesses of extruded polystyrene foam insulation which I can cut with my 2" hole saw. I will glue the round plug of foam insulation inside each plug. Now I will have an insulated plug for the 2" hole in early spring and the screened vent for the summer!
That insulated plug will have better R factor than the wood or composite material that the T14 is constructed from. I understand that the 2" aluminum plugs will conduct some cold into the house but this plug is meant only to be a temporary solution to the early spring cold and will not be permanent.


Thanks to everyone's solutions.
Last edited by 4th Gen Martin Fan on Fri Mar 05, 2021 8:38 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Mark.
Firm believer in HOSP/EUST Control, Enlarged Compartments, SREHs, Pole Predator Guards, Owl/Hawk Guards, Mite/Parasite Control, Housing Insulation, and Vents for Compartment Cooling.
PMCA Member.
white-out
Posts: 150
Joined: Wed Feb 27, 2019 9:21 am
Location: ohio

Mark, that's the ticket! I will be doing the same...........Doug
Whippy
Posts: 1023
Joined: Thu Jan 19, 2017 11:15 pm
Location: Plano, Texas
Martin Colony History: See Signature

Unk Bond wrote:
Fri Mar 05, 2021 7:56 am
Hello Whippy
Your wench arm. That sticks out from the pole. Could you tell me how long it is. Thanks [ Later
Sorry UNK. You had asked before and I got side tracked.

It is 36 inches long.

Coolwhips
2016 - many visitors
2017 - 1 pair, 3 fledged
2018- 2 pair, 12 fledged
2019 - 4 pair, 21 fledged
2020 - 15 pair, 67 fledged
2021 - 29 pair, 117 fledged
2022 - 35 pair, 130 fledged
2023 - 43 pair, 196 fledged
Unk Bond

Hello all
These are nice and flat. Where as a slide away cover plate would make a cover plate seal nice. Later

Woop-E i got a picture to post and stick :lol:
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