Attic fan size confusion

jtrain252

Member
My 2x2x6ft tent is in my garage attic. Currently how i have it set up is the 1 window has a window fan blowing into the attic and a 132cfm 4in fan exhausting out the tent down through the eaves.

I was thinking of putting a powered gable fan to exhaust the attic itself and have the 4in filtered fan just exhaust into the attic.

What method works best and what size fan would i need to exchange attic air. My attic is 24x14x7Screenshot_20200412-173954_Chrome.jpg
 

Renfro

Well-Known Member
Exhausting warm humid air into the attic cold space during cold weather is a recipe for black mold. Pipe the exhaust directly outside.
 

Renfro

Well-Known Member
Even if you have a fan blowing out the gable vent, imagine your bathroom during a hot shower. You have the exhaust fan running but still you get condensation on the mirror. If this is your attic with untreated wood then black mold will grow so fast your head will spin. Then the home is not safe to live in and cleaning it up is VERY expensive.
 

jtrain252

Member
Even if you have a fan blowing out the gable vent, imagine your bathroom during a hot shower. You have the exhaust fan running but still you get condensation on the mirror. If this is your attic with untreated wood then black mold will grow so fast your head will spin. Then the home is not safe to live in and cleaning it up is VERY expensive.
This is how its exhausting out of he tent. And the small window fans are intakes. I am thinking of taking that window air out and use a gable fan for exhauast. Also thr whole attic will be insulated....what do u think
 

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its.always.420

Well-Known Member
keep it the way you have it, and add a gable fan if the attic space gets too hot.

considering that it is an attic with a grow in it, you would want to use the extreme climate recommended size
 

Renfro

Well-Known Member
Man if it wasn't for this virus thing I would say go to home depot just before they open, in the right part of town you will be able to pickup cheap mexican day labor. If you don't speak spanish bring a shingle to show them so you get a roofer lol. Buy and install a roof vent. You are right there. Then you can go straight up out the top of the tent and out the roof vent. Done deal. Actually you might wanna add a bend and a little duct to prevent light intrusion. Spray paint the inside of the roof vent and duct flat black and use galvanized snap seam duct not that accordion junk.

You see where I am going? Properly installing a roof vent in with that much access would take me about half an hour, maybe an hour provided I am working with asphalt shingles.

You could install a fresh air intake vent on the gable end, might look funny if stealth is required... then fresh air could be plumbed directly into the tent. Of course this could be bad if it's really humid outside.

A push / pull arrangement with speed control to produce a little bit of negative pressure, plugged into a thermostat would be nice for temp but if it's not running humidity could spike. lol

It doesn't get easy in an attic.
 

Renfro

Well-Known Member
Even if you get temps inline, you are limited to ambient humidity levels. Thats where the real problems will likely arise when flowering. Botrytis is no joke.

Growing some mold resistant genetics would be very, very wise.
 

GrassBurner

Well-Known Member
Getcha some of this

https://www.domyown.com/boracare-with-moldcare-p-1265.html?keyword=bora care with mold care&gclid=Cj0KCQjw-Mr0BRDyARIsAKEFbedG8cHv7Vde3gR0lKe1gESRtu5VU2WJMB0LmJvRMikenf9ocaxXEgAaArvFEALw_wcB

This stuff is AMAZING. It's really a simple old school wood treatment, Boric acid, with updated packaging. The mold care is more than just boric acid, but it works incredible. It's a pesticide, fungicide, and mold control. But it also protects wood from moisture damage. And it lasts forever. I worked for a huge international company, and we used this to treat wood in crawl spaces. The mold literally will just drip off.
I will never recommend a product I havent used extensively, and I can tell you with certainty that this stuff works. It soaks into wood up to an inch and a half, and actually works better on wood that already has a high moisture content.
From what I understand the boric acid (some kind of salt) preserves the wood fibers and protects them from moisture related damage. Whatever it is, it protects wood forever.
I'll give you some tips though, as this stuff is potent to plants. It will kill the shit out of grass for years and years, so dont apply with your plants and stuff in the attic. Dont get it in your eyes, I did once, thought i was gonna go blind as it crystalized in my eyes. Little water washed it right out.
Put down plastic, apply heavily, let it dry. Remove the plastic (it will look like a layer of salt Crystal's on top of it), and you're good to go. You could build a sauna in the attic with no ventilation system and the wood wouldn't mold or rot.
 

jtrain252

Member
Man if it wasn't for this virus thing I would say go to home depot just before they open, in the right part of town you will be able to pickup cheap mexican day labor. If you don't speak spanish bring a shingle to show them so you get a roofer lol. Buy and install a roof vent. You are right there. Then you can go straight up out the top of the tent and out the roof vent. Done deal. Actually you might wanna add a bend and a little duct to prevent light intrusion. Spray paint the inside of the roof vent and duct flat black and use galvanized snap seam duct not that accordion junk.

You see where I am going? Properly installing a roof vent in with that much access would take me about half an hour, maybe an hour provided I am working with asphalt shingles.

You could install a fresh air intake vent on the gable end, might look funny if stealth is required... then fresh air could be plumbed directly into the tent. Of course this could be bad if it's really humid outside.

A push / pull arrangement with speed control to produce a little bit of negative pressure, plugged into a thermostat would be nice for temp but if it's not running humidity could spike. lol

It doesn't get easy in an attic.
The problem with that is id have to get lm the roof remove the shingles cut down the peak since there is no roof vent then install the vent snd reapply the shingles. That seems like a ton more work then half an hour

Sorry edit....im thinkng of a ridge vent. So u mean something like this or something with a motor
 

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