closet ventilation help needed

Hey all,

the setup is in a closet and all I have as of now is one fan...
6 plants in DWC bin
lights: 400 watt MH/HPS

I can't think of any ways to ventilate this closet that will be closed most of the time... I was thinking either a portable A/C unit (takes up a lot of power) or possibly just some fan towers...what do yall think?
 

HistoryPuff

Active Member
I had the same problem with my closet grow using CFLs.. So I understand your problem if you're using MH/HPS. I'm assuming you have it closed for privacy/stealth reasons? Otherwise I'd even suggest just having it cracked open about 4-5 inches, put one oscillating fan on the ground pointing into your closet and possibly a taller exhaust fan, but I'm not sure how useful it would be with the door being cracked open... What are your temps?
 

desertrat

Well-Known Member
Holes in your walls are the price for good ventilation, you'll need at leat one even if you use ac. It's easy to fix a hole when you move.
 

thatdjsnow

Well-Known Member
Go to your hardware store and buy a 4'x8' sheet of 1/4" plywood or even some hardboard... make a false wall behind the door by mounting the wood or hardboard to the backside of the door frame's trim.... U might want to cut the door out before you make the wall though. :)

I used 1/8" hardboard that was $8 a 4x8 sheet because I could score it with a razor a few times and just snap it, much easier in an apartment :)..... my intake hole is at the bottom right side of the hardboard and my two exhaust fan are on the top left. You should consider making a cooltube that pulls air in from outside the closet and then exhausts back outside of the closet so the heat from the lamp never even gets released into the closet..... and when i say "outside the closet", i mean the false wall you made that will be about 2-3 inches behind the real closet door.

check my journal in my signature to see how I did mine... i didnt use the entire closet, but you get the idea. my veg area is above the sealed flower chamber.
 

rsharp

Well-Known Member
GOOD LUCK! my friend is using 10 23w cfls in his closet grow (2 plants) and he had a hard time keeping the temp below 95.. he was using a standard oscilating fan. it sounds like a fire hazard putting one of those lights in a closet without an airconditioner plus vintilation holes.
 
update: With one 400 watt MH bulb going the temps are steady at 80....I know I need to get it lower but its not necessarily bad either... I currently have 2 air purifiers going along with another fan to follow... I know I'm going to need more light for flowering so I'll prolly go with supplemental lighting (CFL's) and buy a sun agro HPS bulb.... As for water temps I may need to invest in a ice probe...But I don't get paid until the end of the month so this will have to wait...
 

Mongobud

Well-Known Member
...you're going to need a 4" or 6" hole saw...you're going to have to make a couple of holes in the dry wall....have the first hole at the bottom drawing cool air in, and the second higher preferably through the ceiling or higher in the wall on the opposite side of your cool air hole.
 

gobbly

Well-Known Member
don't dismiss drilling/cutting vents. It's really super easy to do with a hole saw or jig saw (or something similar). Grates and the like to keep it from looking ghetto, are cheap and easy to install. Most modern closets are vented, either through a grate at the bottom of the door, or small slats above the door, mimic this.
 
I think I'm going to with the faux-wall trick...This seems like my only option...I may line the inside with insulation...or not
 

Serapis

Well-Known Member
Hey Stone Blown, I use those exact same thermos! great to have the highs and lows recorded for ya while you are out so you can see fluctuations in your grow room. I also am using intakes 6" from Home depot on a timer. I added an exhaust fan through the wall using home Depot's pass through fan... Moving air is an awesome way to cool a hot closet.

 
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