Are Garage Exhaust Fans Worth It? (3 Ways They Help!)
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Are Garage Exhaust Fans Worth It?
Why is it that your garage is hot and humid and smells so bad ? Why can it not be a more pleasant place to work in? The reason, more often than not, is that most garages have poor ventilation. So how can you have better ventilation? Are garage exhaust fans the answer and are they worth it?
Garage exhaust fans are worth it as they can provide ventilation in a garage that has little or no natural ventilation. Exhaust fans do not compromise garage security, the way windows would. Timers or sensors can switch them on or off as and when needed.
Exhaust fans can help make a garage a more livable space by
- Eliminating gas & chemical fumes
- Reducing humidity and preventing mold growth
- Making it cooler in summer
You need to install an exhaust fan in your garage, for adequate ventilation, even if you don’t spend much time there. Proper ventilation, humidity & temperature control are necessary to prevent cars and stored items from deteriorating.
Car components, such as the exhaust system and radiator, can rust or corrode when humidity is high. Many sporting goods, such as golf clubs and surfboards, use polymer based adhesives that can break down at high temperatures.
A garage exhaust fan will keep humidity & temperature in control and increase the life of your cars and other valuable belongings.
1. An Exhaust Fan Will Keep Your Garage Safe and Smelling Good
A garage, especially a detached garage, may not be used very often. Moreover, the garage ends up being a dumping ground for everything that you do not have immediate use of. And, of course, it is the most convenient location for storing lubricating oils & paint cans, household cleaning chemicals, garden supplies, etc.
For security reasons you may prefer not to have windows in the garage. In any case when are you going to find the time to open the garage door & windows to air out the garage. And if you do, you have to have window and garage door screens to keep those pesky bugs out.
The garage is a source of oil & chemical fumes emanating from the car and stored products. An idling car has carbon monoxide (CO), a deadly gas, in its emission. Without ventilation these can build up. These fumes are not just an irritant, they can be a safety and health hazard.
It is not unusual to store garbage bins in the garage before their weekly pick off. Putrefying kitchen waste will make your garage stink unless there is some ventilation to remove the odor.
Installing one or more exhaust fans can eliminate the toxic fumes and unpleasant odors to keep your garage safe and smelling good.
2. Garage Exhaust Fan Helps Control Humidity
A garage tends to be more humid than most other parts of your home. There are many reasons for this.
Your car brings in a lot of water when it is raining or snowing outside. If you like washing your car in the garage, then that adds to the humidity as well.
Leaks in the garage door seals are another way rainwater or moisture gets into your garage. Rainwater from the driveway can seep into the garage if the bottom seal has become brittle or is physically damaged.
It may be that the foundation walls of the garage have not been waterproofed well. Any rise in the water table around the garage will cause water to seep in through the floor and walls.
You must of course take steps to prevent water and moisture from getting in, but these are usually time consuming and expensive projects.
A garage exhaust fan is worth it because it is a quick, easy and inexpensive solution to high humidity levels. The exhaust fan creates an airflow which not only moves the humid air out but also increases water evaporation from wet surfaces.
The most detrimental impact of high humidity in a garage is that it encourages mold growth. Mold is not just unsightly and disgusting. It is a health risk, especially for those suffering from respiratory ailments.
3. An Exhaust Fan Helps Cool Your Garage in Summer
You may have noticed that exhaust fans are always installed near the ceiling or sometimes even on the roof. This is because hot air is lighter than cold air and rises to the top of the room.
An exhaust fan, installed high on the garage wall, is very effective in eliminating hot air. Cooler air from outside enters through vents installed on the lower part of the garage walls. The overall result is, the garage remains cooler than it would without an exhaust fan.
In addition to removing hot air from the garage, the exhaust fan also creates interior air circulation. Airflow has a pleasant & cooling effect due to moisture evaporation from the skin.
Garage exhaust fans are a great way to keep your garage cool & comfortable during the warm months of the year. You can further enhance the cooling effect of the garage, provided humidity levels are low by incorporating a water feature in or around the garage.
A fish pond outside or a hydroponic garden within the garage are among the many options that you can consider.
How to Get the Most Out of Your Garage Exhaust Fan?
Get an Exhaust Fan of the Right Size
ASHRAE (formerly called the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers) recommends 0.35 air changes per hour for living spaces. This may not be a code for a garage but you certainly want to come as close to it as possible.
Make sure to buy an exhaust fan which has the right size and capacity to ensure sufficient number of air changes. A larger garage requires a larger exhaust fan. It is even better if you can install two medium sized exhaust fans in different locations.
Do not forget to have garage wall vents in the lower section of the opposite wall. Cooler, outside air must be able to enter to replace the exhausted hot air and to create air circulation within the garage.
Automate Your Garage Exhaust Fan
Installing a garage exhaust fan is only the beginning. It needs to be run to be able to ventilate. Career and family do not leave you with enough time to worry about an exhaust fan in a detached garage.
No worries. Just automate it. You have two options:
- Timer Switch: Connect your garage exhaust fan to a timer switch and set the schedule.
- Humidity Sensor Switch: An even better option. The garage exhaust fan switches on whenever humidity levels exceed those set. It only stops once the humidity drops to acceptable levels.
Thank you very much for reading the post. I do hope you found it informative and useful.
