Basement Ventilation Fans

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Basement Ventilation Fans

The use of ventilation fans in domestic environments is the norm. It is impossible to find a home without ventilation systems, or at least a single ventilation fan installed. The specific rooms of a house where it is a must to install fans for ventilation are kitchens, bathrooms, attics, garages and basements. These are the spaces where natural ventilation is limited, and hence mechanical ventilation needs to be made use of.

What are Basement Ventilation Fans?

As the name suggests, basement ventilation fans are used for the purpose of circulating fresh air inside basements. Basements are located at the bottom of a building and seldom get fresh air or sunlight. They are used as storage spaces for items that are hardly used or moved around. It is not every day that all the items in the basement are accessed. Chemical substances such as paints and cleaning materials may also be stored.

Given the type of environment in a basement, it is common to find the air inside to be damp, stale and stuffy. Allergens and toxic gases may fill the air. Moisture trapped inside may cause the formation of fungus and mold. This creates a harmful, hazardous environment for people to breathe in. To prevent this, basement ventilation fans are used, which remove stale air and replace it with fresh, clean air.

Types of Basement Ventilation Fans

Based on the type of installation, model, design, size, etc. basement ventilation fans can be of different types.
  • Installation: Basement ventilation fans are most often wall mounted. This is an intermittent system of ventilation, confined to a single room. Installed on an exterior wall, the fan removes stale air and expels it outside. Continuous or whole house ventilation may be extended to the basement too. This type of ventilation covers air circulation in the entire building through vents and ducts in the ceiling. It can be installed in the basement, along with ventilation for the rest of the house.

  • Size and Speed: The size of the ventilation fan is very important. Since basements are usually large rooms, a small fan would not be sufficient to create the necessary ventilation. The volume of ventilation is higher with larger fan blades that move faster. Varying speed levels are a good feature to go for, in order to adjust the volume of ventilation according to requirement.

  • Automatic Controls: Basement ventilation fans installed with temperature and humidity sensors are quite useful. When the heat and humidity in the basement cross a certain level, the fan is switched on automatically. This eliminates the need for constant monitoring of the ventilation in the basement.

  • CFM: The volume of air flow produced by the fan is measured in CFM. The higher the CFM of the fan, the more beneficial it is. Of course, the ventilation requirement of the room also needs to be kept in mind.
Basement ventilation fans can be purchased from local retail outlets. Manufacturers display their products in exhibitions and technology fairs, and also online on their websites. You can take a look at e-catalogs advertising these fans and then take your pick among the lot.

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