Crawl Space Ventilation Fans

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Crawl Space Ventilation Fans

Ventilation fans are required in spaces where natural means of ventilation are either absent or not sufficient to provide the necessary circulation of air. It is quite common to find mechanical methods of ventilation such as fans used in spaces like bathrooms, kitchens, attics and basements.

What are Crawl Space Ventilation Fans?

A crawl space is a type of basement in which a grown person cannot stand up to his or her full height. As the name indicates, it is a storage space that requires an adult to crawl through, rather than walk. The total height of such a space may be up to a foot or just a little higher than that. The purpose of having a crawl space in the house could be many.

The obvious problem of having a crawl space in the house is the lack proper air circulation. Depending on the type of materials stored in the crawl space, moisture and toxins may be present in the air, which makes it hazardous. To avoid these issues, the frequent removal and expulsion of moisture and other substances through crawl space ventilation fans is required.

How do Crawl Space Ventilation Fans Work?

The most important function of these fans is to remove crawl space moisture/condensation. Some of the salient features of crawl space ventilation fans can be summed up as follows:
  • Reduction of the overall moisture content and the potential for the formation of mold in crawl spaces.

  • Circulation of fresh air in the crawl space.

  • Removal of harmful gases like radon gas. Radon is a radioactive gas considered to be a hazard to human health and well being. It is a cancer causing substance and one of the major reasons for poor indoor air quality.

  • Reduction of the potential for the filtration of air borne mold into the rest of the house.

  • Reduction of the conditions that are conducive to the growth of termite.

Features of Crawl Space Ventilation Fans

Just as other ventilation fans, the ones used in crawl spaces come with a number of features. One important feature is automatic temperature or humidity activation. It is a difficult task to always keep monitoring the levels of heat and humidity in crawl spaces. For this purpose, the fan installed can be sensitive to these parameters, switching on automatically when they reach a certain level. This can ensure that the crawl space remains well ventilated at all times.

Varying speeds is another feature that you could go in for in crawl space ventilation fans. Depending on the requirement for ventilation within the room, the speed at which the fan needs to run can be determined. This would produce the necessary CFM of air flow.

Before purchasing crawl space ventilation fans it is important to understand the size of fan that is required for the space in your home. If the fan you select is too small, the ventilation provided will not be sufficient, leading to hazardous conditions. After thorough research, you can purchase these fans from local stores or also on the internet.

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