Vents and ducting in grow room doors - advice please :)

[pug1010]

Hi all

 

Hoping for some input from all  ventilation specialists.

 

I'm designing a new grow room, which is in a room in a basement - no windows. The room has two access doors. In one door, I would like to put a vent on the bottom for passive inflow of air. This shouldn't be too tricky as the door can open and shut … I will just have to make sure that no light gets in or out through the vent. The second door is a bit trickier …

 

I want to use the top of this door to vent out the air from the carbon filter - carbon filter to fan to acoustic ducting. The problem here is that if I just make a hole in the top of the door to put the ducting through … every time the door opens, the ducting will get bunched up or bend too much, as it swings open.

 

My current thinking is to pull the door off its hinges and replace it with a cheap second hand door … cut this door into two sections - about 2/3 and 1/3 in height … with the top section measuring about 40-60cms. The top section should still use the same hinge attachment point, however I'm thinking of putting a latch (or some other fastening device) on the other side of the top section (the door knob side), so that it can latch onto the door jam and not move. Before doing this I would cut a hole in this section, so that the ducting can be attached.

 

Basically … it will be a bit like a Dutch door, however the top section fastens to the door jam and can be locked into place, so it doesn't move. The lower section can then be rehung using the remaining two hinge points and will provide access to the room … although slightly bent-over access. It should still swing normally on the two remaining hinges.

 

I hope this explanation is clear enough to understand. If anyone has any suggestions for easier alternatives or better ways to fine-tune the system … it would be great. I am a tenant, so will need to rehang both original doors when I leave. I'm hoping this will be the cleanest and easiest way to get good air-circulation, easy access and control unwanted  light. Any suggestions about good vents that let air through, but stop light from coming in or out, would be great.

 

Thanks heaps

 

PS: this link shows a similar door, however the one I'm thinking of will have a shorter top section and the top section will be fixed:

http://www.instructables.com/id/Build-a-Dutch-Door/

Edited October 9, 2016 by pug1010

[Indycar]

I'm not sure what further info you're after as it sounds as if you've figured it out already from a tenants point of view.

 

All I can add is that you have to buy a strip of timber to glue into place either side of the cut you're planning on putting in the door for structural support, as most door aren't solid and usually have a cardboard webbing that supports the void inside the door. There's a fair chance you wont get a strip of timber that's a snug fit, so you may have to plane it down to suit.

 

Only other question I can think to ask is where is the air being drawn in from, and where is it being expelled for the room?

[pug1010]

Thanks Indycar for the feedback. I will try to get a solid door if possible. If not, will get the planer out.

 

As to the air circulation … the air will be drawn in from a bedroom. I did a bit of mucking around with a co2 monitor a while ago and found that the amount of co2 produced by two people will sleeping was well up into the optimal range for growing. The bedroom then attaches to a big living room. The air will be expelled into a corridor that attaches to the other end of the living room … it will pretty much make for a circular air flow.

 

I'm going with a closed system design this time - have used a lung room before but the cost of cooling the air (and then losing it) in Queensland, did my head in.
 
The system isn't sealed … there is still a bit of air that will be dragged in from upstairs. I figure there will be enough co2 in the system to refresh the air - hope so. This grow room will be for four seasons, with the biggest challenge in winter. Hoping the already decent heating system will keep things at a good overall temp - will also be running the lights at night to add a bit more heat in winter.
 

 


Haven't done this before, so if you can see any possible problems or challenges … please let me know what you think.
 
Thanks mate
 
pug

[Indycar]

Looking good, pug. After seeing your layout, it appears you're on the right track. Just as long as the living room gets a chance to cycle its air several times a day.

 

Only thing is, choose your carbon filter wisely. Probably get one that surpasses the requirement of the room/setup. Because once those stinky buds start forming, the aroma in the living room could become quite pungent. Extra smell management might be required. Something that worked for me once was those urinal trough tablets, I just sat one on a milk bottle lid that sat on a plate and placed that just inside where the exhaust was. The tablets would only last 2-3 days before they dissipated completely, but it was a cheap solution to the problem at the time.

 

As you'd know. Ideally, it'd be great to draw in and expel the air directly from outside, but being in a basement makes that option so much more difficult without major modifications to the dwelling.

[pug1010]

Thanks heaps Indycar for the great suggestions.

 

I'll definitely oversize my carbon filter and fan … just in case. I like your idea about the urinal cakes … … imagine being at the end your exhaust outlet.

 

All the best and have a great day

 

pug

[merl1n]

Hey Pug,

I have to agree with Indy that venting into a living space is not optimum, especially if you have visitors. A larger carbon filter will help, but I'd still be concerned about others recognising the distinct odour. It may do in the meantime but I'd certainly be investigating another avenue for venting away from your living space as a priority. It only takes one person to identify the smell for you to be up to your eyeballs in crap IMO.

 

Merl1n

[slicker1]

as suggested, the living room is not an ideal place to vent into.

Can you reverse the air flow and vent into the bedroom and draw from the living room?

 

indycar's tablets are a good idea. i used to have those 'plug into the socket' liquid air fresheners (about $8 from coles) in a power point near the door.

if it got real stinky i used two of the same smell. set to high they last about 3 weeks. 

[pug1010]

Hi merl1n and slicker1

 

Thanks heaps for both your advice … it is well taken and something to try and work on. I'm all about making the design as user-friendly, safe and efficient, as possible. All comments, suggestions and advice are really appreciated.

 

At this stage … I can pretty much do anything with the design, except ... it is not feasible to vent the warm air out of the basement - as I would need fresh air from outside and at times it can get down to -20 C (I've moved to central British Columbia, Canada). I reckon it would definitely be possible to draw the air from the living room into the grow room … exhaust it into the bedroom and use a secondary, HEPA / carbon filter in the bedroom - the co2 will eventually make it to the plants. This would reverse the airflow on the original design and the living room being much bigger, would mean there would be less worries about negative pressure in the bedroom - I was a little worried about the size of vent needed (as well as soundproofing the vent) from the living room to the bedroom in the other design.

 

One very nice thing (thank you Justin) is that if all goes well, I'll be growing under the ACMPR (a federal way to grow legally), which will make any smells less serious. Still … it is never good for people to know that a grow is occurring. Canada is pretty relaxed about cannabis, but a grow room still isn't embraced by neighbours.

 

This does allow a little wiggle room though … as I don't know many people and probably won't be having many visitors. As long as the smell doesn't go outside or upstairs … I would be very happy with the design.

 

 

 

 

[Matanuska Thunder]

warning **stoner thoughts, may not make too much sense**

 

I had a very similar set up/floor plan for 10 years+

I grew in a tent inside the room -ended up I just left the doors to the 'grow room' open most of the time

the sounds of the fans etc did not seem to travel too much -they were kept, in what would be the corner near your bathroom

 

a blackout-type curtain could help to hide the room/light and allow the doors to stay open for the fresh air exchange

if guests came by I'd close the door but keep things running (the only time I'd close the room)

if I knew guests would be there for many hours -I'd turn off the grow lights, to keep the temp in the room low (wont be an issue in BC tho)

 

-Do renters have quarterly inspections from landlords there? They don't here in Cali - so nice not to worry about it.

Edited October 11, 2016 by Matanuska Thunder

[pug1010]

Hi MH:)

 

Thanks for the reply … good to know the grow room design might be a goer.

 

I like the idea of using blackout curtains over the dutch doors, especially if the noise isn't bad - way less effort and money. Was thinking of putting the fans (the correct rated ones) inside oversized ducting to cut down noise - saw it on a youtube vid … worked a treat. Just wondering whether you used the same door for intake and exhaust? Any suggestions on what fabric or how you hung the blackout curtains would be great. I'm guessing maybe a piece of ducting out of the grow room with the curtains over the top? Was thinking of getting some thick reflective material (love to use orca film as it is about 1cm thick, but don't think I can afford that one, at this stage) and make a portable curtain stand using pvc pipe and connectors - cheap, lightweight and strong. It would be best to avoid drilling too many holes in the walls. Open to any ideas on this one, as I always have trouble on light-proofing.

 

Haven't been in Canada that long, but for our first place (2 x 6mth leases) there were no inspections. Not sure if that is the norm, but I hope so. Been in contact (still can't find it in myself to give real contact details) with the 'Office of Medical Cannabis' … .. seriously that is name that Health Canada uses and they let me know that a tenant doesn't have to let the landlord know that they are growing under the ACMPR - it feels like an alternative universe. I reckon it is still wise to make everything as stealth as possible though … old habits. Have to still go through some paperwork, but it doesn't look like a really nasty process … at the moment, it seems pretty fair - fingers crossed.

 

I definitely envy your choice and price for products. By the time it gets up here … exchange, duties (if unlucky) and taxes … it gets a fair bit dearer.