Backwoods Home Magazine #100 - JulyAug 2006 by Backwoods Home Magazine

Author:Backwoods Home Magazine [Magazine, Backwoods Home]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Crafts; Hobbies & Home, Home Improvement & Design, How-To & Home Improvements, Do-It-Yourself, Sustainable Living
Amazon: B00FMCHWGQ
Publisher: Backwoods Home Magazine
Published: 2013-10-02T04:00:00+00:00

A 21"x36" screened vent with residents practicing a fire drill.

When planning vent sizes, take fire safety into consideration. I make most of my vents to fit between wall studs that are usually on 24" centers, giving me a vent with a 21" wide opening. I generally make the vertical opening 36" to 45" high. About 80% of the people I know could escape through a hole that size.

I find making vent doors with a layer of plywood two feet or less by four feet or less makes best use of a 4'x8' piece of plywood and gives me a good efficient vent. I try to design at least one of this size vent unit in every room for a fire escape and, of course, ventilation.

My second favorite size vent is 10" or 12" wide x 70" high, more or less. I use these on each side of large windows and doors. When two of these tall narrow vents flank a big window, the view is unobstructed and plenty of air comes through. A 1½" wooden dowel on brackets above the window/vent unit can support sweep-aside floor to (almost) ceiling curtains. You will have fresh air and a view during the day, privacy at night.

Tall side vents next to an outside door means you will not need a screen door. Your security is assured because you can keep the door closed and locked while letting breezes through, day or night. You can converse with people approaching your door without compromising your safety. The vents are too narrow for access and you can enhance that feature by building shelves in the vent cavity between the screen and vent door. The shelves make a nice place to set small plants in summer.

Another popular vent size I employ measures 10" or 12" wide x 16" high. In winter when your home is closed up tight and fresh air is less available, you can do yourself a very healthy service by closing the door to your bedroom at night, shutting off the heat to the room and opening two of these small vents located as near your lungs as possible. The vents allow clean outside air to flow gently toward you during all the hours you are asleep. You also save heat by keeping the bedroom cool and make better use of those cozy blankets and the flannel nightcap you received last Christmas.

I install one of these little vent units in bathrooms right beside the toilet. They are easy to open and close, and venting in this area is a good idea.

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