Gable Vent Ideas

[brycez28]

I have a gable vent with a fan in my garage. The vent has flaps that open when I turn the fan on and close when the fan is off (the fan's air forces the flaps open). My intent is to use it when welding, spray painting, and during the summer to push some of the heat out. However, if the wind is blowing east (vent is on west side of garage), it forces the vent flaps to open and shut with the gusts, which now that it is winter lets the cold air in. Any ideas on making an enclosure for the vent and fan that I can open when I want to use it? I won't have enough space above to do a guilitien (spelling) door. (Sorry for the bad picture, the file was too big so I had to resize to make smaller)

 

[KCarGuy]

I built a wooden box around my exhaust fan that has a removable front "Cover", that slides out of a track and in place, slides in a Furnace filter. Or it can be (of Course) left open.
I like this for keeping the winter weather out.

 

[BillK]

They make motorized shutters. Thats what we had in our last shop. When the fan turns on, there is a motor that opens the shutters.

 

[CNGsaves]

Looks like there is plenty of room to right side of vent fan to put your Guillotine sliding door. Just build a "spacer frame" between outer wall and your vent fan that will make room for the Guillotine slider.

With proper McGyver rigging, you can have long handle that operates on fulcrum to push and pull the Guillotine open and closed.

Think you already knew your solution with the Guillotine.

Long-term you should install insulation as well. Good luck.

 

[Matt M PA]

Well...I don't know how big it is...or how easily it is to access....but perhaps a spare tire cover? They're elastic would be easy to slide on---slide off.

(Perhaps too easy! My former Bronco had an aftermarket tire cover for the tire on the back door. When towing my trailer...I had to take the tire cover off...or it would be gone once on the highway)

 

[brycez28]

Thanks everyone for the replies! I think I'm going to do something with a sideways sliding door. And of course I will insulate it and finish insulating the wall around it as well.

 

[Sureshot]

Box it and make the back a weighted door that hinges from the top. Put a rope through an eye or pulley that is attached to the peak behind the door so you pull the rope to open the door and the weight on the back of the door closes it.

Or as a second thought slope the back of the box 30 degrees and the weight of the plywood will keep it closed.


http://forum.woodenboat.com/showthread.php?96513-The-new-greenhouse

Look at post 45. Might give you a new idea. Easy to make.