Venting through the walls or vents?

[smokedogg]

Hello all. I have a dual hose portable AC unit, along with a grow tent for 3d resin printers with an exhaust. So I will need 3 holes. (I also live in AZ) In our garage we also have a normal regular sized vents, 1 towards the bottom of the floor and then 1 towards the ceiling. I'm guessing for some airflow, I don't know. I would like to know if I could use the existing vents for my 3 hoses or if I should drill out 3 new holes? If I drill 3 new holes, I will have the 2 vents still letting air in and out. Should I put a magnet or something over them if I go that route? Thank you.

 

[readhead]

I’m guessing that you have a gas fired furnace and water heater. The two vents are for combustion air for those appliances. If that has changed then use the vents. If not then I would install new vents.

 

[smokedogg]

Thank you. Yes. Gas water heater. Is it then okay to block them when trying to cool down the garage? Or would you say never to block them?

 

[readhead]

They should not be blocked at any time. In your case you will be exhausting air with the grow tent which could deplete combustion air for the water heater. You need to replace the air that is going out somehow. Don't be thinking you can rob some of the cool air from the house. It's not an ideal setup with heated air being drawn in from the outside but you should leave the existing vents alone and install new vents for the new equipment. I think that AC unit is going to be overworked. Try it and see.