If you have ever walked around your home trying to find the source of a mysterious odor, the culprit might be hidden below your flooring. Keeping your crawl space dry is a challenge many homeowners face, especially in humid climates, but maintaining an ideal humidity level can make a difference in your home's overall health.
Crawl space exhaust fans are an excellent solution for circulating the air and ensuring optimal humidity levels. This crawl space exhaust fan buying guide will help you with this process, as a dry crawl space is a happy crawl space.
- What is a Crawl Space Exhaust Fan?
- Choosing the Right Crawl Space Exhaust Fan
- Installation and Maintenance
- Top Crawl Space Exhaust Fan Brands
- FAQs About Crawl Space Exhaust Fans
- Does My Home Need a Crawl Space Exhaust Fan?
What is a Crawl Space Fan?
Due to the typically cramped and small nature of crawl spaces, it's often difficult to guarantee a crawl space has proper ventilation on its own. A crawl space fan helps circulate fresh outside air into the crawl space and removes the stale, old air. This prevents the buildup of moisture, pollutants like soil gases, and odors from rising up and into your home and also decreasing the risk of mold and mildew growth and maintaining the integrity of wood pieces for a stable structure.
Adding a crawl space fan can also improve energy efficiency by helping to maintain a stable temperature in your home with less exertion from your HVAC system.
Take a look at our Crawl Space Fans: Types and Uses article to learn more about crawl space fans and the different types available.
Choosing the Right Crawl Space Fan
- Sizing: Choosing the best size fan for your crawl space ensures consistent airflow and noticeable results, as the capacity should match the requirements of the crawl space. If it's too small, the air may not be properly ventilated, while a too-large fan may consume excess energy. A larger or sectioned crawl space may require multiple fans do properly distribute the airflow. We recommend a professional to size your crawl space to ensure the best results.
- Climate Conditions: If you live in a humid climate, it's tough to make sure the crawl space is drier than the outside air. Adding a fan helps keep the ideal humidity levels, and many models include or work with a humidistat and thermostat to only run when the temperature is right, avoiding the problem of additional humidity entering the crawl space. Check for frost protection models if you live in a colder climate with frequent freezing conditions.
- Noise Level: Another factor to consider is the noise level of the fan, especially if the crawl space is close to any living areas. A fan running at 60 dB is similar to a conversation, while 30 dB is a whisper.
Installation and Maintenance
While some crawl space models allow DIY installation, a professional can guarantee secure and efficient operation. We highly recommend scheduling an appointment with a professional to evaluate your crawl space, including proper sizing and placement recommendations, an ideal operation schedule, and ventilation system requirements.
Routine maintenance generally includes checking for any blockages or debris, cleaning the fan blades, and inspecting the overall condition of the fans. Scheduling a professional for annual or bi-annual inspections is highly recommended to guarantee the fans' longevity and optimal performance.
Top Crawl Space Fan Brands
Canarm exhaust fans are affordable and reliable ventilation solutions that create a negative-pressure environment that expels stale air while bringing in fresh air from the outside. The Canarm 12-in XFS12 1/12 HP Three-Speed Shutter Mounted Exhaust Fan features durable construction with quiet aluminum shutters. It provides up to 1,100 CFM at the highest speed and is easy to cycle through the speeds with the chain pull.
Made in America, Tjernlund crawl space fans are top-rated in reducing moisture in household crawl spaces and basements. The Tjernlund UnderAire V2D Crawl Space Ventilator is a crawl space vent fan with a humidistat that provides up to 220 CFM of air movement and a freeze-protected thermostat that doesn't allow this model to work under 40 degrees F.
Well-known for their array of ventilation systems, AC Infinity provides versatile solutions to ensuring a healthy crawl space, with both intake and exhaust fan options. The AC Infinity AIRTITAN T8 Crawl Space/Basement Exhaust Fan removes odors and pollutants in hard-to-control areas, including crawl spaces, attics, and garages, with a heavy-duty design, programmable controller, and quiet operation at 32 dB. The user-friendly AC Infinity AIRTITAN T8-N Crawl Space/Basement Intake Fan draws in fresh outside air while pushing out pollutants, odors, and more with a programmable controller and dehumidistat control.
FAQs About Crawl Space Fans
Why do I need ventilation in a crawl space?
While crawl space fans bring in outside air to better control humidity levels in the space, the old, humid air has to leave somehow. Crawl space ventilation is necessary for an air exchange to improve the air quality.
How many vents should a crawl space have?
A larger space requires multiple fans for proper ventilation. After calculating the approximate size of your crawl space and consulting with a professional, you may need various crawl space fans to circulate air throughout the entire space properly.
How much ventilation does a crawl space need?
Figuring out how to calculate crawl space ventilation can give you an idea of the optimal airflow needed for your specific space. To determine an approximation of how much CFM you need, multiply the square footage by the height to get the cubic feet measurement, then divide that number by 15. A professional will give a better measurement with recommendations on how many fans you may need.
Should crawl space vents always be closed?
Yes, keeping your crawl space vents closed is in your best interest. Otherwise, open vents are an invitation for insects and rodents, as well as unwanted outside air which can increase the risk of freezing pipes in winter.
Does My Home Need a Crawl Space Exhaust Fan?
Keeping an eye on your crawl space conditions can help pinpoint potential issues before they turn into serious problems. Visible signs include musty odors, wood rot or decay, and visible mold growth. Adding a crawl space ventilator fan brings fresh air into a humid area, helping keep the air, preventing such outcomes.
Still trying to find the best crawl space foundation vent fan for your home? Call our team of product experts at 1-800-934-9194. We want to help you ensure your home's health at all levels.
