Range hood for whole-house ventilation?
dsmcn
| Posted in GBA Pro Help on
Zone 4A. Whole house ventilation requirement is 67 CFM. Windows open 6 months/year during shoulder seasons. Range hood exhausts 250 CFM and is connected to a makeup air duct with damper (air is delivered through MERV filter to a central stairwell/atrium for maximum mixing). Q: could I not add a controller that turns the range hood on 1 hour six times/day?
Note: open floor plan so exhaust would draw from most of house.
If yes, can anyone suggest a controller for the range hood exhaust?
GBA Detail Library
A collection of one thousand construction details organized by climate and house part
Search and download construction details
Replies
David,
I'm sure that you could implement your plan with an inexpensive 24-hour timer (available from any electrical supply house).
I don't think it's a particularly good idea, however, for two reasons:
1. Range hood fans are noisy.
2. You'll be ventilating at a very high rate, followed by a period of time with no ventilation at all. This stop-and-go approach is more likely to lead to occupant complaints than using a quiet Panasonic exhaust fan, sized for your ventilation needs, operating for 24 hours a day.