#8,139 in Tools & Home Improvement
Reddit mentions of Energy Efficient Crawl Space Vent
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Reddit mentions: 1
We found 1 Reddit mentions of Energy Efficient Crawl Space Vent. Here are the top ones.
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Energy efficient vent includes summer screen and winter sealer plate.Increases crawl space air flow by over 50%, aids and assists in reducing moisture.Crawl space vent can be installed, insulated and sealed from the outside of your home.Helps prevent pipes from freezing. Saves energy and helps to keep your crawlspace warm.Easy to use: open and close from the exterior. Keeps rodents and mice out.
Specs:
I just spent the last two months bringing my crawlspace up to spec and redoing my plumbing down there.
I had the really old and really rusted shut sliding style vents.
I upgraded to these: http://www.amazon.com/Energy-Efficient-Crawl-Space-Vent/dp/B002EBTTEG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1415460992&sr=8-1&keywords=crawlspace+vents
Super easy to close with the included piece of plastic from the outside. And all the install work can be done from the outside of the house if need be.
The only problem was the netting on them has quite large holes. So I cut some screen material and hot glued it from behind to keep small bugs out.
On your automatic ones, make sure you spray them with some WD-40 to keep them moving freely. Check to make sure they close at low temperatures/humdity.
If not, go to Lowes and buy a sheet of rigid foam insulation (not styrofoam style where you can see the individual beads) and cut them to fit in from behind. If you get a snug enough fit, that should be enough for Virginia.
If it's hard to get a snug fit, cut them a little less than a 1/2" smaller and then take some pipe foam and wrap the edges of the foam board to make a picture frame to it. That should give you a nice tight seal and help to block more of the air gaps.
You will read online an equal amount of people claiming you should vent your crawlspace as well as seal it completely. Whichever you eventually choose to do, the two biggest things to deal with in a crawlspace is moisture and cold air leakage.
Make sure your you keep an eye on your vapor barrier on the floor is in good condition to keep the wet soil from emitting moisture into the air. Check your vents and close them during long days of high humidity. And get some Great Stuff expanding foam and seal any and all cracks in the foundation that you can. Go down in there on a bright sunny day and make it as dark as possible to help spot light coming thru. When it doubt if a crack or gap is leaking air, err on the side of filling it with foam.