I am in the process of designing my brewing set up for my basement and had a question about ventilation. I have read several threads about vent hoods and exhaust fans and I was wondering how necessary the vent hood is. Would having an exhaust fan with a vent in the ceiling over my boil kettle, similar to those found in bathrooms, have the same effect?
Vent hood needed for basement brewery?
- Thread starter Velinos
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Unless you are in a dry room with lots of external ventilation, its necessary. Assuming you are doing a 5 gal batch, you will dump about 1.5 gallons of water into the local atmosphere. That will lead to condensation in more places than you might expect.
+1
There is a reason you see all those threads on venting. You need something powerful
I do not disagree about ventilation being necessary. My question was about the vent hood. Do I need the big piece of metal hanging down from the ceiling or would I get the same effect from having a 400 CFM fan mounted in the ceiling over the kettle with a grill over it? The reason I ask this question is because I am planning to do an E-BIAB setup and my ceiling will be just over 7', so vertical space is at a premium.
My apologies, I was led astray by the "similar to those found in bathrooms" part of your question - made me think you were tyring to get away with a bathroom fan. I think that could work. I know someone on here has a 6" fan with a 6" to 8" reducer that just hangs above the kettle area at a slight angle. Would that be an option?
Found it
dyqik
Well-Known Member
I'm just using a shallow (5" or so) plastic storage tote upside down over the kettle with a 4" to 6" duct reducer to a 6" fan inserted in a hole in one side. $7 at Kmart for the "hood", and it's clear plastic so doesn't block the light too much.
I saw this somewhere and I'm considering using this or something like it for mine. I'm sure I'll use better material, but there isn't anything wrong with this version.
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dmcman73
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This is what I have, a rectangular box inlet mounted to the wall just above the kettle opening (i have to move it up a bit as i just installed bigger kettles) and it's attached a 6 inch fan with a variable speed controller, works great. When the fan is on full blast, it sucks off all of the steam rising from the kettle with no issues, I can hold my hand just above it as the boil is going and not feel any heat or moisture.
I did it this way after reading a few posts of people with hoods above the kettle stating that during the boil, moisture was collecting on the hoods and dripping back into the kettles.
I did it this way after reading a few posts of people with hoods above the kettle stating that during the boil, moisture was collecting on the hoods and dripping back into the kettles.
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Even without a deep condensate hood, this 300cfm kitchen exhaust hood works well. I might add a deeper hood to it and see how things go. Have noticed that the grill over the fan does drip every 20 minutes or so, but a quick swipe with a towel works.
Even without a deep condensate hood, this 300cfm kitchen exhaust hood works well. I might add a deeper hood to it and see how things go. Have noticed that the grill over the fan does drip every 20 minutes or so, but a quick swipe with a towel works.
Definitely yes on the vent
OP, if you read the directions on a bathroom vent you will see them direct you to keep the vent 3' away from the shower. Obviously you'd be using it for brewing and not a shower. I think their intent is to keep it away from water splashing and possibly high volume moisture. I know that every so often you need to pull the cover and clean them because it pulls moisture and dust and when the two combine you get clogging.
So what have you come up with so far?
So what have you come up with so far?
SleepyCreekBrews
Well-Known Member
These work well https://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=418665 , and realistically, you really only need it over the boil kettle.
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