Air Ventilation w/out Hood

[TBC27]

I recently purchased an induction burner (https://www.webstaurantstore.com/av...ooker-208-240v-3500w/177IC3500 208*240.html) and plan to brew indoors, at least during the winter. I froze my ass off brewing in the garage today!

My last hurdle is ventilation. There is no feasible way for me to install a hood. So I was hoping to see what others do to help push all the steam outside during the boil. The room I will be brewing in is in the basement and has 2 storm windows that open.

My thought was to mount a fan to the wall near/above where I will use the induction burner and then put another fan in one of the storm windows to create a draft. Has anyone done something similar? What fans, specifically, are you using?

 

[TBC27]

here is my beer room. The induction burner will sit by the sink and I was thinking I’d put a fan in the window in the middle of the picture.

 

[Deemer]

I’ve been thinking about induction. Dont know much about it. I’ve read of a magnet sticks to your pot your golden. Been thinking about it myself

 

[moshmont]

Go for the fan in the middle window. Should be no problem, I have 2 of the same burners in a small utility room & I use a window fan on slow speed without any trouble. If you check around, there are some places online that have twin fan units with dampers made to fit those basement windows.

 

[JONNYROTTEN]

I don't see you plan working. There is no way a fan blowing from the sink to a fan by the window will suck out the steam. The first fan will blow the steam all over the room. Steam not going to damage anything but youll most likely get drip marks on the walls from the steam.

I would set up a hood and inline fan. cut a hole in the ceiling and run the tube out the box beam so you don't need to mess with cutting the foundation. Looks like a nice room to brew in and your in it for the long haul but if you get out of the hobby its just a small sheetrock repair. The siding you could put a dryer plate over the hole and it will look like any other house

 

[wilserbrewer]

I use two fans in my basement without issue.

One small 10 inch desktop fan is aimed above the kettle to disperse the steam into the room air, and a window fan ventilates the entire room.

A window fan moves a lot of air and will effectively ventilate the room. You may have a little bit of humidity during the boil, but running the fans 20-30 minutes post boil clears the room very well.
I already owned the fans so I figured I would try it, and it is so easy and works well I haven’t bothered to improve it with a hood or ducting.

Also, a low rolling boil is plenty, you don’t need the boil jumping out of the kettle creating huge steam clouds.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/9-in-Tw...MI7MjuuLS02AIVw7jACh0wzQalEAQYByABEgLUtvD_BwE
“Circulates up to 1400 cfm” that’s a lot of air movement

https://www.buyvpc.com/_p_10543.html?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIsqHt6LS02AIVleNkCh3omAl0EAQYDSABEgIfmPD_BwE

Why can’t you set up the kettle in front of one of the windows?

 

[Dcpcooks]

I’m assuming your making 5 gallon batches. Induction burners are limited in output for larger batch sizes. Do you have a 240 line in that room for the unit?

You can lower your boil off rate and try to utilize the fans. I little cross draft will help a lot. I would also move the pot close to the window for brew day.

There is a thread on here about a condenser set up that uses a cold water mist to condense steam into a liquid and then you drain off the condensed steam and the cooling liquid. It appears to work and may be just what your looking for.

I installed a hood in my basement and it was expensive. Very effective but expensive. I brew 1/2 bbl batch size on a three vessel set up so a hood was my best option.

 

[mongoose33]

This may not be something that works for you, but perhaps it might spur an idea or two?

I brew in my garage in the winter; boiling off 1 gallon-plus during the boil is not something I want inside, as the garage walls are insulated. I ginned up the setup below, drawing off almost all the steam using a poor-man's "exhaust hood."

It only works well if I crack the service door about 2" to allow for makeup air, and to combat the entry of cold air by using a small propane heater just inside that door to heat up the makeup air.

BTW, I've put my hand on the wooden bench next to the burner; slightly warm to the touch, so I'm not concerned with starting a fire.

 

[JONNYROTTEN]

There is a thread on here about a condenser set up that uses a cold water mist to condense steam into a liquid and then you drain off the condensed steam and the cooling liquid. It appears to work and may be just what your looking for.

I remember when that thread came out. He was still tweaking it weeks or more later. Did he ever get it working to the point of others doing it? I could use it

 

[gromitdj]

I remember when that thread came out. He was still tweaking it weeks or more later. Did he ever get it working to the point of others doing it? I could use it

There seems to be some success. Even a few online retailers are starting to offer kits...

Boil kettle condenser - no overhead ventilation needed

 

[Dcpcooks]

Yep that’s the thread^^^^. I think somebody borrowed his hard work and is selling a kit now. Hope they send BrunDog some love!