Ventilation Question

[EmpiricalBrewer]

I am currently on a flat top electric stove, (attempting to) brewing extract batches. I was tossing around the idea of going with propane as my heating source and turning part of my garage into my brewery. Then as I got thinking I have a bonus room where my breaker box and hot water are. I would have no issue running water or power for an electric brewing system. My question is this: I realize their will be no fumes from the propane but is ventilation still needed/recommended? The room is not finished so the studs, insulation and floor joists are all exposed. I guess my concern is the steam/condensation in the room causing issues with the wood and insulation. There are two windows in that room that I could open. Thoughts or ideas on ventilation are appreciated.

 

[JoshuaW]

If you have windows, you can probably use a box fan for ventilation. But yes, you definitely want ventilation. Keep in mind you are boiling off maybe a gallon an hour. Would you want to just throw a gallon of wort in the air?

 

[itsnotrequired]

cheap approach is as josh recommended. try it and see how it works. if humidity is still an issue, you may be looking at additional fans, a hood, ducting, etc.

 

[MaxStout]

I am currently on a flat top electric stove, (attempting to) brewing extract batches. I was tossing around the idea of going with propane as my heating source and turning part of my garage into my brewery. Then as I got thinking I have a bonus room where my breaker box and hot water are. I would have no issue running water or power for an electric brewing system. My question is this: I realize their will be no fumes from the propane but is ventilation still needed/recommended? The room is not finished so the studs, insulation and floor joists are all exposed. I guess my concern is the steam/condensation in the room causing issues with the wood and insulation. There are two windows in that room that I could open. Thoughts or ideas on ventilation are appreciated.

Yes, there will be fumes from propane. Those burners do not produce complete combustion. You could generate dangerous levels of CO if not properly vented. Propane in the garage is OK if you have a door open for ventilation, but I would not recommend operating a propane burner inside a house.

As for water vapor, having windows open will help reduce condensation. It might help to put a box fan in the window to draw the moist inside air outside.

 

[JB_Brewing2]

Steam will definitely impact the R-value of your insulation. Best to cover the insulation and studs with a continuous vapor barrier of plastic sheeting and tape the seams. If you have any combustion from your water heater or furnace, not only should you ventilate over the steam producing area, but you should also consider make-up air to avoid drawing in carbon monoxide from your gas-burning appliances.

 

[mongoose33]

The big problem w/ excess moisture and insulation (and the folks above are right) is that once that moisture condenses within the insulation it's not going away. This means that not only is the insulating value greatly reduced, but it may initiate decay in the wood members of the walls/ceiling.

I've brewed twice in my garage and both times I opened doors to ventilate. The box fan in the window idea is a good one to try.

 

[itsnotrequired]

the volume of the room plays a role in this as well. is this some small 10'x10' room? or a giant, wide-open basement? condensation problems are magnified in smaller spaces. some folks report great success with open windows and a couple fans, others have said it was a disaster and they had to put in beefier ventilation. insulation in the room, relative humidity, all this stuff plays a role in how well it will ventilate.

 

[EmpiricalBrewer]

I am not exactly sure the dimensions of the room but 10x10 is not far off. It has two full size windows on the one wall. Two box fans drawing air out would most likely aid in keeping the condensation moisture down. I think my biggest concern is the floor overhead with the steam/evaporation from the boil, directly over the pot. Perhaps a plastic liner on the ceiling above the pot?

 

[itsnotrequired]

a liner/shield can be helpful but consider condensation and runoff. if the shield has a low point above your boil pot, moisture can condense on the shield and drip into your pot!