Information Center — Proper Ventilation

Do Garage Exhaust Fans Work?   In some garages, you may smell exhaust or start to feel ill even if fans are visibly operating. This naturally leads to the question of whether the fans actually work! However, the fans aren't the problem in situations like this. The problem is that the ventilation system was not properly configured for the space. In order to get enough fresh air from fans, they have to be powerful and numerous enough to exchange the air frequently. Make Sure to Bring in Fresh Air One common problem is that ventilation system installers focus on the idea...

What is the Best Fan for a Garage?   When thinking of which garage fans you need, the first thing to consider is the type of garage you have. This will typically determine things like the amount of fresh air the space would normally get, and therefore, how much artificial ventilation must be added. Ventilating an Auto Repair Garage Large and medium-sized auto repair garages often don't get enough ventilation just from opening their doors. This is especially true in buildings that don't have an open bay door for each bay. In some garages, there is only a single door at...

How Big of an Exhaust Fan Do I Need for My Garage?   If you walk into your garage and smell fumes, start feeling faint, start feeling nauseous, or otherwise suffer ill effects, it's a sure sign that the area has inadequate ventilation. The next question is how big of a fan you'll need to bring in enough fresh air and clear out enough exhaust. In order to answer this question, you must consider several factors that go into proper exhaust fan sizing. To make this easier, Exhaust Fans Direct provides a handy calculator, which you can find by using the...

How Do I Ventilate My Garage?   Answering the question of how to ventilate a garage starts with considering the garage's unique characteristics. This will let you know how much ventilation you need and what must be done to bring it in. That said, one thing is certain, and that is that you'll almost surely need garage ventilation fans. The real question is how many and what type you require. Ventilating Smaller Garages Smaller garages can often be ventilated with just two fans. If you use just one garage exhaust fan, you won't get cross-ventilation. Then, it takes much longer to...

Where Should a Fan be Placed in a Garage?   If you're building or renovating a garage, one of the things you will need to know is where to put the ventilation fans. The answer depends on things like whether the garage is above-ground or below, what the garage is being used for, and where the fans are physically able to go. Here are some things to consider when deciding on the details of your fan installation plan: If the Garage is a Stand-Alone Building Many auto mechanics have stand-alone buildings with all four walls leading directly to the outside. In...