Basement Exhaust Fan

To maintain proper ventilation and ensure fresh air in the basement is not at all a difficult or a challenging task. Certain things should be considered for a basement, like basement flooring, basement ventilation and basement waterproofing. Though a basement has few and small windows for air to pass through, but still it can be made odor free by ensuring proper ventilation. For this you can think of installing exhaust fans for basements that are successful in circulating air and for keeping the basement free of musty odor and chemical fumes. You don't have to worry about how to install a basement exhaust fan because here are some simple steps that would make your job easier. First gather the required materials for the installation.

Material Required

• Exhaust fan and vent
• Protective goggles
• Pencil
• Drill
• Saw
• Caulking gun
• Carpenter's square and level
• Latex caulk
• Fiberglass insulation
• Screwdriver and screw

After collecting the required materials, follow the step-by-step instructions given below to install the fan for basement.

Necessary Steps to Follow

Before starting anything, buy the fan and vent system from a hardware store. To know the suitable size of the fans for basements follow this equation, fan size = square footage * 1.1 and make sure that the CFM, that is the cubic feet per minute rating is either higher or of the same number. CFM measures the amount of air that the fan will be producing. The volume of passing air will be greater if the CFM is higher. Now let us start the installation which is a very important aspect of basement construction.

Identify the Location
Once you have the fan, look for a suitable location for the fan to fit in. The best location for the fan is near the furnace. It should be placed at a reasonable height from the ground. With the help of a carpenter's square, level and pencil, draw a square where you want to fit in your vent on the wall. Before going out to check the location and to identify the direction of the flow of air from the basement, drill a hole for reference.

Install the Fan
After you have found a suitable location for the fan, start drilling holes along with the lines of the square drawn on the wall. Make sure that you wear the safety goggles to protect your eyes from the dust during the drilling process. With the help of a saw, cut along the holes to get a large space where you can fit in your exhaust fan. Now adjust the fan in the space and mount the fan on the wall using your screwdriver and the screw that were given along with the fan.

Install the Exhaust Vent
For installing the exhaust vent you need to go out and look for the reference holes on the outside wall of the fan. Follow the instructions given along with the vent and install it accordingly. Seal the vent from outside by using caulking gun and latex caulk. To stop the insects, vermin and cold wind from entering into the basement, it is always recommended to seal it with fiberglass insulation.

Connect to Electricity
Last, but not the least, after installing the fan for the basement connect it to the electric source. For this, switch off the main source of power that is, the circuit box and bring the wires from the fan to the switch board. Using insulation tape, secure all the wires. Now switch on the main power source and check the fan. Make sure that the fan is functioning in a proper manner.

The exhaust fan is a must for the places that have gas water heaters or gas furnaces that requires circulation of air for freshness as well as safety. By just installing a fan in your basement, you can keep the area free of the airborne factors. As it has to be connected to the electric source, so special care has to be taken while installing it. You can also use basement dehumidifiers to get rid of the humidity and bad odors.