Kicking the skirting venting dead-horse, again
Posted: Sun Jul 07, 2019 1:37 pm
I am continuing to research venting requirements as I try to complete my planning for skirting (and other) work.
I recently learned that I need to keep my interior humidity levels at no more than 50%. I'd thought that it was OK to be slightly higher, but apparently not... Anyway, the reason I'm mentioning this is because I am struggling to drop interior humidity levels: I just replaced my bathroom fans with 75 cfm from 50 cfm, and have a couple of small (too small?) dehumidifiers running. Belly wrap has several openings (damage) that I will be repairing, so, hopefully, that'll help. Humidity levels inside fluctuate quite a bit because outside humidity levels fluctuate a LOT: it's really wet here!
I've noticed that, obviously, if I have windows open (to help cool things down- summer months) when outside humidity levels are high that interior humidity levels shoot up. It is this obvious situation that got me to once again think about venting on skirting...
By having venting in my skirting I am allowing the outside air to bring in humidity, similar to the affects of inside humidity levels when when opening windows.
Based on the following readings it appears that I should look to close off venting during the cooling months (summer up here) and open up during the heating months (winter):
https://inspectapedia.com/ventilation/C ... ndards.php
https://www.buellinspections.com/vented ... northwest/
https://www.buellinspections.com/rainin ... he-winter/
https://www.gcienergyconsultants.com/to ... -question/
I am tempted to have swapable access doors on either end of the building, ones that are solid (metal) to be installed during the summer months, and ones that are fully screened to be installed during the winter months. We have a wood stove, which brings in air from under the house, so for sure venting is required (in order to allow a pull of air) for that. With these two access doors I figure roughly 12 ft-sq of venting, which willll pretty much come close to matching the existing venting that's been in place: difference, however, will be that venting will ONLY be at the ends, rather than spread around the perimeter; I'd think that, however, the larger openings would create a pretty good flow.
I recently learned that I need to keep my interior humidity levels at no more than 50%. I'd thought that it was OK to be slightly higher, but apparently not... Anyway, the reason I'm mentioning this is because I am struggling to drop interior humidity levels: I just replaced my bathroom fans with 75 cfm from 50 cfm, and have a couple of small (too small?) dehumidifiers running. Belly wrap has several openings (damage) that I will be repairing, so, hopefully, that'll help. Humidity levels inside fluctuate quite a bit because outside humidity levels fluctuate a LOT: it's really wet here!
I've noticed that, obviously, if I have windows open (to help cool things down- summer months) when outside humidity levels are high that interior humidity levels shoot up. It is this obvious situation that got me to once again think about venting on skirting...
By having venting in my skirting I am allowing the outside air to bring in humidity, similar to the affects of inside humidity levels when when opening windows.
Based on the following readings it appears that I should look to close off venting during the cooling months (summer up here) and open up during the heating months (winter):
https://inspectapedia.com/ventilation/C ... ndards.php
https://www.buellinspections.com/vented ... northwest/
https://www.buellinspections.com/rainin ... he-winter/
https://www.gcienergyconsultants.com/to ... -question/
I am tempted to have swapable access doors on either end of the building, ones that are solid (metal) to be installed during the summer months, and ones that are fully screened to be installed during the winter months. We have a wood stove, which brings in air from under the house, so for sure venting is required (in order to allow a pull of air) for that. With these two access doors I figure roughly 12 ft-sq of venting, which willll pretty much come close to matching the existing venting that's been in place: difference, however, will be that venting will ONLY be at the ends, rather than spread around the perimeter; I'd think that, however, the larger openings would create a pretty good flow.