How to Install a Foundation Vent

How to Install a Foundation Vent

Foundation vents are also important. Today, homes have become more insulated and air tight due to the improvement of construction and its materials through the years. Humidity is therefore trapped and can cause problems in the house. Our daily task such as taking cooking, laundry, and even simple showers help create moisture that over time can attract termites and cause those musty odors, attracts mold, mildew and then rot on the subfloor.

Ventilating the crawl space in the structure’s foundation is the quickest solution. This way, water vapor in the soil can escape into the atmosphere. That water vapor can collect under your foundation. This moisture can cause damage to the subfloor wood without the proper foundation vent.

Though there are several methods used in preventing excess moisture from gathering in your foundation, the best and most practical is the installation of foundation vents.

Installing foundation vents in new structures;

1. The local building codes have recommendations on how many foundation vents are necessary in crawl spaces. But most building codes recommend one square foot of ventilation per 150 square feet of crawling space in the foundation.

This means if your home is 2000 square feet, you will need to install 14 to 15 square feet of ventilation. You can now purchase your required number of vents from your local supplier. Get a vent and measure it. Though vent sizes can actually vary depending on the stock in your local store, the standard vent size is 4 inches by 10 inches. Try to purchase the nearest to one square foot per vent model.

2. To begin installing, select the best locations on the 2 by 12 rim joist that is between two subfloor joists. Mark and measure the opening just to fit the vents you have purchased.

3. Using a hand drill tool, drill a quarter-inch hole in one corner of the marked opening. Then slowly slip the blade of the hand jigsaw tool into the hole and begin cutting along the marked lines.

4. Then continue to cut out the remaining vent spaces throughout the foundation. Based on our standards, you will have one foundation vent in every 3rd or 4th bay. The bay is the 16 inches distance apart from each floor joist.

5. Slide in place a foundation vent into each open space. Once in place, nail the vents to the rim joists at each side and corner.

Installing foundation vents on existing concrete structure;

1. Mark and trace the vent size on the concrete wall where you will be installing the foundation vent. Seek assistance from another person to help by holding it in place. Use a level and measuring tape to make sure the outline you trace is even and parallel with the ground and sub-floor.

2. Begin cutting along the outline of the vent using a concrete chop saw hand tool, which can be rented at any equipment rental shop.

3. Then remove the concrete from the cutout. Sometimes, a hammer will do the trick to get it all out.

4. Position the foundation vent into the hole to make it fits. Use the saw to shave off a bit more around the edges if it is too tight. Remove the vent if it fits just right or is a little loose. It is better to get the opening a little too big than a little too small, since you will be using expanded foam to in the gaps.

5. To all the surface edges of the opening and along the outer edges of the vent, begin applying concrete adhesives.

6. Then position and insert the foundation vent to the opening. Fill the gaps with expanding foam to seal them.

7. Wipe clean excess adhesive and foam from the edges. Use a wet rag and a putty knife or trowel to clean off the excess.

8. It can be hazardous if you breathed the dust from concrete. Protect yourself by wearing mask when operating the chop saw on concrete and while you are working on your foundation vent.

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