Cellar ventilation: features of the arrangement, schemes, equipment used. Ventilation in the cellar

The cellar is a brilliant invention of man, which can be put on a par with the invention of penicillin and automatic washing machines. Thanks to the presence of this underground room, a person was able not only to grow a crop, but also to preserve it. A special shape, a thick layer of earth above its top and proper ventilation of the cellar created a special microclimate, in which almost all year round it kept the same temperature and humidity. The correct microclimate did not allow human agricultural stocks to deteriorate, as in the heat of summer and in the most severe winters. And ventilation plays an important, and perhaps the main role in this.

Basement and cellar: purpose and main differences

We want to make a reservation right away that the cellar and basement are completely different rooms, with different tasks. The basement is called the basement of the building, which is part of the house. This floor can be used as a storage room for any supplies, various things, sports and tourist equipment. In the basements, many owners of private houses equip, and gyms.

Advice:
The higher the exhaust pipe, the better the draft, and, accordingly, the ventilation in the cellar. If the underground storage is not part of the basement of the house, then the issue of fixing the exhaust pipe becomes quite acute. It can be secured with stretch cables, with lanyards installed on each for tensioning. The simplest and most effective way to fix the air duct is to enclose it in a wooden insulated box, which is fixed in the ground with concrete.

Calculation of the cross-section of air ducts and selection of fan power

For effective ventilation of an underground storage, it is necessary that the air ducts can pass the required amount of air masses through themselves, and this depends on their diameter. How to find out what cross-section of air ducts is needed to equip an effective cellar ventilation system with your own hands? There are two ways to find out the exact diameter of the air ducts:

Order a calculation in the relevant organization. This will give you a guarantee that all calculations will be made correctly. True, this procedure is not the cheapest and for the calculation you will need to pay an amount that may exceed the cost of organizing the entire cellar.
Perform the calculations yourself, while you have to remember the arithmetic, but it will be absolutely free. Which way to choose is up to you.

In order to do the ventilation of the cellar with our own hands, we need to know the volume of the room for storing food and the frequency of air exchange. The recommended air exchange (how many times the air in the cellar is changed) is from 2 to 4, depending on the products stored in it.

To find out the volume of a room, you need to multiply its length by the width and height. Consider a cellar with dimensions of 2 m x 3 m x 2.5 m = 15 m3
To find out the amount of air passed per hour, you need to multiply the volume of the cellar by the recommended air exchange rate. Consider the average value of 3. As a result, we get that in 1 hour 15 cubic meters x 3 = 45 cubic meters should pass through the cellar

We find the cross-sectional area of air ducts using the following formula:

F = L / (S x 3600)

S- recommended air speed
L- air flow.

In our case, the speed of air flow is 1 m/s. (norm for natural ventilation).

We get the cross-sectional area of the duct:

45 / (1 m / s x 3600) \u003d) 0.0125 sq.m

We calculate the radius data of a round pipe:

R=√(F/π)

R- duct radius (mm)
F- section of the air duct (mm.kv)
π - constant = 3.14

Based on the data, we get:

√ (0.0125 / 3.14) = 0.063 sq.m.

The radius of the round duct we need must be at least 125 mm

Now let's move on to calculating the performance of the exhaust fan. You can use a simplified method. To do this, you need to multiply the volume of the room by 12. In our case, this is 15 cubic meters x 12 = 180 cubic meters / hour. The performance of the exhaust fan for the cellar, with an area of 6 square meters, with a ceiling height of 2.5 meters, is 180 cubic meters per hour.

We equip the cellar ourselves

Many people ask: "How to make ventilation in the cellar?" Now that all the calculations have been made, the money has been saved, we proceed to the purchase of air ducts and equipment. To install a combined ventilation system, we need:

The required amount of PVC pipe, with a diameter of 125 mm.
One end tee for condensate drain.
One brass or plastic stopcock for tapping into the end tee.
Fasteners for a pipe.
Exhaust fan, capacity 180 m3/h. Important! The fan is installed inside the exhaust pipe, so look for a model that will fit the diameter of your ducts.
The required amount of wire, with a cross section of at least 1.5 mm2, plug.
Round air intake grille with a diameter of 125 mm - 2 pcs.
Metal mesh, from the penetration of rodents into the cellar 15 cm x 15 cm.
Deflector. Buying a deflector is optional. It serves to increase the draft in the exhaust duct in the event of a power outage and the fan stops.

It is somewhat easier to ventilate in an underground food storage room, which is located under the house. Moreover, all calculations remain the same, but it is easier to fix the air ducts. Exhaust - should go through the basement, and pass from the outside of the house. The height of the exhaust pipe should be 0.5 m higher than the roof ridge.

Master's advice:
Before installing the exhaust pipe, install a fan in it and secure it with standard fasteners.

Using our tips, we hope that you will easily equip your underground storage with the right ventilation system.

People who are engaged in their household know how much physical strength and time it takes. I want to store a rich harvest from my land carefully and for a long time, so that nothing is lost, and titanic work was not in vain. Such people are thinking about how to make a hood in the cellar with their own hands. It does not spend a lot of effort and money, and such a thing as a cellar is very useful in the household.

In fact, there is nothing complicated about this. The main thing is that clean air enters and exits the cellar, creating the necessary circulation of air masses in a confined space. Otherwise, with strong room humidity, the products will rot, mold, fungi and pathogenic microorganisms may appear.

Therefore, a properly functioning ventilation system in your cellar will prevent such phenomena.

Piping layout for efficient ventilation

The supply pipe should be placed so that its end is at a distance of 20-30 centimeters from the cellar floor. The upper end of the pipe is located on the surface at the base of the soil. You don't need to lift it very high. It is important that it is located in a ventilated place and air can easily get there.

The exhaust pipe must be placed at the other end of the cellar, the lower part of the pipe is located on the contrary at the top, 20 - 30 centimeters above the ceiling and goes to the roof. It is important that the exhaust pipe is insulated, as condensation can form on it, which increases the humidity in the room. This arrangement will keep the ceiling dry. And the location at different ends of the room will allow air to pass through the entire cellar. If you install an exhaust pipe below 30 cm, the ceiling will be damp and mold or fungus will form on it.

In addition, it is necessary to fence off the pipes from the penetration of moisture, insects, rodents, birds and other debris that can enter the cellar through the pipe. To do this, the end of the supply and exhaust pipes located on the street are closed with a grate.

Optionally, instead of a grill, you can use a device called a deflector. The deflector is installed on the end of the exhaust pipe facing the street and provides greater protection against the penetration of moisture into the cellar, and in strong winds, due to pressure, air will escape from the pipe faster, which will enhance ventilation in the cellar.

About how to properly make a hood in the cellar, you need to take care even before the start of construction in order to avoid unwanted mistakes.

If, however, you are building with two pipes, do not place them close to each other, otherwise the air entering from one hole will immediately exit the other and the ventilation of the cellar will be minimal. Please note that both pipes are the same size. A mismatch can cause indoor air to stagnate, creating the perfect atmosphere for decay. Before starting construction, you should have a cellar ventilation scheme in order to calculate everything in advance, think over and avoid mistakes.

Cellar ventilation with one pipe

The only conditions that are necessary for ventilation with one pipe is a small cellar area. A large room will not be able to ventilate properly with only one pipe and problems will begin.

Scheme for organizing simple cellar ventilation: two pipes are built into one pipe

For such ventilation, they take a pipe divided into two compartments, through which air enters from one shade and exits from another. It is extremely important to place ventilation in such a place that it is well blown by the wind, otherwise even for a small cellar one pipe will not be enough. Therefore, an exhaust scheme in the cellar is necessary in order to sort out and measure everything in advance.

After installing the hood, the air circulation is checked. For example, you can smoke a room and see how quickly the air is cleared. You can also attach sheets of paper to different ends of the pipe - one sheet should fit snugly, since air escapes through it and it blocks the process, and the other sheet, on the contrary, cannot fit snugly.

Perfume in the cellar

The extract device in the cellar is able to maintain optimal air humidity (90%) and eliminate high humidity. But if such a situation occurs when water gets inside the cellar and the humidity is increased, it is necessary to correct this.

Organization of condensate collection in the cellar ventilation system

Only one ventilation here will not save the situation. Proper waterproofing of the walls and floor of the cellar is necessary. And if necessary, install a tank with a tap to collect condensate on the ventilation pipe.

To do this, containers are placed in the cellar with substances that can absorb moisture from the air - rice, salt (coarse grinding), lime. Even special adsorbents are sold for such purposes. If there is a lot of water, then it is necessary to pump it out first, and only then put adsorbents to remove residual moisture in the cellar.

Install an alcohol thermometer to monitor air humidity. So you will control changes in air humidity. And if the cellar is large, put two - at different ends of the room.

Exhaust fan

The essence of its installation is to forcibly increase ventilation in the room. The fan is installed inside the exhaust duct. Thus, increasing the removal of air to the outside and, accordingly, increasing the flow of air into the accessory pipe. The cellar hood must be efficient and keep food fresh for as long as possible.

Fan power is selected according to the size of the room. Too powerful a fan will create too much draft and cool the food too much.

You can install two fans in both pipes, but for this you need to consult a specialist, because for large and complex rooms, you need to specially calculate and think over everything so that the hood in the cellar is as efficient as possible.

How to determine the correct pipe diameter

With a simple design of the room, it is possible to calculate the required diameter for ventilation of the cellar yourself. You need to know that for one square meter you will need 26 square centimeters of ventilation.

Thus, we multiply the area of \u200b\u200bthe room by 26 square centimeters and get a number that must be divided by 3.14. The resulting number is the pipe diameter we need.

How to mount an exhaust pipe with your own hands

If a cellar was made first, and only then an exhaust device is installed in the cellar, then first you need to make a hole of the appropriate size. After that, install the pipe at the required distance from the ceiling.

Seal all gaps in cellar ventilation pipes

Make sure that after installing the hood there is no extra space left. If this happens, seal the gap tightly.

If the cellar is being built under the house, then the hood can be installed in the fireplace chimney. Thus, the difference in temperature will increase the output of ventilated air.

If the hood goes outside, then it should be much higher than the supply pipe.

What pipes are used to ventilate the cellar

Now there is a fairly large assortment of ventilation pipes, but asbestos-cement or polyethylene are most often used. Asbestos-cement because of the composition is much heavier than polyethylene, but both are equally durable. When installing polyethylene pipes, you may need to weld them, this may not work for everyone. Therefore, most often for the installation of polyethylene pipes they invite a specialist who will do this work.

If the question arises - “how to make the hood in the cellar yourself” there is nothing complicated. It is quite simple to do it yourself with minimal cost and time. Proper hood in the cellar will help the products to be stored for a long time and delight you on the table.

Cellar ventilation is an integral part of protecting the underground room from high humidity and mold. The right microclimate not only preserves food - it is also needed by the cellar itself, because under adverse conditions, the decoration and wall material are destroyed.

A cozy cellar where products are truly comfortable Source www.homify.ru

How cellar ventilation works

In the underground room, you need to maintain optimal humidity and temperature. These two parameters are controlled by the movement of air masses. Together with them, evaporated moisture is removed and unpleasant odors are eliminated.

Source pobudova.in.ua

The ventilation device in the cellar is based on the law from the school physics course. Any liquid or gas moves from an area of high pressure to low pressure. Temperatures are warmer outside and a little colder underground. Based on this, a pressure difference is created and the air is sucked into the room through the supply pipe, and then, with the help of the hood, it goes outside along the way, removing the smell and excess moisture.

By the same principle, wind appears in hot weather. The greater the pressure difference, the stronger the flow will be.

Device of ventilation systems

The principle of operation is quite simple. For its implementation, it is enough to bring and take-off channel through which convection is carried out.

Ventilation consists of 5 main elements Source pog.cetiloxa.ru.net

The whole system consists of 5 elements:

exhaust pipe;

protective nets (2, 6);

ventilation hole;

supply pipe;

fan with adjustable grilles.

There may be no electric motor, but it guarantees regular air circulation. If the arrangement is carried out for living space, then cleaning filters and heat exchangers are also used to increase comfort.

Powerful motor guarantees ventilation independence from air pressure fluctuations Source sv.decorexpro.com

house design

Requirements for the premises

The basement has the following requirements:

Lack of sunlight. In pitch darkness, there is less chance of microbial growth. Electric light turns on only when people are inside.

Temperature support. If vegetables and fruits are stored, the required temperature is from +2.5 to +10. Different conditions may be required for specific vegetables.

Constant air circulation. Thanks to this condition, moisture is controlled and unpleasant odors are removed.

Humidity 90%. This indicator is controlled by the force of the air flow with the help of grille flaps or by the power of the electric motor.

Emergency protection. Engineers must take care of the drainage of drainage water. As a rule, everything is solved by installing a pump to drain water.

Disinfection. Since the premises are not in regular use, it is necessary to carry out sanitization once a year.

Failure to comply with the conditions for the premises leads to the destruction of the cellar Source samstroy.com

Ventilation in the cellar with two pipes provides all the necessary conditions. If its efficiency is not enough, then you can increase the efficiency with the help of additional motors and fans. As a rule, they are installed in rooms larger than 40 sq. meters. Also add. traction is necessary when arranging living rooms in the basement.

In winter, the temperature difference reaches its maximum difference. Therefore, a lot of condensate accumulates on the pipes, take care of a reservoir to collect the liquid.

Purchase of materials

The entire set for creating high-quality ventilation consists of the following components:

pipes a certain diameter;

adjustable dampers;

protective grids;

fan(if necessary);

umbrella for outdoor protection;

deflector(if necessary).

Often, all components can be purchased in one place. The builder who does the installation can usually recommend a suitable fan and baffle brand.

Pipes

Optimum hole size guarantees good airflow. The following formula is used for calculation:

S= cross-sectional area of the pipe

V= room volume

2,8 = constant value

W= flow velocity (2-3 m/s typ.)

From the cross-sectional area we find the diameter of the circle using the formula:

We transform the expression and get:

d= pipe diameter

P=area

π = Pi (3.14)

From the resulting number, the square root is found - now the diameter of the pipes is known.

An example of all calculations is given in SI units:

P(sq. m)

V(cubic meters)

W(m/s)

It is better to use plastic as a material. It flows well, is inexpensive, waterproof, and easy to install.

dampers

Adjustable dampers are installed on both pipes. They control the speed of the air flow and affect the humidity of the room. They close in winter and open in summer.

Source ozonair.ru

Fan

Nevertheless, for any basement, an electric motor will not interfere. It provides circulation in the summer. Due to the constant heat, the external and internal pressure stabilizes and therefore the movement stops. To restore, it is enough to turn on the electric motor.

Source idrogrow.com

This simple device is mounted on the external output holes. It creates reduced pressure and increases airflow. For the basement, you can install the cheapest one, it can replace the fan.

The deflector increases the pressure difference and increases the speed of the air flow Source kaluga.goodster.ru

To improve the efficiency of the system, it is recommended to adhere to the following recommendations:

Both air holes are located on opposite sides of the room.

Pipes must be of the same diameter and without bends.

On the openings inside the room, install grids with adjustable gates. Thanks to this, the traction force can be controlled.

To remove excess moisture, hang a box of coarse salt or lime in the middle of the room. These substances absorb water vapor well.

When arranging the basement of a residential building, you can adapt the system for all rooms of the building at once. To do this, the supply hole is made under the ceiling of the room and at floor level. Due to this, fresh air captures the entire volume of the room and then rushes into the underground.

Source vodakanazer.ru

Accordingly, the more rooms, the more difficult the design. If the layout is incorrectly drawn up, the movement of the air flow is disturbed. As a result, all ventilation does not work and only takes up free space, for proper operation it is necessary to carry out engineering calculations

Video description

With proper calculations, ventilation can be arranged without a fan. More in the video:

Stages of construction, terms and cost

As a rule, ventilation is planned simultaneously with the construction of the building, respectively, the following stages are present:

design and calculations;

setting.

Only 3 stages, and the design is carried out in conjunction with the calculations of the basement. All installation work takes no more than a week, and if the room is already ready, then no more than one day. At a cost, the system itself fits within 10,000 rubles. In some cases, the amount increases due to technical difficulties in construction.

Checking the quality of work

It is important to check 2 indicators:

oxygen enrichment.

Humidity level.

For detailed measurement, there is a multifunctional device: it immediately measures humidity, flow rate and other characteristics Source souz-pribor.ru

Professionals for verification can use special equipment to accurately measure indicators, but there are also popular methods:

Burning match

From the course of physics it is known that for combustion there must be a sufficient amount of oxygen in the air. If it is not enough, the flame will not ignite or will quickly go out.

We light a match and observe the process of its burning, which will show possible problems with ventilation. A weak flame corresponds to an increased content of carbon dioxide. To eliminate it, open the shutters of the gratings or increase the fan speed.

The flame will show the intensity of air exchange Source zen.yandex.ru

Glass of water

Humidity is an indication of the saturation of the gas with water particles. Accordingly, the ventilation system must maintain this indicator in the normal range. The easiest way to check is to leave a glass of cold water in the cellar for an hour.

Pour ice water into a glass mug, the outer surface of the container should fog up. We leave the structure for 15-30 minutes indoors. Over time, we observe the consequences:

The fogging has disappeared - the system functions correctly and is well calibrated.

The water was glassy and a puddle formed - ventilation is insufficient. The room has high humidity.

If the ventilation system did not cope with the test, then you need to take care of additional waterproofing. Cover the walls with slaked lime or place a container of coarse table salt indoors next to the air inlet.

If the test is successful, the ventilation has served for a long time Source plus.google.com

As a rule, the problem of high humidity occurs when the calculations and construction of the structure are incorrect. Often, self-builders suffer from a similar problem, because professionals know all the nuances and the likelihood of errors is stopped at the design stage.

artificial smoke

A somewhat extreme, but effective method that allows you to visually see the efficiency of air circulation with the help of smoke. Place a smoke bomb or other smoking object in a ventilated area. This test clearly shows how the air moves and where stagnation occurs.

Video description

For a detailed explanation of all the nuances of ventilation of the basement and cellar, see the video. It describes the principle of operation and all engineering calculations:

On our site you can find contacts of construction companies that offer the service of completing unfinished houses. You can directly communicate with representatives by visiting the exhibition of houses "Low-Rise Country".

Conclusion

The basement is a convenient place to store food. Regular air circulation creates a favorable microclimate, removes unpleasant odors and moisture. The system itself is inexpensive, but brings great benefits to its owners. The main thing here is a competent calculation and professional installation.

However, in order for the products to stay in it for a long time, it is necessary to ensure effective ventilation. In the article we will tell you how to properly make a hood in the cellar.

How it works?

Natural ventilation must necessarily have 2 pipes: supply and exhaust. It is best to use a galvanized or asbestos pipe when constructing a structure. It is also important to correctly calculate the diameter: 1 sq.m of the basement should be provided with 26 sq.m. see duct area.

Necessary for fresh air to enter the cellar. For greater efficiency, it must be installed in the corner, which is located on the opposite side from the installation site of the hood.

Important! Choose a place for installing the supply air duct so that it does not get clogged with snow in winter.

The supply air duct should be placed in such a way that its open end is at a distance of 40-60 cm from the floor. It should completely penetrate the floors and rise above the roof by about 80 cm.

Thanks to it, there will be an outflow of stale air from the cellar. It is recommended to install it along the corner so that the lower end is under the ceiling.
It should pass in a vertical position through the entire cellar, roof and go beyond it by 50 cm.

In order to collect less condensate or frost in the duct, it is insulated - another one is inserted into it, and the distance between them is filled with insulation.

Ventilation in a cellar with two pipes is carried out due to the different specific gravity of warm air inside and cold outside.

If there is a large temperature difference, there is a risk of a draft, which will lead to freezing of the cellar.
To prevent this, during construction, gate valves are used on the air ducts, which allow you to adjust the air circulation.

Types of systems

Today, two types of ventilation systems are installed: natural and forced. The choice of one or another option is influenced by the volume and layout of the basement.

Forced

The design of the forced system includes pipes, but in order to ensure forced air movement, fans are built into them.

Did you know? The need and benefits of ventilation have been known for centuries. However, then there were no special structures - just airing was carried out.

Typically, the installation site of the fan is the exhaust duct. With its help, it is possible to achieve an artificial vacuum in the cellar, thanks to which fresh air can enter the room through the inlet.

Depending on the volume of the cellar, fans of different capacities are selected. If the basement has complex configurations, fans are installed on both channels.
When constructing a forced exhaust, you cannot do without the help of a specialist who will help you correctly calculate the inflow and outflow of air flows, the diameters of the required air ducts and the power of the fans.

Natural

The main idea of creating a natural hood is to take into account the difference in pressure and temperature in the cellar and beyond. It is very important to correctly determine where the pipes will be located.
It is better to place the air inlet at a height of 25-30 cm from the floor, while the exhaust should not be lower than 10-20 cm from the ceiling. If you place it lower, dampness and mold will soon appear on the ceiling.

How to make calculations?

If you decide to make a hood in the cellar with your own hands, you should pay close attention to the calculations related to the diameters of the pipes.

When constructing professional ventilation, complex calculations and formulas are used that are inappropriate for a home-made design. We suggest that you familiarize yourself with the methodology that will be suitable for the construction of home-made ventilation.

Important! Be sure to cover the opening of the intake pipe with a metal mesh, as without it, rodents and insects can enter the cellar.

S=3x2=6 sq.m.

Given the ratio that we took as a basis, the cross-sectional area of the pipe channel will be:

T=6x26=156 sq.cm.

The radius of the ventilation duct is calculated by the formula:

R=√(T/π)=√(156/3.14)≈7.05 cm

D≈14cm=140mm.

If there is only supply ventilation (the exhaust is represented by a hatch), the cross section of the inlet pipe can be slightly increased - an air duct with a diameter of 15 cm is quite suitable.

To ensure efficient air exchange, it is recommended to install an exhaust pipe, the diameter of which is 10-15% larger than that of the inlet pipe.

For the exhaust duct, an air duct with the following diameter is suitable:

Dv \u003d Dp + 15% \u003d 140 + 21≈160 mm.

Installation of ventilation pipes

In this section, we will tell you how to properly ventilate the cellar and what you should pay special attention to.

Where to locate

The supply air duct is brought out from the surface of the earth. Its lower end should be located almost near the cellar floor, at a distance 20-30 cm.

To install the exhaust pipe, choose the opposite corner of the basement, carry it close to the ceiling. One of its ends is led through the ceilings to the roof.

To improve the efficiency of the ventilation design, use the following tip: place a deflector on the pipe above the roof surface.

By covering the pipe with a cap, you can create negative pressure, which will increase the efficiency of the ventilation system.

Did you know? In ancient Egypt, ventilation was first actively used. Pyramide Cheops has a huge number of air ducts.

Material selection

For the construction of the hood, the following materials are usually used:

Asbestos cement pipes are very similar to slate pipes, which is why they got the same name. Both materials are quite durable, have high reliability and strength. Installation of polyethylene pipes is easy to carry out independently.

Installation

When installing a ventilation system, pay attention to things like this:

When installing the system in an already finished cellar, you will need to make a special hole in the ceiling.
Through this hole it is necessary to lower the pipe into the basement - it will draw air. Fix it at the top, next to the ceiling.
The part of the pipe that is outside the room must be raised by at least 1500 mm above the ground or above the roof.
In the opposite corner of the basement, it is necessary to make a hole in the roof and install a supply pipe through it. It must end at a distance 20-50 cm from the floor.
The supply air duct must not protrude too much from the roof. It will be enough to raise it to 25 cm.
When installing the supply pipe in the wall, a deflector must be put on its outer end.
If the house has a fireplace or stove, the outlet pipe should be installed near the chimney.

Important! Improper ventilation or lack of it will lead to the formation of stale air, which is sure to seep into the house and can adversely affect people's health. To prevent this, regularly check the presence of traction.

There is nothing complicated in installing a ventilation system, the main thing is to follow all the rules and recommendations.

In order to maintain the cellar in good condition and store food in it for a long time, it is necessary to take care of the microclimate.
It is very important to maintain low humidity in the basement. To do this, it is necessary to periodically ventilate the room. In summer, it is recommended to keep the doors and shutters open. Gusts of warm wind will quickly dry the cellar.

To store vegetables in the basement, you need an appropriate microclimate, temperature - 2 ... 5 ° C, humidity - up to 90% (year-round). Exceeding these indicators leads to the formation of mold, rotting of root crops and fruits. To remove excess moisture and partially adjust the temperature regime, cellar ventilation is used - natural or forced. How to ventilate underground storage correctly, read on.

Air exchange and basement microclimate

In the basements of private houses, it makes no sense to arrange a forced exhaust. In most cases, the tasks set can be solved by natural ventilation in the cellar. To organize such air exchange, you need to understand what factors affect the microclimate inside the basement:

Soil temperature at a depth of 1.5-2 m. Depending on the region, this indicator varies from -3 to +10 degrees (in winter). That is, the cellars of the northern and southern regions must be insulated at the construction stage.
Cold air is denser and heavier than warm air, so it always sinks to the floor of the room. This movement of currents is called convection.
At the same temperature, more humid air is lighter than dry air and rises. That is why condensation drops hang from the ceiling, and the walls near the floor practically do not "sweat".
Air humidity depends on the proximity of groundwater and the external waterproofing of the walls. If insulation work was not carried out during the construction of the basement or basement, get ready to deal with dampness.
The temperature of the ventilation air supplied to the cellar from the street.

Waterlogged air tends to rise to the ceiling, which condenses

Reference. The relative mass of air molecules is 29 units, water vapor - only 18. Accordingly, the more moisture 1 cubic meter of air contains, the lighter it is. Example: if you open the door to a cold balcony in winter, then condensation will immediately appear on the ceiling (see photo above).

Now specifically about the ventilation device in the vegetable cellar. To organize the natural circulation of air currents, we use the phenomenon of convection. Action plan:

Choose a ventilation scheme. The task is to make the right hood from the upper zone of the basement and, of course, to ensure the flow of fresh air.
We carry out the calculation of air exchange, determine the diameters of the exhaust and supply pipes.
We select pipe material, install ventilation ducts.

A cellar under a residential building or garage, built without a project and external waterproofing, can become very damp in winter. Such storage facilities have to be dried in the summer - we will list the methods at the end of the publication.

Cellar ventilation schemes

To ventilate underground rooms, you can use 1 of 3 schemes:

classic system with one exhaust pipe;
scheme with two pipes - inflow and exhaust;
forced air exchange.

Single-pipe ventilation system - fresh air enters the storage through the door

The choice of option depends on the design of the basement, its location and other conditions. The 1-duct system shown in the picture is suitable for cellars with a separate exit to the street. How the scheme works in the cold season:

The temperature underground is always positive (if the basement is built correctly). Warmer and more humid air rises to the upper zone and goes outside through the vertical exhaust duct.
Cold air masses take its place - they seep through the supply holes in the door (hatch), then descend to the cellar floor.
As it warms up + humidifies, the air begins to lose weight, rises and is again thrown out through the pipe.

An important point. With a single-pipe scheme, the ventilation duct should be installed at the maximum distance from the front door, against the opposite wall. This ensures a complete renewal of the air environment of the room.

Summer kitchen basement ventilation scheme with outdoor pipes

The ventilation system with two pipes is used in cellars without a separate entrance - under private houses, garages and other outbuildings. The natural circulation of air masses is organized in a similar way, only the second vertical channel, which descends to the floor itself, serves as an inflow. Cold outside air descends through the supply duct, replacing the gases leaving the street.

Pipes are located in opposite corners of the vault and are removed in two ways:

in the ground outside the building;
right through the roof, as shown in the diagram of the ventilation of the garage with a cellar and a viewing hole.

In the first case, the head of the supply pipe is at the level of the basement, it is better to raise the exhaust shaft to a height of 2 m (counting from the intake hole in the basement). If the building is surrounded by other buildings and there is nowhere to bring the second channel out, the air duct is laid in the second way - on the roof. The end of the exhaust pipe rises above the ridge.

The layout of the ventilation ducts and the movement of air flows in the garage. The overflow pipe cannot be placed between the pit and the cellar

Note. Manufacturers of ready-made cellars made of plastic or concrete immediately provide for two-pipe ventilation. Channels go vertically through the ceiling of the vault, the hatch closes tightly.

Active air exchange with forced stimulation is organized according to a single-pipe or two-pipe scheme, the fan is placed on the exhaust duct. The operation of ventilation can be automated by connecting the blower to the mains through a thermostat. The device with a sensor will turn off the fan when the temperature drops below the set threshold. See the video for details:

How to calculate duct diameters

In order to equip the ventilation of a home cellar with your own hands, you need to find out the volume of supply air, then determine the cross section of the ventilation ducts. The amount of inflow is calculated by the weight of stored vegetables:

for every 100 kg of potatoes we supply 3.5 m³ of air in 1 hour;
100 kg of carrots, onions and other vegetables - 7.5 m³/h.

Note. If car parts and tires are stored in the basement of the garage, then a single air exchange for 1 hour is enough for ventilation. That is, the flow rate of the air mixture is equal to the volume of the room.

Knowing the amount of supply and exhaust air, we calculate the pipe section according to the formula:

F is the cross-sectional area of the duct, expressed in m²;
L is the volume of supplied air, m³/h;
ʋ - the speed of the flow through the channel, with natural ventilation is taken equal to 1 m / s, no more;
3600 – conversion factor for time units (seconds/hours).

Calculation example. There are 400 kg of potatoes in the cellar, 200 kg of other vegetables. Then the volume of inflow will be 3.5 x 4 + 7.5 x 2 = 29 m³ / h. We determine the cross section of the pipe: F = 29 / 3600 x 1 = 0.008 m², through the circle area formula we calculate the diameter - 0.1 m = 100 mm.

Basement ventilation pipes

When installing ventilation systems in apartments and private houses, galvanized, enameled and plastic PVC channels are used. But the listed options are not suitable for cellars - galvanized air ducts will quickly rust from moisture, and enameled steel and PVC are expensive.

On the left in the photo - the exhaust duct from the internal sewerage pipe, on the right - the inflow from the PVC pipeline

Supply and exhaust shafts in basements are made of inexpensive and moisture-resistant materials:

from sewer pipes for internal wiring - gray polypropylene;
the same, for the outer lining - orange polyvinyl chloride;
asbestos-cement pipelines.

Addition. If the farm has a pipe Ø100-150 mm made of black steel, feel free to use it when arranging the exhaust / inflow. The underground section of the channel should be covered with bituminous mastic, the outer part should be painted 2 times with any resistant paint, for example, PF or NTs.

The most profitable and easy-to-install option is a sewer pipe for ventilation made of gray polypropylene. The material is cheap, lightweight, resistant to any chemical attack. An additional plus is the presence of ready-made shaped elements connected to straight sections into a socket. The air duct is attached to the walls with regular clamps.

Asbestos pipes outperform sewer pipes in price, but lose in ease of installation. The pipelines are quite heavy, there are no shaped parts - the channel turns will have to be made from improvised materials. For a brief overview of the various ventilation ducts, see the video:

The scheme with one hood is imperfect, since part of the heated moist air is directed to the upper zone near the front door. It is necessary to make outlets, otherwise the fumes will condense on the door leaf, flow down and again be carried away into the cellar by the inflow.
The conclusion of air ducts on the roof is a costly and inconvenient option. You will have to hollow out the floors, isolate the roofing, raise the head of the hood above the ridge. If the basement is already built, it is easier to dig a hole near the outer wall and drill the foundation.

Scheme with laying air ducts through the roof of the summer kitchen

Note. A single-pipe hood works well in storage with an upper manhole. Heated air masses are collected under a flat horizontal ceiling, then they are carried away by the draft of the ventilation duct.

We offer some specific tips on how to make ventilation with two pipes:

The height difference between the duct heads does not play a big role. The section of the supply channel rises to a minimum height (up to 1 m), the exhaust pipe is removed from the aerodynamic shadow of the building so that a stable natural draft arises. If it is impossible to raise the air duct, put a deflector instead of an umbrella - thrust.

How to dry a damp cellar in summer

With the advent of warming, climatic conditions change - the street temperature becomes higher, warm light air does not want to descend into the cellar on its own. Accordingly, cold air masses do not leave the room, the natural ventilation of the basement does not work, and moisture is not removed.

How to dry the cellar:

Force the air mass to move. Connect a small axial fan to the exhaust duct through a flexible corrugated pipe.
Option for a cellar with a separate entrance: open the door wide open, install a large domestic fan inside and direct the flow towards the doorway (hatch).

Advice. To prevent fungus from appearing on concrete walls, after drying, treat the surfaces with a solution of slaked lime or another antiseptic.

For summer ventilation of the cellar, the owners often use the folk method - they simply open all the hatches and doors to the basement. The method is inefficient, because heavy cold air does not tend to go outside. Such drying will take 1-2 weeks depending on the humidity inside the room.