Crawl space ventilation device and method

Abstract

A device and method for providing ventilation to an interior portion of a crawl space. The proposed blower has a substantially cylindrical housing and a hollow interior. A fan is mounted in the hollow interior of the housing, and is configured to draw air into and propel air out of the housing. The blower is suspended from the floor joists by chain, wire, synthetic cable or the like so that the blower hangs in the crawl space between the floor of the house and the ground. In the preferred embodiment, the attachment means for hanging the blower from the floor joists is provided on both ends of the housing. The attachment means are preferably non-rigid so that they dampen the vibrational energy transmitted to the floor joist by the blower.

1 . A device for providing ventilation to an interior portion of a crawl space comprising:
 a. a blower including
 i. a substantially cylindrical housing having a first end, a second end, a medial section therebetween, and a hollow interior; 
 ii. a fan mounted in said hollow interior of said housing proximal said medial section, said fan configured to draw air into said first end of said housing and propel air out of said second end of said housing; 
 iii. a first attachment means for hanging said blower from a floor joist, said first attachment means proximal said first end; 
 iv. a second attachment means for hanging said blower from a floor joist, said second attachment means proximal said second end; and 
   b. wherein said first attachment means and said second attachment means together are configured to suspend said blower within said interior portion of said crawl space;   c. wherein said first attachment means and said second attachment means each are non-rigid and are configured to dampen the vibrational energy transmitted to said floor joist by said blower.   
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a screen, said screen attached to said housing around said first end. 
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said first attachment means comprises a material selected from a group consisting of:
 a. chain,   b. wire,   c. synthetic cable, and   d. combinations thereof.   
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said housing comprises an exhaust barrel between said fan and said second end. 
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein said housing comprises an exhaust barrel between said fan and said second end. 
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 1 , said fan further comprising an impeller, said impeller having a diameter of approximately 8 inches to 12 inches. 
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 1 , said blower configured to move a volume of air through said housing at a rate of 400 cubic feet per minute to 800 cubic feet per minute. 
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 7 , said blower configured to move a volume of air through said housing at a rate of 450 cubic feet per minute to 600 cubic feet per minute. 
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a timer configured to periodically activate said deactivate said fan. 
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein said fan is activated for a period of time of approximately 1 to 12 hours. 
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a humidistat, said humidistat configured to detect moisture content in the air and activate said fan when said moisture content of said air exceeds a threshold. 
   
   
       12 . A method for providing ventilation to an interior portion of a crawl space, said crawl space between the floor of a house and a ground, comprising the steps of:
 a. obtaining a blower, said blower including
 i. a substantially cylindrical housing having a first end, a second end, a medial section therebetween, and a hollow interior; 
 ii. a fan mounted in said hollow interior of said housing proximal said medial section; said fan configured to draw air into said first end of said housing and propel air out of said second end of said housing; 
   b. entering said crawl space with said blower;   c. suspending said blower from a floor joist in said interior portion of said crawl space between said floor and said ground.   
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said blower is suspended by an attachment means, said attachment means being non-rigid and configured to dampen the vibrational energy transmitted to said floor joist by said blower. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12 , said blower further comprising a screen, said screen attached to said housing around said first end. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said attachment means comprises a material selected from a group consisting of:
 a. chain,   b. wire,   c. synthetic cable, and   d. combinations thereof.   
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said housing comprises an exhaust barrel between said fan and said second end. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 12 , said fan further comprising an impeller, said impeller having a diameter of approximately 8 inches to 12 inches. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 12 , said blower configured to move a volume of air through said housing at a rate of 400 cubic feet per minute to 800 cubic feet per minute. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 12 , said blower further comprising a timer configured to periodically activate said deactivate said fan. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 12 , said blower further comprising a humidistat, said humidistat configured to detect moisture content in the air and activate said fan when said moisture content of said air exceeds a threshold.