geo
02-03-2011, 07:33 PM
To all members and moderators - I apologize for the long post but this subject seems to have quite a bit of as of late. I wanted to be detailed enough that anyone could duplicate what I have done. I have had to load this post as two parts. However, I do want to add that Leon has the best suggestion: "Skirting".
Part 1 follows this post.
Ron
Plan 2: I purchased some vibration damping pads (Northern Tool or Amazon). I mounted the fan inside a shoe box (not a real project unless a shoe box is involved!) with short screws coming out the bottom of the box and attaching to the vibration pad. (See Foamed Fan.jpg) I linked that pad to another pad to another pad. I then took Door/Window Foam (minimal expansion foam – 3 cans) and foamed the fan as a whole totally inside the box. The foam extended above the top of the box so I could place the lid on it and have it foamed in place. Once the foam was set, I tested it and was quite pleased at the muffled sound.
The shoe box fan assembly was then attached to the deck by the vibration pads but the plastic duct shoved the assembly forward towards the furnace. I used a cable tie to pull the assembly back so the pads were vertical. (See Buffer Fan in Place.jpg) When the electrical was hooked up, I turned the switch on. I was extremely happy that the bilge fan was extremely quiet. In fact, the furnace fan is several times louder than the bilge fan!
To supplement this circulation solution, I used pink foam (R5) insulation to isolate the utility basement from the storage basement. (See Wall Insulation.jpg) I cut the foam to exactly fit between the supports – in fact it is a press fit. Earlier I had noticed that the vacuum connection for the storage basement was so low that it caused the feed pipe from the vacuum connection in the living area to become disconnected. I moved this connection to a higher location. I also cut and glued in place two layers of foam insulation on the roof area of the storage basement (between the aluminum rafters). I cut the foam to fit around the lights and channels to allow the electrical cables to pass.
In an additional post, I will show the two additional parts of this project. I have on order a 7” diameter low rpm 12 volt computer case fan that will move around 120cfm. I plan to mount this at the back of the lower step to force air from the living area into the upper utility basement area. The other part will be to mount foam insulation to the outside of the steel crossbeam. I believe I can use Liquid Nails to mount masonite “blocks” to the outside steel crossbeam. I can then cut the foam insulation to attach to the masonite blocks. The outside of the foam can be covered with melamine tub surround sheets cut to fit.
Part 1 follows this post.
Ron
Plan 2: I purchased some vibration damping pads (Northern Tool or Amazon). I mounted the fan inside a shoe box (not a real project unless a shoe box is involved!) with short screws coming out the bottom of the box and attaching to the vibration pad. (See Foamed Fan.jpg) I linked that pad to another pad to another pad. I then took Door/Window Foam (minimal expansion foam – 3 cans) and foamed the fan as a whole totally inside the box. The foam extended above the top of the box so I could place the lid on it and have it foamed in place. Once the foam was set, I tested it and was quite pleased at the muffled sound.
The shoe box fan assembly was then attached to the deck by the vibration pads but the plastic duct shoved the assembly forward towards the furnace. I used a cable tie to pull the assembly back so the pads were vertical. (See Buffer Fan in Place.jpg) When the electrical was hooked up, I turned the switch on. I was extremely happy that the bilge fan was extremely quiet. In fact, the furnace fan is several times louder than the bilge fan!
To supplement this circulation solution, I used pink foam (R5) insulation to isolate the utility basement from the storage basement. (See Wall Insulation.jpg) I cut the foam to exactly fit between the supports – in fact it is a press fit. Earlier I had noticed that the vacuum connection for the storage basement was so low that it caused the feed pipe from the vacuum connection in the living area to become disconnected. I moved this connection to a higher location. I also cut and glued in place two layers of foam insulation on the roof area of the storage basement (between the aluminum rafters). I cut the foam to fit around the lights and channels to allow the electrical cables to pass.
In an additional post, I will show the two additional parts of this project. I have on order a 7” diameter low rpm 12 volt computer case fan that will move around 120cfm. I plan to mount this at the back of the lower step to force air from the living area into the upper utility basement area. The other part will be to mount foam insulation to the outside of the steel crossbeam. I believe I can use Liquid Nails to mount masonite “blocks” to the outside steel crossbeam. I can then cut the foam insulation to attach to the masonite blocks. The outside of the foam can be covered with melamine tub surround sheets cut to fit.