I’m going to install a very small fan to provide a bit of exhaust in a basement closet that holds a cat box. It happens that I have easy access to the outside, so that part won’t be a problem. I can’t even smell the cat box, I just don’t like the idea of it being closed into any part of the house.
I’m thinking that I’d run the fan continuously. My son suggested a computer fan, but I don’t think I need something that powerful. I’d like it to be very quiet, as well.
Anybody got any suggestions of where to look for such a fan?
Many thanks!
“A liberal is a man too broadminded to take his own side in a quarrel.” Robert Frost
Replies
I think computer fans are 12 volts, so that would require a power supply etc etc. I'd go to a good electronics supply house online and buy a good quality ventilating fan for electronic cabinets. Not all that powerful, but you're gonna have to build a damper of some kind to keep critters, rain, etc out... might be just as well off buying a small bathroom exhaust kit and just running it occasionally.
P.S... it just occurred to me I believe I have a few very good quality electronic exhaust fans kicking around (99.999% sure). If you want to build a duct, email me your address and I'll send you one, you cover the postage.
Edited 8/24/2005 4:41 pm ET by PaulBinCT
Thanks so much for your generous offer. I've e-mailed you.
It happens that my little power vent comes out right under my back porch. We've been in our new place less than a year and I haven't insulated the bottom of the porch floor yet. Except for very cold weather, our dogs sleep on the porch right over where the exhaust will come out. I plan to pipe the exhaust air through the joist cavity and insulate under it. I'll then let the air exhaust down out the bottom of the floor when I install ply to cover the insulation. (I'm not concerned about the heat/air loss since the house is very tight and is passive solar.)
Hairbrained scheme, my buddy tells me.... Oh well, I guess you can tell that dogs and cats are fairly well treated here."A liberal is a man too broadminded to take his own side in a quarrel." Robert Frost
There are large number of "computer like" fans.
You can get them in 120V AC (and mamy other configurations).
http://www.mouser.com/?handler=data.listcategory&Ne=101&terms=fan&Ntt=*fan*&crc=false&Ns=SField&N=352
Start with the Bi-sonic and Orion.
It is probably easier to go through the print catalog.
Here is another source.
You can also try googling - electronic surplus AC FAN -
Thanks, Bill."A liberal is a man too broadminded to take his own side in a quarrel." Robert Frost
I met a guy who had a abin with a composting toliet that had a SOLAR powered fan on the vent for smell and flies.
That sounds your speed, I wonder if sailing boats websites and the like would also have something similar
Heck, install a treadmill-powered fan, and train the cat to do a few laps every time he poops.
Thanks, all, for the quick and helpful responses.
I've started in on the cat training and I'm sure she'll have the treadmill thing down in no time, and with a little work, I can keep her on the treadmill several hours a day."A liberal is a man too broadminded to take his own side in a quarrel." Robert Frost
Radio Shack carries fans of the same style as computer fans, only 120V. I've used a couple on a box in the garage that contains network equipment. They last maybe 2-3 years, so set it up so it's easy to change the fan.
Also, Northern Equipment (Northern Hydraulics) sometimes has the fans as used surplus, as may some high-end junk dealers in your area. If you get a good deal buy 2-3 so you'll have spares.
Most computer fans fall into the 'muffin' configuration. There are similar fans made that operate at 120v. These fans can be pretty quiet but they don't fight back pressure very well. Keep the duct/s short and as straight as possible.
Ideally you could install two very small fans, I'm thinking 3" or so, or the same size. One blowing out and another blowing in. This would prevent the exhaust fan from dragging you expensive cooled or heated air to the outside. Made even better is the closet can have a cat door installed and the full sized door gasketed.
I'm thinking a couple of standard 3" exhaust vents, one modified so the flapper allows it to take in air, mounted through a wall would work well if the closet is close to an exterior wall. Three inch ducts, vents and fittings are cheap and readily available.
Fresh air coming in and foul air going out of a relatively sealed space should prevent the smell from spreading in the house. Its the way I would go.
Good folks: http://www.surpluscenter.com/sort.asp?UID=2005082421031078&catname=electric&keyword=EBFA
PAHS Designer/Builder- Bury it!
Thanks, Tom."A liberal is a man too broadminded to take his own side in a quarrel." Robert Frost
use a motion sensor to turn the fan on. make sure its quiet, I can't imagine the blowback from a cat freaked out by its own litter box.
At this rate the cat will have a better ventilated toilet than most people.
eric
Good idea!
Nice to get a response to kitty boxes from a person named splat"A liberal is a man too broadminded to take his own side in a quarrel." Robert Frost
We currently have three boxes in a small room. I have one of these plugged in beside them. They are not ducted but do seem to help. Got ours at Wal-mart for around $20. This room is a laundry room and I put a bath exhaust fan in for hot days. I turn it on if recent heavy activity suggests it is needed. I have occupancy switches on many lights in the house, they have an adjustable time function and are sensitive enough to pick up the movement of a cat.
I think you would be happier with a real exhaust fan with the motion sensor and delay. You probably could get creative and put a time delay for turn on so as not to spook the cat.
You could pamper the cat with the autoscooping box.
I talked to a former building inspector who was telling me about a lady that asked him to look at her dryer because it was tripping the breaker. Reset, ran and tripped. Went out to the exhaust and the backdraft damper was not there but the tail end of a rattlesmake with 14 rattlers was hanging out, cooked.
http://www.shopping.com/xPC-Hamilton_Beach_TrueAir_04271
I know you're talking about a tiny fan here, but consider the need for make-up air. You don't want to create negative pressure in the basement and risk back-drafting your appliances.
Al Mollitor, Sharon MA
We burn no gas in the house and already have to be careful on the few winter days when we burn a wood fire... but the wood stove has its own outside combustion air.
Good point, though."A liberal is a man too broadminded to take his own side in a quarrel." Robert Frost
I would use a small (4") in-line duct fan designed for bathroom exhaust. Yes, you could rig up something using a computer muffin fan, but by the time you add in the costs for adapters, fittings, power supplies, etc., and your time annd effort, the pre-enginerred fan is probably much cheaper and more reliable. There are many models out there in the 50 - 100 CFM range that would work well for your application.
I don't want or need to move that much air. I want a very small fan."A liberal is a man too broadminded to take his own side in a quarrel." Robert Frost
Wow, the cat has her own bathroom?! Got little kittie mags in there? Special rugs and decorative soap/candles on the back of the litterbox? ;)
A friend uses one of those automated litterboxes and he loves it (got two cats). A minute or so after the cat finishes, the little rake comes down and rakes the litter. Just thinking out loud here, but its a shame you couldn't hook the fan on a 15 min timer or somesuch, so that when the rake comes on, it triggers the fan.
jt8
"Someone's sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago." --Warren Buffett
Yeah, she likes nicely framed prints of big male lions. : )"A liberal is a man too broadminded to take his own side in a quarrel." Robert Frost