How to set up automatic opening of vents in a greenhouse with your own hands

Types of ventilation systems

Industrial greenhouses are usually equipped with special ventilation systems, and small greenhouses in summer cottages are replaced by simple ventilation. If in summer fresh air is supplied to the greenhouses almost constantly, then the colder it is outside, the stricter it is to monitor the opening of the vents and the air temperature in the greenhouse. For this purpose, special machines have been created.

In accordance with the technology used, they are of three types:

• electrical;
• hydraulic;
• bimetallic.

The easiest to install and operate electrical automatic devices for opening the air vents. They consist of a temperature sensor and an electric motor. As soon as the temperature rises to the designated level, the sensor activates the engine, which drives the window. When the temperature drops to the desired level, the opposite process occurs. The only drawback of such a device is the requirement of constant power supply, not all greenhouses are provided with it.

Devices based on hydraulic technology are reliable and very simple. The containers filled with liquids react to an increase in temperature by increasing the pressure (when the liquid expands), the hydraulic mechanism is triggered and the window opens. With a decrease in temperature, the pressure drops, and the window closes. Summer residents often make such machines with their own hands. The disadvantage is called the slowness of the response - when the temperature drops, the window slowly returns to its place, there is a risk of plants freezing.

The bimetallic lever is triggered by raising the window, because different metals expand at different temperatures, and its action is based on this. The only bad thing is that such machines are designed for low weight, they cannot cope with a glazed transom.

Mounting

If the summer resident acquires a factory device that will automatically open the vents in the greenhouse, then it will not be difficult to install it with your own hands, strictly adhering to the attached instructions. But there are points that are not indicated in the instructions. For example, even at the stage of building a greenhouse, you need to think over the location of transoms and doors - they are not made on the same wall. The vents do not need to be located on the side from which a strong wind usually blows; it is generally better to arrange them from above.

Lightweight electrical machines can be attached directly to the window leaf, while heavier ones are attached to the frame elements of greenhouses, it would be good to know the weight of the device in advance, check the options for its placement. The vents need to be equipped with special tapes (ropes, chains), which will not allow to open too much, but will fix a certain opening angle.

All such devices depend on the temperature, you need to know that it is the air temperature in the greenhouse that is measured, and not the heating of the device itself - you may need to hide the machine from direct sunlight.

Video "Greenhouse vents"

The vents are designed for ventilation of polycarbonate greenhouses. The vents frame is made of galvanized steel and assembled with screws and nuts.

Homemade constructions

With an eye on the prices of factory automatic devices, very often summer residents collect them with their own hands, literally from improvised means. To make a hydraulic device that opens and closes the vents in the greenhouse at a certain temperature, you will need 2 cans, 3 liters and 1 liter, connected by a hose.

The vent leaf is fixed in the frame on a rotating axis. A small jar is suspended from the upper part, and the lower one is balanced with a bar. A large jar is suspended from the ceiling. We poured 1 liter of water into it, sealed it hermetically (you can just roll it up with a metal lid). A hose was inserted into the lid (it should not reach 0.5-1 cm to the bottom) and connected to a small jar (it could be just a rubber or polyvinyl chloride hose, or maybe a copper tube inside such a hose). That's the whole device, it works great, although it looks very simple. When the temperature rises, water from a large jar will flow into a small one, and that with its weight will open the window.

Many people do not use glass jars, but plastic bottles (5 l + 1.5 l), so it's even easier to do it yourself. Design options are possible - each owner invents something of his own, but the general principle is still the same.

Homemade construction:

• counterweight;
• sash;
• retainer;
• fastening.

Factory production

Factory devices based on hydraulics are also made according to the same scheme. The hydraulic cylinder can be of different volumes (it determines which window it will lift in terms of weight), it contains oil (paraffin), and not water, as in home-made devices. The movable rod is fixed at one end of the structure. The base is fixed to a vertical greenhouse post or window frame. The stem is attached to the frame of the window; when it is extended, it opens. If the device does not provide for hurricane protection, you need to make safety chains or tapes that will not allow the window to open more than necessary.

Such a device works in the same way as what they do with their own hands: when the air temperature rises, the oil (or paraffin) expands, the pressure increases, the stem starts to move and opens the window. Gradually, the temperature drops, the oil decreases pressure, and the stem returns to its original position, closing the window.

For those gardeners who do not risk making such devices with their own hands, there are many offers on the market. The most common devices can cost from 1,500 to 2,000 rubles, these are Dusya-Sun, UFOPAR, Tuymazy. If you are ready to lay out more, then you should pay attention to the Danish machines "Gigavent" and "Megavent", the English "Autovent XL" and "Autovent MK7".

Choose some kind of factory device or make an automatic machine yourself, it will greatly facilitate the process of growing vegetables in a greenhouse.

Video “Installation of the machine for ventilation of greenhouses“ Dusya - Sun ”

Automatic opening of a greenhouse window without electricity using "Dusya - Sun"