Home Office Ventilation - Suggestions?

[white_s2k]

After 3 long years, I'm in the position to be able to work from home most days starting next week. I have a 12x12 foot room that I am converting into a home office. It has a standard size window, would the best option here just be a standard box fan pushing the air from the room to the outside?

Any suggestions on the best way to pump fresh air/oxygen into the room when I'm done working for the day?

Thanks!

[Wharf Rat]

Box fan is the cheapest fastest solution, but the noise may get to you over the long run.

There are devices called heat recovery ventilators which bring in air but cool / heat it with the outgoing air. So, you save that energy.

[Simple1]

A little array of computer fans in a housing so that you still keep the window mostly closed works well, especially when you can place it in the top of the window. They are fairly quiet as well. Then an ozone unit to turn on when you leave the office for the night.

[white_s2k]

Thanks Wharf_Rat and Simple1.

I'm looking into the best way to set up the box fan for the window. I'd like to keep it about halfway shut to avoid losing too much cool air, especially during these warmer months.

Also researched a bit about the ozone units. Seems like a great way to clean out the room after I'm done working for the day.

Thanks!

[Simple1]

Dball has a nice fan setup. He has 3 computer fans mounted in a pine trim board that is the width of the window. Painted it white, and it blends right in. The fans are wired with a dimmer switch to control the speed, which also effects the noise. Easy and cheap. If you have access to any computers, you can open the case and steal the fans. I've done it using 110v fans, as well as 12v-18v with a transformer. Either way works fine.

[Ogre]

This is what I use. Works awesome.

http://www.lowes.com/pd_416726-36381-CH-5500_0__?Ntt=window+fan&UserSearch=window+fan&productId=4667573&rpp=32

[CigarSquid]

Bringing the dead back. Do you have a place for more air to come in? Do any of these fans work good with no source in?

[RWhisenand]

Bringing the dead back. Do you have a place for more air to come in? Do any of these fans work good with no source in?

In a word, no. For the ventilation to work, in must equal out. As much air as you are exhausting you must supply.

[CigarSquid]

So using a normal box fan or computer fan, how are you allowing for air to come in?

[RWhisenand]

So using a normal box fan or computer fan, how are you allowing for air to come in?

Through door gaps, vents, or an open window across the room. If you put in exhaust fans, then seal up the room, the ventilation with be very poor. If it were me doing this project, I would put exhaust fans in the window, an install a vent in the entry door, if you'd like to keep the room sealed off when you aren't smokeing, look for an option that allows you to close the door vent.:2

[pattersong]

What are your thoughts on a RabbitAir system? I assume those are rather costly, but nobody has suggested this...? If your business is at home, you might just be able to write it off as a necessary business expense ;)

[CigarSquid]

Through door gaps, vents, or an open window across the room. If you put in exhaust fans, then seal up the room, the ventilation with be very poor. If it were me doing this project, I would put exhaust fans in the window, an install a vent in the entry door, if you'd like to keep the room sealed off when you aren't smokeing, look for an option that allows you to close the door vent.:2

That is what I do. When winter really hits, it makes a nice cold draft.. and that is what I am trying to avoid.

Guess there is no way around it.:gary