How to Install a Garage Exhaust and Vent System (Vent-a-Garage VG200) - DIY

[@hebe1792]

Temperature readings before and after would’ve been great

[@aaronb554]

Man, I miss Menard's. Moved from Iowa to Pennsylvania and there's a huge hole in my heart.

[@BluntForceTrauma666]

There is so much wrong with this "product" I barely know where to begin. Those appear to be 120mm computer fans which at BEST can transfer air @ 200 CFM. With a typical two-car garage holding 4600 ft^3 of air, that's over ten minutes to get even ONE single air exchange, PRESUMING that it all works correctly. The inlets should NEVER be that close to the outlets since most of the incoming air will simply bypass the rest of the room and just get sucked right back outside, leaving the rest of the garage with little to no movement of it's hot, stale, stagnant air. A thermostat mounted to a metal door??? Brilliant! Fan activation determined at a location that is likely to be "artificially" cooler or warmer than everywhere else, depending on whether the sun is directly on the door or not. The reliability of the entire system is limited by some cheap ass, plastic spring return reel made in china. For how long and how many door openings/closings does anyone think that this POS will actually last before some little internal piece lets go and won't allow the cord to extend, thus ripping it free OR (more likely) that it fails to retract, leaving 12 feet of cord dangling down so it can be run over or become entagled in the door's mechanism. This thing would BARELY be functional if it were installed on a porta-potty, much LESS in an actual garage holding VERY hot cars that had just been parked.

[@AnthonyTackett]

Thanks for the passionate feedback. It had worked fine for me and keeps fumes out of the house, which is mostly why I have them.

[@kennewman126]

I’d be curious to know if there is any change in the temperature in the garage when using this, vs. when it’s not on

[@AnthonyTackett]

That’s a good idea. I could do a test to see what difference it makes. It absolutely helps with fumes and definitely takes the edge off on really hot days. It would be nice to qualify that though. You might have just given me another video idea!

[@kanem7]

IF for fumes. i would think you would run a simple timer. Not a thermostat?

[@AnthonyTackett]

Yeah that would be more efficient. In my shop, I keep the thermostat set on 50 degrees and just manually turn the unit off and on to extract fumes. The unit in my main garage is triggered when the temp inside exceeds 80 degrees.

[@Z-Ack]

How was the hole saw too much trouble? Drill not beefy enough to spin it?

[@diegocortez9864]

Does it work for summer season?

[@AnthonyTackett]

It won't be nearly as effective as a large exhaust fan, and I haven't done a controlled test to see how much it changes the temperature. However, I will say that it does a nice job at cutting down or eliminating fumes and it does seem to improve the temperature in the garage. That's just based on my perception and not necessarily on anything scientific or measured. I'm not sure you can buy this system any longer, though.

[@djsalseromusica5433]

Would like to know how much degrees cooler did it get

[@joeygonzo]

1 degree

[@justins8768]

Can't imagine these would make much a difference.. but! Great video

[@TheDogdokken]

Heat rises, why mount these in the door? Retractable power cord to me seems like trouble. Why not mount in between framing studs through wall above garage door??

[@curtisjordan9210]

Pro tip, use the hole saw in reverse to cut through metal, then switch to forward to cut through wood and any other stuff.

[@mattalbrecht7471]

but how many degrees difference will it make in your garage these things seem like oversized CPU fans for a computer I can't imagine that it really cools down the garage that much

[@AnthonyTackett]

That's definitely a valid question. Obviously, it's not going to perform nearly as well as a larger exhaust system. The best I can say regarding temperature is that it "takes the edge off", but it has done a fantastic job at pulling fumes out of the garage. I turn the system on when I'm applying finish to wood projects in my shop and it keeps fumes from creeping up into the living space above it.

[@chrisumali9841]

Thanks for the demo and info, have a great day

[@AnthonyTackett]

Thanks for the kind comment. You too!

[@ReefMimic]

Anytime I use a hole saw I put some blue painters tape where the teeth touch. This prevents the material from shearing/splintering. Ideally for wood

[@AnthonyTackett]

Great tip! Thanks for sharing.

[@zijie-he]

Computer fans? Seems too small to me. How is the efficiency?

[@AnthonyTackett]

I haven’t measured particulates or air temp to reach a scientific conclusion. I can say that the garage and workshop feel cooler and there is a noticeable reduction of fumes when I turn the system in while painting or staining in my shop. The smell doesn’t enter the rest of the house at all.

[@sethsdad5]

Where can I get replacement parts for this? Need two bottom covers. Thank you

[@AnthonyTackett]

Unfortunately it seems like this has been discontinued! I plan to try and cut replacement covers for mine on my CNC or possibly 3D print new ones. I just haven’t gotten around to it!

[@sethsdad5]

@@AnthonyTackett please include me when you demonstrate how to do this....AND 3D printing....

[@dannycarrillo5147]

Where can i get one of those?

[@lamonteplays]

tools were important for me, thanks!

[@hhectorlector]

I prefer when the KZbin mechanic messes up and has to cover their tracks! Way more realistic

[@AnthonyTackett]

Hah thanks :) Happens more than I'd care to admit!

[@Jimicruz34]

Awesome instructional video. Clear and concise. Easy to follow. Thank you!!!💯

[@AnthonyTackett]

Thanks for the kind words!

[@seth37174]

Do they still make these?

[@AnthonyTackett]

Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to find them for a little while. I think the company was small and might have fallen victim to the pandemic.

[@AdamShafer]

Dude. You turned yourself into a KZbin superstar. NOICE!

[@AnthonyTackett]

Hah not quite superstar status but thanks :)

[@whoknowes1]

Good content, good instructions for those that cant read how to do it for themselves. I just cant see putting those tacky little fans and holes in a garage door(s). seems like a fan installed in the ceiling to draw air into and out of the attic would be better and move a larger volume of air.

[@AnthonyTackett]

Thanks for the compliment. The fans actually do a solid job of pulling out fumes, which is why I installed them in my wood shop initially. The garage in this video gets a little toasty in the summer and this helps pull some of the heat out. It's certainly not as efficient as something like you mentioned, but I have living space above both garages so I'm not able to do that.

[@jasonstratton4343]

No way Im cutting into my metal insulated clopay to install 4 fans

[@AnthonyTackett]

I understand that and thanks for the comment. I'm just presenting what worked for me. There are many other options out there to vent your garage.

[@nateb4543]

Ya thats where he lost me. Its literally the last surface in my garage I'd want to cut a hole

[@rexwade1541]

Right!

[@reneearce1667]

good idea but the fans are way too small for the size of the garage.

[@AnthonyTackett]

Thanks for the comment! That definitely seems to be the sentiment from most people. It has worked well to exhaust fumes in both my shop and garage. Granted, it doesn't affect the temperature much, but it seems to help some. Appreciate the feedback, though!

[@berd4369]

Can we get s comparison of like weathered days with use of ventilation and without please

[@Finches.]

Good video my friend where do you buy the kit

[@AnthonyTackett]

Good question. I have spent the last 10-15 minutes looking and it looks like it is currently unavailable on Amazon and I can't seem to find it anywhere else. You could contact Alert Stamping (www.alertstamping.com/), as they own vent-a-garage and might be able to point you in the right direction. Sorry for the trouble and good luck!

[@salaheddinAbushhiwa]

thank you for the nice video

[@TallStarlite]

I'm installing electric roof fans which will also pull hot air out.

[@AnthonyTackett]

That's definitely a better solution than what I have. I have living space over the garage, so I wasn't able to do that in mine. Good luck! I'm sure it will be great.

[@patbowman9959]

Code prevents power venting garages through attic space if garage attaches to living space. What's THE BEST WAY to vent a garage through the sidewalk, fellas???

[@AnthonyTackett]

@@patbowman9959 Haha

[@mobiledevto]

Do you find these work? My garage rafters are open so I am leaning towards bathroom roof vents to push the hot air and moisture out of the garage.

[@AnthonyTackett]

Hey! I think they work great for me but that's because I have 8ft sheetrocked ceilings in one garage and 10-11ft in another. They do a good job pulling the heat and fumes out but your idea of bathroom vents is probably a better call for your setup. I'd just make sure to look for a high CFM fan to pull out as much as you can. Good luck! Any ventilation is better than no ventilation, IMO.

[@caddi70]

Why do you want these in the door?

[@AnthonyTackett]

Hey good question. The product is designed to be installed on a garage door so that is the primary reason. There are definitely other exhaust systems out there that would be more efficient, but I like the way this one looks and it's fairly easy to install so that's why I went with it.

[@caddi70]

Anthony Tackett I've just never seen them on doors before. My garage is a stand alone with open rafters and it's hot as crap. Need to vent out hot air

[@AnthonyTackett]

Oh yeah. My ceilings are sheetrocked so the fans aren't terribly far from the ceiling. I was emailing back and forth with a photographer the other day that had converted her garage to a studio and it was a similar setup to yours. One good option would be an attic/gable fan on one end and a vent on the other. The vent would passively exhaust the heat but the fan would REALLY help pull the heat out of the top of the garage. The vent would allow a nice air flow up there and would help avoid creating weird negative pressure in the garage. A lot of those have thermostats on them, too, and you could probably even run a switch down to the floor level so you could easily turn it off and on.

[@curtishinkle7885]

very well done, thanks

[@burkecochrane9981]

Mine has been installed for almost 8 years with no issues.

[@AnthonyTackett]

That's great to hear! I've had one on my shop door for a few years and I use it every time I paint or stain something. Works great at pulling the fumes out!

[@francesgribbon8639]

Nice job! Love your videos.

[@AnthonyTackett]

Thank you!

[@OriginalAxepack]

Good video, but I dislike the product, or at least the product install location. I insulated my garage door with thermal panels and that cooled the garage by an average of 10-20 degrees depending on the day. I installed a dehumidifier to pull down the humidity as I use my garage as my woodworking workshop and in the southern summer, it can be a damn sauna out there. I'd rather use a product like this, only larger to vent out / pull in fresh air on a side wall instead of drilling into the garage door. I'm not a fan of running a drop cord along the length of the garage door. I would rather have something that is more static. I'm still working on the details as I have a bedroom directly above the garage, so I cannot vent up, only out to the side.

[@AnthonyTackett]

Thanks for the comment! I have one of these systems on both garages and do quite enjoy it in the wood shop to pull fumes out when I'm painting or staining. As far as temperature regulation goes, your solution sounds far superior. I understand the concern about modifying the garage door and, in time, it may come back to haunt me. I can't seem to find this in stock anywhere now so I'm thinking it may have been discontinued.

[@willyjankins4793]

It would have been nice to see the outside finished.

[@hubert6843]

I installed mine on the wall and put a dryer vent on the outside

[@AnthonyTackett]

That's a great idea!

[@WyattFL5]

Thanks for posting the video! Will the fans compromise the wind rating/integrity?

[@AnthonyTackett]

You're welcome! That's a great question. I don't think I can answer it confidently. I haven't had any issues w/ wind since the install but I'd encourage you to check w/ your insurance company and the garage door documentation to make sure you're not voiding any sort of warranty or anything.

[@marcchantal5016]

Way to go buddy.👍

[@AnthonyTackett]

Thanks!

[@MrSubliminalStudios]

As a manager at menards I’d be surprised if they don’t demand commissions from your videos

[@AnthonyTackett]

Haha I’m definitely a big fan

[@EricFisher.TheVillages]

If it is at the front why not just open it ??

[@Ryan-mn2dd]

Nice video.

[@AnthonyTackett]

Thanks man!

[@Ryan-mn2dd]

Hey Anthony, for the record I edited my comment a few minutes after I posted it because I realized the vents I was referring to are the bottom vents and you actually did install the fans near the top of the door. I originally thought you were only installing those two on the bottom and they'd have the fans attached. Shoulda waited till the video was done to comment! Again, great vid. I subscribed to you channel.

[@AnthonyTackett]

Oh it’s no problem. Thanks for clarifying and for the sub!

[@arkanglegeibriel]

ok, the size of these fans is actually what I'm most concerned about. I've seen the other complaints here but honestly? A situation like this means you need to adapt. The IDEA is pretty good as long as you understand how gas would flow with this situation. BluntForceTrauma had a LOT of it right, airflow is what matters. Temp sensor attached to METAL? Jesus there would be ZERO difference between either side of that sensor (almost; a cursory google search about "thermal conductivity of aluminum" would answer any questions), but... ok here's the deal, WHAT IS THE POINT OF THIS PRODUCT? Ventilation. look at BluntForceTrauma's reply about the cfm of fan size, the numbers are good. Am I looking to vent say..... some random single-person soldering station? this is MORE than enough. Am I looking to clear the air from a tablesaw? I mean.... assuming proper air ventilation equipment on yourSELF then.. yea sure if u leave after each cut this will eventually clear the air. Now, sometimes you just need to look at your own setup, maybe I'm just a dude who turned his garage into a mancave and we just wanna smoke in there. This might actually be useful AS LONG AS the vent is on the opposite side of the room AND the pressure pushes everything that direction. At the end of the day for THAT situation (and look, basically all others...) look into a more high powered venturi pump (a good reference vid: v=Na9ORhYjvJU removed the rest of the url because youtube algorithms) to remove that smoke. MY current idea? I need to vent my garage, I have a box fan/vent pulling IN air, and duct fans to create a venturi pump are shockingly cheap. So vent air INTO an area to create a positive pressure space, use the venturi pump to move air OUT of that same area, you're guaranteed positive flow in a single direction AND if push comes to shove even in case of a high gas situation you're not introducing FIRE like engines do as venturi pumps isolate the motor from the source/outflow areas. As a note you'll be (....basically........ theory vs practice, etc.) limited to whichever is less, input or output flow and the pressure will change depending on that. Would making your garage doors be the input be a good idea? Actually yea, as long as the exhaust was any OTHER side it'd work great and as long as the cfm was any good.

[@AnthonyTackett]

All great thoughts! This works well for me in my small shop, but is admittedly not even close to the most efficient solution. Thanks for the comment :)

[@betitos11]

Who actually believes that two tiny fans are going to cool down a garage while destroying your garage door🤔 This must be a joke 😁

[@AnthonyTackett]

They work well for me! Of course, they’re not going to be as efficient as a bigger exhaust system. That’s obvious. I haven’t measured particulates or air temp to reach a scientific conclusion. I can say that the garage and workshop feel cooler and there is a noticeable reduction of fumes when I turn the system in while painting or staining in my shop. The smell doesn’t enter the rest of the house at all.

[@cryo_life]

I'd rather install a shutter exhaust fan on the wall

[@AnthonyTackett]

100%. I just didn't want to cut through an exterior wall at the time.

[@jm-um4st]

Why not install on the wall? The doors do not seem like a long term solution. Hope you never have to change them.

[@CF-cx3hg]

My garage naturally has vents on the front but I'm going to install a 20 inch box fan to assist with the exhaust of hot air.

[@AnthonyTackett]

That’s a great idea. Cost effective, too!

[@alex-sd]

This is exactly what I did with my garage venting. Spent $20 for a box fan and reworked my garage access door to the attic to place the box fan on it to pull all the hot air out of the garage and into the attic. I already have a garage vent located close to the floor out back which pulls the cooler air through. Works great!!

[@stevenbrrtt]

Will it pass HOA approval? Check first, or else it'll be one very expensive overlooked step if the HOA doesn't approve and you forgot to call them even if you couldn't find your HOA Rules n' Reg's handbook. There goes the vent, and the door. Check the regulations first. Good plan and it should work nicely, but like I said above, check the regulations first.

[@AnthonyTackett]

Yes this is a good call. We don’t live in a HOA, so I was good to install. 👍

[@alex-sd]

Spent $20 for a box fan and reworked my garage access door to the attic to place the box fan on it to pull all the hot air out of the garage and into the attic. I already have a garage vent located close to the floor out back which pulls the cooler air through.

[@AnthonyTackett]

That’s a great idea!

[@alex-sd]

@@halcyonoutlander2105 Since I don't leave my car running inside the garage when the garage door is closed, I wouldn't have any exhaust fumes going to my attic. Also, any hot air pushed into my attic goes out my whirlybird exhaust.

[@alex-sd]

@@halcyonoutlander2105 I can understand that because my wife smells fumes from my Jeep after I leave but not her much newer Ford car. She says the smell only lasts less than an hour. It seems your garage doesn't have very good ventilation. I have two lower screened vent holes in my garage that seems to help.

[@jongon705]

yo i really went the entire 11 minutes to see the final product view of the whole garage and it never came ....

[@calfee62]

Thoughtful video, but strong “no” on the system. I think BFT’s comments cover that. But, using computer fans to vent is a great idea for a shed with solar power.

[@AnthonyTackett]

Fair. It does a much better job at exhausting fumes (my primary use) than it does keeping the space cool. It helps with heat but is obviously never going to be able to compete with a properly sized system. Thanks for the comment!

[@michaelm9350]

Why 4 holes for 2 fans. I don’t know much about science or physics

[@AnthonyTackett]

Great question! Much like a residential HVAC system, there needs to be an air return in order for the system to circulate air properly. The vents at the bottom of the door allow fresh air to come in while the fans at the top push air out.

[@Rudizel]

Lmao dude my computer tower has bigger fans, where the hell did you get those little baby fans at. Its always better to go bigger fan that spins slower because you get less noise out of it. I don't think those little fans move enough air for a garage of that size.

[@AnthonyTackett]

They came in the vent-a-garage kit and actually work decently well for pulling out fumes. I have the 2 car version in my wood shop, which is a slightly oversized single car garage. They work well in there. I agree that a larger fan would be best, though. I was just more comfortable installing these in my garage door than knocking a hole in the wall to install a proper vent system.

[@Rudizel]

@@AnthonyTackett I know what you mean that's why i have been putting of this project. Cutting out a massive hole out of the garage wall is a bit daunting. Either way good job with the install.

[@AnthonyTackett]

Thanks man! And good luck with your project!

[@Fulloctanegarage]

Interesting product... good video Anthony.. I installed a minisplit in my garage about 6 months ago. kzbin.info/www/bejne/fqqykJVsmdCnnaM Expensive alternative but I keep my garage at 74 degrees year round and it meets building codes standards. Not a bad idea as I keep classic cars and camera equipment in the space so it needs to be humidity and temperature controlled.

[@AnthonyTackett]

Yeah thats a great alternative. Nice work!

[@19Indy88]

Why not just buy a screen for ur garage

[@AnthonyTackett]

I did that as well on my wood shop! I love the screen for when I’m working in the shop. The vents are mostly for when I paint or finish stuff and then walk away for a bit. I’d rather not keep the door open when I’m not in there

[@patrickwilson4902]

I just bought my expensive one car garage door and you think I'm gonna put 2 holes in it!! Sorry not for me. Maybe some where else..

[@AnthonyTackett]

Totally get it. It’s not for everyone!

[@28_babyshark]

Look like an over price computer fans

[@AnthonyTackett]

They're all metal and have been working great since the install. But your comment is fair 😀Yes they do look like over priced computer fans!

[@NewsThatMatterUsa]

Ouch 😂 got to be a better way lol

[@noelleonard2498]

Muffin fans and a humidistat? Will do nothing

[@AnthonyTackett]

I use the one in my wood shop every time I stain or finish something. It works great and exhausts the fumes quickly

[@ab6318]

Well, at least it's not your house.

[@AnthonyTackett]

You mean that it's good I put that on the door and not through a wall? Yep. That's one of the main reasons I went with this system vs installing something more "permanent".

[@thersten]

I want to give you a thumbs up because you made a nice video, but you also made it seem like that piece of junk works so....

[@AnthonyTackett]

Haha well thanks for watching, regardless! I can still say that it does a great job of extracting fumes. Is it as good as a large exhaust system? Of course not. But it does work for that. When it’s really hot outside (90*F+), it struggles to keep up with venting out the heat. It just takes the edge off.

[@thersten]

@@AnthonyTackett understood. But another viewer already pointed out the many serious flaws in the vent: the retractable chord, low cfm, etc. I don't think your review was critical in the slightest. It was more like a commercial. Which in the end is very misleading.

[@AnthonyTackett]

@@thersten that’s fair. I probably should have gone over my learnings from having used the system in my shop. I’ve had that one for eight years now and it’s working well, but is the 2-car garage model on a single car garage workshop. I’ll definitely try to be more mindful of this moving forward. Thanks for the feedback!

[@Ruriko.oceanblue]

Sir, I think you just destroyed a $500 garage door and you did not add any value to your home. What a waste of time and money.

[@AnthonyTackett]

Fair. But to each their own. These little systems have worked great for me at keeping fumes out of the house and have taken the edge off on hotter days.

[@joeygonzo]

those are tiny . they won't make any difference

[@AnthonyTackett]

That’s fair. They’re definitely not going to be as efficient as a larger system but do help keep fumes out of the house when I’m staining or painting in the garage, so it’s worth it to me. That’s why I initially bout them. Thanks for the comment!

[@tomdurkins]

No difference. The fans are to small to cool a garage.

[@godinesj77]

Really, those computer fans are not going to do the job.

[@AnthonyTackett]

Totally fair. They exhaust fumes just fine for me but are obviously never going to be as efficient as a large and proper exhaust system. Thanks for your input!

[@Wazza722]

What a waste of time, money and a garage door! A simple 350cfm bathroom exhaust fan in the ceiling with a run on timer and ducted out through the eaves would be easier and work better.

[@AnthonyTackett]

I definitely would have gone that route if the garage was set up for it. We have living space over the garage and I’d have to cut open the ceiling to do that.

[@chui19801]

I am so sorry to burst your bubble but I am in no way, shape or form to drill on a new 3k garage door. Thumbs down. All day

[@HarveyShankar]

Not good

[@AnthonyTackett]

Thanks!

[@RadioRich100]

Thats stupid. U could have vented the garage through the attic without fans. Or put garage door vents in that dont need fans.

[@AnthonyTackett]

Venting through the attic isn't an option in that garage and I wanted active ventilation to help pull out fumes when I'm doing projects in the garage. Thanks for the kind words, though!

[@thebigdoghimself]

Sorry but cutting into your garage door is beyond silly. First off it's visible from the street. Secondly power cables are going to be an issue, maybe not immediately but sooner or later. A thrfough wall solution or even tying something into the eve vents could have been done. Worse case, a bathroom exhaust fan plumbed up into a roof vent would have been a better solution.