The Science Behind Wall Vents and How They Keep Exhaust and Pests Out of Your Home

If you’ve ever had to walk into the swampy morass of a laundry room full of steam, you understand the importance of a well-designed wall vent. And while transporting exhaust like steam out of the house before it causes other problems, like mold and mildew, it’s also important to keep animals, insects, and other pests from getting in.

So how do FAMCO wall vents keep your house exhaust- and pest-free?

Design

Basically, the purpose of a wall vent is to allow exhaust to freely escape while also preventing pests from entering your home. The approach to the design of each wall vent takes the material of the wall vent into consideration.

For example, our FAMCO Hooded Wall Vent comes with a spring-loaded damper, gasket, and insect screen, all of which do their respective part in preventing entry or re-entry into the home. The light-feel spring easily lets exhaust escape, and easily closes an aluminum damper when not in use. The gasket surrounds the damper, creating an airtight seal, which is also further bolstered by the insect screen on the exterior of the wall vent.

Materials

While the above wall vent is a robust option made of galvanized steel, other ones like the FAMCO Plastic Wall Vent have moveable louvers that function on a simple hinge. These wall vents are made of durable polypropylene plastic and treated with UV inhibitors for stable use in all weather conditions. The lightweight construction of the louvers also allows for easy bathroom and dryer exhausting while closing when not in use.

Is It Time For New Wall Vents?

Short of regular maintenance to ensure no trapped lint or loose hose clamp wrecks your day, FAMCO wall vents will continue to provide years of reliable service. If you’re buying a previously occupied home, you will want to ensure that adequate ventilation is installed and fully functional.

Some of the issues that can occur in a building with poor ventilation include:

• Higher concentration of allergens like pollen, pet dander, and other contaminants than outside.
• Symptoms of sick building syndrome, such as headache, dizziness, nausea, sensitivity to odors, difficulty concentrating, and cold or flu-like symptoms.
• Greatly reduced indoor air quality forces HVAC systems to work harder to compensate.

If you find your indoor environment overly stuffy and/or humid, check your existing ventilation system to ensure that everything is functional, not cracked or rotted, and unobstructed. It may be necessary to contact a professional if the problem still exists even though all of the above checks out.

How FAMCO Can Help

Are you looking to repair, replace, or refurbish your home’s ventilation system? FAMCO not only has a wide variety of wall vents and other HVAC parts & accessories, but also our Resources page, where you will find tools such as an attic ventilation calculator and product installation guides. If you have any questions regarding wall vents or anything else, send us an email. We’ll be more than happy to help.