Basement Window Intake

In the process of building my grow room in my basement but need some advice on my air intake.

I want to bring in fresh air from outside and this is the only easily accessible way to get air in from outside.

I have a small basement window that is rectangular in shape and wider than it is tall.

We have had some problems with the other ones of these leaking in the basement, but all the other will be sealed up while this one needs to be my intake.


I currently have one of those plastic covers to go over the well of the window outside but I need a way to discretely bring air in, but keep rain out of my ducting.

It doesnt have to be light tight as my grow will be in separate sealed boxes. All I need is for air to be able to come in and water to be kept out.

I was thinking of something that looks similar to a receiver in a HVAC system where it has louvered slats going across so it looks somewhat normal, maybe will keep rain out, but lets air in.


Attached is a picture of a similar window to give you an idea. Only difference is my window is wider than it is tall and I have a plastic cover over the well to try to keep rain out.




Let me know what you think so I can get that part of my plan out of the way.


Thanks everyone!

if the plastic cover is over the well, wont that keep rain out? or at least most of it?

fir3dragon said:

if the plastic cover is over the well, wont that keep rain out? or at least most of it?

Click to expand...

In theory it should. I just put these plastic covers over all the basement windows a couple of weeks ago to try and help the water problem.

Only problem I foresee if that in order to get air in, that cover would have to have some sort of opening or openings to let the air get through it and into my intake.

I tried searching everywhere I could to find other people with these basement windows, but I didn't get exactly what I was looking for.



Anyone had or have one of these and designed an intake like mine?

Turbine said:

In theory it should. I just put these plastic covers over all the basement windows a couple of weeks ago to try and help the water problem.

Only problem I foresee if that in order to get air in, that cover would have to have some sort of opening or openings to let the air get through it and into my intake.

I tried searching everywhere I could to find other people with these basement windows, but I didn't get exactly what I was looking for.



Anyone had or have one of these and designed an intake like mine?

Click to expand...

im sure the cover isnt sealed when its on, thus causing a passive intake. im not sure though im just giving u ideas lol. maybe build some sort of awning for them so the rain doesnt get in. or even build a roof over them.

I've got a similar set up and last night it rained so hard that the window-well filled up. water filled my exhaust hose...which was lucky I guess, because it was mounted lower than my intake and drained the water before it could be sucked in....lol Anyway, the weight of the water pulled the hose down and it spilled all over the floor, which was lucky again because it didn't back up into the fan, which certainly would've shorted out and maybe caused a fire... If you're going to do this, don't worry so much about the rain being sucked in, especially if the window well is covered. Just be sure that the window well drains as it should so it doesn't fill up like mine did...

What type of fan will you be using? Your lid for the window well...does it snap on or is it just placed over? If your not using a huge inline fan I think it will still be able to draw fresh air with the cover on...as long as it doesn't snap tight. I would be more concerned about moisture in that well, will you be drawing moist, moldy air in?

Gquebed,

My window wells do fill up with water which is why some of the leak heavily. One on the other side of my basement fills up like a fish tank and then water seeps through the seams and puts a lot of water into my basement. This is why I am sealing up all the windows that arent being used. Having the cover should help but I was afraid it might not enough air in.


JAS420,

Not sure on my fan yet but I was planning on putting in some inline boosters in each branch so the air will consistantly reach each box. The cover is only placed over but I could screw it into the siding if I wanted. And unlike the other window wells like one under my deck, this one is quite open and airy so it should be pretty fresh air.

After talking with my friend whos been a part of everything we were considering making a panel to fit into the window and be sealed around the edges. Then having almost a dryer vent looking attachment with a louver above it (almost like a little roof) to protect it from water, somewhat.....my concern is that that will not completely keep it out and I wouldn't know how to prevent water from gettig in if the well fills up.

Maybe my only problem is worryin about the well filling up. If I can create a solution for that while still having the proper airflow is my predicament pretty much solved?


Thanks for all your insight guys.

That's right. You're only real problem is the well filling up. Maybe you can just extend the ducting upwards like a snorkel above the water line and then make sure the rest of the setup around the window is water-tight as far as your ducting is concerned.