Auto Vent Openers for Winter

[Galileo]

I was just about to install my auto window vent openers for the roof vents but after having read the instructions it says they should be removed in the Autumn and for the winter to prolong their life. So I didn't install them yet.

Can you tell me how you ventilate for your winter crops? Do people just use the door and side vents?

I will be growing winter lettuce and other salad crops during the winter.

Thanks

Galileo

[Stacey Steve]

After having the roof of my greenhouse pull apart in high winds, I won't use an auto opener but use louvre venting on the rear of the greenhouse.

[Capsid]

I never remove mine. There's not much to go wrong with them really is there?

[Alison]

Remove my window opener every autumn (not done yet) when I insulate the greenhouse with bubblel wrap. I then open the window manually for a few hours on nice sunny days. I've also got an auto vent opener which I leave insitu but disconnect for the winter also. Never had any problems and the main reason I disable is cos it doesn't fit in too well with the way I insulate.

[j r hilton]

I have had an auto vent opener on the roof vent on my greenhouse for years and have never disconnected it. Not heating the greenhouse means that it does not overheat in winter and I have not had any problems.

[Galileo]

J.R.

You say you never remove your auto openers and never had any trouble. Do you mean in winter the temperature in the greenhouse never gets high enough to make them open?

Do you leave the side vents or door open??

Thanks

Galileo

[j r hilton]

Hello Galileo
The temp in the green house does get high enough to open the vent at times but I have never had any trouble with high winds blowing the roof off or panes out. Also I have had it for approx 15 years so I would say that the life of it has not been reduced. I do leave the door open slightly as well on really good days.

J.R.

[nick the grief]

I never remove mine. There's not much to go wrong with them really is there?

The auto vents use a sort of runny wax to push the piston as the temperature rises. If you leave them in an unheated Greenhouse the cold will eventually break it down so rather than push the piston it either clogs up or the liquid bit just passes thru the seal and it ceases to operate.

That said I don't remove mine but I have a sheltered garden and greenhouse sits in the lee of all the shelter so any winds can only come from one direction so I have the auto vents on the opposite side.

If you need to ventilate either fit a louvre and leave it open a crack so you don't loose heat or how about fitting a solar powered extractor fan in the eaves of the end, you won't need a big one for winter and it will run ok (small computer fan maybe ?)

[fwuffydragon]

<i>If you need to ventilate either fit a louvre and leave it open a crack so you don't loose heat or how about fitting a solar powered extractor fan in the eaves of the end, you won't need a big one for winter and it will run ok (small computer fan maybe ?)</i>

That sounds like a REALLY cute idea!