Many people have an indoor hydroponic garden where they grow fresh greens all year round. If the garden is in a small enclosed area such as a closet or grow tent, the lighting that is needed can quickly warm the area to the point where it is harmful to the plants. Heat build-up is not an issue if the home is air conditioned or you are growing in the winter season, but it can be a major obstacle to growing success if the area is overly warm. Fans are an essential component of an indoor hydroponic garden; they keep air moving which is necessary to effectively manage the heat. To make sure the entire system works well, lights and the fan must work together.
The most reliable and least expensive way to manage the climate is to install inline exhaust fans. These fans can easily be mounted on the light fixture, standard sized rigid duct or flexible duct can then lead the air out of the room. Mounting the fan underneath the light is ideal as the light is the heat source.
The installation of inline exhaust fans is straight forward. The fan is located at one end of the growing closet or tent, the fan is then connected to ducting directly to the hood of the light. On the opposite side of the light another section of ducting leads to an exit point in the enclosure. When the fan and light are operating, cool air is pulled in from the outside, it travels over the lights and the heated air is exhausted through the other duct.
Although it is not important that inline exhaust fans are used, they certainly make the installation and function much easier and certainly more efficient. Ceiling fans such as used in a bathroom or kitchen can work as well as can wall mounted exhaust fans. Although these fans work, it can be tricky to keep enough air movement to maintain the optimum growing temperature in the room.
Plants need to be kept at a specific temperature to thrive; they also need a steady supply of fresh air to grow to their full potential. When the air in the room becomes stale and stagnant, the plants will not be as healthy as you would like.