barn ventilation in winter - too much humidity/condensation - big problem

[blueribbonpanel]

I have a small 8 stall barn, dropped ceiling, well insulated. In winter I keep it pretty closed up to keep in the warmth, since there are shows horses stabled there and the owners want to keep their hair coats short. But the problem is all the walls eventually get a lot of condensation, as well as everywhere else, I think mostly from the respiration of the horses. I do have a fan in the barn, but it is way too big for the barn size I have, and the fan/blades frosts up quickly, (and then won’t work) again from all the condensation in the barn. The barn isn’t heated and usually stays above 45-50 because of the insulation and amount of horses in the barn.

I need some kind of solution which will still keep the barn fairly warm, but remedy all the humidity/condensation. I was wondering if a ceilng fan or two would help this problem. Or other ideas??? Thank you in advance

[Simkie]

Perhaps a dehumidifier?

[keysfins]

I would think a fan would just move around the damp air.

Ventilation of some sort would be my thinking. It’s great to have a toasty barn, but ventilation will provide fresh air, and sweep out any ammonia smell/odors, and humidity, IMO.

[kerlin]

A ceiling fan would just move everything around. You need true ventilation. I wonder if putting an industrial-strength ventilation fan in the dropped ceiling is the best bet - something like they make for houses that have been insulated tightly. You need to get the moisture up and OUT of the barn before it frosts/condenses.

[keysfins]

Great thread from a while back on this topic:

http://www.chronofhorse.com/forum/showthread.php?424440-Moisture-Condensation-Problem-helpful-suggestions

[PeteyPie]

Use a heat exchanger. That way you will introduce fresh air, dump humid air, and reduce heat loss.

I just googled and found a term to look for when doing research:
Heat Recovery Ventilator or HRV.

[Mosey_2003]

Yes, you need to get the air OUT of the barn, otherwise you just move humid air around.

[findeight]

Just noting the various viruses, including flu, that afflict barns love warm moist environments, so do bacteria and mold. Check with a contractor and get a suitable ventilation system installed. Not just ceiling fans. Don’t shut it up too tight either.

[PeteyPie]

OP, I hope you post with the solution you choose and let us know how it’s working. These threads are informative for all of us.

[Sparky_Boy]

My barn is about the same size and well insulated. I have to take blankets off when they are inside, it stays well above freezing.

I keep the big garage door cracked to let fresh air in to alleviate the condensation problem.

[TrueColours]

Our barn is 8 stalls as well and the 2 front sliding windows are open all winter long and I have windows cracked open (usually 4-5 in total) about 1-2 inches each. The 6 upper main dutch doors get opened partway through the day, depending on the day

We have R25 in the walls and R40 in the ceiling. It stays toasty warm in there no matter how cold it gets outside so I always try to get constant and sufficient air flow in there 24/7 and if Ive screwed up and its too warm and condensation forms, I make sure I open enough dutch doors through the day to dry everything out once again before the horses come in

We don’t have fans but this has worked well over the years …

Good luck!

[Ambitious_Kate]

Barns and garages need vents, and usually there are gaps built in where the walls meet the roof. If you are experiencing moisture this wasn’t done, and should have been done before you ever insulated. In correctly built garages and barns You can see screening put over the gaps to keep out squirrells and birds. In several garages I condsidered converting to a living area I found no ventilation in the un insulated building and because of that I was unable to insulate the building. Uninsulated, air seeped through the walls and kept the space ventialted and dry. That’s why most barns are not insulated. When you put in insulation you seal up the air flow and you must install roof vents, attic vents and/or fans at a slatted window or something. You can see those whirling vents atop barns; this is for the needed air exchange.

Houses need to be vented too, and in the attic you can find vents usually on the long wall, like a window with slats. This allows the air to circulate out at the top and fresh air comes in somewhere down below. Often they have an automatic fan at the slatted window to facilitate the air flow out of the building.

Its paramount - essential - to vent you cannot allow moisture to build up because you are creating mold in the walls and on the roof. You probaby have it already if you have allowed this to happen in the past.

Find somewhere up hight to open a small window or cut a vent on either end of the building. If you create air exchange at your level, you will feel the cold, so I wouldn’t do that. Your moist warm air is going to rise, and you want the vent up high. If you are storing hay in a loft, you need this even more - you will be creating mold if you don’t.

[Guilherme]

You need to figure out a way to exchange the air in the barn. Not only are you getting condensation you’re also likely getting buildup of amonia (from urine and feces) along with bacteria and virus’ from equine respiration. Horses also generate lots of heat as a matter of routine. That’s a setup for problems.

The enemy of horses is heat, not cold. A healthy horse can easily handle a temperature range from about 20 to 60 Fahrenheit with no help from humans.

So, get an exhaust system of some sort working to remove air and then decide where to put your intakes to bring air in from the outside. As long as the temperature stays above freezing (to protect plumbing and water buckets, mostly) you should be just fine, as will the horses.

G.

[Gloria]

Do you have cupola, or ridge vent? You don’t even need fan in your cupola (though you can).

[beau159]

[QUOTE=blueribbonpanel;8367020]
there are shows horses stabled there and the owners want to keep their hair coats short. [/QUOTE]

You do know that it is DAYLIGHT hours that prevent (or cause) a horse to grow a winter coat, not the air temperature?

Have a proper lighting schedule (lights on and off) in the barn to regulate their hair coat. Blanket if you need to but you must have good air flow. It is bad for the repiratory system, for the all the reasons everyone else has mentioned.

[findeight]

lights need to be a specific candlepower or higher or they just run your power bill up if you are using them to fool mother nature about the season for coat or hormone reasons. Shoukd ve easy to research.

[cowboymom]

I think she wants to keep the heat in b/c the horses are already nekkid, not that she’s trying to make them be nekkid.

I worked in an equine surgery center years ago and it had the same problem that was helped by a huge fan on the wall to draw air out and away from the building. That barn had a peaked roof though… but maybe you could figure out a way to put one on a wall or end of an aisle?

[whitewolfe001]

I think it is hard to give specific advice without knowing exact structure and specifics of the building.

I know how difficult it can be to ventilate properly while trying to retain heat because I have been struggling with this in my old home for the last couple years. I wanted to better insulate my home… hired a contractor to do it…it definitely worked to retain heat… but then we got mold in the attic from lack of ventilation. I have had several contractors over to look at my home, and, surprise surprise, have gotten several very differing opinions. :lol: The one consistent comment I’ve gotten is that the roof is an odd shape, and so it’s a bit tricky to get the air to move the way it should. (Ventilation wasn’t a problem back when the house was super drafty, haha.) So it really depends on the structure, and how the air moves.

Ventilation/condensation/mold is a common problem in newer homes as well, which are much more buttoned up/insulated (I worked for a property developer who would run into this sometimes in new buildings). Any dumbass can be a subcontractor to stuff insulation into every crack, but it takes someone who knows what they are doing to ensure insulation is done properly and air can still flow as needed at the same time.

I think for the best result you need to look around for a good contractor to find out how to best ventilate while retaining heat. It is likely an easy, inexpensive fix (adding some venting) but you need to know exactly HOW and WHERE for best results.

Good luck!!

[Highflyer]

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