Foundation ventilation system and method

Abstract

A low voltage ventilating system and method of ventilating a crawl space of a building having a plurality of spaced apart crawl space vent openings formed in a wall of the crawl space is provided that and can be easily installed without the need for a professional electrician.

1 . A method of ventilating the crawl space of a building having a plurality of spaced apart crawl space vent openings formed in a wall of the crawl space, the method comprising: 
 positioning fan assemblies within at least two spaced apart crawl space vent openings, each fan assembly having a low voltage fan and a fan housing configured to be received within one of the crawl space vent openings;    providing a single high voltage electrical cord having a plug at one end for being received within an exterior electrical socket of a high voltage power source associated with the building;    providing a voltage reducing device located exterior to the crawl space that is coupled to the high voltage cord for converting high voltage from the high voltage power source to a low voltage output;    providing a continuous length of low voltage electrical cord coupled to the voltage reducing device for receiving and conducting the low voltage output from the voltage reducing device;    extending the length of low voltage electrical cord to areas adjacent to the at least two spaced apart crawl space vent openings;    coupling the fan assemblies to the length of low electrical cord with a tap assembly that includes a length of electrical tap cord that is connected at one end to the low voltage fan and a selectively-positionable connector that connects the other end of the tap cord to the length of low voltage electrical cord to provide electrical connection therewith;    and selectively operating the fan assemblies to draw air through the at least two spaced apart vent openings upon reaching at least one of selected time, temperature and humidity conditions within the crawl space.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 positioning the fan assemblies includes removing any existing covering of the at least two of the crawl space vent openings.    
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the connector is an insulation penetrating connector that can be positioned generally anywhere along the length of the low voltage electrical cord without cutting.    
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 selectively operating the fan assemblies includes providing an exterior located controller coupled to the voltage reducing device and receiving the low voltage output, the controller having temperature and humidity sensors located exterior to the crawlspace.    
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 providing a non-vent-opening fan assembly for mounting to a non-vent-opening crawl space structure, the non-vent-opening fan assembly coupling to the low voltage electrical cord by a tap assembly.    
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 extending the length of low voltage electrical cord to areas adjacent to the two spaced apart crawl space vent openings includes extending the low voltage electrical cord within the interior of the crawl space.    
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 providing a low voltage electrical cord includes passing the low voltage electrical cord through an exterior wall of the crawl space.    
   
   
       8 . A ventilation system for a crawl space of a building having a plurality of spaced apart crawl space vent openings formed in a wall of the crawl space, the ventilation system comprising: 
 a single high voltage electrical cord having a plug at one end for being received within an exterior electrical socket of a high voltage power source associated with the building;    a voltage reducing device coupled to the high voltage cord for locating at a position exterior to the crawl space for converting high voltage from the high voltage power source to a low voltage output;    a continuous length of low voltage electrical cord coupled to the voltage reducing device for receiving and conducting the low voltage output from the voltage reducing device;    at least two fan assemblies, each fan assembly having a low voltage fan and a fan housing configured to be received within one crawl space vent opening; and    at least two tap assemblies, each tap assembly including a length of electrical tap cord that connects at one end to the low voltage fan of one of the at least two fan assemblies and a selectively-positionable connector that connects the other end of the tap cord to the length of low voltage electrical cord at a selected position along the length of the low voltage electrical cord to provide electrical connection therewith.    
   
   
       9 . The ventilation system of  claim 8 , wherein: 
 the connector is an insulation penetrating connector.    
   
   
       10 . The ventilation system of  claim 8 , further comprising: 
 a controller coupled to the voltage reducing device and receiving the low voltage output, the controller being located exterior to the crawl space and controlling the operation of the low voltage fan assemblies.    
   
   
       11 . The ventilation system of  claim 10 , wherein: 
 the controller includes at least one of a timer, a thermostat and a humidistat.    
   
   
       12 . The ventilation system of  claim 10 , wherein: 
 the controller includes temperature and humidity sensors.    
   
   
       13 . The ventilation system of  claim 8 , further comprising: 
 a non-vent-opening fan assembly for mounting to a non-vent-opening crawl space structure, the non-vent-opening fan assembly coupling to the low voltage electrical cord by a tap assembly.    
   
   
       14 . A ventilation system kit for a crawl space of a building having a plurality of spaced apart crawl space vent openings formed in a wall of the crawl space, the ventilation system kit comprising: 
 a single high voltage electrical cord having a plug for being received within an exterior electrical socket of a high voltage power source associated with the building;    a voltage reducing device coupled to the high voltage cord for locating in a position exterior to the crawlspace for converting high voltage from the high voltage power source to a low voltage output;    a continuous length of low voltage electrical cord coupled to the voltage reducing device for receiving and conducting the low voltage output from the voltage reducing device, the low voltage electrical cord having a length of at least 25 feet;    at least two fan assemblies, each fan assembly having a low voltage fan and a fan housing configured to be received within one crawl space vent opening, each fan assembly having attachment members for engaging the vent opening to facilitate securing the fan assembly thereto;    at least two tap assemblies, each tap assembly including a length of electrical tap cord that connects at one end to the low voltage fan of one of the at least two fan assemblies and a selectively-positionable connector that connects the other end of the tap cord to the length of low voltage electrical cord at a selected position along the length to provide electrical connection therewith; and    a controller, which includes temperature and humidity sensors, coupled to the voltage reducing device for receiving the low voltage output, the controller locating in a position exterior to the crawl space and controlling the operation of the low voltage fan assemblies.    
   
   
       15 . The ventilation system of  claim 14 , wherein: 
 the connector is an insulation penetrating connector that can be positioned generally anywhere along the length of the low voltage electrical cord without cutting.    
   
   
       16 . The ventilation system of  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 a non-vent-opening fan assembly for mounting to a non-vent-opening crawl space structure, the non-vent opening fan assembly coupling to the low voltage electrical cord by a tap assembly.