How to Cool a Grow Tent: Most Exclusive Cooling Solutions EVER!
What is the best way to cool a grow tent? The most exclusive cooling solutions available! 18766Views0 Recent publications have addressed particular concerns around chilling grow spaces, and we’ve published a lot of them pieces recently. There are guidelines on how to regulate excessive temperatures, how to chill grow rooms with ice, and other such topics. However, we soon came to the conclusion that there should be an article that covers everything about how to cool a grow tent, as well as the questions that follow.
It should be a one-stop shop article from which every grower would gain in one way or another.
It took a week to do the study, collect every difficulty that growers were experiencing with reference to grow tent cooling, present the most up-to-date solutions to every concern that was discovered, and put the whole thing together.
So, make yourself a cup of coffee and set aside 10 minutes to read over the entire essay.
Let’s cruise through the entire composition and meet up at the conclusion once more.
Reasons for A Rise inGrow Room Temperature
Learn how to cool a grow tent using the most exclusive cooling solutions on the market today. 18766Views0 Recent articles have addressed particular topics about grow space cooling and have been published on our website. You may find information on regulating excessive temperatures, chilling grow areas with ice, and other other topics. However, we soon came to the conclusion that there should be a page that covers everything related to how to cool a grow tent, as well as the queries that follow.
- Everyone in the growing industry should be able to profit from this one-stop shop article.
- Performing the study, gathering every issue that growers have with grow tent cooling, providing the most up-to-date solutions to every concern that was discovered, and putting everything together took a week.
- So, make yourself a cup of coffee and set aside 10 minutes to go through the entire article from beginning to end.
- Let’s take it easy through the entire piece and meet up at the conclusion.
Improper Ventilation
Take a stroll in the outside garden or the neighborhood park. Is there anything else that mother nature provides them, apart than sunlight, that they need?
Yes, you are correct; that is the natural air movement. In the case of indoor cultivation, this is referred to as ventilation. Plants suffer from a variety of problems when they do not have adequate ventilation. And the first of these is a greater internal temperature.
Too Many Heat Producers
The most significant source of heat in a grow room is the lighting. However, there are some objects that produce heat that circulates throughout the area. Examples include light ballasts, large pumps, and other such items.
Not-so-Insulated Location of the Grow Tent
For the past two years, I’ve worked as a grower. And, right from the start, I started growing plants in my basement. Growing in such a well-insulated space allowed me to get temperatures that were at least 5°F lower than those obtained with the same arrangement planted anyplace else in the home. And when the plants become overheated as a result of one or more of these factors, they begin to exhibit symptoms of stress. As a result, the amount of bloom or fruit produced is minimal. Please read the next sections of the post if you want to learn about some practical strategies to keep your grow room cool in real time.
7 Grow Room Cooling Solutions That Actually Work
When it comes to chilling a restricted place like as your grow room, nothing compares to the effectiveness of an air conditioner. It not only cools the surrounding environment, but it also removes the heat created by equipment such as blowers, generators, pumps, ballasts, and other similar devices. ACs of varying sizes are likely to be utilized by growers. These are sometimes labeled in terms of BTU (8,000 BTU, 10,000 BTU, 12,000 BTU, 24,000 BTU, 36,000 BTU, 48,000 BTU), and sometimes in terms of weight (8,000 BTU, 10,000 BTU, 12,000 BTU, 24,000 BTU, 36,000 BTU, 48,000 BTU) (1 Ton, 2 Ton, 3 Ton, 4 Ton).
Take notice that, while many growers employ portable air conditioning units, window air conditioning units, and other similar devices, a ductless mini split system is the most efficient.
As a result, you can’t always rely on your air conditioner to do all of the cooling duties.
Take Care of The Ventilation
The ventilation or air exchange of a grow room is the most essential environmental aspect that has a direct impact on the temperature of the growing environment. Because the heat created within will simply build if there is insufficient air flow, the temperature will continue to rise indefinitely without effective ventilation. The next question that comes to mind is, “What does it need to have appropriate ventilation? “. To put it succinctly, it implies that the plants should receive the same amount of airflow as’mother nature’ would provide if they were cultivated outside.
There are two types of fans that may be used to complete the task: oscillating fans and extractor fans.
While the other fan circulates old air out of the room and brings in fresh air from the outside.
You’ve picked the optimal combination based on the size of your grow area, the quantity of plants you want to produce, and other environmental factors.
Begin by locating the input ductwork in the coolest available location nearby. After that, spend some money on an automatic controller that adjusts the fan speeds in response to changes in temperature, such as a thermostat.
Structurize The Grow Room
A tent that is overcrowded is never a good thing. Every tent has a limit to the number of plants that may be accommodated within it. The presence of an excessive number of plants can result in a variety of problems, one of which is high temperatures.
Using Smart Pots
The use of smart pots to house plants in order to assist them cope with heat stress is an excellent solution. These can assist in surge evaporation, which reduces the likelihood of overheating, as well as maintaining the health of the plants by delivering oxygen from the sides. The use of Coco air is another clever pot hack that aids with the cooling of the growing tent. Your plants will be more resistant to the heat as a result of it. There are a number of additional substances that can aid in the battle against heat stress.
Optimize The Lights
Lights are the primary source of the potentially hazardous heat surges. There are a few instances in which lights can behave more like heat sources than they do as lighting sources. The methods are as follows:
- When the plants reach maturity, the lights should be dimmed. Extreme heat generation as a result of low-quality lighting
- There is insufficient airflow between the lights and the plant canopy. Leaving the light on when it isn’t essential (during the day)
Several things may be done to optimize the lights in order to reduce their heat-generating effects, including:
Raise The Lights
Raising the light by 8-10′′ might be used as a temporary remedy to minimize direct heat impacts from lights on your plants.
Install A Light Mover
Some hot spots and uneven lighting across the area might be caused by light sources that are fixed in one location. Consider taking up residence in a motorized mover. Using a curved track, they may convey the lights back and forth or around a corner. As a result, the light dispersion across a large region becomes more uniform, which is advantageous. Additionally, it minimizes the amount of hotspots and the problems associated with canopy overgrowth. First and foremost, it contributes to lessening plant damage caused by excessive heat exposure.
Run Lights At Night
When compared to the daytime, the nighttime temperature is a few degrees colder than the midday temperature. Growers, particularly those who live in hot climates, should avoid making the mistake of turning on lights during the daily hours. Because the temperature has already risen by a few degrees at that point. Rather, turn on the lights at night. It will help to keep the temperature under control. And it’s possible that it will prevent the power bill from skyrocketing. In a manner, you’re saving both energy and money at the same time.
Use Air Cooled Lights
Using air-cooled lights is an excellent technique to keep lights from creating heat and causing problems. In order to exhaust the hot air from the bulbs, they might be linked to the ducting system. The process will be accelerated even further if the insulation is properly installed. If you want to take it a step further, you may go for lights that are water cooled.
They are equipped with a water reservoir and a water pump in order to preserve water. It is possible that a water-cooled light can discern the essence of an air conditioning unit in a grow tent that has been properly sealed.
Ensure Proper Ducting and Insulation
It has been discovered that each extra right-angle bend in the ductwork results in a 5% reduction in fan performance. The same is true if your ductwork is not properly installed. To be fantastic, you must seal every portion of it with an insurance policy that ensures the smallest amount of bends possible. Aside from that, try to avoid as many right angles bends as possible. Ducting is concerned with insulating the airflow within the building. But what about the entire growing area? – Insulating the grow space, on the other hand, is absolutely necessary.
If you’re growing in a region where your growing space isn’t completely enclosed, you’re going to have to deal with regular temperature increases.
- It should not be placed on a south-facing external wall. A grow room should not be located beneath a hot roof. Try a basement or something similar
- It could work.
Optimize PlantsNutrient
This is not a straight answer to the cooling issue that you are experiencing in your grow tent. However, this is a lifesaver when your plants are on the verge of being hazardous. And what exactly is it? A rise in temperature will allow the plant roots to absorb more water as a result of over-transpiration, which will result in increased water consumption. And as they’re doing so, the roots are not only absorbing more water, but they’re also absorbing more nutrients. Overconsumption of some nutrients, such as boron, copper, and manganese, increases the likelihood of poisoning even more significantly.
Reducing the nutrient content by around 20% to 40% by adding clean water to the mixture is possible.
Keep Humidity Under Control
Another important factor influencing the temperature of your grow room is the presence of a low degree of humidity. As you are aware, a decrease in humidity results in an increase in temperature. In the same way, vice versa. Increasing the relative humidity of the growing space can help you deal with a high temperature. This will assist plants in exhaling water vapor through their leaves, resulting in a cooling effect. Now, how big of an increase would be required? Or, alternatively, how do you keep your grow tent cool with that?
Products Used in A Grow Room Cooling System
Growing plants inside is a system that has been created. As a result, there is a solution available on the market for virtually any problem you might possibly encounter. A couple more options are available when it comes to cooling as well.
Inline and Oscillating Fans
Every grower understands the need of having a fan in order to manage temperature and ventilation. Even after being aware of this, many make blunders when it comes to selecting the appropriate type and size of grow fans. Oscillating fans and inline fans are the two types of fans that are commonly used in grow rooms. Air circulation around the plants is provided by oscillating fans, whilst inline fans exhaust heated air and draw in fresh air. It is critical, however, to select a fan with the appropriate CFM rating.
The following are some of our suggestions: -– The best inline fan is: Apollo Horticulture 6″ Inch 440 CFM– Best Oscillating Fan (Wall Mount): Hurricane 16″ Wall Mount Fan– Best Oscillating Fan (Standby): WestPointe HP 16″ Stand Fan– Best Oscillating Fan (Standby): WestPointe HP 16″ Stand Fan
Mini AC Units
As you are aware, there are three types of air conditioners available: portable, split, and window. While these three types differ in terms of size, application, functionality, and, of course, price, they are all useful. If you’re utilizing a grow tent of the size of a 2X4 or 5X5, a portable air conditioner that fits your budget will suffice. Split air conditioners, on the other hand, are the greatest choice for growing in a bigger space, such as a grow room. For the third option, we do not believe that a window air conditioner would be the most cost-effective option for a developing room.
For the time being, here are our top selections for air conditioning systems for growth rooms and tents:
Model | BTU | Coverage | Price |
Midea Portable Conditioner | 12,000 BTU | 300 Sq.ft. | See Price |
Whynter ARC-14S | 14,000 BTU | 500 sq ft | See Price |
LG LP0817WSR | 8,000 BTU | 150 sq ft | See Price |
Opticlimate
Generally speaking, there are three types of air conditioning systems: portable, split and window. While these three types differ in terms of size, use, features, and, of course, price, they are all similar in terms of their basic functionality. Utilizing a portable air conditioner that is within your budget will suffice if you’re using a 2X4 or 5X5 grow tent. Split air conditioners, on the other hand, are the greatest choice if you’re growing in a bigger space, such as grow rooms. We also believe that a window air conditioner would not be an economical choice for a developing room in the third instance.
While we wait for the perfect air conditioning equipment for your growing room or tent, here are our top picks:
Water Chillers
Chillers have been assigned the task of absorbing the excess heat that accumulates in a growing environment. There are two types of chillers: water-cooled and air-cooled. Water chillers are preferred by most growers, despite the fact that they are more expensive. Hydroponics water chillers have a reservoir that holds water as well as a nutrient solution. This is the heart of the system. The combination of water and nutrient actively contributes to the cooling of the temperature. Once again, water chillers are only suitable for indoor hydroponics.
Evaporative Cooling Systems
Although the nomenclature seems complicated, the procedure that ECS’s follow is rather straightforward. It contains a solution that may release mists into the air, and the mist is intended to be vaporized after being inhaled. An additional feature is a swamp cooler fan, which pumps air into a moist medium. A result of this combined activity, evaporation occurs, and the temperature of the grow tent environment begins to decrease. One particular model that we advocate is— Evaporative Air Cooler SF-614P from SPT.
Ice Box
If you want to spend the least amount of money possible to keep a small grow tent cold, preparing an icebox yourself is the most effective method. The procedure is really simple, and it is far less expensive than any of the other goods described above. A tutorial for building an icebox in your grow room is available here on our site.
These are the goods that cool directly by cooling air to keep the temperature as low as possible. However, there are several additional goods available on the market that, while they do not provide cool air, they are excellent at preventing heat generation. Here’s a quick rundown of the options:
- The ability to dim the light
- Reflector hood lights
- Plant fertilizers and vitamins
- And smart pots are all included.
The ability to dim the light; reflector hood lights; plant fertilizers and additives; smart pots;
Check If You’re Making These 4 Mistakes Or Not-
- Dimensions of the exhaust hole and ducting are not identical
- Too many bends in the ducting
- Daytime running lights
- And an excessive amount of space above the lights
Summary Line
So, there you have it, gentlemen, that concludes the posts. Take a bow, gentleman, if you’ve made it through each and every section. In addition, please let me know if there is anything I have overlooked. Cheers! I’m Saleh, and I’m a blogger that enjoys doing home improvement projects on the side. Whatforme.com is my tiny corner of the internet where I can communicate what I’ve learnt first-hand, particularly in the field of home repair. The most recent posts by smsaleh (see all)
How to Cool A Grow Tent? – 10 Actionable Ways to Take
What do you think the months of June through August are like for you? We’d say it’s scorching. And when given the opportunity, we run under the air conditioners or at the very least beneath the fans to cool ourselves off. If that’s the case with ourselves, why shouldn’t it be the same with the plants? We’re talking about an agrow tent in particular, to whom you’re pretended to be ‘Mother Nature’ from every angle possible. Consequently, if you’re concerned about how to cool a grow tent that’s becoming excessively hot, it’s quite OK to choose that route.
Listed below are five strategies for keeping the temperature of a grow tent under control.
Let’s get this party started-
What Turns a Grow Tent Hot?
Before we can learn how to cool down a grow room, we must first understand what is causing the abrupt increase in temperature in the space. Throughout this section, we’ll refer to each of the probable explanations by their proper names. Let’s have a look-
- If the ventilation system fails, the heat generated within the tent is trapped within the tent itself. What is the obvious ramification of this? No doubt about it, there’s heat trapped within the tent, boosting the temperature
- It’s likely that the tent’s HVAC system isn’t performing up to pace due to the excessive heat in the surrounding environment. The higher the temperature outside, the greater the amount of work the cooling system needs to do. Otherwise, the temperature and heat would soar to dangerous levels. The presence of too many heat sources within the grow tent region and not enough cooling agents to neutralize them is another probable explanation for the problem. The absence of adequate insulation around the tent’s outside is another potential source of heat loss that we would need to solve. And that is most likely to occur in summer climatic zones
- Yet,
Have you acknowledged each and every one of them? Let’s have a look at some of the various solutions for getting them sorted out for a good purpose.
Ways to Cool A Grow Tent- Without Products
During this first section of the solutions, we’ll speak about several improvised methods of cooling down a grow tent. These will not be associated with the purchase of any items or the incurring of any costs in any way. All of the action will be focused on improvisation, optimization, and correction. Let’s have a look at it-
Way 1: Get the Best Out of the Ventilation Scopes
Grow tent kits available on the market are equipped with vent holes through which you may insert carbon filters, ducting into and out of the tent, and anything else that may be necessary. On that note, you must make certain that these venting chances are utilized to their full potential. And this will eventually result in a reduction in heat accumulation and a decrease in temperature. Another challenge that may be addressed from this position is the maintenance of appropriate airflow. You may increase ventilation by following a few simple guidelines that can be implemented with any available resources you may have at your disposal.
- Reposition the clip-on or stand fans throughout the grow space to better suit their needs. Additionally, if they offer to modify the speeds, you can do so. Relocate the location of the input duct opening to the coolest suitable location in the immediate vicinity. When this is done, cold air will be drawn into the tent, resulting in a dramatic reduction in the temperature within. If they have not previously done so, they should consider adequately closing the vent openings.
Way 2: Diminish the Heat Sources as much as Possible
The most basic approach to cooling down a grow tent is to utilize goods that chill the air. However, if we believe contrary, we may achieve the same result by reducing the amount of heat that is produced within a tolerable range.
And it works just as well as the first method. When it comes to naming heat sources in a grow system, there are just a handful that come to mind. Let’s have a look at the list:
- The lights (1 source of heat)
- Space heaters
- Motor-driven devices
- Soil that carries heat inside it
- And other sources of heat
Now, let’s speak about the grow lights first, because they are the primary contributors of pollution in this environment. In the first place, lights must be kept at a safe distance from the plants’ roots. After that, you can switch to using air-cooled light hoods instead of ordinary light hoods. Because these hoods take care of the hot air that is generated by the lights and prevent it from entering the grow area. Aside from these two points, there are a couple of small details that you should be aware of.
Additionally, you must employ automatic controllers to turn off the lights when they are not required.
When it comes to other sources of heat, you may use the same tactics that we recommended for lighting.
Way 3: Optimize the Ducting
This is something that many growers ignore, and as a result, they find themselves in an unexpectedly heated growing environment. In the ducting, this is the result of an excessive amount of bending. The following is a straightforward calculation: for every 90-degree turn within the duct, the fan must work 5 percent harder than it would normally be required to accomplish. This means that your fans will be less effective the more twists and turns there are in your ducting. Result? Poor air transmission and an increase in the temperature.
Moreover, this is true for both the intake and the exhaust ducting.
However, while doing so, you must make certain that the bending is maintained to a bare minimum.
Way 4: Avoid Low Humidity in the Grow Tent
It is possible that you have a definite belief that there is a direct relationship between humidity and temperature if you have done your research. Particularly when dealing with a limited space such as a grow tent, the connection becomes more clear. The general rule of thumb is that the lower the humidity, the higher the temperature will be in any given situation. In the same way, vice versa. As a result, if the humidity is below a certain level, it is possible that heat and temperature accumulation may occur within the growing environment.
Increasing the humidity levels in the grow tent if the humidity levels are lower than that will benefit both the plants and the overall temperature condition in the grow tent.
Way 5: Reposition the Grow Tent As Per the Exterior
As long as the heat difficulties are taken into consideration, the location of the grow tent within the house is quite vital to the success of the operation. Typically, growers like to store them in secluded areas such as the garage, cupboards, or other similar locations. However, in the event that you are not one of them, the following are some pointers. Place the grow tent away from the south-facing wall of your home. This will help to keep the bugs out. This is likely to prompt thoughts about how to construct a perimeter around the grow tent.
The heat of the sun is transferred to the tent through the nearby air, causing the tent to inhale hot air.
The greatest approach, on the other hand, is to store them deep within your home or garage, where they won’t be exposed to the sun via any of the roof or walls. Rest confident that you will be able to take care of the ventilation on your own.
Ways to Cool A Grow Tent – With Products
It’s critical to consider where the grow tent will be positioned in your home, as long as the heat difficulties are taken into account. In most cases, growers choose to maintain their plants in secluded locations such as the garage or cupboards. For those who aren’t among them, though, here are some pointers. Place the grow tent away from the south-facing wall of your home. This will help to keep the heat out. This is likely to prompt thoughts about how to construct a perimeter around the grow tent, among other things.
- The heat of the sun is transferred to the tent through the neighboring air, causing the tent to inhale hot air as a result of this.
- Do not be concerned about ventilation; you will be able to handle it yourself.
- They typically produce a respectable BTU output and are easily transportable.
- Mini A/C Units for Sale that We Recommend However, if the grow room is really huge, we offer split air conditioners that perform well.
- However, as you may imagine, they come at a significant financial expense.
Way 2: Use Fans
Because you are already familiar with the construction of an agrow tent, we assume that you have already occupied the fan(s) in it. However, given that the current scenario suggests that these fans are not adequately cooling the tent, we believe there is room for innovation. Replacement of the old fans with new and more efficient ones is what we’re talking about! Finding the proper size and kind of fan is always important when it comes to maintaining a healthy temperature for your growing plants.
- Inline fans: Fans that are built into the ductwork and are responsible for both the air intake and the air exhaust
- Oscillating fans: These fans are either openly attached to the grow tent wall or stand on the floor to ensure that the grow tent’s interior air circulation is properly maintained.
As a result, identify the appropriate size for both of these kinds and place them in an appropriate location. Location of fans is also significant since, if they are put in the wrong location, they will just circulate old, hot air inside the air instead of fostering new and cold breezes around the room. Inline fans that we recommend are as follows: Oscillating fans that we recommend are listed below. Sales promotionAir King Clip Fan, 6 inch (white). 6-inch commercial-grade 2-speed fan with a spring-loaded clip-on construction; 1/300-horsepower motor that is permanently oiled; polypropylene blades.
Way 3: Use Water Chillers
If you discover that ac units are prohibitively pricey for the amount of indoor gardening you do, there is a finer and more economical alternative available. And they are referred to as water chillers. Chillers for water are electric devices that absorb wet vapors while leaving the cold and cooled ones in their wake. There are two types of chillers: water-cooled chillers and air-cooled chillers. Water-cooled chillers are more common. Despite the fact that the latter is less expensive, it is less effective for grow tents larger than 44.
These devices are equipped with a water reservoir to keep the water contained and an evaporating mechanism to reduce the temperature of the surrounding environment.
As you have seen previously, insufficient humidity is one of the probable causes of the heating of grow tents.
Furthermore, with a water-based chiller, this possibility is well within the acceptable range. However, in the best-case situation, we recommend that you use a decent humidifier to deal with any humidity issues you may be experiencing. Water Base Chillers We Recommend are shown below.
Way 4: Control the Climate
When it comes to heat management in a grow tent, you may make considerable strides forward by regulating the environmental factors on your end. By doing so, we’re tackling issues such as-
- Grow lights, inline fans, oscillating fans, air conditioners, humidifiers, dehumidifiers, and any other electric HVAC equipment are all recommended.
Having the ability to apply some preset regulating directives about when they should turn on and when they should remain turned off will be quite beneficial. This is particularly effective in preventing the intrusion of unnecessary heat into the home. In addition, if you maintain tight control over the grow tent environment, there are a number of health benefits for the plants as a result. The controllers are available on the market in a variety of configurations. There are controllers that work alone, and there are controllers that work in a 360-degree environment.
Way 5: Use An Ice Box
Think about it: what could be any more inexpensive than a water-based chiller? Yes, you read it correctly; the icebox is the culprit. It is, in fact, a box of ice, just as the name implies. If you don’t want to use a box, you may use a bucket and transform it into a homemade icebox. These are not things that are available for purchase at a store. However, if you’re interested, you may create one yourself by following a few easy steps.
Closing Words
Hey, we’ve reached the end of the road. Pat yourself on the back because you’ve just finished writing a 2000+ word post about how to cool a grow tent using a variety of methods. As a last recommendation, consider the location of your grow tent and the solutions on the list to see which one is the most appropriate. If it is necessary to make a financial investment, do not be afraid to do so. Because, in the end, it will reward you with a handful of robust, quantitative crops, which will be well worth your time.
Best of luck with your growth!
How to Cool a Hot Grow Tent (7 Tips & Tricks)
The most recent update was made on January 18, 2022. Grow tents and other confined environments can get unbearably hot throughout the growing season. A light setup and the fact that cannabis plants perspire away all but around 3 percent of the moisture they absorb results in a sauna-like environment in a container. So, what can be done to mitigate the heat generated by a grow tent? There are a variety of strategies to experiment with, including:
The 7 Ways How to Cool a Grow Tent Are:
Starting with a fairly apparent choice, but one that should be noted since some growers may not be aware of how beneficial a small air conditioning unit can be when placed within a grow tent, is a good place to start. A little portable device is all that is required to reduce the temperature down in a small amount of space. Make sure it’s operating continuously, though, because an air conditioner that cycles on and off during the day will significantly increase your electricity cost. Image courtesy of Gray Rhee and Pixabay.
2. Proper Ventilation
Check to see that the fan linked to the exhaust is large enough to handle the size of the grow tent and that it is operating at optimal efficiency. A fan that is either too tiny or just does not perform properly may cause air to stagnate rather rapidly, resulting in temperature variations and other problems.
In addition to exhaust fans, intake fans should be examined since they normally have an easier time dealing with problems than exhaust fans.
3. Consider Changing Lights
If the temperature in a grow room is constantly too high, despite the best efforts of the grower to bring it down, the lighting system in the room is most likely too hot for the tent it is housed in. There are a few various possibilities in cooler lighting from which to pick, so it is not a hopeless situation. Pixabay user cannabispromoter contributed this image. Use LED lights as a trick. After decades of unsuccessful attempts to break into the market, LED lighting solutions are just now becoming widely used.
LEDs are an excellent choice for a grow tent for this reason alone, and they should be taken into consideration in situations such as these.
- See also: 5 Best PAR Meters for Cannabis Growing in 2021 – Reviews (Part 2) The Best of the Best
4. Air-Cooled Rigs
These function by removing heat from the light rig using either water or air, and doing so through the use of a pump or a fan. Air-cooled computers are moderately helpful as long as ventilation is already quite strong in the area, but they are only slightly beneficial in a location that is already constantly scorching on a regular basis. These lights operate by continuously blowing air across the surface of the light by means of a fan mounted in its reflector, therefore transferring heat in the process.
5. Water-Cooled Rigs
Though they perform admirably, water-cooled setups tend to be significantly more expensive than the other two alternatives. This is accomplished by the use of a circulator pump that forces cold water through ducting surrounding the lights. The heat is dissipated into the water, which then travels through a chiller before returning to the top and around again. If you have the option, water-cooled setups are an excellent method to keep a grow tent cool when the weather is hot.
6. Icebox Intake
Because it requires continual replenishing of ice during the grow if utilized as the primary source of cooling, we recommend it just as a temporary option while you search for a better answer to your cooling needs. Make Your Own Icebox Intake System using This Trick Essentially, the idea is to route an intake line via a cooler that has been modified to include holes for ducting to pass through. Continue to fill the cooler with ice, and the intake fan will begin to blow cold air anytime there is ice in the cooler.
Image courtesy of micripper and Pixabay
7. Good Insulation
True, insulation helps to keep heat trapped within a tent, but this isn’t a problem if the tent’s ventilation is up to pace. Insulation, on the other hand, should be viewed as a means of preventing cool air from evaporating. Proper insulation, when used in conjunction with an air conditioner or other cooling gear and enough circulation, is one of the most effective methods of maintaining a steady and cool temperature for plants.
Tents that are exposed to weather factors, such as those that are put outside or in a non-insulated area of a house, such as an attic, are particularly vulnerable to damage from the elements.
- See also: Top Picks for the 7 Best Grow Boxes for Beginners in 2021 – Reviews
Conclusion
Of course, this is not a comprehensive list of the many various ways people have discovered to cool down a grow tent, but it should give you a decent idea of some easy cooling ideas that every grower can put into action. It’s important to remember that cannabis plants prefer a consistent temperature above an optimal temperature. The ability to maintain a steady temperature in a grow tent, rather than having it swing up and down about an optimal temperature, might be beneficial in some situations.
9 Methods To Lower Temperature In Your Grow Tent (2022)
Maintaining an appropriate growth environment in your grow area is one of the most difficult aspects of growing cannabis indoors, and it may be quite difficult. It’s also the most critical factor to consider. It’s no surprise that I receive a large number of inquiries from farmers seeking assistance in decreasing their grow tent temperatures. If you want to reduce the temperature of your grow tent, there are numerous practical methods you may do. For example, moving your grow tent to a cooler part of your home, switching from an HPS to an LED grow light, and ensuring that your grow tent fan is pushing air out the window rather than into the room where your tent is placed are all good ideas.
Just to be clear, the best temperature range for growing cannabis is between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit, or 21 and 27 degrees Celsius.
It is critical to maintain consistent temperatures in your grow tent in order to minimize plant stress.
To begin, I’ll discuss the most practical techniques of decreasing grow tent temperature, and then I’ll discuss the less practical ones:
Method 1: Relocate Your Grow Tent
Consider relocating your grow tent to the most comfortable part of your home. For example, if you have central air conditioning, you might want to consider your basement or a location near some air vents. You should also think about putting it near windows that are open. Your grow tent will be able to take advantage of cooler seasonal conditions if it is located near open windows. It will also make it much easier for you to run your ducting from inside the tent directly out the window.
Method 2: Route Grow Tent Ducting Out The Window:
The objective of the inline fan should not be defeated by merely blowing the air from your grow tent into the room where your grow tent is placed; otherwise, the fan will be ineffective. In order to counteract the negative pressure caused by your grow tent’s inline fan, you must draw air from the room where you have set up your tent and draw it back into it through your grow tent’s inline fan. You should take your ducting, or purchase extra ducting if required, and direct it out a nearby window to exhaust the heat.
Method 3: Turn on Your Air Conditioner:
Maintain a cool environment in the room where your grow tent is positioned. The most straightforward method of accomplishing this is to open a window during the colder months or to get a portable air conditioner to keep the area cool. Consider putting the portable air conditioner inside the grow tent if that isn’t enough to alleviate the problem. When the inline fan blows out hot air and generates negative air pressure in your grow tent, the air in this chamber is drawn back into your tent, causing the air to be drawn back into your tent.
Keep in mind that if the temperature inside your tent is 85 degrees Fahrenheit and the temperature of the external air being drawn into the tent is only 80 degrees Fahrenheit, the temperature differential will not be sufficient to cool the tent down.
The temperature of the replacement air must be in the low 70s in order to raise the tent temperature from 85 degrees to the mid-upper 70s.
Method 4: Add CO2 to Your Grow Tent
The addition of this simple-to-use CO2 bag to your grow tent will not really reduce the temperature, but it will have the same effect. Cannabis plants are able to survive temperatures that are far higher than normal when exposed to excessive CO2 levels. How much additional heat can cannabis endure when the CO2 level is elevated? A temperature range of 85 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit would be ideal for growing plants. This is in comparison to an usual temperature range of 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit in the absence of CO2.
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Method 5: Make an Ice Box (with ice or dry ice):
This strategy will need a little ingenuity, but it is effective if you are willing to put out the effort. Because dry ice does not require replacement as frequently as wet ice, it will require far less maintenance. Using dry ice to reduce the temperature of a grow tent has the added benefit of creating CO2, which helps plants to survive at greater temperatures than normal (85 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit) as a result! What you’ll need is the following:
- Cold storage chest
- Ice or Dry Ice
- Oscillating fan
- Refrigerator
How to assemble: This may be as simple as putting your ice in a container or chest and directing an oscillating fan at it to cool it down. To be more imaginative, you may opt to seal the chest and cut a hole on either side of it, placing a fan in one hole and allowing air to escape through the other. A word about dry ice and carbon dioxide: CO2 is present at a concentration of 400 parts per million (ppm) in fresh air. Most gardeners agree that a CO2 concentration of 1,200 to 2,000 parts per million (ppm) is optimal for considerably improved plant yields.
- Concentrations more than 2,000 parts per million (ppm) can be harmful.
- Due to the fact that CO2 is heavier than air, you should have an oscillating fan operating to circulate the gas around the camp.
- When Using Regular Ice:If you don’t want to use dry ice, you might try making salt-ice instead.
- The use of salt allows the ice to remain frozen for a longer period of time.
Method 6: Make Sure Your Inline Fan is Strong Enough:
The inline fan in your grow tent is an excellent initial step in the process of eliminating heat from the tent. By clicking here, you can read my post on how to choose the proper size fan for your grow tent. Generally speaking, your inline fan should be replenishing the air in your grow tent once per minute, according to the rule of thumb.
You must also consider the lower fan power caused by bends in the ducting as well as the use of a carbon filter when designing your system. You might want to consider increasing the speed of your inline fan or purchasing a more powerful one if your current one isn’t powerful enough.
Method 7: Switch from HPS / HID Grow Lights to LED Grow Lights:
HPS and CMH grow lights generate a lot of heat. Consider upgrading to LED grow lights, which operate at a lower temperature and make maintaining the temperature of your grow tent easier. My time has been spent studying and updating a current list of the finest LED grow lights available, so please have a look at it if you are considering making the move to LEDs.
Method 8: Place Your Grow Light Drivers Outside Your Grow Tent:
The Mars Hydro TS-3000 (4×4 ft) and the TSL-2000 (2×4 ft) versions of LED grow lights, for example, feature replaceable drivers if you decide to make the conversion from HPS to LED grow lights. This is a significant advantage for growers that have difficulty decreasing the temperature of their grow tents.
Method 9: Relocate Hydroponic Equipment Outside Your Grow Tent:
If you’re growing hydroponically, you may be employing pumps, filters, reservoir chillers, or other electrical equipment that may be moved with the use of an extension cable or expanded pipes to accommodate your growth needs. Consider relocating as much of it as possible outside to help lower the warmth inside the grow tent. As you can see, there is no one perfect way for decreasing the temperature of a grow tent. There are several options. You may find one way to be more convenient or effective than another for you.
- The dry ice approach is my personal favourite if the simpler ways don’t work for you.
- While it may not be the simplest approach to use, I believe it is one of the most successful when it comes to raising the temperature of your grow tent environment to a comfortable range.
- Learn how to determine the coverage of grow lights.
- References:
How To Cool Grow Tent [27 Tips and Tricks] – Total Gardener
It might be difficult to keep your grow tent cool during the hot months. It will be discussed in this post how to cool a grow tent, or even a grow room, using our best practices. Please keep in mind that if you choose to click on some of the links in this post, we may receive a small fee at no additional cost to yourself.
Why Is Your Grow Tent Heating Up?
Grow tents may become quite hot for a lot of reasons. It is beneficial to analyze your current circumstances and compare them to them in order to determine where your problem rests.
- A lack of adequate ventilation or an inadequately designed ventilation system The grow tent is positioned in a hot room (for example, the attic, a room with too many windows, or a room facing south). There are problems with the lighting since it is not adjusted or it is too hot for the configuration. The ventilation system isn’t working properly or isn’t clear
- Inadequate growth area – the ratio of lights to grow tents is far too high
- Insufficient growing space
In the next part, we’ll go through 27 different strategies for dealing with overheated grow tents.
Top 27 Tips On How To Cool a Grow Tent or a Grow Room
During the day, ideal growth temperatures vary from 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit, while at night, temperatures range from 65 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. This is the temperature that you should be attempting to achieve. As many thermometers as feasible should be installed, with one at plant level and another at the top of the tent if at all possible. This will assist you in determining whether or not you have adequate ventilation and will increase air flow.
Tip 2 – Use Air Cooled Grow Lights with Inline Ventilation Systems
Passive ventilation is provided by cutting ventilation apertures into the side of the light housing, which is common in grow lights.
Active ventilation, such as inline fans and air ducts, is used by some growers to keep the grow lights cool. Consider switching to grow lights that are air cooled.
Tip 3 – Use Water Cooled Grow Lights
You may use water cooled grow lights in the same way that you would use air cooled grow lights. Using water cooled lights, you can reduce the size of your shadow imprint, which is ideal for usage in grow rooms that use natural sunlight in addition to LED lighting.
Tip 4 – Don’t Grow in the Attic
Attics will be extremely hot, posing a major heat risk. If you have the option of relocating your grow tent to another room or the basement, do so. In this advice, you will attempt to chill the area around the grow tent, which comes into the category of repairs.
Tip 5 – Insulate the Grow Room In Combination with Adding AC
Adding active air conditioning and insulating the grow tent or grow room are two options if you are unable to leave the attic.
Tip 6 – Grow Rooms – Use Light Movers To Move Heat Around Room Evenly
It is possible to use a light rail to move the lights around and spread the heat in a bigger grow area that has uneven or excessive temps.
Tip 7 – Add Hydroponics with Reservoir Chillers
The addition of a hydroponic system allows you to regulate the temperature of the water. When used in conjunction with a reservoir chiller, inline pumps, and water pipes, this system provides an effective method of lowering high temperatures in your grow room.
Tip 8 – Add Frozen Ice Bottles Daily
Fill some gallon jugs halfway with water and place them in the freezer. Every day, place them in the grow tent. Every night, put them in the freezer. It requires more effort than an air conditioner, but it is less expensive!
Tip 9 – Check For Bends or Breaks in Ventilation Tubes
Each curve in a ventilation tube can result in a reduction in efficiency of 5 percent or more. Additionally, ensure that the tubes are free of any debris (or dead animals).
Tip 10 – Add a Cooling Humidifier to Increase Relative Humidity
Top-filling cooling humidifiers are less expensive than central air conditioning equipment. The top filling varieties are less difficult to refill and keep in good condition. If you live in a dry location such as Colorado or the desert west, increasing relative humidity might be beneficial to your plants as well.
Tip 11 – Optimize the Lights
Check to see that your lights are operating at their best:
- Is it possible to see through the ventilation apertures on the lights? Are they dangling at a sufficient height from the top of the grow tent to allow for appropriate air circulation? Is the temperature of the lights too high for such a tiny space? Is it possible to convert to cooler LED lights?
Tip 12 – Use LED Lights Instead of Halogen Or Hotter Lamps
Is it possible for you to relocate your smallgrow tent to another room?
Tip 14 – Move the Grow Tent Away from Windows
Is it possible for you to relocate your grow tent away from the windows?
Tip 15 – Block the Windows In Your Grow Tent Room
However, if you are unable to relocate the grow tent away from the windows, blackout curtains should be used in order to block out the light and keep the room cooler overall. You may also open the windows in the evenings to bring in some fresh air.
Tip 16 – Open All the Ventilation Ports
Check to see that every light ventilation port is open and free of obstructions. In addition, make sure that any ventilation ports or exhaust fans that are used to bring air into or out of the tent are open and clear of obstructions. Do you have a charcoal filter in place to decrease odors? Is it obstructed?
Tip 17 – Add a Commercial Air Conditioning Unit
If you have the necessary funds and room, this is one of the most straightforward solutions. Purchase and install a business air conditioning unit. It’s that simple. It is possible to utilize a huge unit, such as the one seen below, to furnish the entire room. Alternatively, a tiny unit can be placed within the grow tent.
Tip 18 – Install a DIY Air Conditioning Unit
Alternatively, you may construct your own DIY air conditioning machine. These, like the frozen bottles, require daily maintenance, so plan accordingly.
Tip 19 – Use Timers For the Minimum Light Time Needed
Are your lights left on for an excessive amount of time each day?
Make use of timers to provide your plants with the exact amount of water they require to stay cool.
Tip 20 – Add a Intake and Exhaust Fans
This is one of the most often seen solutions. Simply move the air in and out of the grow tent in a deliberate manner. It is most effective when both are present to assist in completely circulating air flow within the grow tent.
Tip 21 – Optimize Air Flow – Are Your Fans Too Small?
If you already have air flow installed, it’s possible that it isn’t moving enough air. Spread out many thermometers at the top, bottom, and all about your tent to keep an eye on the temperature. Alternatively, use a single thermometer and take it to each of the places, taking note of the temperature at each.
Tip 22 – Add Oscillating Clip-on Fans To Circulate Air Inside the Tent
This is a tried-and-true method of keeping a tent cool. Check that a tiny oscillating clip-on fan will flow enough air to keep everything cool, as described in the preceding step.
Tip 23 – ADVANCED – Use a Carbon Dioxide Cooling System
Increasing the amount of carbon dioxide in the air provides plants with more of what they require (CO2 and light), as well as helping to chill the area. This is a more complicated strategy since you must continuously check the CO2 parts per million (ppm) levels in order to ensure the health of your plant as well as your own safety. We’ve discovered that a nice $40 air conditioner is a more convenient solution.
Tip 24 – Add Fans to Grow Lights or Use Grow Lights With Working Fans
Do you have air-cooled lights that aren’t fitted with any form of ventilation? Is it possible to include ventilation into your present lighting?
Tip 25 – Check That Any Existing AC Units or Exhaust Fans are Working and Clean
This check should be performed at least once a year, better many times a year.
Tip 26 – Check That Any Glass Panels On Your Grow Lights Have Ventilation and That’s It’s Clean and Clear
This should be the case, but it’s wise to double-check everything once a year.
Tip 27 – Operate Grow Lights At Night Instead of the Day
This final method might save you time by eliminating the need to open and close the windows at night and during the daytime. It is most effective if you also use blackout curtains to filter out the light coming in through the windows of the grow tent room.
How To Cool Down A Grow Tent Without AC
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I receive a commission on qualifying purchases made via my links. a little more information As a result, the water in the soil is evaporating at an alarming rate, your potted plants are withering, and the warmth is just excessive. When it comes to producing marijuana in a grow tent, it’s a challenge that many people have to deal with. You must bring the temperature down to a reasonable level, but knowing how to cool down a grow tent without air conditioning is something you must be familiar with.
The following are examples of such methods:
- Using standard air fans
- Increasing ventilation
- Decreasing grow light intensity
- Utilizing intake and exhaust fans
- Using air or water cooled lights
- Improved insulation Running your business operations at night is a good idea.
Each of these topics is covered in great depth further down the page;
Best Ways Of Cooling Down A Grow Tent Without AC
Seven of the most effective ways to help cool down your grow tent without employing an air conditioning system will be discussed in this article. There are actually quite a few options, and the most of them are rather straightforward as well.
1. Use An Air Fan
A basic air fan is the first thing you can do to assist reduce the temperature in a grow room that does not have an air conditioning system in place. As a result, an air fan will assist in moving air about, and the simple movement of air should assist in cooling the air in and of itself. The flow of air does, in fact, result in cooling. No, an air fan will not solve the problem on its own, especially if the grow tent is really hot, but it is an excellent starting point. In this case, it is critical that you get a fan that is both energy efficient and cool to the touch.
If you have a fan in your grow tent that runs hot and consumes a lot of power, it may really have the reverse effect of what you intend, or in other words, it may actually heat up the environment, so exercise caution. This post is a review of our favorite clip from the fandom.
2. Create More Ventilation
It is also important to note that increasing ventilation, even in the absence of an air conditioner, will surely assist to cool down a grow tent or grow room. It is no longer necessary to use powered ventilation, such as ducts and an intake and exhaust system, to accomplish this. You may just leave the door to the grow tent open a little bit, cut a hole someplace, or simply leave the vent holes uncovered rather than covering them if you like. Remember that heat rises, therefore the ideal areas to leave open are those near the top of the grow tent, where the air can circulate.
In addition to allowing heat to depart the grow tent, it will also enable new and cooler air to enter, which will aid in the regulation of humidity while also providing your plants with extra oxygen.
3. Reduce Grow Light Strength – LED Lights
Grow lights are one of the most significant sources of heat generation in a grow tent. If you have a large tent with a lot of lights, especially bright lights, they will very certainly operate to significantly heat your tent, maybe to the point where it is no longer optimal. What you need to know is that certain grow lights run really hot and generate a tremendous amount of heat, whilst others produce little or no heat at all, which is important to understand. To summarize, using LED lights to maintain an optimal temperature for marijuana development may be a good option in this situation.
If you have huge HPS, Halide, or other types of grow lights, this is most likely the reason why your grow tent is so hot.
4. IntakeOuttake Fans
The usage of intake and exhaust fans can also help to keep your grow tent cool if you don’t have a true air conditioning system installed in your tent. So, we’ve previously discussed the use of standard air fans, as well as the need of boosting the quantity of ventilation in your grow room, but this is the next stage in the process. Use intake fans in the bottom of your tent, which are connected to the bottom-located ventilation openings, to draw in fresh air from the ground below you. This chilly air should assist in cooling things down a little bit, as well as providing some fresh oxygen for your potted plants.
This will aid in the removal of hot air from the top, and since heat rises, this is precisely what you want to happen.
What’s great about outtake fans is that they may be equipped with a carbon filter, which can aid in the reduction of airborne pollutants and the management of smells.
5. Air Or Water Cooled Lighting
The use of lights that are either air or water cooled is the next method of keeping things cool in the grow room. This is what you must do if you want better illumination than the ones provided by standard LED lights. LED lights are good, because they keep the plant’s temperature down, but they don’t produce the finest-quality buds or the largest yields. There are various types of grow lights available that produce far larger and greater harvests, but they generate a lot of heat. Here, the solution is to invest in high-quality grow lights that are equipped with an integrated air-conditioning system.
Water-cooled systems, on the other hand, often perform better in terms of cooling and temperature control, but they are far more expensive and require significantly more maintenance. In other words, it’s possible that it’s time to upgrade your grow lights within the tent.
6. Better Insulation
Just be aware that this insulating point can work both ways, as previously stated. If you live in a very cold environment, increasing the amount of insulation in your grow tent will actually make it seem hotter inside. For those who live in warmer climates or need to keep things cool, insulating your grow tent to keep heat out will undoubtedly make a significant impact in how well your plants perform.
7. Run Your Operation At Night
The third approach to keep your grow tent cold, and to assist in cooling things down without the need of air conditioning, is to leave the grow lights on throughout the nighttime hours. Of course, nighttime is far colder than daylight, so if you run your grow lights at night, the heat generated by the lights will not mix with midday heat, resulting in temperatures that are not as high as they would be otherwise. To be sure, when growing vegetables in your pots, you can leave your lights on all day and night.
Conclusion
The reality of the issue is that, without a question, an air conditioner is the most effective method of cooling a grow room. However, they take up a lot of room, consume a lot of energy, are noisy, and you might not want one for a variety of other reasons. Nonetheless, as you can see, there are multiple effective methods of keeping a grow tent cool without the need of an air conditioner. In order to achieve the greatest outcomes, if you absolutely need to, combine all of the approaches we’ve outlined here for the best possible outcome.
