Do I Ned vents in my new well house

[AlbertC]

I am building a new well house to replace my old one that was in bad shape. I poured a concrete pad and insulated the walls and ceiling of the new house. I bought two 4" round vents that I was going to place on the front wall near the top of the roof. The house is sealed up and pretty tight, but I am beginning to wonder if I need to install the vents. I live in middle georgia and we don't have too many days below freezing.

I initially thought I should install the vents so that the house could have some fresh air and if I have water vapor coming into the house thru the floor the vents would help the moisture escape but on the other hand the vents would pretty much negate any benefits of the insulation I have incorporated into the house. Anyone have any opinions on thei?

Thanks

 

[RNeumann]

If I did anything it would be two small vents (one high and one low) that I could open and close as needed. I don’t think you need much.

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

^^^^^^agree with adding the vents. In the summer, leave them open to exhaust the humidity/ moisture. In the winter / chance of freezing, you can close them up.

 

[bigtiller]

If the ceiling does not have a vapor barrier, moisture can escape through the ceiling and into a well vented attic.

 

[thepumpguysc]

Mine looks similar but w/ an A frame roof{removable}
I live in SC & haven't had any issues w/ freezing or sweating...30 years.
I recently skinned it w/ "tin".. sides & roof to match the garage/shop..
I have 2" insulation foam board on the inside.

 

[Gem99ultra]

We have a similar pump house here in mid-Georgia, i.e. about 16' x 24' x 12', metal roof with vinyl siding. A single gable vent is more than enough venting. No problem with freezing nor heat.

 

[Beltzington]

We have a similar pump house here in mid-Georgia, i.e. about 16' x 24' x 12', metal roof with vinyl siding. A single gable vent is more than enough venting. No problem with freezing nor heat.

Are your sure you should call this a pump house? Sounds like a large shed to me.

 

[Wakey]

I added 2 vents to mine and I block them off during winter.

 

[Gary Fowler]

You will likely have enough leakage around the door to vent any moisture that may accumulate in the well house. With a concrete pad, you aren't going to get much vapor buildup. I find it much easier to keep a well house (or any other outside structure warm in winter if it has no vents to let warm air escape. Summer heat will expel any moisture even if it is well insulated.
I wouldn't put in any vents that have to be opened and closed with the weather, just something else to worry with.

 

[Thomas]

If you chosen vents have some sort screening back side,may help keep bee's wasp out.

 

[oosik]

Close up the construction with out the vents. See what happens. You can always add them later.

 

[Diggin It]

We have a similar pump house here in mid-Georgia, i.e. about 16' x 24' x 12', metal roof with vinyl siding. A single gable vent is more than enough venting. No problem with freezing nor heat.

Are your sure you should call this a pump house? Sounds like a large shed to me.

Yeah, I park the Blue Djinn, both LTs, the Field & Brush mower and a bunch of wheeled and hand tools inside that.


OP, I think I'd have made it tall enough to put a regular door in. Then the height would have allowed more venting options, like maybe a solar powered ventilator fan with a thermostat.

 

[Gem99ultra]

Are your sure you should call this a pump house? Sounds like a large shed to me.

yeah, your not kidding about that. When we bought this place back in 2010 we saw pictures of it. Seeing the "Pump House" we though it was some sort of little church or something on the property. Nope - it's a genuine 'pump house'. Here's a picture of it:

 

[rScotty]

I initially thought I should install the vents so that the house could have some fresh air and if I have water vapor coming into the house thru the floor the vents would help the moisture escape but on the other hand the vents would pretty much negate any benefits of the insulation I have incorporated into the house. Anyone have any opinions on thei?

Thanks

Good thinking. Yes, when you build any structure you always add vents. It's pretty much impossible to tell in advance if you are going to need them or when because it depends on your ground, weather, sun/shade, foundation, and all the rest.
You put them in because it is easy to do, and you can always close them up if you don't need them.

 

[Wakey]

There are no vents in my well house, and I’m concerned about the humidity there. I probably need to add them to make sure there’s air circulation. But I have to think about how to do that in the best way.

Post some pictures of your well house. It shouldn’t be that difficult.

 

[lman]

I don't know of anybody with a wellhouse around here. Is that a southern thing? What is in the house? Around here well pumps are submersible and all we have is a vented cap on the well pipe.

 

[Oaktree]

I don't know of anybody with a wellhouse around here. Is that a southern thing? What is in the house? Around here well pumps are submersible and all we have is a vented cap on the well pipe.

Dug well maybe? Not everyone has a drilled well.

 

[reb]

I bult a well house (small one, about 3' x 3' and about 2' high, with a sloping roof) about 22 years ago. No vents and no problems.

 

[oosik]

Around here - very few NEW well houses/pump houses. Drilled well - pitless adaptor - storage in the basement of the house. Basements are normally vented so moisture is no problem. If its a special room in the basement - then that room will have its own venting.