Smoking lounge

[CigarStone]

After reading a great many posts about the process of ventilation, filtration, and air exchange, I have decided what I "plan" to do and would like some input.

The room will be in the basement, will be a sealed room with two doors. and will be approximately 17 X 13. My plan is to install a "in line exhaust fan" like THIS ONE and vent it directly out the side of the house, running the duct inside the channel created by two floor joists. The fan will be right at the outside wall which is in another room and should therefore be totally silent in the lounge.

The room is red oak from floor to bar rail height, painted drywall from there to ceiling with a matching red oak ceiling, as seen below. One wall will be red oak library type shelves and entertainment center floor to ceiling. There will be hardwood floor or maybe epoxy (like a garage floor).

Questions:
1. I have the ability to put in a Y duct and have two vents directly over the smoking area instead of one....will this matter?
2. At 1768 cubic feet what is the recommended CFM assuming the incoming air will come under the two doors and through whatever cracks exist?
3. I may have to put cloth furniture in there until I can get what I want, I plan to cover it with a big piece of fleece or something I could toss in the washer. Any other suggestions here?
4. There is currently a heater vent (off the furnace) in the ceiling which I can redirect to another room before finishing the ceiling thereby forcing the fresh (intake) air to come in under the two doors.
5. Any other words of wisdom?

Thanks

 

[theroberthogan]

I've thought about doing something similar to this, and my contractor friends all tell me the same thing. If there is a way for air to get into the room, then air can get out the same opening. That means if your furnace is in the basement, it is possible that smoke from your lounge could seep out of the room, get to your furnace intake, and send the smell throughout the rest of your house. Just something to think about.

 

[CigarStone]

I've thought about doing something similar to this, and my contractor friends all tell me the same thing. If there is a way for air to get into the room, then air can get out the same opening. That means if your furnace is in the basement, it is possible that smoke from your lounge could seep out of the room, get to your furnace intake, and send the smell throughout the rest of your house. Just something to think about.

I had the same concern and I "think" that if the exhaust fan in the lounge is on anytime there is smoke in the lounge then the smoke can't get out except through the exhaust vent (path of least resistance). I plan to put the fan on a timer and have it run for an hour or so after each smoking event.

Hopefully someone has done this and can share their experience.

Edited to add......When it's done you and all the local BOTL's will have to come over for a test drive

 

[theroberthogan]

I've thought about doing something similar to this, and my contractor friends all tell me the same thing. If there is a way for air to get into the room, then air can get out the same opening. That means if your furnace is in the basement, it is possible that smoke from your lounge could seep out of the room, get to your furnace intake, and send the smell throughout the rest of your house. Just something to think about.

I had the same concern and I "think" that if the exhaust fan in the lounge is on anytime there is smoke in the lounge then the smoke can't get out except through the exhaust vent (path of least resistance). I plan to put the fan on a timer and have it run for an hour or so after each smoking event.

Hopefully someone has done this and can share their experience.

Edited to add......When it's done you and all the local BOTL's will have to come over for a test drive

Absolutely. Can't wait to see it set up, and then steal your plans for my own basement.

 

[mmburtch]

The bigger the better on ventilation. Mine has trouble above two smokers (320cfm). Also, I still need the electrostatic to get the smell out.

 

[CigarStone]

The bigger the better on ventilation. Mine has trouble above two smokers (320cfm). Also, I still need the electrostatic to get the smell out.

Matt:

Do you allow the fan to run for a while after smoking? How does air get in to your room to replace the exhausted air?

I plan to put a good ionizer in there as well.

 

[billbaker3]

At one time we stocked them. I will see if we still do and if I can get you a better price then that.

The problem with doing something like that is you are killing your efficiency. That will suck all the heat out of the room, BUT the only way to not do that is with a ERV that will cost a bunch more. Turning that on in a closed room will cause air to be sucked into the room through any cracks that are there. If it can not get enough air in the room it will not work right and it will push less cfm.

 

[CigarStone]

At one time we stocked them. I will see if we still do and if I can get you a better price then that.

The problem with doing something like that is you are killing your efficiency. That will suck all the heat out of the room, BUT the only way to not do that is with a ERV that will cost a bunch more. Turning that on in a closed room will cause air to be sucked into the room through any cracks that are there. If it can not get enough air in the room it will not work right and it will push less cfm.

I have a 30,000 BTU natural gas, ventless, heater I could easily plumb in to the room and use when smoking just to keep some heat.

 

[Shooter]

I use a 300 CFM Nutone, it vents directly outside, via a 4 inch dryer vent. Super quiet and does the job. You will want a timer on it for sure. As far as heat, I just use a electric heater. No smell that I can tell remains. No need for any fancy ionizer. Never had any problem with the smell leaking into other parts of the house unless I didn't run the fan for awhile after I left the room. I have a furnace vent in the room and leave it open all the time, again no smell leakage as long as the fan is run. My room is roughly 1000 square feet. If I had to do it over again I would position the fan above my chair instead of in the middle of the ceiling.

Hope this helps. It is really not rocket science.

 

[DePasta]

I have a very similar room to what you will have. I initially put in one of those in line fans and it didn't work worth crap. I upgraded to a 300cfm nutone fan and 6 inch duct which is quiet enough. As far as air exchange, and older house would have enough cracks etc. to bring in air. I leave it running after I smoke for a bit and also use a hepa filter cranked up afterwards. It can handle up to 4 smokers reasonably well. I keep the vent closed in winter and use a space heater. In summer I open it to cool the room and humidor.

I have had up to 5 guys smoking at once and have never had an issue with the furnace pulling smoke out. We usually keep the door closed or partially.

The floor and walls(concrete) were painted with epoxy with an area rug. I vacuum regularly with a good quality vacuum and dust. I did the same as you with cloth furniture. Finally found a decent leather couch for $99.

Another thing just make sure you empty your ashtrays after each session. I have forgotten before and they can leave a pretty potent smell behind.

 

[StinkiMonki]

Flush out more air then you bring in and you will help yourself tremendously. If it's the other way around the room will be like an expanding baloon and smoke will exit along any crack or seam.

 

[billbaker3]

I use a 300 CFM Nutone, it vents directly outside, via a 4 inch dryer vent. Super quiet and does the job. You will want a timer on it for sure. As far as heat, I just use a electric heater. No smell that I can tell remains. No need for any fancy ionizer. Never had any problem with the smell leaking into other parts of the house unless I didn't run the fan for awhile after I left the room. I have a furnace vent in the room and leave it open all the time, again no smell leakage as long as the fan is run. My room is roughly 1000 square feet. If I had to do it over again I would position the fan above my chair instead of in the middle of the ceiling.

Hope this helps. It is really not rocket science.

I can do those all day long. Nutone and Broan are the same thing and I stock Broan.

Link

You can also do a inline one if you want. I don't stock them but could have one shipped direct to you.

 

[mmburtch]

The bigger the better on ventilation. Mine has trouble above two smokers (320cfm). Also, I still need the electrostatic to get the smell out.

Matt:

Do you allow the fan to run for a while after smoking? How does air get in to your room to replace the exhausted air?

I plan to put a good ionizer in there as well.

I let the fan and the air cleaner run 24/7.

I get most of my make up air by sucking it through a heating duct, since the door is sealed with weather stripping. In the warmer months, I can open a window as well. It is possible that I am not getting enough intake to accommodate the fans potential.

I don't heat the room, other than what the exhaust fan pulls through the heating duct. The only real smoke escape problem I had was when I had the louvers open on the heating duct, and the exhaust fan off. I filled the trunk line with smoke, which seeped into all of the rooms served by that trunk.

 

[CigarStone]

I use a 300 CFM Nutone, it vents directly outside, via a 4 inch dryer vent. Super quiet and does the job. You will want a timer on it for sure. As far as heat, I just use a electric heater. No smell that I can tell remains. No need for any fancy ionizer. Never had any problem with the smell leaking into other parts of the house unless I didn't run the fan for awhile after I left the room. I have a furnace vent in the room and leave it open all the time, again no smell leakage as long as the fan is run. My room is roughly 1000 square feet. If I had to do it over again I would position the fan above my chair instead of in the middle of the ceiling.

Hope this helps. It is really not rocket science.

I can do those all day long. Nutone and Broan are the same thing and I stock Broan.

Link

You can also do a inline one if you want. I don't stock them but could have one shipped direct to you.

Thank you! I was planning to put an in line unit at the far end of the runto keep the lounge quieter, any issue with pulling air as opposed to pushing it?

The bigger the better on ventilation. Mine has trouble above two smokers (320cfm). Also, I still need the electrostatic to get the smell out.

Matt:

Do you allow the fan to run for a while after smoking? How does air get in to your room to replace the exhausted air?

I plan to put a good ionizer in there as well.

I let the fan and the air cleaner run 24/7.

I get most of my make up air by sucking it through a heating duct, since the door is sealed with weather stripping. In the warmer months, I can open a window as well. It is possible that I am not getting enough intake to accommodate the fans potential.

I don't heat the room, other than what the exhaust fan pulls through the heating duct. The only real smoke escape problem I had was when I had the louvers open on the heating duct, and the exhaust fan off. I filled the trunk line with smoke, which seeped into all of the rooms served by that trunk.

So you are sucking air backwards through your furnace ductwork? This would ensure that you don't get smoke in to the furnace right? My only issue would be that the heater vent is directly above where my chair would be and within a foot or so of where the exhaust vent will be.

 

[SewerRanger]

Wow, I was just going to open a window and put a fan in it backwards. Are you guys sure you're not just over thinking this whole thing?

 

[mmburtch]

Wow, I was just going to open a window and put a fan in it backwards. Are you guys sure you're not just over thinking this whole thing?

You married?

 

[CigarStone]

Wow, I was just going to open a window and put a fan in it backwards. Are you guys sure you're not just over thinking this whole thing?

You married?

That's funny.....true but funny!

Also, my lounge is going to be in the basement and there will be no windows in it.

 

[SewerRanger]

Wow, I was just going to open a window and put a fan in it backwards. Are you guys sure you're not just over thinking this whole thing?

You married?

You got me there.

Also, my lounge is going to be in the basement and there will be no windows in it.

Gotcha, see my basement has a window in it.

 

[billbaker3]

I use a 300 CFM Nutone, it vents directly outside, via a 4 inch dryer vent. Super quiet and does the job. You will want a timer on it for sure. As far as heat, I just use a electric heater. No smell that I can tell remains. No need for any fancy ionizer. Never had any problem with the smell leaking into other parts of the house unless I didn't run the fan for awhile after I left the room. I have a furnace vent in the room and leave it open all the time, again no smell leakage as long as the fan is run. My room is roughly 1000 square feet. If I had to do it over again I would position the fan above my chair instead of in the middle of the ceiling.

Hope this helps. It is really not rocket science.

I can do those all day long. Nutone and Broan are the same thing and I stock Broan.

Link

You can also do a inline one if you want. I don't stock them but could have one shipped direct to you.

Thank you! I was planning to put an in line unit at the far end of the runto keep the lounge quieter, any issue with pulling air as opposed to pushing it?

No it wouldnt be a problem. Did you look on Broans website and make sure that the inline one will work? I think the L300L is square duct, but could be transitioned. Look on the site and give me the part numbers you want me to quote to you.

 

[ChiTown_Huck]

Gotcha, see my basement has a window in it.

I tried this once, and the fan didn't create enough of a pull to get all the smoke out of my basement. On top of it, it was a poker night, so there was a lot of smoking going on. It cured me of the desire to ever smoke in the house again. The garage is my place now, especially since we have three boys now.