Free yourself from worry, responsibility, and indecision—let the automated vents regulate temperatures for you. Sometimes we are overwhelmed with the responsibility of managing everything in our lives. Greenhouse temperatures are no exception. You’ll be able to go on vacation without hiring someone to open and close up your greenhouse.
The Importance of Ventilation in Your Geodesic Dome Greenhouse
Automated Vents & Greenhouse Ventilation
The automatic greenhouse vents are heat-activated and require no electricity to operate. The upper and lower automatic greenhouse vents open and close at an adjustable preset temperature due to the expansion and contraction of a beeswax solution within a cylinder and piston. Greenhouse venting and cooling of the Growing Dome® is then achieved as hot air escapes from the top vents and cold air is drawn in through the lower vents. Overheating of the Growing Domes is prevented due to this “chimney” effect. The greenhouse vent openers can be disconnected easily to close the vents at will. The three types of openers Growing Spaces provides for the Growing Dome greenhouses are described below.
The 15′, 18′, 22′, and 26′ Growing Dome Kits come standard with one 12v Hybrid fan that draws in fresh, cool air. One or more 12v Hybrid Fan(s) may be added as an upgrade to any Growing Dome kit. The 33‘ and 42′ Growing Domes use Electric Fans and Attic Fans for ventilation instead of automatic vents. For these two large Growing Domes, a solar-powered upgrade may replace the standard electric fans.
Univent Automatic Greenhouse Vent Opener
The Univent® automatic greenhouse vent opener is handmade in Denmark. It is the smallest of the three vent openers that Growing Spaces uses on the Growing Dome. Only the 15′ and 22′ Growing Domes use these vent openers. These openers are very easy to install and use. For wintertime, this vent opener disengages from the mounting bracket on the vent with a quick squeeze of the support arms. These openers are only used on the bottom vents of the Growing Dome. The Univent has an opening force of about 15 pounds and the two springs provide a closing force of about 1.7 pounds. The piston and cylinder provide opening and closing temperature adjustments by threading it in or out.
Bayliss Hydraulicheck Automatic Greenhouse Vent Opener
The sturdy Bayliss Hydraulicheck greenhouse vent openers are custom-made in the UK for Growing Spaces and are not available in retail stores. The Bayliss openers are perfect for our small to mid-sized greenhouse vents. These automatic openers allow the geodesic Growing Domes to withstand high winds. This greenhouse accessory offers a “hydraulicheck” feature that prevents the vent from being jerked open by strong winds. The greenhouse vent openers can be exposed to prevailing winds in excess of 60 mph.
Gigavent Automatic Greenhouse Vent Opener
The Gigavent automatic greenhouse vent opener is made in Denmark with a unique damper and powerful spring built into it to withstand very strong winds. These openers are able to handle an astounding 60 pounds of weight.
The added bonus is that these automated vents open 6 inches wider than the Bayliss openers! The total 18 inch opening allows for increased airflow to help keep the green house cool in the hot summer months. This is why these openers are the standard for the top vents on our 18′ and 26′ Growing Domes.
The 18′ Growing Dome comes with one Gigavent opener on top and the 26′ Growing Dome comes with two on top. The 22′ Growing Dome top two vents use the Bayliss opener because the vents are too small for the Gigavent to operate correctly.