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Easiest Way to Block a Whirlybird?

shima

shima

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Hi guys,

The house that I rent has a big 'ol garage that I work in. I love it. The one complaint is that the roof has two (maybe three?) whirlybirds installed.

I had no idea what they were called... I had to Google it. More or less they looks like this:
https://images.homedepot-static.com...svn/whirlybird-wind-turbine-bib14-64_1000.jpg

Anyhow, the garage retains zero heat in the winter. I figure that's because of the whirlybirds. What would you guys say is the easiest / most effective way of blocking them during the winter? I want to try and heat up the garage with a space heater and I feel like I've got no chance with all the warm air leaving through the roof.

I was just going to climb onto the roof and tie a tarp around them. Bad idea?

Thanks for any and all input!!
 
They aren't connected to something important like a vent for the dryer or the like?
 
mrk5 said:
They aren't connected to something important like a vent for the dryer or the like?
Click to expand...

Thankfully no. It seems as though my landlord installed them just so that the garage wouldn't get too hot in the summer (?)
 
I would do foam across the bottom or some fiberglass stuffed inside.
 
Depending on how high up they are and if you can access the underside,it would be better to block the opening off under them than wrap them up in plastic--they'll tend to sweat and rust being enveloped in plastic..

I almost put those on my quonset hut,that is what most of them use for ventilation,but I didn't want to have to cut openings in the arches and weaken their snow load capacity..


I put an exhaust fan on the rear endwall of my quonset hut instead,I made a framed surround for it and put a hinged door on it that can be opened and closed by pulling on a rope ,threaded thru a few pulleys like they use on a clothes line or flag pole..

Until I made the door,the louvers for the fan on the outside of the wall that were "self closing" proved useless,a strong gust of wind would open them and all the heat would escape in a matter of seconds..
I put magnetic cabinet latches on the door to hold it closed..

Perhaps you could rig up a similar "door" ,so you can seal up the vent opening,but still be able to open the vent to let paint or exhaust fumes or smoke out..

I leave the door open when I'm not in the garage to help evaporate any moisture that collects inside..otherwise under the right weather conditions the arches will sweat and drip water on you..and rust tools and other things..long as I keep it open everything stays dry..
 
Is that the only venting in the building? Often the roof vents are paired with soffit vents to keep the hot air moving even if the doors are shut. Are the rafters high? You might have to rig up a ceiling to keep all of the heat from the heater sitting up in the rafters. Something as simple as plastic sheeting can make a big difference, or you may have luck with a ceiling fan.
 
Blue85 said:
Is that the only venting in the building? Often the roof vents are paired with soffit vents to keep the hot air moving even if the doors are shut. Are the rafters high? You might have to rig up a ceiling to keep all of the heat from the heater sitting up in the rafters. Something as simple as plastic sheeting can make a big difference, or you may have luck with a ceiling fan.
Click to expand...

I believe that's the only venting. The rafters are pretty dang high - I am going to snap some pictures this evening or this weekend. I think your suggestion is a great one. The insulation will help a lot, but I'll probably have to find some way to keep the heat down at ground level.
 
Believe it or not, slow moving fans up high circulating the warm are down makes a huge difference. Never ran mine during the summer, only the winter.
 
I have pieces of sheetmetal welded to a hinge that is screwed to the roof. There is a magnet on the roof on the not-hinge side. The magnet (which is actually a magnet for a RV cabinet door) holds the piece of sheetmetal over the hole for the roof vents. I use a long broom handle to open and close the vents.

I only close them when the heater is running. As soon as I'm done I open them up. Otherwise all the combustion moisture condenses on everything...
 
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