Author Topic: How to cool a greenhouse, yeah!  (Read 2505 times)

Mark in Texas

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4220
    • Fredericksburg Texas, (central TX), zone 8a
    • View Profile
How to cool a greenhouse, yeah!
« on: June 29, 2020, 02:25:41 PM »
After 2 years of research, "what ifs", and 3 weeks of messing with tank installation, fittings, pipe and climbing ladders IT'S DONE! This new greenhouse centrifugal, adjustable Aquafogger, pump, and 2,800 gal. rain water collection system is "too cool".

Fairly quiet, output adjustable from 1 - 15 gph.  Unlike nozzles and high pressure pump this is supposed to be the most reliable and easy to hang system on the market.

If anyone does Facebook my page is public and has some video.

https://www.facebook.com/marknichols609








« Last Edit: July 10, 2020, 07:51:56 AM by Mark in Texas »

brian

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3356
    • Pennsylvania (zone 6) w/ heated greenhouse
    • View Profile
Re: How to cool a greenhouse, yeah!
« Reply #1 on: June 29, 2020, 02:49:30 PM »
Very nice.  I'm jealous of your giant rainwater tank. 

I have a much smaller fog system I built from Spaugh's ideas.  It is extremely effective at cooling, I'm really pleased with it.  I am running from tap water, this year with no phosphate filter.  I'm going to see how bad the scale gets.

Triloba Tracker

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1343
  • Psalms 104:14
    • USA, Middle Tennessee, Zone 7a
    • View Profile
Re: How to cool a greenhouse, yeah!
« Reply #2 on: June 29, 2020, 03:30:58 PM »
Hats off to you greenhouse guys....i am way too lazy and non-technical to get into that stuff.  ;D

Congrats on your new system, Mark!

K-Rimes

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2006
    • Santa Barbara
    • View Profile
Re: How to cool a greenhouse, yeah!
« Reply #3 on: June 29, 2020, 03:44:42 PM »
I concur. It is too cool. Definitely getting my excitement up for my own greenhouse one day!

brian

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3356
    • Pennsylvania (zone 6) w/ heated greenhouse
    • View Profile
Re: How to cool a greenhouse, yeah!
« Reply #4 on: June 29, 2020, 04:05:27 PM »
My greenhouse has been incredibly rewarding.  I highly recommend building one.  I'm already trying to find land to build more of them.

Mark in Texas

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4220
    • Fredericksburg Texas, (central TX), zone 8a
    • View Profile
Re: How to cool a greenhouse, yeah!
« Reply #5 on: June 29, 2020, 04:18:12 PM »
Thanks guys.  Teed off to a garden hose bib so I can water my faves. 

I have a feeling that when our normal summer RH drops below 40% this thing will be the bomb.

You can also fog the house with pesticides and fungicides.

SeaWalnut

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1397
    • Romania zone 6
    • View Profile
Re: How to cool a greenhouse, yeah!
« Reply #6 on: June 29, 2020, 05:29:37 PM »
Nice setup for cooling.
Id be carefull with that pipe from the barrel that passes near the GH in winter.It could freeze and crack if you get low winter temperatures.

Kevin Jones

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2172
    • Alabama - USA
    • View Profile
Re: How to cool a greenhouse, yeah!
« Reply #7 on: June 29, 2020, 06:01:26 PM »
Nice Mark!
My system is pretty low tech..
The plastic sheeting on the south facing wall of my greenhouse was held down with battens and screws.
I remove the screws and battens... roll up the plastic... and reverse the whole process when cold weather returns.

Kevin Jones

Mark in Texas

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4220
    • Fredericksburg Texas, (central TX), zone 8a
    • View Profile
Re: How to cool a greenhouse, yeah!
« Reply #8 on: July 01, 2020, 08:25:04 AM »
Nice setup for cooling.
Id be carefull with that pipe from the barrel that passes near the GH in winter.It could freeze and crack if you get low winter temperatures.

Thanks.   I have ball valves at the tanks plus a slip joint in the middle. All you do is unscrew the ends and it drains or comes apart.

BTW, got some flex PVC pipe from a pool/spa supply company.  PVC fittings glue up to it and I finally get some flexibility I need rather than have to measure and cut to tolerances within a mm.  You guys that work with PVC, bends, turns, and what not don't know what you're missing.  This is 1" ID.


« Last Edit: July 01, 2020, 08:28:08 AM by Mark in Texas »

Mark in Texas

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4220
    • Fredericksburg Texas, (central TX), zone 8a
    • View Profile
Re: How to cool a greenhouse, yeah!
« Reply #9 on: July 01, 2020, 08:27:29 AM »
Nice Mark!
My system is pretty low tech..
The plastic sheeting on the south facing wall of my greenhouse was held down with battens and screws.
I remove the screws and battens... roll up the plastic... and reverse the whole process when cold weather returns.

Kevin Jones

I wish I could do that but my polycarbonate is held in with self tapping screws.   Many folks do hoop houses here where it's covered in poly during the winter and shade cloth in the summer.  They also cuss a lot when they have to cover in a wind.  :)  One hail storm and it's toast too.

spaugh

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 5126
    • San Diego County California
    • View Profile
Re: How to cool a greenhouse, yeah!
« Reply #10 on: July 01, 2020, 02:10:21 PM »
Nice cooler Mark.  Jealous of the rain tank and rain during summer.  We get zero rain the entire warm season.  Complete opposite of what we want here. 
Brad Spaugh

Mark in Texas

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4220
    • Fredericksburg Texas, (central TX), zone 8a
    • View Profile
Re: How to cool a greenhouse, yeah!
« Reply #11 on: July 01, 2020, 05:18:49 PM »
Nice cooler Mark.  Jealous of the rain tank and rain during summer.  We get zero rain the entire warm season.  Complete opposite of what we want here.

We're like you, come about June the tap is turned off.  We get a high dome of pressure dead center over central Texas and it doesn't move until early Sept. unless we're lucky.

Kevin Jones

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2172
    • Alabama - USA
    • View Profile
Re: How to cool a greenhouse, yeah!
« Reply #12 on: July 01, 2020, 05:47:44 PM »
Quite familiar with the "DOME" effect here in central west Alabama.

Kevin Jones


ScottR

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2222
    • USA,Arroyo Grande,Calif. 93420,zone 9b
    • View Profile
Re: How to cool a greenhouse, yeah!
« Reply #13 on: July 01, 2020, 07:18:32 PM »
 Cool set up Mark, pun intended 8)

Daintree

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1209
    • Boise, Idaho - zone 6, with a zone 12 greenhouse...
    • View Profile
Re: How to cool a greenhouse, yeah!
« Reply #14 on: July 02, 2020, 09:16:58 AM »
Awesome, Mark!
I am still cooling with tap water misters, but I DID just get a descaler, so I am hoping that helps.

Cheers,
Carolyn

Mark in Texas

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4220
    • Fredericksburg Texas, (central TX), zone 8a
    • View Profile
Re: How to cool a greenhouse, yeah!
« Reply #15 on: July 02, 2020, 10:11:25 AM »
Awesome, Mark!
I am still cooling with tap water misters, but I DID just get a descaler, so I am hoping that helps.

Cheers,
Carolyn

Howdy Carolyn, take a look at TAC conditioning.  http://www.chem1.com/CQ/catscams.html

Lots of systems out there.

Best,
Mark

nattyfroootz

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 628
    • Santa Cruz California
    • View Profile
Re: How to cool a greenhouse, yeah!
« Reply #16 on: July 02, 2020, 11:40:43 AM »
Hey Mark,

Any reason you went with misters instead of an evaporative wall cooling system?
Grow cooler fruits

www.wildlandsplants.com

Mark in Texas

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4220
    • Fredericksburg Texas, (central TX), zone 8a
    • View Profile
Re: How to cool a greenhouse, yeah!
« Reply #17 on: July 02, 2020, 01:26:08 PM »
Hey Mark,

Any reason you went with misters instead of an evaporative wall cooling system?

This not a misting system. 

Wall evap. is a PITA regarding maintenance unless I use R/O or rainwater. Gotta seal it up during the winter too.   Trust me, I have selected the best cooling system available regarding reliability, no maintenance, rainwater sustainable and high efficiency.

nattyfroootz

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 628
    • Santa Cruz California
    • View Profile
Re: How to cool a greenhouse, yeah!
« Reply #18 on: July 02, 2020, 01:45:56 PM »
Cool,

Just checking as I'm setting up a 55 x 60 Rigid Frame Cathedral greenhouse and I am trying to decide on my cooling system.  I am familiar and have used the Evaporative walls in the past and seem to be pretty content with their results.
Grow cooler fruits

www.wildlandsplants.com

brian

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3356
    • Pennsylvania (zone 6) w/ heated greenhouse
    • View Profile
Re: How to cool a greenhouse, yeah!
« Reply #19 on: July 02, 2020, 02:48:30 PM »
It’s a fogging system, right?  Much like misting but better because of smaller droplet size.  Still evaporative cooling though different from a wall pad system.

Evaporative cooling is much more effective for greenhouses than homes, because home cooling assumes you need cooling day and night, while greenhouses only need active cooling when the sun is blazing - when relative air humidity is at its lowest.  It might not work in Florida, but it should work in most of the US

Mark in Texas

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4220
    • Fredericksburg Texas, (central TX), zone 8a
    • View Profile
Re: How to cool a greenhouse, yeah!
« Reply #20 on: July 02, 2020, 02:55:35 PM »
Yeah, it's a fogger.  Check out the video.   https://www.jaybird-mfg.com/products/gt-500-series/gt-500-direct-feed/

Even with very soft water pads are a PITA.  They have to be cleaned, replaced, sealed during winter.  Moving parts have to be replaced - pump, float valve, etc.  This fogger is very simple in its design.  The only thing that would eventually have to be replaced is the motor.

Seanny

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1119
    • Garden Grove, Orange County, California, 10B
    • View Profile
Re: How to cool a greenhouse, yeah!
« Reply #21 on: July 08, 2020, 02:59:26 AM »
Would you post a picture of the nozzle, and its location?

Mark in Texas

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4220
    • Fredericksburg Texas, (central TX), zone 8a
    • View Profile
Re: How to cool a greenhouse, yeah!
« Reply #22 on: July 08, 2020, 09:21:29 AM »
Would you post a picture of the nozzle, and its location?

Read the thread.

Dirt Diva

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 161
    • Houston, Tx 9A
    • View Profile
    • YouTube Channel for the DivingTemptress
Re: How to cool a greenhouse, yeah!
« Reply #23 on: July 09, 2020, 08:11:53 PM »
After 2 years of research, "what ifs", and 3 weeks of messing with tank installation, fittings, pipe and climbing ladders IT'S DONE! This new greenhouse centrifugal, adjustable Aquafogger, pump, and 2,800 gal. rain water collection system is "too cool".

Fairly quiet, output adjustable from 1 - 15 gph.  Unlike nozzles and high pressure pump this is supposed to be the most reliable and easy to hang system on the market.

If anyone does Facebook my page is public and has some video.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/160547928066846/714286319359668/?comment_id=714287806026186&notif_id=1593454606786767&notif_t=group_comment









I tried to follow the link, but it ways only visible to members ... can you help me get there, would love to see video of this 'cool house' Mark

P J, the Dirt Diva
P J, the DivingTemptress and Dirt Diva

Mark in Texas

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4220
    • Fredericksburg Texas, (central TX), zone 8a
    • View Profile
Re: How to cool a greenhouse, yeah!
« Reply #24 on: July 10, 2020, 07:50:32 AM »

I tried to follow the link, but it ways only visible to members ... can you help me get there, would love to see video of this 'cool house' Mark

P J, the Dirt Diva


Sorry, gave you a link to a SoCal avocado group.  Also there's a ton of great tropical gardening groups on Facebook. I belong to a couple in Hawaii, am a member of Southern California Backyard Avocado Growers, Mango Tree Growers Of America, greenhouse growers, etc. 

I tried to post a MP4 video here but no luck.  I just show a scan of the greenhouse and the fogger.  Fog is hard to see due to the white background so you're not missing much.  https://www.facebook.com/marknichols609
« Last Edit: July 10, 2020, 07:53:51 AM by Mark in Texas »