Cool room help

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Rock*River

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May 26, 2010
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26
I'm new to the forum and could use a little help with my cool room construction.  I'm making a 14'x10' cool room using R20 garage door panels.  The cooling source will be an 18,000 btu window air conditioner.  There will be two calves in the room.  Based on the other forums on this topic, it sounds like most everyone includes some type of fresh air intake for their cool rooms.  Since I will be using a window style air conditioner, why would I need a fresh air intake?  Doesn't the window unit bring outside air into the room?  Any help and advice would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks....
 

ShowmanQ

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Apr 19, 2007
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808
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Ohio
Zach said:
exhaust fans aren't necessary

We have a small home made "cooler", like 12x20 or so, and we do not use an exhasut fan. We can keep 2-3 calves in there and with fans running it seems to stay pretty fresh.
 

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GoWyo

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Nov 29, 2008
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Wyoming
Our cooler room has a dirt floor and there are some gaps between the outer wall and the ground that let air out as the air conditioner brings fresh air in -- make sure you set the vent to the open position on the AC unit.  So long as your cooler room is not air tight, the AC should pull in enough fresh air.
 

KMJCC

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Jan 6, 2009
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212
I built a homemade cool room and I do not have an exhaust fan.  I have a 25,000 btu window A/C unit and it cools our 12 x 16 room down fine.  Our room is pretty air tight and we don't seem to have any problems.  The window unit should bring in plenty of fresh air.  We keep our claves tied up all day and pick it every time we go in and check on them and then clean it totatly out every couple weeks.
 

vc

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Jul 24, 2007
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So-Cal
My only concern with relying on the air conditioner to provide your only fresh air is if the air conditioner fails, it will get hot and nasty in a hurry in your cool room.
 

farmboy

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Apr 21, 2007
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south webster ohio
vc said:
My only concern with relying on the air conditioner to provide your only fresh air is if the air conditioner fails, it will get hot and nasty in a hurry in your cool room.

that's why you A: Always have someone who can respond to the situation if the electric goes off or a breaker kicks. B: have the spring loaded cool calf door or some type of safety system.
 

Rock*River

Active member
Joined
May 26, 2010
Messages
26
Thank you for the advice.  Unfortunately, I do not have a magnet type safety door.  I am planning on running two separate window units, each on it's own breaker.  I will also be placing an attic style fan in the ceiling (also on a separate breaker), which will be tied to a thermostat.  If the air conditioners fails, the attic fan will kick on and the suck out air.  Unfortunately, I do not have a fail safe should the electricity goes out.  Any thoughts?

Also, how long do most of your put your calves in the cool room before your fairs?

Thanks again.
 

herefordfootball

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Apr 10, 2009
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Northern, Indiana
We dont have a cool room, but I guess if you're running off of window units and someone is there all the time to keep and eye on things and scoop the poop an exhaust fan probaly wouldnt be necessary then. We'd like to put a homemade one this year, but the money just isnt there for the extras.
 
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