Automated Greenhouse Vents

The automatic greenhouse vents are heat-activated and don’t require electricity to function. These vents open and close at a preset temperature due to the expansion and contraction of a beeswax solution inside a cylinder and piston. This creates a “chimney” effect that allows hot air to escape from the top vents and cold air to enter through the lower vents, effectively ventilating and cooling the Growing Dome.

The greenhouse vent openers can be easily disconnected to close the vents as needed. Growing Spaces offers three types of openers for the Growing Dome greenhouses.

The Univent automatic greenhouse vent opener, handcrafted in Denmark, stands as the smallest of the three vent openers used by Growing Spaces within the Growing Dome. These openers are exclusively utilized in the 15′ and 22′ Growing Domes only on the bottom vents.

Installation and usage of these openers are remarkably straightforward. During winter, the vent opener disengages from the mounting bracket on the vent with a swift squeeze of the support arms. The Univent boasts an opening force of approximately 15 pounds, while the two springs provide a closing force of around 1.7 pounds. The piston and cylinder allow for temperature adjustments by threading it in or out.

The sturdy Bayliss Hydraulicheck greenhouse vent openers, custom-made in the UK for Growing Spaces, are not available in retail stores. These automatic openers are ideal for our small to mid-sized greenhouse vents. They enable the geodesic Growing Domes to withstand high winds. The greenhouse accessory features a “hydraulicheck” feature that prevents the vent from being forcefully opened by strong winds. The openers can be exposed to prevailing winds exceeding 60 mph.

You will find these vent openers on the upper vents of the 22' Growing Dome and available on the bottom vents of the 18' and 26' diameter domes.

The Gigavent automatic greenhouse vent opener, also sourced from Denmark, features a unique damper and a powerful spring designed to withstand strong winds. These openers can handle an impressive 60 pounds of weight. An added advantage is that these automated vents open 6 inches wider than the Bayliss openers! The combined 18-inch opening facilitates enhanced airflow, which helps maintain a cool environment in the scorching summer months. Consequently, these openers are the preferred choice for the top vents on our 18′ and 26′ Growing Domes.

The larger Growing Domes, measuring 33 feet and 42 feet, don’t rely on the passive air circulation provided by automatic vents. Instead, they depend on intake and exhaust fans. These fans are electric standard, but they can be upgraded to solar components.

On the other hand, all the smaller domes, measuring 26 feet and smaller, come equipped with a 12-volt Hybrid fan to enhance airflow. This fan kit is designed for continuous operation, featuring a built-in smart power inverter that automatically switches the power supply between the solar panel and the AC power adapter. If you don’t have access to 115V electricity, the fan will only operate during the day using solar power. This hybrid fan can be added to any greenhouse kit.

All our fans are equipped with a thermostat, allowing you to set the desired temperature for the fan to turn on and off, similar to how automatic pistons control the opening and closing of vents.