Greenhouse autovents

smk77

It's my father-in-law's birthday in a couple of weeks. Last year he got a greenhouse and I think that he'd like an autovent so am considering getting one for him.

I've seen a few such as the Bayliss XL

http://www.gardensupplydirect.co.uk/cnb/shop/gardensupplydirect?productID=1982&op=catalogue-product_info-null&prodCategoryID=109

Can anyone give some advice on this product and the retailer. His greenhouse is a 6ft x 6ft aluminium frame. The autovent lifts up to 5.5Kg. I think that the window is about 2ft x 2ft and am guessing that it won't weigh more than 5.5Kg.

Thanks!

conradmum

I've had one of these for five years now and it's still going strong. We've just had to fiddle with it once or twice when strong winds have lifted it out of its settings. Is the window made of glass? This can be quite heavy, but probably not too heavy for the autovent.
It's a great present to receive as a gardener as it stops you having to rush out and open the greenhouse vents whenever the sun shines! You can also tell the temperature in the greenhouse from the house by looking out to see if the vent's opening. And they're environmentally friendly too as they don't need any power to work.

twink

my dh put these in his greenhouse too, very good if you are away for the day and dont want to leave the door open he also put a louvered one into the side of the greenhouse too

smk77

conradmum wrote:

I've had one of these for five years now and it's still going strong. We've just had to fiddle with it once or twice when strong winds have lifted it out of its settings. Is the window made of glass? This can be quite heavy, but probably not too heavy for the autovent.
It's a great present to receive as a gardener as it stops you having to rush out and open the greenhouse vents whenever the sun shines! You can also tell the temperature in the greenhouse from the house by looking out to see if the vent's opening. And they're environmentally friendly too as they don't need any power to work.

Yes it's glass. I've actually got an identical window on the greenhouse I am assembling at the moment. I'll have to pop it on the scales! I'll probably buy one for myself at the same time.

Thanks for your advice.

ViksB

We think the autovents are essential, there is a sense of smugness when we don't need to remember to open the greenhouse when our neighbours going running out in the sun to open them. It is surprising on days when you don't think it is that sunny that they are wide open but they work brilliantly.
We got ours from B and Q.

wurzelsar

I had to replace the one in my greenhouse last year and bought a Bayliss one from Wyevale garden centre. My greenhouse is a 6.5 x 5.5 ft. It wouldn't match up to the holes from the old one - the frame is aluminium and so would have been difficult to drill. And the greenhouse isn't very old.
It was returned and I bought an "own brand" one from B&Q. It fits perfectly and can be set in 2 positions depending on how much you want the window to open.

smk77

wurzelsar wrote:

I had to replace the one in my greenhouse last year and bought a Bayliss one from Wyevale garden centre. My greenhouse is a 6.5 x 5.5 ft. It wouldn't match up to the holes from the old one - the frame is aluminium and so would have been difficult to drill. And the greenhouse isn't very old.
It was returned and I bought an "own brand" one from B&Q. It fits perfectly and can be set in 2 positions depending on how much you want the window to open.

I've just come back from B&Q and saw their own brand. It was £25 compared to the Bayliss one which is £20 online. I was about to order the Bayliss one but am now a bit concerned by what you are saying.

:undecided

wurzelsar

Because the glass is already in the frame, I couldn't drill the frame to fit the Bayliss one.

The original one came with the greenhouse when I ordered it. I think it's a Europa Manor greenhouse from what I can remember.

I've got a small greenhouse. The Bayliss may fit yours if it's the standard 8x6.

smk77

Thanks to all who advised on the auto vent for my father-in-law. I ordered the one from gardensupplydirect.co.uk and it arrived this morning. Unfortunately it arrived in the manufacturers box wrapped in half a role of "Fragile" tape. The box is in such as state that I can't given it to him like that - i prefer to give boxed products as presents in their box! I'm now going to have to buy a similar sized box or another auto vent at full price (I saw them yesterday at a garden centre for an extra £5). I'll keep this one for myself as I was going to buy one for my greenhouse.

BaileyB

Just after some advice.

I bought a Ventomax automatic greenhouse opener 2 years ago. But it's now broken and does not close at all. It's been like this since March time, so it's not the weather. After a little searching it now looks like they have rebranded themselves as Jemp.

Does anyone have this model and if so do they know the fault?

If not can anyone recommend a make?

Thanks

mjr600

Autovents contain oil or wax in a cylinder which expands and contracts with the temperature.

My autovent has leaked a little wax, it opens but does not retract when the temperature drops.

Rather than replace it I have tied twine around the vent and on the other end hung a weight. The vent opens and lifts the weight when it warms then when it cools the weight pulls the vent closed.

Try it, you never know......