Ventilation question

I'm a newbie and I need ventilation advice. Has anyone vented through an existing home heating/AC system? I have two basement rooms. One is 9 x 16 and is using 2 600W HPS. The other is 12 x 16 and is using T5s with an electric heater. Both are using oscillating fans and have windows that I open for a few minutes a day for fresh air. I ran ducts to my forced air heating system when I framed and sheetrocked the rooms. I have charcoal pre-filters on the air returns and am using a charcoal/pet odor filter for the system. If the smell gets bad, I will add cans to the existing ducts. Is there anything wrong with this set up? I can't find anyone here who has done this.

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Originally Posted by hickpop

I'm a newbie and I need ventilation advice. Has anyone vented through an existing home heating/AC system? I have two basement rooms. One is 9 x 16 and is using 2 600W HPS. The other is 12 x 16 and is using T5s with an electric heater. Both are using oscillating fans and have windows that I open for a few minutes a day for fresh air. I ran ducts to my forced air heating system when I framed and sheetrocked the rooms. I have charcoal pre-filters on the air returns and am using a charcoal/pet odor filter for the system. If the smell gets bad, I will add cans to the existing ducts. Is there anything wrong with this set up? I can't find anyone here who has done this.

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LOL... trust me. The smell will get bad. Going through the ducts, you will quickly smell up the entire house. I would definitely get a large (or two smaller) carbon filters and a fan to pull the air through it. I would forget the idea of pumping back through the existing duct system, but instead rely on that to bring your fresh air into the area. Vigorously scrub the air in your grow area with the filter, and either keep it down there in the basement or vent it outside once it is scrubbed. I think the smell that invades the entire house about week 3 has stopped more grows than any other factor. A good carbon filter is a necessary investment if you plan on seriously doing this thing. Consider it an investment in your safety, and pay no attention to the 1 year lifespan of these things... most large can filters can be refurbished after a year with almost ZERO investment.

smell is the #1 cause of most busts

people forget what they heard, people forgot what they saw

but, people never forget a smell

Thanks. It's going to have to go out the windows then.