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Greenhouses & Garden Structures

HF auto opener

16 years ago

May be a dumb question, but...instructions in HF automatic opener say not to force the pin or permanent damage may occur. But, if I lock my windows closed, say during a storm, and the opener hits temp that causes it to try to open will that cause damage. The instruction stink, and say nothing about installing a lock. The reason this is important is that the opener only pushes. It doesn't pull. So a closed window can still be blown open. I don't know how other brands operate.

And what if I want to close a window that is currently in the open position?

I just installed these and don't want to ruin them the first week , if I can help it.

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Comments (6)

greenhouser
16 years ago
My HFGH vents are so tight I have to use force to open them. I don't think a auto opener will work on mine. They do work on the Rion which opens and closes easily. I was wondering about windstorms myself. If you're going to lock the vents, then I'd remove the auto-opener.
djonathang
16 years ago
I have a HF automatic opener on each of my vents. If I'm not mistaken, they are rated to 8lbs (perhaps 12lbs.). Your vent might be tight, but 8lbs is a lot of force.

As far as closing the vent when temps rise, I don't think the HF model is smart enough for that, i.e., warm open, cool closed. If it's stormy and warm, I think you're looking at open vents. Of course, you could always disconnect it and achieve closure.

Cheers.

DG
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Well, we don't get thunderstorms here. I have two vents (HF....many people deride them), one low on a west wall and one on the east roof pitch. They open just about every day unless it is utterly nasty outside (like you would not want to go outside and garden). They sort of follow the sun, so the upper east one opens early as the sun heats up that side of the greenhouse and eventually the lower west one opens and flow-through commences (I live at the coast so prevailing winds are typically west to east). They close as the day begins to cool and the sun sets. I'd hate to think what the temperatures would be without the vents because they hover in the high 90's to low 100's when the sun shines and the vents are wide open. I have a self-built 6' x 6', so it's smaller than yours. My mistake was in not making the windows large enough. Ironic, because when I was starting to assemble I thought, "I made this window way too big, better fix that now". Duh. I'll fix it when the plastic needs replacing somewhere down the line.
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imqtpi
16 years ago
I have both the HF vent opener, and an Optivent (I think I got it from Charley's). I prefer the Optivent b/c it's super easy to remove the hydraulic (or whatever you call it) lift mechanism so it'll stay closed. It just unscrews.

Haven't even tried the HF yet, but I'm inclined to think it'll be a bigger pain to try to set it so it stays closed (just based on what a pain it was to put together!!!).

-Nancy
(Who learned, the hard way, that you have to assemble BOTH of these beasts when it's COLD outside! Don't even attempt it when it's 80*!)
buyorsell888
16 years ago
I received two of the HF openers for Christmas 2006. One died already. Been dead for months.
russh_nepa
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks, but i'd still like to know if anyone uses a lock in conjunction with any brand auto window opener, or will locking it closed cause damage? I don't have a HF greenhouse, just the window opener. My windows swing freely, and weigh only a couple of pounds.

I don't intend to disconnect the opener every time a storm is predicted, but I will lock my windows rather than risk losing one.

If no one has tried this yet then I'll be the guinea pig and let you know what happens. BTW, both openers have been installed for a week and so far they are working great. Open at 70 degrees and close about the same.
oakhill (zone 9A, Calif.)
16 years ago
Most automatic window openers have a cylinder of a paraffin type material inside. When the paraffin gets warm, it expands and pushes out the piston. If you lock the window, the paraffin will still expand, possible damaging the unit. I would not recommend locking the window without unhooking the cylinder. Some of the Univent openers have a quick release mechanism for just that purpose.

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