How to Install a Garage Door Port for Exhaust Hose

Garage door exhaust ports are essential for vehicle repair facilities that don’t have a fan assisted system. It is installed on the garage door and allows exhaust gases like carbon monoxide and NOx to escape the garage without risking the health of the operator inside the garage. Operating a vehicle engine inside the garage can have a serious impact on the operator’s respiratory system. Therefore, according to OSHA guidelines, proper venting of exhaust gases and fumes is essential. Exhaust ports for a garage door allow for an exhaust hose to properly vent the gases out of your repair facility. However, a garage door exhaust port is required to be installed properly. This post offers step by step guidelines to install a garage door exhaust port.

Things Needed for the Installation of an Exhaust Port for Garage Door

The only prerequisite to install an exhaust port to the garage door is a garage door exhaust port kit. This kit comprises all accessories required to perform the installation. In addition to the garage door exhaust port kit, you may also require some tools for installation. The following are some essential tools and accessories required for the installation of a garage door exhaust port.

Once the required resources are collected in the garage door exhaust port kit, then the operator shall follow the mentioned steps to install the garage door exhaust port.

1. Selection of Exhaust Port: The first step is to select an appropriate exhaust port for the garage door. Generally, garage door exhaust ports come in various diameters and thicknesses. Therefore, make sure to measure the thickness of your garage door to ensure the port will fit. It is important to know the hose size before you select an exhaust port. Since an exhaust hose must fit in the port, you should buy hose first and then the port. Measure the outside diameter of an exhaust hose, and buy an exhaust port with a larger inside diameter. The outside diameter of a hose must fit closely to the inside diameter of the exhaust port. Also, you should select a port of the same thickness as of your garage door to avoid any clearances.
2. Determine Port Mounting Location: Determination of port location is easy if performed following these tips.
   • Locate the port a few inches off the ground.
   • Consider exhaust hose routing, it should not cause intrusion in a walking path.
   • The port shall keep the hosepipe above floor length to avoid rodents’ intrusion.
3. Mark Port Location and Mounting Holes: An exhaust port has two parts, one with the sleeve and another without. First, you need to identify the sleeved part of exhaust hose, it has the larger outer diameter. Take the sleeved part and hold it at the selected location and trace the black fine-point marker over the outer diameter. This becomes your location for the one-sided mounting. You can mark the other side at this step or you can follow it after the first cut.
4. Cut The First Mounting Holes: Cut the first side of the mounting hole using an aviation snip. Use the aviation snip exclusively to cut the garage door metal sheet. This prevents injuries and gives a sharp cut. After this first cut, you can mark and cut the second side of the mounting hole. Marking and cutting the second side after the first will prevent mistakes in cutting dimensions. Once both sides are cut, you can go for the next step. After cutting the sheet, you shall take the insulation foam out to carve a through-hole tunnel inside the door.
5. Drill the Mounting Screw Holes: Once the metal sheet and foam are off, drill a few mounting screw hole. Repeat by holding the second part and mark and drill screw holes for the sleeveless part.
6. Mount the Exhaust Port: Insert the sleeved part from the inner side of the garage door and set the sleeveless part on another side of the door. The screw locations must match. And once the parts are located, tighten the screws. If there are any clearances between the door surface and the port, then fill up the gaps with silicone caulk.

Although this completes the garage door exhaust port installation process, you must ensure that you buy quality exhaust ports from trusted suppliers. Exhaust-Away is a prominent supplier of the best garage exhaust ports, hoses, and accessories.