Door on outside storage room has vent?

Stale Air

• The air smells
• Items stored begin to smell
• Respiratory issues and eye irritation

Chemicals

• Fumes from gasoline, pool chemicals, fertilizers and other products you store in your shed are dangerous to your health
• Short-term exposure can cause respiratory issues and eye and skin irritation
• Some chemical fume mixtures can be explosive

Excessive moisture

• Causes mold and mildew to grow
• Inhaling mold can cause respiratory issues, headaches, and other concerns
• Mold and mildew can also damage the items you have stored in the shed

Condensation

• Causes wood to rot
• Metal tools, roof and siding to rust
• Causes mold and mildew to grow with the same issues as Excessive moisture

Heat

• Heat makes working in your shed uncomfortable
• Heat can cause mold to blossom causing respiratory issues
• If your shed is hot, then proper venting will help reduce heat

Cold

• Cold makes working in the shed uncomfortable
• Heating means insulation and vapor barrier, so no cracks or crevices for “fresh” air which means you need proper ventilation
• Heating can also cause condensation and its related health issues if not properly vented

You could add a window to the barn door and that would make it venting.

Perhaps at one time the room was housing chemicals or items that gave off an odor or fumes, and ventilation was needed. Or someone was working with chemicals that needed ventilation and rather than having a fume hood (much more expensive than a vent plus needs maintenance and monitoring), a vent was installed. It served a purpose. Depending on what the room is going to be used for currently, you may or may not need a vent.

A barn door would work, maybe a pocket door might be another possibility. Both of these can be vented if needed.

Hello Nancy,

To allow free flow of air, otherwise you will get a build up of condensation in there and it will destroy and begin too rot things, as I can attest as my storage containers did not have a free flow of air..........Best wishes

Probably air circulation to prevent moisture. You may miss it when it’s gone - maybe you need an idea to cover it more attractively?

could you not change the swing with the same door?

here is more info for you

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/2427193/the-pantry-is-ventilation-really-needed

The room may have had mechanical equipment that needed air. What is in there now?

Vents would allow heat and cooling to enter or leave that room. It could also prevent mold. Maybe that was the only door the previous owner had when installed. Barn doors do save space, but don't seal up an opening like a regular door, so a vent wouldn't be needed. You could also install a door that swings out instead of in.

Most of the time, these are installed for ventilation. You could experiment by covering the vent for a short period of time to see if it causes issues. Another idea would be to change the swing of the door out instead of in. You can install a fan in the room as well.