Basement sumps and venting

[naturebatslast]

I'll be setting up a basement sump with no more than 200g for total sump size. For walls, 2x3's will be framing the corner I'm using, and poly sheeting will be used for wall material instead of plywood board. Square footage, it's not huge, maybe 8'x8'. And there's a small window I can set up a fan up to exchange air. Ideally I'd like to stay away from a dehumidifier. It's barely damp in general, more so in corners of the fieldstone foundation of the basement.

Since I'll be enclosing this, I question how much I should vent? I remember hearing that venting in some cases could cause temp and humidity to rise instead of falling.
If I do vent, how tight should I wall the room up? With the poly I can make it pretty airtight.

 

[JRM]

Since i put my 100g sump in the basement, i notice a definate rise in the humidity. I had to crack open the basement windows a bit.

 

[KyleinCT]

I run the ac on temp control. works well with my entire setup in the basement (around 550-600g)

 

[focus]

Lot of water volume there for an 8x8 area, definitely vent, you don't want condensation forming on the poly and dripping all over the place. Get a piece of AC filter material and leave a hole in the poly for the filter, set-up your vent this way you would have clean air being drawn threw the area keeping the humidity and heat down.

 

[JayM]

I don't see how that's going to work in the winter, either......

I run a dehumidifier in my basement, but the humidity load went up anyway.

 

[stingythingy45]

^^^

I also run a dehumidifier during the summer months in my basement.
I just leave the door open to the fish room.

 

[focus]

I don't see how that's going to work in the winter, either......

I run a dehumidifier in my basement, but the humidity load went up anyway.

Well if his system is like mine in the winter my sump is covered and insulated,plus the air is of course dryer anyway no need for venting. In the summer I run a dehumidifier, in the winter it isn't needed since the sump is covered with 0 evap.

 

[naturebatslast]

It's going to be interesting no matter how I do it. The basement has a relatively constant winter temp of low 50's.
The sump will be covered in the winter. But it's the obvious threat that Jay is getting at, with it being a humidity bomb summer or winter.
I like the idea of a hole in the poly to draw in, with a fan to vent. Is there anyone that pulls outside air in? I'm just assuming everyone is venting out.

 

[Chuck Spyropulos]

Ventilation

I have a greenhouse grade exaust fan with temp/humidity controller in my fishroom in the garage and the same setup in my canopy over my tank. Also, my fishroom shares a wall (and door) with my furnace room. In the winter, I open the furnace room door which helps keep the fishroom from getting too cold. In the summer, I keep the same door closed and I keep the fishroom door open to help cool things down. On really hot days I rely on a small window air conditioner to help keep the room cool for those really hot days. I also have a chiller on my Octopus controller that is seldom on except on those extremely hot days.

You might want to look here for greenhouse quality fans and controllers:

www.brewandgrow.com

I'll be setting up a basement sump with no more than 200g for total sump size. For walls, 2x3's will be framing the corner I'm using, and poly sheeting will be used for wall material instead of plywood board. Square footage, it's not huge, maybe 8'x8'. And there's a small window I can set up a fan up to exchange air. Ideally I'd like to stay away from a dehumidifier. It's barely damp in general, more so in corners of the fieldstone foundation of the basement.

Since I'll be enclosing this, I question how much I should vent? I remember hearing that venting in some cases could cause temp and humidity to rise instead of falling.
If I do vent, how tight should I wall the room up? With the poly I can make it pretty airtight.

 

[focus]

The hole in the poly would be to allow fresh air to enter, you would still vent out in the summer. It sounded like the room would be almost airtight so that would work well.

At 50 in the winter to keep your heaters from running I am sure you will keep the sump covered and well insulated,there shouldn't be a problem with humidity in the winter.