Ugh...humidity problems again

[Miller]

When we lived in the third floor apartment in Providence we had humidity problems in the summer time with cooling our tank with evaporation. So we picked up window AC units and solved the problem.

Now we live in a house in Cumberland with the sump and frag tank in the basement. In the past couple days I have started to see some humidity problems in the basement and summer heat hasn't even come yet.

Which should I do...

1) Put the 10,000 BTU window unit I still have in the basement window. That only lowers the humidity when its cooling the air, which it's in the basement and stays pretty cool. So if the basement gets cooler, the heaters would have to work. Then I'm playing for electricity to cool/dehumidify the air and electricity to heat the tank.

2) Buy a dehumidifier (Energy Star of course) set it in the basement to keep the humidity down. How much heat will the dehumidifier put out? I remember my parents always running one in their basement and it still stayed cool, so it shouldn't be a problem right?

I'm thinking the dehumidifier if the route to go but I wanted to double check before I dropped the $$$ on one.

 

[pillowfish]

I would go with the de-humidifier, we use one at the place I work in the basement. Works well and doesn't seem to put off much(if any) heat that I have noticed. The basement gets water in it quite frequently in certain areas and it really helps. NO clue if that helps you with the tank situation, but felt like sharing

 

[UncleJT]

+1 on the dehumidifier

 

[Miller]

That's what I figured.....looks like I'll be going to Lowes this week.....YAY.

Any thoughts one what size I should get.....25/50/70 pints?

 

[JayM]

When we lived in the third floor apartment in Providence we had humidity problems in the summer time with cooling our tank with evaporation. So we picked up window AC units and solved the problem.

Now we live in a house in Cumberland with the sump and frag tank in the basement. In the past couple days I have started to see some humidity problems in the basement and summer heat hasn't even come yet.

Which should I do...

1) Put the 10,000 BTU window unit I still have in the basement window. That only lowers the humidity when its cooling the air, which it's in the basement and stays pretty cool. So if the basement gets cooler, the heaters would have to work. Then I'm playing for electricity to cool/dehumidify the air and electricity to heat the tank.

2) Buy a dehumidifier (Energy Star of course) set it in the basement to keep the humidity down. How much heat will the dehumidifier put out? I remember my parents always running one in their basement and it still stayed cool, so it shouldn't be a problem right?

I'm thinking the dehumidifier if the route to go but I wanted to double check before I dropped the $$$ on one.

I would look into an exhaust fan before a dehumidifier. I run a 100 CFM in my fish room, and it went from condensation on every sq inch of glass to a relatively dry space. The fan also has a much power current draw.

In fairness, I **ALSO** run a dehumidifier 24/7/365 in the rest of the basement. It has a humidistat on it, and it shuts down sometimes....in the winter.

 

[pillowfish]

Any thoughts one what size I should get.....25/50/70 pints?

What size basement and how much excess condensation are you getting? I honestly know little to nothing on this subject, so more of asking to learn myself.

Sorry if I am high-jacking Barry.

 

[coralcor]

the Dehumidifier i have in my basement actually pushes out Cold air.

 

[JayM]

actually, get a little giant pump that has the built in float, stick it in the reservoir for the dehumidifier and that way the thing runs all the time. I haven't emptied mine in years

 

[stingythingy45]

actually, get a little giant pump that has the built in float, stick it in the reservoir for the dehumidifier and that way the thing runs all the time. I haven't emptied mine in years

I run a dehumidfier directly into a sink in the basement.But,with all this rain and the basement getting a little flooded it working double time.Problem is my sump is in a room all by it's self.So I have to leave the door open to that room and hope for the best.

 

[Scott]

Start with a dehumidifier. It will push out warm air; that's what they do. Go for a bigger one so it won't run constantly and always be warming the the room.

This is why I had to get rid of my 75G which was in my basement along with a 40. I'm going to keep the 40 running as a frag tank and we'll see how this summer goes.

Definitely figure out a way to automatically empty it. Otherwise you'll be emptying it every day.

 

[Miller]

What size basement and how much excess condensation are you getting? I honestly know little to nothing on this subject, so more of asking to learn myself.

Sorry if I am high-jacking Barry.

The room the fish tank is in is 16'x12', then there is another room 16'x12', and a hallway that is 13'x5'. All the room are connected without doors.

I think I am going to buy the 70 pint per day unit.

Right now the basement is 68%, there isnt water drops yet, but you can feel water starting to form.

 

[JD46]

My suggestion would be a portable air conditioner. You can run it on dehumidifier mode and it will pump all of the heat out through the window via the vent tube. If it gets warm in the basement, you can always switch over to AC. My unit, running as a dehumnidifier only, has been keeping my basement dry at a constant 66-67 deg.

JD

 

[customclimates]

A large dehumidifier’s operable costs are going to be real close to that of a window unit. Why not be comfortable while you are paying for it.

 

[Miller]

My suggestion would be a portable air conditioner. You can run it on dehumidifier mode and it will pump all of the heat out through the window via the vent tube. If it gets warm in the basement, you can always switch over to AC. My unit, running as a dehumnidifier only, has been keeping my basement dry at a constant 66-67 deg.

JD

A large dehumidifier’s operable costs are going to be real close to that of a window unit. Why not be comfortable while you are paying for it.

The central AC has vents in the basement so we don't need to cool the basement. We also don't use AC that often because we are comfortable in 75-78 degree weather.

 

[Miller]

Weeeee this morning the basement had 71%.....right now its down to 53% and feeling drier.

The basement has only warmed 4 degrees with the dehumidifier running constantly for about 5 hours. I figure once I get the humidity down it won't have to stay on all day as the tank only evaporates about 1.5 gallons a day.