Fucking ground has been saturated for 2.5 months bc of rain.. When we had lower freezing temps a few weeks ago the humidity would go back to 50%... Its 55% now in the basement with rain outside.
Whole house dehumidifier: How does it work
- Thread starter Meast21
- Start date
Nizza
Well-Known Member
You can oversize the dehu for the cu ft of the basement but the best way to approach it would be dry-lok everything. The amount of energy savings will be worth it, and then you can grow down there.
if you already have the dehu, I would clean the basement and dylok it . After you weatherize the basement you can decide on what to de for dehumidification
Basement is 700 sq feet... Would I have to stop growing for the dry loc painting?? I have plants in tents.
Nizza
Well-Known Member
It depends, you need to know the source of the moisture
Nizza
Well-Known Member
do you have crawl spaces that are sand or anything that would seem to add moisture?
ComfortCreator
Well-Known Member
It sounds to me like the basement does not have any vents or returns. Stagnant even when the heat runs.
I guess this because in a cold climate, the outside air holds so little water that your home should be more like 30% humidity or less as it gets really cold unless you are humidifying the air.
If this is true then you need vents and or a return there to move the air.
I guess this because in a cold climate, the outside air holds so little water that your home should be more like 30% humidity or less as it gets really cold unless you are humidifying the air.
If this is true then you need vents and or a return there to move the air.
No... Like I said I get no standing water.. Before I had the dehumifier down there the cinder block walls would have a little moisture on them.
thefullspectrum
Well-Known Member
55% humidity is not a problem with enough air movement using fans and air replenishment via external intake and extraction. Re-circulating that same stagnant air is a problem.
I have (3) 6" vents off the furnace. Whenever the AC or heat is on air gets blown into the basement...
ComfortCreator
Well-Known Member
Is there a whole home humidifier running? 3 vents providing dry hot air to the basement should dry it out big time. Something is amiss here for sure.
Example: At 40f and 90% humidity (let's say its above freezing and raining)...
When that air is heated to 60f, the rh becomes 45%. I would guess you heat above that...at 70f , that air is roughly 30%.
As it gets colder than 40f, the rh goes even lower. That is the "tell" that moisture is in the air from some other source.
30f outside with 90% humidity = 30% at 60f, and even lower at 70f.
Example: At 40f and 90% humidity (let's say its above freezing and raining)...
When that air is heated to 60f, the rh becomes 45%. I would guess you heat above that...at 70f , that air is roughly 30%.
As it gets colder than 40f, the rh goes even lower. That is the "tell" that moisture is in the air from some other source.
30f outside with 90% humidity = 30% at 60f, and even lower at 70f.
Nizza
Well-Known Member
If you think the only problem was water getting into your basement and it isn't going to happen again I would clean up, put the tent on pallets, and add a moisture/ temperature data logger. Inkbird sells one for wicked cheap I think it's only 20$ and that will give you a graph of what went on every minute of the day. Most of the time you get humidity spikes when the lights turn off
50% should be fine, as long as you don't take on more water. I'd sterilize if possible. It would be expensive but if it were me , after doing the grade and gutters outside I would go ahead and drylok the basement if u think there is still an issue. Remember to clean your dehumidifier it can get very gross and be a source of mold
50% should be fine, as long as you don't take on more water. I'd sterilize if possible. It would be expensive but if it were me , after doing the grade and gutters outside I would go ahead and drylok the basement if u think there is still an issue. Remember to clean your dehumidifier it can get very gross and be a source of mold