basement humidity suggestion.
- Thread starter tmz
- Start date
redrider911
New member
Your HVAC guy may have the word "code" confused. There is no "code" stating that you cannot have a return air vent in your basement. Many homes with finished basements have return air vents. Now it is not good to have a vent installed down low, right next to the water heater. You then run the risk of sucking fumes. Look at any Ryan Homes built raised ranch style houses. Almost every one has return air vent in the basement.
Hi Chris, So what do you think? I run a humidifier and it helps alot but runs alot too. Obviously not a problem now but in the spring it can be nasty in the basement. Would it be worth it for me to cut into an air return down there? I do run central a/c. Would a small exhaust fan over the small window on the glass block be worhtwhile? I don't really want to cut through the outside rafter or cement block.
redrider911
New member
Tom, with the large volume of water you have, it's hard to tell. Those dehumidifiers eat electricity. What is the humidity level in the basement? What is the humidity level in the rest of the house?
Testing now wouldn't tell much. It's pretty dry down there with the furnace running. In the spring without the dehumidiifer it gets ridiculous. Every thing rusts. I will test it though. I'll probaly run the dehumidifer at about halfway setting and run a small exhaust fan for an hour or two a day during the humid season. thanks to everyone for your thoughtfull replies.
redrider911
New member
Tom, I would install 2 supply and 1 return register down there. You will have to play it by ear in the summer and see if the humidifier or exhaust fan will be needed to help the a/c keep up.
4x10 supply registers and 8x14 return grill should do the trick.
4x10 supply registers and 8x14 return grill should do the trick.
redrider911
New member
Yes Tom, you will have to play a little. I was thinking about the humidity level now because now is the time you would want it. If it is dry upstairs, the return in the basement would add humidity up there.
elvn
New member
I built the stand and canopy for my larger tank and got to the point where I tore out the half-wall that had been dividing my basement in two. I tore it down to the studs at least since I'm going to mod it and rebuild it so my tanks are 'in the wall' with the sumproom closed off. Anyway, even with the sumroom more or less wide open to the carpeted rec-room/entertainment center side of the basement, my cheap little Kenmore remote temp/humidity unit is showing 72 deg 32% humidity. So in the winter the humidity is not a problem at all.
I disconnect my floor ac unit and my humidistat at 55-60 never runs the in-line duct fan (deflecto spa fan). This is while running a 120g display with MH's in a canopy with dual fans blowing into the sumproom, as well as a 100g fuge and a 150g sump (rubbermaid stock tubs) that are wide open to the air.
So at least in my case, pumping air through the rest of the house in the winter with only 32% humidity in the basement is pretty useless and a waste of fan power if using a fan.
My electric drops in the winter but my natural gas picks up so in a way it evens out, I just don't get as much of a break season to season.
I disconnect my floor ac unit and my humidistat at 55-60 never runs the in-line duct fan (deflecto spa fan). This is while running a 120g display with MH's in a canopy with dual fans blowing into the sumproom, as well as a 100g fuge and a 150g sump (rubbermaid stock tubs) that are wide open to the air.
So at least in my case, pumping air through the rest of the house in the winter with only 32% humidity in the basement is pretty useless and a waste of fan power if using a fan.
My electric drops in the winter but my natural gas picks up so in a way it evens out, I just don't get as much of a break season to season.
Thanks elvn.
Chris suggested an air return vent not a fan. All it would do is insure some exchange of the basement air with the upstairs air.In addition he suggested I provide heat vents to the area.
I also use a wood stove on the first upper floor which can dry things out. My hvac system includes a humidifier which would be truned off. I have 300gallons of covered water upstairs and 200gallons of open water in athe small unfinished basement.
Chris suggested an air return vent not a fan. All it would do is insure some exchange of the basement air with the upstairs air.In addition he suggested I provide heat vents to the area.
I also use a wood stove on the first upper floor which can dry things out. My hvac system includes a humidifier which would be truned off. I have 300gallons of covered water upstairs and 200gallons of open water in athe small unfinished basement.
redrider911
New member
Tom, I have about 225 total gallons and my humidifier is still on. It is set to normal, about 35%. With your wood burner, it would dry out even more. You can probably still run your humidifier to help with dry throat and static shocks. It's also not good to have a dry house if you have hardwood floors.
