Controlling Humidity

[Charlie's Angel]

Right now, I am in the midst of installing a 375 display with total volume of 500 - 550. What is the best way to control humidity in the house? This will be in the basement and I will not be able to have a sealed off fish room. I have been looking at an HRV or ERV system. Any advice and who I should get some bids from?

Thanks

 

[Nanook]

Hmmm, capo is the expert here on HVAC....I would PM him.

There is a LONG thread in the Large Tank Forum on this subject and that would be a good read.

I don't think an HRV would be very good in our humid climate. Have you considered a mini-split for summer months and a large, efficient dehumidifier for winter months? Those might be more realistic options with our climate.

Another strategy is to prevent humidity with a chiller on the tank and to cover the sumps with lids to limit water in the air.

 

[Charlie's Angel]

Thanks...I have passed some pm's back and forth with capo. Just wanted to see what people locally were doing. I will reach out to him again.

Thanks for the help.

 

[ReeferRon]

I have around 700 gallons in my basement and I use a sante fe dehumidifier to keep humidity level below 50%. It puts off a little heat but you can buy a duct kit which gives you alot of options.

 

[Charlie's Angel]

Where did you purchase the santa fe dehumidifier? Did a local heating and cooling company install it for you?

Thanks

 

[ReeferRon]

I purchased it on the internet with free delivery. It is ready to plug in. You have to run the condensate down a drain or purchase a pump seperately if you want to pump it up somewhere such as outside. There is a hose attached. I let it drain into the floor drain where my air conditioning unit drains. It was well worth the money.

 

[Charlie's Angel]

Awesome...I can set it up the same way...do you have the model number?

 

[ReeferRon]

This is what I have
http://www.sylvane.com/santa-fe-dehumidifier.html
Item#: sa154

Since you wont have seperate rooms you wont have to duct it. It will really keep you basement dry.

 

[Charlie's Angel]

Great...I will just put this on the unfinished side of the basement and run the house to my floor drain. Did some research on this product this morning and am excited about this solution. Thanks for your help...I will be ordering one of these shortly.

 

[Nanook]

Hope it works for you! I did some reading on those several years ago and opted for the mini-split AC unit, but that looks like a good unit as well....the mini-split just works better for my application.

 

[Charlie's Angel]

Don't know anything about the mini-split? Will do some research on that as well. Why do you see this as better than the Santa Fe dehumidifier?

 

[Nanook]

The mini-split not only dehumidifies, but it cools the room as well to prevent over-heating of the water. The dehumidifier does add heat and in a small eqpt room like mine, it would defeat itself.

I think for a large, open basement application like yours is going to be, that the dehumidifier you have selected is a good choice...didn't mean to down your choice....it is a good one.

 

[Charlie's Angel]

No problem...I can use all the advice and options possible. Want to make the best choice and looking at all options is a great start. Where did you install the mini-split...is it something put in your equipment room.

Thanks

 

[stlouisguy]

I use a room air conditioner. Takes about 4 gallons out of the air minimum a day. Vent it to outside and works like a charm

 

[Charlie's Angel]

My problem is that I can't vent anything outside. This is why I liked the Santa Fe dehum because I could send the water down the drain.

 

[Nanook]

My AC is in the equipment room...it removes about 10gpd based on the brochure:

http://www.mrslim.com/Products/item...tegoryID=76&ProductCategoryID=7&ProductID=978


3.2 pints/hour x 24 hours=76.8

http://www.mrslim.com/UploadedFiles/Product/rad5F06C620048191923.pdf

 

[ReeferRon]

Santa Fe does put off heat but that is the way it is designed. To slightly heat and dry the air. I had more of a problem in the winter when the air was not running. I did not want to run the air in the winter. I had everything sweating. Mold growing in remote locations of the basement. The sante fe is designed to run in colder environments such as basements. In the summer I did not have major problems with humidity because I was running my central air to pull out the moisture as it is designed to do during the heating season. In the summer I set the sante fe to a little below 50% humidity. It does not run much at all. I think it is because of the size and power. It cycles on and off very quickly. I am happy with my purchase as I am sure Dave is with his.

stlouisguy,
I had seen some pictures of the portable air conditioning venting up and out through your garage. How is that working for you since you extended the run? Does it still exhaust well? Did you have to add a duct fan to push it out?

 

[capncapo]

Personally, I don't think that there is any single solution that is perfect.

Dehumidifiers work but add heat which increases the temperature of the air which increases the amount of humidity that the air can hold. Not only that but during the cooling season you're paying to heat the air just so you can turn around and pay to cool it.

Air conditioners are pretty much the opposite. You're paying to cool the air in winter and then paying to heat it back up. Of course, this is not Nooks case as there is no such thing as him getting cold.

HRVs work but would pretty much be useless during the summer months here.

ERVs would work for summer but our outdoor humidity levels are typically so high here that the dessicant wheel that removes the humidity from the incoming air would become saturated fairly quickly rendering it pretty useless as far as dehumidification goes. That problem can be rectified by paying more money for more dessicant wheels.

Add to all of this that in summer when the lights are on you would want to eliminate the heat created by them but in winter during the night you would want to retain heat.

Considering how expensive energy is becoming, especially in IL, it will require multiple methods to cost-effectively keep humidity levels low.

Pick your poison.

 

[Charlie's Angel]

I think I will go the dehumidifier route as I feel the winter's months are my biggest concern. With my setup open and in the basement, I am not too worried about the dehumidifier heating up the basement too much. I keep the house cold. Plus, if it does heat it up a little, my wife will be pleased.

Awesome advice.

Capncapo...looks like we are in tough situation here in St. Louis, with many different options that might work depending on the setup of the tank.