Dehumidifier or HVR?

B

baondayko

Member
I currently have a 350 gallon (total volume) system in my basement. I already have an older dehumidifier (perhaps 40-60 pt?) but it is not reducing humidity lower than 54%. I am getting condensation on pipes and, at times, my windows.

Question - should I get a newer dehumidifier? If so, are there any recommendations on which brand and size? (I tried using the search feature, but didn't get anything)

My other alternative is to install a heat recovery ventilator. Has anyone here done that?

Any advice for either subject is greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Brock
 
I'll tell you what I'm considering for my basement build. The total water volume for my system will be about 275 gallon. I have a basement window that will be enclosed by my fish room. I plan on switching the window to glass block and installing a dryer type vent in the window. In the fish room itself I'm going to put an exhaust fan connected to a humidistat controller (like this one: http://www.plantlightinghydroponics.com/cap-air1-temperature-humidity-control-p-361.html). The controller is all self-contained so that simplifies the wiring. Ultimately, I think the HVR is the best solution - especially in winter but they're not cheap. Another thing to consider is making sure that you don't create a negative pressure issue which can cause issues with your furnace and hot water heater (like pulling in carbon monoxide).
 
I use a dehumidifier too and it's one of the newer models. It's able to keep up with mine but I am thinking adding an exhaust fan. It's a lot cheaper to operate. The question is.. how big of an exhaust fan...

If I can hook it up to my apex with some kind of humidity sensor and turn on when it is actually needed, that would be even better :)
 
For all of those who are considering installing an exhaust fan in a basement... Be careful if you own a gas hot water heater. The exhaust vent just captures rising hot CO gas from the combustion chamber. If you use too high of a CFM rated fan you can actually pull air back down that vent and end up filling your basement with dangerous carbon monoxide...
 
a lot of the guys in the club use a exhaust fan.

I have 280 gallons of water volume in my basement and had a lot of the same issues until I added a 465 cfm fan in the basement. No issues now! It runs all day while the lights are on and every two hours at night.
 
Fishnfun - I was also thinking about your solution with the block glass and dryer vent. How would you propose handling air intake in that situation, so you don't get a negative pressure problem? Another vent to outside?

Other suggestions on how to do the vent? Is there a way to set up the air vent so that it opens when the exhaust fan comes on?
 
Hollback, cward, and mantis all have vents, blowers, and/or HRV's. Hollback has a very similar setup to what you guys are discussing with glass blocks, blower shooting external via a vent, etc.

The downside of dehumidifier is 1) they're watt hogs, and 2) they burn out. In the 7-8 years I've owned my home, I just purchased dehumidifier #3 (biglots special this time heh). The downside of the HRV's (from all the reading I've done) is that they really don't work all that well in the midwest. First and foremost, a lot of times of the year our internal humidity is not that much higher that external, so a 1-for-1 swap of air may or may not buy you a lot. As well, a good chunk of the year is decently warm, so they're really effective primarily during the winter. It seems light straight exhaust is the better way to go from what I've read.
 
I'm using a fan that's on all the time.
Another one for stinks and smells and when lots of humidity like big tank projects where there is water getting all over the basement floor around the tanks.
And I have a dehumidifier that's rated for 2600 sq ft in a 1000 sq ft basement.
Right now my energy waste and efficiency is terrible.
But no mold and no problems and I can change the method for humidity both in intensity and need at the flick of a switch. It used to take a couple days for things to get back down to normal in particular if liverock cleansing project or major tank rearrange. It's usually towards 50 to 30% humidity within 8 to 12 hours.
 
First, let me say that I'm not an HVAC guy so I was planning on having an HVAC guy come in to do an assessment to be safe. Generally speaking, the negative pressure issue comes up more in newer homes than older homes. My house is only a couple years old and is sealed up pretty good (Energy Star rating and all). If your home is older without all the Tyvek wrap and spray foam everywhere you probably won't have any problem. The other thing to consider is condensation in/on the exhaust pipe in the winter. You may need to insulate the exhaust pipe to keep the moisture at bay.

baondayko said:
Fishnfun - I was also thinking about your solution with the block glass and dryer vent. How would you propose handling air intake in that situation, so you don't get a negative pressure problem? Another vent to outside?

Other suggestions on how to do the vent? Is there a way to set up the air vent so that it opens when the exhaust fan comes on?
Click to expand...
 
I had a HVAC guy advise me on my room in the basement. The negative pressure comes into play when you do not have a window or a source to draw the fresh air into the room.

Since I have a glass block window that stays open all the time and the fan that draws the air out. I used a fan that would would remove more air then is needed as a precaution. For example my room is 280 cf and my fan moves 465 cfm (like the one CWARD used) i wanted a high turnover rate to deal with the moisture. You also have to make sure that the room that you are venting is "sealed off " from the rest of the basement. That helps to negate the negative pressure issue as well as the CO issue that LouDogDaddy was speaking of.
 
Shark Keeper -do you have two dryer vents in the block windows? (I was thinking about that approach, one as a vent and the other for exhaust) Or one dryer-sized exhaust and a small screen vent that can be opened/closed?
 
I have the small screen vent that comes with the block window kit and I drilled a exhaust vent out the side of the house (wife was not happy but oops its done now :-) which is where my exhaust fan goes to.
 
I am getting ready to do the same I am tired of the dehumidifier I havent had a problem this year like in years previous since I put all the new windows in the house. and installed a basement vent.
 
Thanks for the advice everyone. Looks like I will be trying an exhaust fan! Any additional advice or comments is always welcome.
 
Yes I did since I did not have a 6" hole saw. If I can find one I will change it to at least a 6" hole.

All of the ducting is 8" though so it works great! My wife used to always say that the basement had that "fishy smell" but she no longer says that.
 
I am going to guess most bathroom vents won't cut the mustard? Unless it's in an enclosed fish room.
 
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