dehumidify me!

[izzy_real]

My 280 Gallon system is giving me issues. It’s in a basement that’s about 20’ X 9’. I’ve been working on this system since the end of May. The room also has a small closet with bi-fold doors. When we moved in a year ago, we painted every room in the house, minus the closets. I noticed yesterday a little mildew growing on the bottom of the closet walls. I cleaned it, but I have to begin looking into a dehumidifier of some sorts. There is a bathroom adjacent to the room, and I ASSume I could place a dehumidifier in that room, and drain it directly to the tub or sink.

However, upon contacting Whirlpool, the tech lady suggested I not use one because, and I quote, “It will suck the water straight out your aquarium!”

I promise that’s what she said! How funny?!

Nevertheless, I still need something to help dehumidify the room. The room being surrounded by block, and only one dual window, an exhaust fan is out of the question, unless I place it directly in the window. Which would be cold here (East Tennessee) during the winter. I’ve read several threads that use dehumidifier’s in their applications with no trouble. Anyone have a thought?

 

[TIMMYE]

Why not look into a whole air to air exchanger with heat recovery. The unit I like most is made by Broan called the guardian plus. It also comes with a built HEPA filter.

 

[izzy_real]

What kind of price range is that thing? Sounds like I'm looking at alot of money for that!

 

[wizsmaster]

check these guys out:
http://www.renewaire.com/

We use them for all of our EPA Energy Star homes. We build out homes so tight that we need to put ERV's in to exchange air from in (stale) to out (fresh).

 

[TIMMYE]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11609477#post11609477 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by wizsmaster
check these guys out:
http://www.renewaire.com/

We use them for all of our EPA Energy Star homes. We build out homes so tight that we need to put ERV's in to exchange air from in (stale) to out (fresh).

These are along the same lines. I tend to like these a little less for a couple resons. Installtion is not as clean or easy. And you do not get the HEPA filter for all incoming air. But other than that they are similar.

Cost for these installed (Madison,WI) run 1,300-2,000.

This will not only help dehumidify, but they will drasticly improve indoor air quality.

I hope this helps Tim

 

[izzy_real]

That helps ALOT!

However, being on Worker's Comp at this point, money is an issue. I may have to stick with a dehumidifier unit with a humidistat, they're around $150.

I would much rather use your suggestion. Perhaps, that's something I can get into after I'm back to work.

Tim, I hate to bombard you with more questions, but would there be a way to recycle the humid air in the basement, to the rest of the house? That would be a really sweet economic way to use the humid air, without damaging the walls in the basement.

I could be way off base in dreamland, but I thought I might ask while you were still reading this thread!

Thanks again for all your help!

Izzy

 

[steve the plumb]

I use a dehumidifier in my basement where the tank is.Its winter and the room is dryer.I will have to install my portable ac unit in the summer to keep the room dryer and cooler.The de humidifier dos heat up the room.In the summer it will be a problem.I have mine set at 40% so it doesn't go on that much.We had a warm spell here and the snow was melting.During that week the air became more humid and the de humidifier was running more often.It did heat up the room but my sump is in the garage so the tank temp stayed the same.I don't see you using the dehumidifier in the summer you will just fry the tank.I don't have ducts so I don't know what I can do.My sump is in my garage.Do I run some kind of vent and push the air outside?Summer is very humid here.I may hook up my portable ac unit in the garage and remove any humid air in there.I think it sounds dumb to cool a garage,waste of electricity.

 

[TIMMYE]

Izzy the easyiest way to do that would be cut return vent over your tank area into main return trunk line then run yo furnace fan on constant or on a program.

Best bet is a air to air exchanger. A second option is a 60-120 CFM bath fan vented outside just to dump the humidity. This you can set up on a humidistat. HTH Tim