Humidity Venting

[widefat]

My house has a stone/cement cellar, about 150 sq. ft. The humidity is extraordinarily high - around 70% currently.
There is no venting or air flow. Would a passive vent help? Do I need to install a wall fan?

TIA

 

[KennyG]

There is little chance that a passive vent would work and the effect of a power vent will be limited if the space is much cooler than outside. When you bring in normally humid air from outside and it is cooled, the humidity will increase significantly. Do you have a drain in the space? A small dehumidifier seems like the best idea.

 

[Mysfyt]

Totally agree with Kenny on this. Very few basements/cellars don't benefit from a dehumidifier.

 

[rekees4300]

Assuming the cellar has electric, a dehumidifier would likely solve the problem.

 

[widefat]

Unfortunately, the cellar does not have a drain. Re air flow, I would be pulling air out of the cellar - the cellar is generally hotter than it is outside -
does that change the model?

 

[prichard]

150 sqft or 1500sqft? Finished? Heat and ac in the space?

 

[widefat]

150 imi 150 sq ft. unfinished, was constructed with original house about 115 years ago, or with addition about 55 years ago. Not sure which - thinking 55, because walls appear to be poured concrete not concrete over stone.
unfinished, houses oil furnace and well tank. No HVAC in the space. It is water tight as in no leaks, but humid as heck. I guess water vapor from soil around it.

 

[JRobyn]

A dehumidifier comes with an empty-able tank - some easier to empty than others. This will probably be a pain during the first few days while it dries out, but may not be too bad after it reaches your target humidity level.

Else, maybe just fill it up with nice cigars?

 

[dadster4]

Is the floor concrete or earthen? Any leakage at walls or wall/floor with rainstorms? How much of the foundation is exposed above grade on the exterior? Is this a frame house with wood siding or brick veneer? Need more info to see how to fix your problem...Thanks

 

[prichard]

Pretty sure modern code requires the space be vented. I'd start there if doing so would not be a nightmare to accomplish. You could even try something temporary.

If you decide to go with a dehumidifier you could run the drain to a small sump like used hour HVAC condensate.

 

[CalG]

My "semi finished"walk out basement runs around 62%RH on days like today.

Dehumidifier running pretty steady and a wall unit A/C to boot. ' 65% and above, and the machine tools start to rust. ;-)
We use more electricity in summer keeping things dry than for any other use year round.

 

[MossRoad]

Get a dehumidifier with the option of a hose drain. Since you don't have a basement drain, run the hose drain from the dehumidifier to a Little Giant condensate pump sitting on the floor next to the dehumidifier. Then run the output hose of the Little Giant through a hole in the sill plate outside to a point downhill from the house. You can get a condensate pump like this for under $30.

Little Giant VCMA-15UL 1/5 horsepower 115 volts VCMA Series Automatic Condensate Removal Pump for $35. at National Equipment Parts

 

[dragoneggs]

I like the humidor idea! Maybe store some nice wine too! Otherwise it does sound like you are in the market for a dehumidifier with ideally with a way to drain to make it low maintenance. Good luck.

 

[Zerk]

Get a dehumidifier with the option of a hose drain. Since you don't have a basement drain, run the hose drain from the dehumidifier to a Little Giant condensate pump sitting on the floor next to the dehumidifier. Then run the output hose of the Little Giant through a hole in the sill plate outside to a point downhill from the house. You can get a condensate pump like this for under $30.

Little Giant VCMA-15UL 1/5 horsepower 115 volts VCMA Series Automatic Condensate Removal Pump for $35. at National Equipment Parts

Good idea.

Set up some kind of resevior with float. Maybe a timer to turn it on. Make sure can handle amperage. I could probably turn mine on daily in summer.

Could also put a croc in floor with a float, pumps to sewer. I have one that goes to a slop sink, and a drain, which my AC runs into. May not be code, but could run it outside.

 

[dragoneggs]

Good idea.

Set up some kind of resevior with float. Maybe a timer to turn it on. Make sure can handle amperage. I could probably turn mine on daily in summer.

Could also put a croc in floor with a float, pumps to sewer. I have one that goes to a slop sink, and a drain, which my AC runs into. May not be code, but could run it outside.

'They' make small condensation pumps. I have one on my high efficient natural gas furnance. Has internal float switch to pump stuff 'overboard'. Capacity is quite small (maybe a quart or so) but works great. Located on my garage floor and pumps 8ft up and 20ft over and outside. Only thing I needed to do is make sure the outside exit point of the tube doesn't freeze. Learned the hard way when I flooded the garage floor during a cold snap the first winter.

 

[MossRoad]

Good idea.

Set up some kind of resevior with float. Maybe a timer to turn it on. Make sure can handle amperage. I could probably turn mine on daily in summer.

Could also put a croc in floor with a float, pumps to sewer. I have one that goes to a slop sink, and a drain, which my AC runs into. May not be code, but could run it outside.

That Little Giant has its own reservoir and float switch. Its the same kind of pump used on many air conditioner units to pump AC condensate water up to the ceiling in a basement, through a check vavle, and into a drain line.

 

[widefat]

Is the floor concrete or earthen? Any leakage at walls or wall/floor with rainstorms? How much of the foundation is exposed above grade on the exterior? Is this a frame house with wood siding or brick veneer? Need more info to see how to fix your problem...Thanks

Concrete floor; no leakage at any time; 30 ish inch crawlspace; brick/mortar foundation; frame house with aluminum siding

 

[Katahdin]

We just dump our basement humidifier water into the clothes washer before starting a laundry load. Obviously that only makes sense if your clothes washer is also in the basement.

 

[Toyboy]

That Little Giant has its own reservoir and float switch. Its the same kind of pump used on many air conditioner units to pump AC condensate water up to the ceiling in a basement, through a check vavle, and into a drain line.

Best solution I've seen yet.

 

[TCJatko]

I had humidity problems in an old house with a stone foundation. Hung an old box fan next to a basement window and left it on 24/7. A little foam insulation on the pipes that were sweating and the problem went away. You need to vent and circulate the air.