Podu Girls Fish Room

[Taurus]

The problem with a dehumidifier this time of year is that you need one that remains frost free and those are even more expensive to run. It's not an easy problem to resolve cheaply. I wish there was a simple, cheap solution but there's not. I've been around and around with the issue here. Any place where exterior cold meets warm you're likely to have a few condensation issues. It's one of the reasons multi-pane windows are so effective.

[Law Dog]

Nat, I agree with Taurus regarding the moisture in the basement. It's most likely caused by all of the evaporation from the drywall mud and paint, but keep an eye on it. The moisture should subside in a few days. You may want to think about investing in a nice dehumidifier for the summer months, especially with that many tanks going in. I have one 100gal and the humidity in my basement (which is finished) will get to 68-70% if I don't run the dehumidifier, not to mention it will get a musty smell down there. I have an LG dehumidifier I picked up at Lowe's for around $240 about 6yrs ago and it's still running strong. It has a defrost cycle as well. The digital humidistat is not accurate on it, but after trial and error I have it set at 55% which keeps my humidity below 55% in the middle of summer.

I'll have to keep you posted on my DIY sliding glass lids I made for my tank when I get a few months on them. Right now I believe it's cut my evaporation down by at least 50% from the broken hinged lids I had.

[Taurus]

I have an LG dehumidifier I picked up at Lowe's for around $240 about 6yrs ago and it's still running strong. It has a defrost cycle as well. The digital humidistat is not accurate on it, but after trial and error I have it set at 55% which keeps my humidity below 55% in the middle of summer.

That is good to know about the LG dehumidifiers. I have had 2 GE dehumidifiers in the last 5 years and they have both failed just outside of the warranty period so I would not recommend them. It might be a case of where an extended warranty might be worth it.

[angelcraze2]

@Taurus, thanks for all the info, but why does it have to be frost free? I admit, I don't know how to do anything lol, I have to look everything up.

[Slaphppy7]

I too wonder why the DH has to be frost-free if it's mostly used in the summertime?

[angelcraze2]

And for the winter it is used indoors right? I have mine plugged on still, but it's too dry to come on this time of year typically. I should probably just unplug it.

[Slaphppy7]

Dehumidifiers are always used indoors, yes. Basically, they just draw moisture from the air, then condense it into liquid form, which either collects in a container (that has to be periodically emptied) or runs out of a hose into a nearby drain

[Taurus]

@Taurus, thanks for all the info, but why does it have to be frost free? I admit, I don't know how to do anything lol, I have to look everything up.

If your basement temperature gets below 60 degrees in the winter and you try to draw the humidity level below 50 % a dehumidifier that is not designed to operate in these condition can freeze up. Frost forms on the coils and it won't function. In that case you need one that shuts itself down so as not to do damage to itself. The capacity of the dehumidifier has been exceeded. So if you have a "cold" basement in the winter time and run a dehumidifier down there, keep an eye on it. Under "normal" settings a dehumidifier wouldn't be running under these conditions anyway.

[RiversGirl]

Interesting. I did not realize this ^

I'd suppose one could run a space heater around it, as a work-around. Thoughts?

[Taurus]

Now you're beginning to see why they can be so inefficient. With a hot air furnace, I think the most efficient way to do this is at the furnace or in the plenum\duct work? With hot water base board heat, well it's a challenge. I think Nat's furnace is hot air?