Dehumidifier Help

tueller

tueller

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Mar 16, 2012
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Can someone recommend a good humidifier?

I just moved and the new basement gets a lot of moisture. I already have had to oil my toys (knives and guns) three times as much as I used to. I plan on putting a wood burning stove down there eventually and that will help but until then and when not in use, I think I should get a dehumidifier.

The basement is not finished and there is plenty of room so size and cosmetics are not a concern. I am looking for PERFORMANCE and COST being the most important factors. Thank you for any help.
 
The most important factor is temperature, the warmer the air the more moisture it will hold which will allow the dehu to extract it. Air movement is also key.

You will need to keep the room temp above 70 otherwise non-comerical dehu's won't do much of anything.

Your main concern when choosing a dehu will be how many pints per day of water it removes and at what temperature it does this. It's a standard on how all dehu's are measured so you should be able to find this information on any dehu available.
 
I run a Fridgidaire 25 pint and a Maytag 30 pint on opposite sides of the basement from April to November, they pull a ton of water out of the air. These are right from the big box hardware store. If you can direct it via hose into a wash tub is a better way to go. Basement temps in the mid to low 60s much of the time. I keep a lot of tools and personal effects down there, they stay in great shape as long as I keep the catch basins empty.
 
I keep my basement at around 60% humidity year round without problem. Pick yourself up a hygrometer and see what percentage you're at.

I've never seen any rust spot on my knives or guns, however I use either Frog Lube or Tuffglide on everything. Maybe you need a better oil/lube?
 
Thank you for the input and advice. I did not know about the importance of temp along w/ moisture. It's an unfinished basement and I am in NH sooo hot summers and cold winters. I do not plan on heating an unfinished basement due to cost. I was going to put a wood burning stove down there just to supplement my pellet stove upstairs and avoid using oil heat. As far as the lubricant I use. Mineral oil on knives and break free on guns. Pretty standard stuff I guess. So I guess a dehumidifier will only help seasonally and won't help in the winter? If I got it right. Thx for the info and I will be better off looking for a dehu knowing it.
 
I live in NE (NY) as well, the RH won't be high enough to need dehumidification in Winter, though can keep it turned on anyway for warm snaps. Most dehumidifiers can certainly pull moisture out of air that is fairly cool, but as temps drop the amount of moisture the air can hold also drops. Another big factor - the amount of moisture migrating through the earth around your foundation also shrinks - you don't normally need a dehumidifier in the Winter months.
 
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