Basement Ventilation

[143MPCo]

So basically you're talking about the evap drain from the AC draining off the excess humidity after being pulled in the return.

Correct!

if one was to open a return and add a exhaust duct to the room it will help humidity...is my understanding. What if just a return was opened and not the exhaust duct?

It would still work, but might be slightly less effective. This however depends on the layout as each system layout is different in implementation.

 

[143MPCo]

Sidenote - I'm driving and hands-free speech to text on the iPhone doesn't work as well as one would hope![emoji35]

 

[rayn]

Awesome! I have a return right above the fish room and can easily run a duct into there as well.

Thanks OP for this thread!

 

[143MPCo]

Awesome! I have a return right above the fish room and can easily run a duct into there as well.

Thanks OP for this thread!

For it to be effect you'll need to have an intake (pulling the humidity laden air out) somewhere in the basement, the return is only providing fresh dehumidified air.

 

[dbl]

...So if one was to open a return and add a exhaust duct to the room it will help humidity...is my understanding. What if just a return was opened and not the exhaust duct?

I joked earlier about not having a basement here in Florida, but one thing I do have, and have to deal with daily, all year long, is humidity.

One word of caution in altering your home central A/C system (this would include returns). If your system was professionally installed, it should have been balanced as well. Meaning the fresh air intake is designed to be balanced with the output. Altering may throw this off and you may end up with other issues.

I agree with the comments above that if you can have your central system altered to accommodate the new environment you're creating, that would be the best option. Just have it done by a professional service company.

My $.02 so take it for what it's worth.

 

[143MPCo]

I agree with the comments above that if you can have your central system altered to accommodate the new environment you're creating, that would be the best option. Just have it done by a professional service company

100% agree with this!!!

 

[rayn]

For it to be effect you'll need to have an intake (pulling the humidity laden air out) somewhere in the basement, the return is only providing fresh dehumidified air.

You mean like a powered vent?

 

[143MPCo]

You mean like a powered vent?

To many contributing factors to say yes to that without knowing or having a look at your systems air changes per hour, air conditioner, air handler, air handling unit, BTU, centrifugal fan, chiller, coil,condenser, constant air volume, controller, damper,duct, Dehumidifier, Diffuser and the list goes on. Like @dbl posted, you really should have a pro look at it and get a quote for the work.

 

[Jp978]

I am a licensed hvac tech in the state of Massachusett we deal with humidity in basement all the time here. The only way to get is out is buying an whole house Aprilaire dehumidifier very simple to install. Adding return and supplies will effect the performance of your system there really is not anyway around it.

 

[rayn]

See, I thought there wa a good solution here and it all goes to crap.

 

[ReeferBob]

I wasn't really talking so much as removing humidity from the entire basement as removing the humidity from the single fishroom by equalizing it into your entire house via your central air/heat system. A supply and a return into this room will accomplish this. It really is just making the room breath better. In the winter you will benefit from the added humidity circulating into your house and in the summer your A/C will be able to remove some of it through the way A/C units work naturally as a dehumidification device. My fishroom is this way in that the room itself is the utility room where the air handler is located so it naturally gets this service/benefit. The humidity levels in my fishroom are almost exactly the same as the rest of the house.

So I still recommend adding a return vent to anyone's' fishroom that is able. I was assuming that a supply vent was already in the room, but if not, then that is also needed. Cost/benefit analysis would need to be individually determined of course.

 

[rayn]

That is more what I was thinking too. I can't believe it would put that much strain on a system to add a return and exhaust vent. HVAC is only 15 feet from my fish room and if I hadn't put a wall up, was open to the fish tanks anyway.

With a unfinished ceiling, adding a supply is easy. As the return from the upstairs runs right above the tank room, cutting a hole in it is easy too.

 

[-Logzor]

I wasn't really talking so much as removing humidity from the entire basement as removing the humidity from the single fishroom by equalizing it into your entire house via your central air/heat system. A supply and a return into this room will accomplish this. It really is just making the room breath better. In the winter you will benefit from the added humidity circulating into your house and in the summer your A/C will be able to remove some of it through the way A/C units work naturally as a dehumidification device. My fishroom is this way in that the room itself is the utility room where the air handler is located so it naturally gets this service/benefit. The humidity levels in my fishroom are almost exactly the same as the rest of the house.

So I still recommend adding a return vent to anyone's' fishroom that is able. I was assuming that a supply vent was already in the room, but if not, then that is also needed. Cost/benefit analysis would need to be individually determined of course.

This makes a lot of sense. I think part of the issue in my house is that the basement doesn't have any return vents, that I'm aware of. The aquarium is in the basement, but not really segregated off into it's own room, it's rather open down there, but I think adding a return vent could help keep the air moving.

 

[143MPCo]

This makes a lot of sense. I think part of the issue in my house is that the basement doesn't have any return vents, that I'm aware of. The aquarium is in the basement, but not really segregated off into it's own room, it's rather open down there, but I think adding a return vent could help keep the air moving.

lol, kicking the fan idea?

 

[-Logzor]

lol, kicking the fan idea?

Not yet! I still like the idea of exporting the humid air directly if it's already stuck down there. My house is pretty small, so I'm somewhat concerned about making the upstairs too humid if I begin to circulate better. The logic in this recommendation makes sense though.

 

[Jp978]

If your worried about circulating air then a Aprilaire air exchanger is the way to go.. Just remember if you do it right the first time you will never have to do it again.. Adding a return really won't do much to a system it's the supply that you add usually steals air from another run.

 

[-Logzor]

If your worried about circulating air then a Aprilaire air exchanger is the way to go.. Just remember if you do it right the first time you will never have to do it again.. Adding a return really won't do much to a system it's the supply that you add usually steals air from another run.

What will that cost me to buy and install? Is that in the $1,000 range or more like $2,000+?

Would it be plug-and-plug with my new HVAC system or am I looking at cutting holes in the basement wall and such?

 

[AlexG]

I installed humidity sensing ventilation in my basement for my current build. I will have around 1600 gallons in the system so humidity is a big concern. I am going to cover the ceiling in plastic and have the tanks contained in a room with the ventilation I will put some good furnace filters on the door and canopy to allow air to enter the fish room. The unit I got has a motion sensor, timer for the vent fan and humidity sensor that is adjustable 30%-80% humidity.

This is the unit I got and it is really quiet.
http://business.panasonic.com/FV-11...ucts-hvac-ventilationproducts-ventilationfans

 

[Jp978]

https://www.acwholesalers.com/April...tor/11202.ac?gclid=COyN3Ja2ysoCFdCPHwodIhIGrA

You can get it installed for $600 $800 bucks five hour job max plugs rights in

 

[-Logzor]

https://www.acwholesalers.com/April...tor/11202.ac?gclid=COyN3Ja2ysoCFdCPHwodIhIGrA

You can get it installed for $600 $800 bucks five hour job max plugs rights in

Thanks for that info, that keeps it relatively affordable. Is this assuming I have some sort of input vent from the outdoors?