Excessive humidity help!

[Chitown tom]

Ok reefers I need some help.

I live in a 1200 Sq ft home with a basement built in the 1970's.

In the basement I have all my tanks.

120g + 40 b sump + 40 b frag tank
75 g + 40 b sump
55 g fresh water
plus some various qt tanks that come up and down depending on need.

In the summer I installed brand new Anderson windows throughout the house. I replaced them because the old windows were incredibly drafty.

Well low an behold the drafty windows served a purpose lol. All my new windows are now pooling water. The humidity levels are too high and I am not getting any air exchange. I did not notice this in the summer/fall because I kept my basement windows open 24/7 to help with pH.

I run a dehumidifier 24/7 in the basement but it is not keeping up.

I have been doing research this weekend and came across a heat recovery ventilation unit or hrv. I live in Chicago and with our climate I think a HRV will be better vs a ERV.

So my questions are:
#1. Will an HRV work for me to pull out the humidity?
#2 How hard is it to install in an existing structure? A good portion of my basement has some good access and that is where I was thinking of installing it.
#3 any recommendations on a unit?

 

[Greybeard]

I would suggest a dehumidifier... perhaps a ventilating dehumidifier.

https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/76792/An-Energy-Recovery-Ventilator-Is-NOT-a-Dehumidifier

 

[Chitown tom]

I would suggest a dehumidifier... perhaps a ventilating dehumidifier.

I have been running one in the basement 24x7 but it is not keeping up.

I was not aware of a venting one. This seems interesting! I will definitely be looking into it. They seem to be more pricey compared to an HRV.
On the plus side it should also help with the pH of the tanks downstairs. I have run lines outside from the skimmer but only saw a slight improvement.

 

[mtraylor]

+1 on dehumdifier