So glad I found your UA-cam videos. Months ago we got concerned because our crawl space fan(we thought we had a dehumidifier) has gotten loud and does not ever turn off. We bought the house as a new build 22 years ago. The control for the fan is in an awkward place and the dial has readings similar to what a dehumidifier might have. It actually has the word HUMIDIFIER on the control box. All I see is a pipe on the other side of the basement that exits the crawl space on the other side of the house. The crawl space is completely, though cheaply covered with your everyday heavy mil black plastic; it is not professionally encapsulated . We have never had moisture in the space except when there was a broken pipe in the basement. The space is extremely dry. We live In Colorado. Today I just turned the dial to 20% and that , of course, turns the “unit” off. In you estimate, am I dealing with an old fan that needs to be replaced(by a professional,of course) or is there a greater need that needs to be addressed. Jeffrey
As long as you're humidity levels stay around or below 50-55% throughout the year, you should not have a need for a dehumidifier. (Assuming your crawl space is sealed, without other open vents) when we install vent fans, we typically turn them so they do not shut off to help prevent any kind of soil gas build up in the crawl space. If you'd like to just purchase a replacement fan that is quiet, we have some available on our DIY Store with videos available on how to install them. diy.crawlspaceninja.com/lomanco-pcv1-foundation-vent-fan/
You do a nice job with your videos. But you never really discuss how to actually temperature condition the encapsulated crawlspace. It's talked about a lot making the crawlspace then same temperature as the house. Many codes call for a supply duct but warn about depressurizing the crawlspace if a return is added. I am a mechanical contractor in the Richmond. And I have seen many bad encapsulating jobs. Mostly due to someone trying to add heat and air conditioning to a crawl space using a return and sending gases from under the house into the house. This is a very interesting topic to me as I get asked about it all the time. What are your thoughts ??
We are not a fan of using HVAC to control temp/humidity in crawl spaces. Many homeowners will not run HVAC during mild days and will open windows. This takes the HVAC out of the equation for humidity control. The humidity may still be high on mild days. Here is a video we did, hopefully this helps. ua-cam.com/video/HJhQERW3cSQ/v-deo.html. Maybe we can have you as a guest to share your experiences as a mechanical contractor with our viewers. If so, reach out to me on this form. Thanks. crawlspaceninja.com/ask-a-ninja/
Have you used the zoning features of the Aprilaire dehus? Thinking of doing this for crawl+basement, as they are separate, relatively small spaces. Thanks!
I'm confused. How do you know if you should get a whole house dehumidifier or just one for the basement level? I heard you mention on a few videos that if the lower level is at the proper humidity, that should help the rest of the house.....So how does one decide what to do?....
Simply depends on what you're looking to do. Typically if humidity is such a problem in the living space and you have HVAC System. A whole home dehu is a great choice
I thought it wasn’t good when the dehumidifier is duct in the hvac and running the same time as the ac is running. The warm air from the dehu is blowing over the ac coil , won’t that cause problems? I just bought the E100 my house is 1800 square footage, I have a finished basement where it has its own dedicated return and dedicated supply which keeps it at 48-50 and the upstairs ground level is around 50-55 it seams to help that area as well without going in to hvac. My goalis to run it in the hvac. Now should I go return to return in the hvac or return to supply? The manual says the preferred method is return to return but all the UA-cam videos says return to supply? Thanks
So glad I found your UA-cam videos. Months ago we got concerned because our crawl space fan(we thought we had a dehumidifier) has gotten loud and does not ever turn off. We bought the house as a new build 22 years ago. The control for the fan is in an awkward place and the dial has readings similar to what a dehumidifier might have. It actually has the word HUMIDIFIER on the control box. All I see is a pipe on the other side of the basement that exits the crawl space on the other side of the house. The crawl space is completely, though cheaply covered with your everyday heavy mil black plastic; it is not professionally encapsulated . We have never had moisture in the space except when there was a broken pipe in the basement. The space is extremely dry. We live In Colorado. Today I just turned the dial to 20% and that , of course, turns the “unit” off. In you estimate, am I dealing with an old fan that needs to be replaced(by a professional,of course) or is there a greater need that needs to be addressed.
Jeffrey
As long as you're humidity levels stay around or below 50-55% throughout the year, you should not have a need for a dehumidifier. (Assuming your crawl space is sealed, without other open vents) when we install vent fans, we typically turn them so they do not shut off to help prevent any kind of soil gas build up in the crawl space. If you'd like to just purchase a replacement fan that is quiet, we have some available on our DIY Store with videos available on how to install them. diy.crawlspaceninja.com/lomanco-pcv1-foundation-vent-fan/
You do a nice job with your videos. But you never really discuss how to actually temperature condition the encapsulated crawlspace. It's talked about a lot making the crawlspace then same temperature as the house. Many codes call for a supply duct but warn about depressurizing the crawlspace if a return is added. I am a mechanical contractor in the Richmond. And I have seen many bad encapsulating jobs. Mostly due to someone trying to add heat and air conditioning to a crawl space using a return and sending gases from under the house into the house. This is a very interesting topic to me as I get asked about it all the time. What are your thoughts ??
We are not a fan of using HVAC to control temp/humidity in crawl spaces. Many homeowners will not run HVAC during mild days and will open windows. This takes the HVAC out of the equation for humidity control. The humidity may still be high on mild days. Here is a video we did, hopefully this helps. ua-cam.com/video/HJhQERW3cSQ/v-deo.html. Maybe we can have you as a guest to share your experiences as a mechanical contractor with our viewers. If so, reach out to me on this form. Thanks. crawlspaceninja.com/ask-a-ninja/
Have you used the zoning features of the Aprilaire dehus? Thinking of doing this for crawl+basement, as they are separate, relatively small spaces. Thanks!
Each home is different and may need a solution to tackle. We have used that before.
I'm confused. How do you know if you should get a whole house dehumidifier or just one for the basement level? I heard you mention on a few videos that if the lower level is at the proper humidity, that should help the rest of the house.....So how does one decide what to do?....
Simply depends on what you're looking to do. Typically if humidity is such a problem in the living space and you have HVAC System. A whole home dehu is a great choice
I thought it wasn’t good when the dehumidifier is duct in the hvac and running the same time as the ac is running. The warm air from the dehu is blowing over the ac coil , won’t that cause problems? I just bought the E100 my house is 1800 square footage, I have a finished basement where it has its own dedicated return and dedicated supply which keeps it at 48-50 and the upstairs ground level is around 50-55 it seams to help that area as well without going in to hvac. My goalis to run it in the hvac. Now should I go return to return in the hvac or return to supply? The manual says the preferred method is return to return but all the UA-cam videos says return to supply? Thanks
It would be best for you to contact Aprilaire's tech team that can break that down further
Do you really need a professional dehumidifier ($2300!) Or can a $400 approved for the same sqft be ok?
We only install commercial dehumidifiers but you can try less expensive ones if you like.
Better double up on flushing your condensate line with one of these. $$$
We don't recommend tying condensate lines together.