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controlling humidity in cellar

R

Rkh

Member
Trying to save money by not using dehumidifier in cellar, tried using the 2 windows on each side of cellar, except the western wall (not possible)total of 6 windows. I open the windows when humidity outside is 60 & lower. Living in the northern part of pa. Next to the ny border, we have a lot of humidity in the summer. Sometimes when the humidity outside is 40-45 outside ,the humidity will go down like the outside,but sometimes it stays the same when i opened the windows at around 60. Any ideas?
 
What humidity level is desirable in a basement? Here in N. Al. where humidity levels are high I have dehumidifier set for 55% with no problems. It is a poured concrete wall, water sealed and Styrofoam affixed to it. Also have groundwater gravel and piping in place. It is an unfinished basement. Dehumidifier run about 8 hrs. a day.
 
I guess you don't really have a problem. Average humidity here at this time of year is about 60%. In the winter months it's more like 85 %. If you are having mold problems , then I recommend having a large fan between 1 east and 1 west window, the movement/venting of air is the key. HTH. b
 
(quoted from post at 18:48:58 07/28/16) Trying to save money by not using dehumidifier in cellar, tried using the 2 windows on each side of cellar, except the western wall (not possible)total of 6 windows. I open the windows when humidity outside is 60 & lower. Living in the northern part of pa. Next to the ny border, we have a lot of humidity in the summer. Sometimes when the humidity outside is 40-45 outside ,the humidity will go down like the outside,but sometimes it stays the same when i opened the windows at around 60. Any ideas?
Click to expand...

That's pretty close to what our humidity is in the summer, ours may be a little higher. I have the same problem except I only have 3 windows. I keep 2 box fans running. In the winter it isn't as bad. The moving air doesn't help the humidity but it seems to keep mold from growing.
 
Running a dehumidifier is all I know that works ? Now the trouble is finding a good one that holds up ! I'm using some really old ones that still work. All the new ones I tried die in short order. Nothing but junk made anymore.
 
I have a walkout basement with machine tools in it. I used to open a couple of windows and let the air pull through. I was always oiling machined surfaces of machine tools to keep them from rusting. Now I try and keep it closed up. The warm moist air is kept outside and is not flowing through and condensing on my machines. I still keep watch on things but it isn't near the problem it was. If I open the overhead door to bring something in or out I close it as quick as I can. I am in R.I. so my humidity problem is maybe similar to yours?
 

You have the right idea Rkh. The only thing is that when there is little difference between inside and outside, there is not enough vapor pressure to move the vapor to any great degree. When it is around sixty outdoors I wouldn't worry about it.
 
Watch the dew point rather than relative humidity. Don't open the windows when the dew point is higher than the temperature of your cellar floor and walls.
 
x2 on Mike M's post. Opening windows will mean moisture will condense on the cooler inside walls of the basement.
 
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