basement dehumidifier

we have a dehumidifier in the basement,I dont have the owners manual,it has a digital display to set ,What percent should it be set on? We have a finished type basement with some furniture etc I know this is off topic but this is a great place to get answers... Thanks in advance

Don't have any idea, sorry I can't help ya out.

Just put one in myself. Unfinshed basement in the south. 55 to 65% for health, 35 to 45% for comfort.

At less than 45 or so it will run all the time in humid conditions and you will be emptying it every day. 55 is good. Jim

I install several dehumidification systems every year. Ideally, if you can maintain 55% RH in a basement, your fine. Enough to keep everything dry and enough to keep you comfortable. You'd be amazed how many callbacks I get after installing these. People can't believe how much it helps reduce your cooling costs by removing the moisture from your basement or crawl space before it migrates up into your living and sleeping space. One tip I recommend is to use a hose or pipe the condensate directly to a floor drain or sump pit. Most units now come with a hose connection standard. Most newer units can remove several gallons of water from the air daily during humid conditions. It will keep you from having to empty your condensate receptacle every day. Hope this helps!

(quoted from post at 19:57:00 05/29/12) we have a dehumidifier in the basement,I dont have the owners manual,it has a digital display to set ,What percent should it be set on? We have a finished type basement with some furniture etc I know this is off topic but this is a great place to get answers... Thanks in advance

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Not a real easy question to answer. The 30 to 40 range would be great if you can get to that point. If you air condition and live in high humidity high temperature climate that will be tough.

Do a few Internet searches on relative humidity and then you will be able to understand the problems and you might be able to figure out what to do on your own.

You need to understand the direction of vapor movement and where your vapor barrier is to avoid condensation in the wall cavities. So in the north we have a vapor barrier on the inside (warm side of the wall) for winter, in the south vapor barriers are often on the outside of the wall if you air condition most of the time.

Thus if you live in the north and de humidify to 40% in the summer with a relative humidity of say 80% exterior, air moving through your building envelope may condensate in your wall cavity because now the vapor barrier is on the wrong side of the wall.

It's a very complicated issue, in the end game health rules, so try and keep your living environment to as low as you can for humidity.

This is the issue I have, live in the north with winter temps to -20 and summer temps to 90 with RH of 90 %. No easy solutions.

Sorry for the long post, I am sure I did not help!

Connect a length of Garden hose to the reservoir and it will not need emptied...

Ron..

Just put one in myself. Unfinshed basement in the south. 55 to 65% for health, 35 to 45% for comfort.

Just put one in myself. Unfinshed basement in the south. 55 to 65% for health, 35 to 45% for comfort.

Just put one in myself. Unfinshed basement in the south. 55 to 65% for health, 35 to 45% for comfort.

Where can i buy a good quality dehumidifier? Lowes or Menards carry them?

Both have web sites to find out.with phone numbers to be sure there in stock.

i run mine at 55% most of the time but some times i have to bump it to 60% to keep the electric bill down

-paul