Fan verses dehumidifier?
Question:I have a concrete basement which get humid and has a musty smell. I was thinking of getting a dehumidifier but i know they
work like an air conditioner and give off heat .Would i be trading a hot besement for a humid one or would it be better
to put fan in a basement window?
Answers:
Definitely a dehumidifier. It does work like an air-conditioner, but the only heat it adds to the space is the heat from the fan motor and the compressor, because the heat absorbed by the evaporater coil cancels out the heat rejected by the condenser coil. It does not really heat the space up.
A dehumidifier will make the house more comfortable not less even though it maybe a small net heat emitter, the reduced humidity will more than make up for it.
A dehumidifier usually doesn't give off loads of heat. Getting rid of the humidity is your first step towards getting rid of the musty smell and the humidity which can cause mold growth. I would put a dehumidifier down there, but you may want to consider the fan for ventilation as it sounds like you really have two problems humidity and ventilation issues.
Another option is to try damp rid and a fan and see how that does. It may be the fan with a product like a refillable damp rid container may be enough to control the problem, if not then you can add a dehumidifier to the basement.
If it were me if the dampness isn't a huge problem I would tr the fan for ventilation with damp rid first. You can always add a dehumidfier if needed.
I'd have to say a dehumidifier would be best if your problem is high humidity.
Ventilation is very important in any home, but if you're venting with equally humid or more humid air, you won't solve your problem. A dehumidifier will give off heat, but it shouldn't make that big a difference to the overall temperature in your basement.
A basement a few degrees warmer is probably better than one that is cool but has 85% humidity.
If you can run both fans and dehumidifiers, I think that would be ideal.
Some one gave you bad information. Heat is not a factor. Go for the dehum
A fan wont really remove any moisture to speak of. A dehumidifier will remove moisture and actually make the basement cooler! The heat produced by a dehumidifier is minimal in relation to moisture removed. (Dryer air is cooler air because it holds less heat).
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