I would like to rig a dehumidifier through a ducted system in the basement.
It’s a fairly dry basement except when we don’t run the A/C on the main floor and windows are left open.
Getting tired of the noise from the freestanding unit with a drain tube running to the floor drain.
Also, I don’t care too much for the heat generated in the summer.
And conditioning would cool the basement too much.
If cannibalize my free-standing unit, I’ll probably have to add one or two blowers to help move the air.
Are folks tinkering with this sort of setup with components that can be purchased for such a project ?
Thanks for any feedback,
Alan
Replies
Alan,
There are a few "references" you need, a current Grainger catalog, a current GW Berkeimer catalag and/or a Johnstone Supply catalog. All pieces parts and components you would ever need are in these books, for good measure, a McMaster-Carr is also recommended.
The components that you will need, based on what you don't like about the stand-alone portable:
a blower/motor combo, a box to put it in
a refrigeration compressor, a base to mount it on, isolators
an evaporator coil
an inside condenser coil
an outside condenser coil, with auxiliary blower/fan/motor
refrigerant (good luck with this one, usually a license is req'd)
refrigerant specialties;
a txv, schraeder valves, an accumulator, a line dryer
copper tubing, insulation, a vacuum pump
a few solenoid valves
assorted relays and a step down transformer
a thermostat
a humidistat
That's about all that I can think of.
Half of these things you could get from the existing unit. You would have to know a great deal about building a refrgeration system and also a great deal about controls. It is beyond my abilities, but good luck.
But, seriously, if it is really important to maintain a moisture and temperature cotrolled environment in you basement, I would recommend a DesertAire (or similar) packaged dehumidifier, with remote condenser for cooling.
Another option is to add an electric reheat coil to a furnace/AC and dedicate this as a basement system.