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Basement Ventilation

cabman334 | Posted in Energy, Heating & Insulation on September 25, 2009 04:48am

I have poured through the past Magazine Indexes and thumbed through years and years of back issues and can’t seem to find an article I know I read..

Does anyone remember (and could you point me to) an article that discussed the building of a basement humidity ventilation system (similar to EZ Breathe) using an axial vortex fan, a humidistat and ductwork?

Thanks

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Replies

  1. rnsykes | Sep 26, 2009 03:02am | #1

    search for wave ventilation

  2. RedfordHenry | Sep 26, 2009 04:16am | #2

    I remember it.  It was a shortie, maybe in the Tips and Techniques column which may be why you can't find it in an index?

  3. cabman334 | Sep 26, 2009 04:14pm | #3

    Thanks for the Tips & Texhniques suggestion.  I'll look there.  Having someone else confirm that they saw the article means either I'm not dillusional or you had the same dream that I had...

    1. User avater
      McDesign | Sep 26, 2009 06:49pm | #5

      I've got one in the Tips and Techniques column this month, but it's about circulating air through closets to get rid of the mustiness - not dehumification per se. 

      Forrest

    2. RedfordHenry | Sep 27, 2009 01:08am | #7

      I definitely read it in the last ~2 yrs (unless I happened to be reading an old back issue which is possible). I'd check the 2007-2008 issues first.

  4. renosteinke | Sep 26, 2009 06:18pm | #4

    I can't recall such an article, but it ought to be fairly straightforward.

    The system I helped instal had the ducts mostly running next to each other; the sole difference was that they ended on opposite ends of the crawl space; one was open to let fresh air in, the other had a humidistat-controlled exhaust fan.

    Personally, I think these systems are more elaborate than most places need. I suspect that a simple wind-powered turbine atop one duct would be enough to draw a constant flow of fresh air through the space.

  5. User avater
    BillHartmann | Sep 27, 2009 12:23am | #6

    Yous the advanced search for post by me. And referencing Humidex or the Breathe Ez.

    They are similar systems. And while they might do what they say they introduce other problems.

    EXACTLY what is the problem that you are trying to solve? And what is the house construction, age, and climate?

    .
    William the Geezer, the sequel to Billy the Kid - Shoe
  6. Kungur | Sep 27, 2009 03:14pm | #8

    I am in the process of making my own unit. I bought the fans at Grainger's and will start it without the humidistat. Though I am running out of time this year I at least want to run the 6" duct to the exterior and install the cap.

     

  7. cabman334 | Sep 27, 2009 07:59pm | #9

    In the interest of brevity my originally posted question didn't include why I was asking. 

    What I was really looking for was the method the original writer used to construct his ventilation system.  I'm not as concerned with my basement's humidity levels (having read many of the discussions regarding the effectiveness (or not) of the Breathe EZ type systems) as I am with circulating the basement's air. 

    We have three cats...whose litter boxes are in the basement.  And while the cats use their litter boxes as they should, and the litter does it's job most of the time, there is still a bit of an odor about that I would like to remove.  (Interestingly it seems to stratify in the area about 4' above the floor)

    Hence, my thought of a system which would operate a small CFM fan (for maybe 10 minutes- 4 or 5 times a day) to draw air from the floor creating a small air current to pull some good air from upstairs, mix up the basement air a bit, mess with any stratification, and then push any odor outside.  While addressing odor issues, this system might also have a small additional benefit with humidity issues which are generally handled with a humidifier.

    I hope this clarifies my original question and any suggestions you all might have are appreciated.

    1. renosteinke | Sep 27, 2009 11:23pm | #11

      Here's something to consider ....

      If it's the odor you're trying to get rid of, how about just having a fan pass air over a pan of zeolite (found in aquarium stores)? Zeolite absorbs ammonia and #### smells.

      Still, you ought not have a smell from the boxes. Feline Pine litter - made of little compressed wood pellets - does a fabulous job of eliminating odor.

      More likely, I think your cats have 'sprayed' to mark their territory. This spray has an almost skunk-like smell to it. Look to your walls, etc., for places that look like thay have had little brown droplets dry on them; this is the residue. There's your problem. A UV light just may help you to find such sprays.

  8. User avater
    cabanillas3 | Sep 27, 2009 11:09pm | #10

    September 2008 issue 198 page 26 in tips.

    jose c.
    --
    "Though I don't think" added Deep Thought "that you're going to like it."



    Edited 9/27/2009 4:10 pm by El kabong

  9. cabman334 | Sep 28, 2009 04:43pm | #12

    Thank you all for your imput! 

    Thank you El Kabong finding the correct issue.  It's a shame that I had such trouble finding an article from only one year ago...but then again I remembered it being a much larger article.  But that is what I was looking for.

    Thank you Renosteinke for your suggestions too.  The odor is definitely not from the cat's "business" but rather, I think, the litter's inherent smell combined with normal basement musty-ness etc.  I do think we'll try another type of litter as you suggest though.

    After all of this discussion I think my best direction is to provide a bit more ventilation for the basement area.  I think I'll look at installing an ultra-quiet bathroom ventilation fan, operated by a timer, inside the room where the litter boxes are located.  That should move basement air in general, in the litter room in particular, and probably deal with the humidity a bit too without a significant financial investment while I try to find a solution.

    So again, thank you all for your thoughts.

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