Dehumidifier?

d_icemand · 09/18/2009, 07:11 AM

Anyone use one and how well does it work? Any recommendations on brand names? My downstairs area is really humid/damp from the fish tank.

dave

mfinn · 09/18/2009, 08:16 AM

I use one I bought at Sears 5-6 years ago, mostly in the fall/winter when my house is closed up.
Works pretty good, but a little noisey.

jason2459 · 09/18/2009, 08:20 AM

I use one in the spring to fall in the basement all the time to keep the dampness away. Especially now that I have my Ro/di and mixing containers down there I might be using it year round. They do create some heat to the area, use up electricity, need maintanence, and are not very quiet. However they do work good. Make sure to get one sized for the area you are trying to use it for. I like to oversize for the area so it's not working as hard or as long. Highly suggest plumbing it to a drain so you are not having to dump the water out every day. You could use the water to water plants and gardens. I wouldn't use it for the tank at all.

d_icemand · 09/18/2009, 10:00 AM

I would never ever use the water for the tank!! I want to get rid of some of the moisture in the air FROM the tank.

I searched on the internet and found mixed reviews on all models. I was hoping to have someone feed me personal input from their dehumidifier.

jason2459 · 09/18/2009, 10:12 AM

I certainly wasn't suggesting that you would use the water for the tank. I was just throwing that out there.

I have a black LG 65 Pint that I picked up at home depot and think it has a sleek look to it for a dehumidifier. Not as loud as a previous 65 pint I had but not super quiet either. The previous one I had was a Frigidaire 70 Pint. Would have went with the Frigidaire again but got a really good deal on the LG. The frigidaire was ran for a good 3 years with out any problems. Lost it to a flood last year. Have been running the LG since then. Only thing I don't like about the LG is the continuous drainage adapter they give you sucks. It always comes loose. I just plumbed a vinyl tubing right to where the adapter would connect.

Indymann99 · 09/18/2009, 03:18 PM

My LG dehumidifier just kicked the bucket.. 2.5 years (3 yrs seems to be average lifespan)

I replaced with Kenmore 70 pint unit and it is constructed much better. The filter(s) are much easier to clean (I feel this is critical).

I also run the house HVAC in the ON position vs the AUTO. This has the fan run 100% of the time and circulates the air, helps pull the humidity out of the basement (tank location).

NOTE the portable dehumidifiers DONT perform well at temps lower than 65deg (they ice up). my basement is typically 68 but the mechanical room where the dehumidifier is located is usually about 72.

Get a unit that has a gravity drain (hose) or pump out. My Kenmore unit will fill the bucket in 6hrs or so. I have mine plumbed to dump into the house sump pit.

Playa-1 · 09/18/2009, 05:33 PM

You should look into a split A/C unit. It will act as a dehumidifier and can give you additional benefits. You may even find it to be more energy efficient.

d_icemand · 09/19/2009, 08:57 AM

With winter coming up, the heat should be helpful. I plan on putting the unit downstairs living area (that has a bedroom attached) where the tank is located. My tank gets up to 81 at the most and I have a heater for the nights already running, otherwise my tank will drop below 78. So heat for most of the year should not be a problem.

The reason I ask, the wife and I noticed the carpet and other stuff was kinda damp/moist compared to our upstairs living area (where we spend most of the time). My parents are coming to visit and the downstairs just has that damp basement feel recently. Plus I am upgrading tanks from the 65 to a 120 in a month or so and that will only increase exposed water surface. I dont have problem adding more top off water.

Also the purpose of this thread was to get personal opinions on units of what to buy and what to stay away from. Consumer reports has a list, but when I go to websites and check customer reviews, there are a lot of mixed reviews on performance and noise level. For 200+ bucks, I wanted to get a good unit.

09/18/2009, 07:11 AM	#1
d_icemand Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Godfrey, IL Posts: 848	Dehumidifier? Anyone use one and how well does it work? Any recommendations on brand names? My downstairs area is really humid/damp from the fish tank. dave __________________ The 1961 california ferrari 250 GT, Less than a 100 were made. My father spent years restoring.......... Current Tank Info: Oceanic Tech 120RR. ATB Flow Star 1500 return pump. ATB 840 cone skimmer. Sunblaze t5 hood.

09/18/2009, 08:16 AM	#2
mfinn Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Olympia. WA. Posts: 8,648	I use one I bought at Sears 5-6 years ago, mostly in the fall/winter when my house is closed up. Works pretty good, but a little noisey. __________________ 240 gallon soft coral tank 50 gallon lps tank

09/18/2009, 08:20 AM	#3
jason2459 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Iowa Posts: 9,671	I use one in the spring to fall in the basement all the time to keep the dampness away. Especially now that I have my Ro/di and mixing containers down there I might be using it year round. They do create some heat to the area, use up electricity, need maintanence, and are not very quiet. However they do work good. Make sure to get one sized for the area you are trying to use it for. I like to oversize for the area so it's not working as hard or as long. Highly suggest plumbing it to a drain so you are not having to dump the water out every day. You could use the water to water plants and gardens. I wouldn't use it for the tank at all. __________________ rebuild and recovery log: No more red house, you'll have to click on my name and visit my homepage! You can check out my parameters at reeftronics dot net website and look for my username. Current Tank Info: 180g mixed reef w/ a beananimal overflow to a dolomite RRUGF. \| 20g long G. Smithii Mantis Tank

09/18/2009, 10:00 AM	#4
d_icemand Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Godfrey, IL Posts: 848	I would never ever use the water for the tank!! I want to get rid of some of the moisture in the air FROM the tank. I searched on the internet and found mixed reviews on all models. I was hoping to have someone feed me personal input from their dehumidifier. __________________ The 1961 california ferrari 250 GT, Less than a 100 were made. My father spent years restoring.......... Current Tank Info: Oceanic Tech 120RR. ATB Flow Star 1500 return pump. ATB 840 cone skimmer. Sunblaze t5 hood.

09/18/2009, 10:12 AM	#5
jason2459 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Iowa Posts: 9,671	I certainly wasn't suggesting that you would use the water for the tank. I was just throwing that out there. I have a black LG 65 Pint that I picked up at home depot and think it has a sleek look to it for a dehumidifier. Not as loud as a previous 65 pint I had but not super quiet either. The previous one I had was a Frigidaire 70 Pint. Would have went with the Frigidaire again but got a really good deal on the LG. The frigidaire was ran for a good 3 years with out any problems. Lost it to a flood last year. Have been running the LG since then. Only thing I don't like about the LG is the continuous drainage adapter they give you sucks. It always comes loose. I just plumbed a vinyl tubing right to where the adapter would connect. __________________ rebuild and recovery log: No more red house, you'll have to click on my name and visit my homepage! You can check out my parameters at reeftronics dot net website and look for my username. Current Tank Info: 180g mixed reef w/ a beananimal overflow to a dolomite RRUGF. \| 20g long G. Smithii Mantis Tank

09/18/2009, 03:18 PM	#6
Indymann99 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 2,447	My LG dehumidifier just kicked the bucket.. 2.5 years (3 yrs seems to be average lifespan) I replaced with Kenmore 70 pint unit and it is constructed much better. The filter(s) are much easier to clean (I feel this is critical). I also run the house HVAC in the ON position vs the AUTO. This has the fan run 100% of the time and circulates the air, helps pull the humidity out of the basement (tank location). NOTE the portable dehumidifiers DONT perform well at temps lower than 65deg (they ice up). my basement is typically 68 but the mechanical room where the dehumidifier is located is usually about 72. Get a unit that has a gravity drain (hose) or pump out. My Kenmore unit will fill the bucket in 6hrs or so. I have mine plumbed to dump into the house sump pit. __________________ 120g DT 100lbs LR / 200 lbs LS, 45g fuge, VectraM1 Return, Herbie drain, 4x RW-8, 2x AI Hydra 26 w AWM, ASM G2, Apex controller, Apex BoB w floats ATO

09/18/2009, 05:33 PM	#7
Playa-1 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Laguna Niguel, CA Posts: 7,497	You should look into a split A/C unit. It will act as a dehumidifier and can give you additional benefits. You may even find it to be more energy efficient.

09/19/2009, 08:57 AM	#8
d_icemand Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Godfrey, IL Posts: 848	With winter coming up, the heat should be helpful. I plan on putting the unit downstairs living area (that has a bedroom attached) where the tank is located. My tank gets up to 81 at the most and I have a heater for the nights already running, otherwise my tank will drop below 78. So heat for most of the year should not be a problem. The reason I ask, the wife and I noticed the carpet and other stuff was kinda damp/moist compared to our upstairs living area (where we spend most of the time). My parents are coming to visit and the downstairs just has that damp basement feel recently. Plus I am upgrading tanks from the 65 to a 120 in a month or so and that will only increase exposed water surface. I dont have problem adding more top off water. Also the purpose of this thread was to get personal opinions on units of what to buy and what to stay away from. Consumer reports has a list, but when I go to websites and check customer reviews, there are a lot of mixed reviews on performance and noise level. For 200+ bucks, I wanted to get a good unit. __________________ The 1961 california ferrari 250 GT, Less than a 100 were made. My father spent years restoring.......... Current Tank Info: Oceanic Tech 120RR. ATB Flow Star 1500 return pump. ATB 840 cone skimmer. Sunblaze t5 hood.