Definitely get a dehumidifier. I had to break down and get one for my fish room. I'm running about 500G. I advise you to get a bigger one though. Mine runs almost all of the time. I had huge amounts of condensation build up in my basement.
Dehumidifier - Do I need one
- Thread starter Deepsouth
- Start date
Use better than a fart fan use a penn zephyr z-8 its quiet and doesn't consume 1/8 the energy of a dehumidifier and it moves around 300 cfm's. This will greatly reduce costs compared to a dehumidifier. This is my specialty I have been actively installing and engineering ventilation systems almost my whole life. Any more details as to why you think more ventilation wouldnt work ? Is there any specific reason ?
Somebody correct me if I'm wrong here...
With the bathroom type fans that are designed to pull moist air outside, doesn't it also mean that cold air is being pulled into the house somewhere? It's not like the fan is only putting moisture outside, it's also putting heated air outside.
It might cost less in electricity to run a fan compared to a humidifier, but your furnace will probably run more often and make your gas bill correspondingly higher. I'd go with the dehumidifier, because it will reduce the humidity, but it will also heat the fish room and cut down the amount that your heaters will have to run.
With the bathroom type fans that are designed to pull moist air outside, doesn't it also mean that cold air is being pulled into the house somewhere? It's not like the fan is only putting moisture outside, it's also putting heated air outside.
It might cost less in electricity to run a fan compared to a humidifier, but your furnace will probably run more often and make your gas bill correspondingly higher. I'd go with the dehumidifier, because it will reduce the humidity, but it will also heat the fish room and cut down the amount that your heaters will have to run.
Natural gas is a lot cheaper than electricity. Your reasoning is dead on correct but! You could have the air piped in from the attic or the home so atleast its a little warmer. No matter what it IS going to use a passive air intake method but like I said you wont notice 300 cfm's if its spread throughout the house. Heater running uses about 1/4 the energy of a dehumidifier. Ultimately its all your guys choice but when the weather gets hotmithesaint;2648934; said:
Your fishies will appreciate the cool breeze. You could also use both. One for the winter and one for the summer. That would allow you to use the most economic at any given time. One last suggestion fans blowing air around the room ( pedestal fans) Will not lower the temperature or humidity unless it directs air out a door or window so don't waste the electricity. They simply circulate the air a bit better but without outside air they cant change the dynamics of the room temperature / humidity.
