Side affect of a dehumidifier in a crawl space will be cleaner and drier air throughout the living space. Most people dont realise that the majority of the air in the home comes from below, assuming you have a crawl. Nice work.
Very true! The stack effect is a real thing. Thanks so much for commenting. You are comment #5. Please follow the instructions on this page to get your free filter and frame! diy.crawlspaceninja.com/giveaway/
I have the Aprilair 1820 and a spare filter from you guys. The shipment company beat up the unit. You guys took care of the unit immediately. Excellent Customer Service And Great Videos!!!
Thank you for ordering from us! We're glad we were able to take care of the situation and get you your dehumidifier. You are comment #22. Please follow the instructions on this page to get your free filter and frame! diy.crawlspaceninja.com/giveaway/
In currently do not have any de-humidification in-house of in the crawl space.Once we finish up a few projects I will spend my summer in the crawl space. Thank you for your videos. They have opened my eyes to many issues that need to be addressed. Seal up the crawl space ans air seal the duct work. Plus many more.
I'm so glad our videos have been helpful to you. You are comment #17. Please follow the instructions on this page to get your free filter and frame! diy.crawlspaceninja.com/giveaway/
I'm not using anything right now, but we are purchasing a newer home and will be sealing it up even more. We are purchasing it from the Amish and we'll have to install an HVAC system. I'd like to bring in fresh air at the same time so I'm real interested in the dehumidification method.
Glad you found this video helpful! You are comment #19. Please follow the instructions on this page to get your free filter and frame! diy.crawlspaceninja.com/giveaway/
We currently do not had a dehumidifier in the house or crawl space we are looking into it. We have a heat pump system and we are at the point it needs to be changed out, having a lot of issues with it. I do like the idea of having a whole home dehumidifier tied into the crawl space
Glad you found this video helpful! You are comment #7. Please follow the instructions on this page to get your free filter and frame! diy.crawlspaceninja.com/giveaway/
Our house is a townhome with three stories, its a nightmare trying to address the air quality on each level. In particular the humidity as we live in south texas. We are running a pair of stand alone whirlpool dehumidifiers, one on the second floor and another on the third. They just can't keep up with all the ingress of air in our leaky home, and emptying the tanks constantly is a nightmare. Thats our situation currently, the air quality is terrible...
So sorry to hear you're dealing with this. You could try starting with air sealing your crawl space and attic. We've got a few videos on this you can watch here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-pMaEryXCsl0.html ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-otNCxKqez8k.html You are comment #8. Please follow the instructions on this page to get your free filter and frame! diy.crawlspaceninja.com/giveaway/
I recently had a 4” media filter put on our furnace since the installers left me with just using a 1” filter. The 1” would not accommodate enough airflow for the heat pump in both heating and cooling cycles. They also left me with this “vent” from outside that is a 6” duct to a roof vent. I sealed it up, but have wondered if one day I should tie it into an erv or hrv to get fresh air into the house. I really don’t understand why you need outside air into your home but I know it seems to be recommended these days. I’ve wondered too about what happens if your neighbors have a fire going if that smoke smell would also enter the house with those systems.
I think since you already have the ducting to the roof, using it as you described could be a good idea. And yes, there is always a possibility of your neighbor's fireplace could come into your home. I used to live next to a paper mill and my house would smell like it every morning. But, ERV/HRV/Dehus have a filter built-in. If you feel they are not working well enough, you could look into a carbon filter to help with odors. Some 1" filters have a high MERV rating which restricts airflow. Our 1" filter has a MERV 6 rating which is recommended for all HVAC equipment that we know of. Also, check the size of your return to make sure it is the right size for your HVAC equipment. This could be why they were venting air from the roof as well. I hope that helps! You are comment #15. Please follow the instructions on this page to get your free filter and frame! diy.crawlspaceninja.com/giveaway/
I would defer to your HVAC professional for that answer. The size of the home, ductwork location, multiple HVAC units may need to be considered. I will say that in my home I would choose the product to perform its primary job. Dehumidifier to control lower humidity and ERV to ventilate but that is just me. Hope that helps.
Any suggestions on dealing with humidity in a basement that is half-unfinished, half finished, and staying that way? Can/should a (whole home?) dehumidifier take care of both? Finished basement portion is shared HVAC with 1st floor while 2nd floor has its own HVAC system. Basement on a slab, no crawlspace. As expected, humidity more in the unfinished area. Do homeowners condition/duct unfinished basements in certain cases? You mentioned a whole house dehumidifier can be ducted both to dry a crawlspace as well as the HVAC system to dry the house.
i'm learning what course to take. i need to replace my a/c unit outside. my gas furnace is very dated too. 1800 sq ft single story in North Texas. i wish to finance an ERV or whole house dehumidifier into the financing. is whole house dehumidifier the way to go?
I unfortunately have nothing at the moment hoping to get a dehumidifier.. one day..I’m working on a French drain system at the moment..baby steps.. but hauling out buckets of clay dirt is a bear of a task..
Yes it is! One thing at a time. You are comment #12. Please follow the instructions on this page to get your free filter and frame! diy.crawlspaceninja.com/giveaway/
I had my 2 teenage boys haul out the dirt. We set up a system of a snow sled and a long string. I would dig and fill the buckets and they would pull them to the hole and up and out. It took a ton of work since I only have a small access hole in my floor. Got it done sump pit and all then put in the 1850. Sealed it all up and now it holds about 50 to 55%. So far loving the feeling of less bad air in our home. Good luck
Crawl Space Ninja Thank You Michael for the air filters I received them today.. and I’m still working on hauling out clay dirt for the French drain.. slow and steady wins the race
Whole-home humidifiers and dehumidifiers are larger and more complex than portable units. A whole-home humidifier or dehumidifier is usually connected to your home's central HVAC system by a professional. Vents allow humidified air to circulate throughout the house. In the same way, whole-home dehumidifiers work in conjunction with your home's air conditioning system. Air is drawn into the return ductwork by the dehumidifier. As a result, the unit pulls the warm, moist air in to cool it. Water droplets condense from the air and drain from the unit due to this process.
Just recently bought a used 1830 Apilare. With the recent rains and high humidity here in southern MO. my crawl space had a 90% humidity reading most of the time. After it running for 3 weeks. My current reading is 67%. This thing is a beast.
We LOVE Aprilaire dehumidifiers. Glad to hear you've had a great experience as well. If you've got standing water when it rains, you might consider a perimeter drain system and sump pump to help keep the humidity even lower. You are comment #11. Please follow the instructions on this page to get your free filter and frame! diy.crawlspaceninja.com/giveaway/
I have a 3,200 sq. ft., 1 1/2 story home with an encapsulated crawlspace. The whole house is sprayed foamed, even the attic. The HVAC system is in the attic. During the summer, the HVAC does a good job and keeps the humidity in the main house around 50-55%. The crawlspace stays around 70-75%. I do have two supply vents in crawlspace, but no return. I was planning on just getting a dehumidifier for my crawlspace, but my concern was during the spring and fall months. The HVAC system barely runs, and the humidity goes up during these times. So now I'm leaning towards a whole home dehumidifier. On your video you talk about ducting it to the crawlspace and the HVAC system. Just wanted to know your thoughts if this is the best route to go and if so, the best way to do this with the HVAC in the attic.
If you go with an Aprilaire they come with ducting collars, so you can always start with setting up in the crawl space as a stand alone unit, and if you find that the humidity still rises in your home during those months (a lot of times keeping the crawl space humidity under control helps the living space as well) you can have it ducted in with your HVAC unit. I'd consult your HVAC contractor if you decide to go that route with having it added to the system.
Great educational video as usual, Michael. Aprilaire has an 1870 that can pull out 130pints per day. I have a 4200 sf 2 story colonial with a semi finished basement. Is the 1850 sufficient or should I go for a beefier 1870. I bought a Frigidaire 40 pint temporarily and it’s extracting 80 pints a day in the unfinished mechanical room in the basement. It did little to help bring down the home humidity. Indoor is still hovering at 55-60% depending on outdoor humidity. In the mid-Atlantic region. Wondering if whole home dehumidifier is the right route given several hvac techs mentioned I may need to downsize new the 5 ton 2 stage system.
Great question! The 1870 does 130 ppd up to 7000 sq feet and is EnergyStar certified. I think 1870 would be a good investment if you decide to do the whole home. We've got them available on our DIY Store now: diy.crawlspaceninja.com/product/aprilaire-1870-dehumidifier/. You are comment #9. Please follow the instructions on this page to get your free filter and frame! diy.crawlspaceninja.com/giveaway/
If you've already got a frame we can send you an extra filter instead! Just let us know. You are comment #3. Please follow the instructions on this page to get your free filters! diy.crawlspaceninja.com/giveaway/
Mr Church, great info as always, Hoping to break ground on a new house late fall here in your area (already contacted your company - Craig). I'll be installing both, Dehumidifier & ERV, in the HVAC system. I suspect included in the crawlspace encapsulation quote (waiting until we're closer to starting before starting a quote), another Dehumidifier will be installed as well. Looking forward to what you able to provide!! Thanks!!
So glad you found this helpful and that you're considering us to help with your new build! You are comment #10. Please follow the instructions on this page to get your free filter and frame! diy.crawlspaceninja.com/giveaway/
What do you think about the Humidex products for ventilating a crawlspace? I’m buying a new home where they have installed a two fan system by Humidex to pull dry warm air from above through the crawlspace and another fan with a humidistat pushes it outside.
Let us know what kind of difference encapsulation makes in your home once it's completed! You are comment #6. Please follow the instructions on this page to get your free filter and frame! diy.crawlspaceninja.com/giveaway/
Sounds like a plan. Running a dehumidifier with open vents sort of defeats the purpose. Thanks for commenting! You are comment #4. Please follow the instructions on this page to get your free filter and frame! diy.crawlspaceninja.com/giveaway/
Mike. Last year we completed the encapsulation of our crawl space. After sealing and insulating the vents and rim joists we insulated the walls with 2” foamboard and sealed. I commented last year how after getting the quote for $6300 to use a company here in Michigan to install the last step of laying their proprietary 120 mil plastic we ordered your 14 mil plastic and tape etc for $900 and in less than 16 hours my wife and I double lapped etc with plenty of extra materials. During the winter I spent some time finishing all the pillars. Now we’re here in northern Michigan without air conditioning. When we get into the high 80’s we’ll keep our house completely closed up and it usually does well until late afternoon. At that point I open up everything and put on the whole house exhaust fan. I am thinking a dehumidifier in the crawl would reduce the humidity well enough during those times to make it more comfortable! Just wondering what you think and what about the exhaust of the dehumidifier! Will it affect the temp? Exhausting outside seems like I’m defeated the purpose and just making the dehumidifier work more. Want to install before the summer of’23. Advice is appreciated! Thanks
Tom - Mold can grow in your home if there is too much moisture in the air. A dehumidifier reduces the incidence of this problem by removing moisture particles that cause mold to grow. Your home may also have problems with wood flooring or furniture, as well as odors caused by moisture. The overall indoor air quality can be improved by installing a whole house dehumidifier. For the question about the dehumidifier exhaust, the answer is: It depends. In general, a refrigerant dehumidifier will raise the temperature of the air flowing through it by 10°-15°F. When the ambient temperature in a drying area is 90°, it is quite normal for the output temperature to be 105°. Dehu outputs may exceed the normal 10°-15°F temperature rise for two main reasons. Temperatures can rise when there is restricted airflow, typically caused by clogged air filters. If necessary, check and replace. Check the owner's manual for instructions on cleaning the interior of the unit. Temporary boosts in output temperature may be caused by the dehu defrost mode. Once this cycle has been completed, the temperature will return to normal. In either case, if your unit is still producing excessive heat, it may need to be serviced. Please contact your authorized service center if you need assistance. Note the ambient conditions where the unit is operating before you call. The service technician may be able to diagnose the problem based on this information. We hope this answers your question. Thanks for watching. We hope you have a happy and blessed day.
@@CrawlSpaceNinja I don't have any moisture issues. I am hoping that in the summer months the dehumidifier will make it even more comfortable so we can continue to go without AC. We only have a very short time where we could use AC anyway. Before we know it we're too dry in Michigan and get low humidity. Thanks!
I have a new furnace installed this past December in a home I recently bought but the installers put in a plain Jane cardboard framed filter. There is no dehumidifier as of yet so your videos have been enlightening to say the least. Everything has been working great but I like your suggestion of the Airsafe 2000 which should improve air quality exponentially .
Lots of people use regular cardboard filters, but we're excited for you to try these! If you're dealing with high humidity, a dehumidifier would be a good next step for you. You are comment #1. Please follow the instructions on this page to get your free filter and frame! diy.crawlspaceninja.com/giveaway/
I have been using Filtrite (not sure if I spelled that right) allergy filters. I don't think they are doing that well though. Old central (1984) air system: leaky ducts. The state weatherization folks are going to put in a new system for me, just waiting on the HVAC guys to get me on their schedule. If it will help my breathing I am all for it. Now my return is odd. The return vent is the old floor furnace opening. I even have to use two filters to get it to work. (20x20 and 20x16 with a bar in the middle). Is this a normal retro fit from the old oil floor furnaces?
I am not sure. Your local HVAC company should be able to create a standard return, or they can install a media filter between the return and the unit closer to the unit. Be sure to ask them about this when they contact you.
We are excited for you to try these filters! You are comment #16. Please follow the instructions on this page to get your free filter and frame! diy.crawlspaceninja.com/giveaway/
We're excited for you to try these filters. You are comment #13. Please follow the instructions on this page to get your free filter and frame! diy.crawlspaceninja.com/giveaway/
Love your videos! We have learned so much, definitely one of our favorites!! I tell folks about your videos, you are so kind to share all of your experience and know-how with us all!
Thank you so much for your support! We're so glad you found this video helpful. You are comment #14. Please follow the instructions on this page to get your free filter and frame! diy.crawlspaceninja.com/giveaway/
@@CrawlSpaceNinja Woah! That is cool. We look forward to trying the air filter. You guys are the best. If I wasn't so immune challenged, I would love to do what you do and help people improve their indoor air quality. We found your videos after we paid to have our crawlspace encapsulated. They did a good job for a fair price, but with your videos, we could have totally done it ourselves for much less! I know it sounds like I am blowing smoke about, but I truly love your videos and think the world of you and your ninjas. Binge-ing on Crawl Space Ninja videos is a great way to spend an evening. :-D
We love the 1820's! Thanks for sharing. You are comment #18. Please follow the instructions on this page to get your free filter and frame! diy.crawlspaceninja.com/giveaway/
As Monkey said, you can install these as a stand-alone unit without any ducting required. We just recommend having a dedicated outlet for it and not using an extension cord long term. If you purchase from our DIY Store, the 5 year bumper to bumper warranty still applies if you install it yourself as well. You are comment #2. Please follow the instructions on this page to get your free filter and frame! diy.crawlspaceninja.com/giveaway/
@@SJ-gd6bo Thanks so much for your help answering this question. You are comment #5. Please follow the instructions on this page to get your free filter and frame! diy.crawlspaceninja.com/giveaway/
