A/C or dehumidifier for basement?

[Thump553]

One wall in my basement is partially exposed with a regular size window in it.

In the past I've used a dehumidifier in the basement, but it adds a lot of heat and is very noticeable on my electric bill. Would putting in a window A/C unit make more sense financially?

 

[EagleKeeper]

Whether it makes it more efficient, a critical question is will the savings in power negate the cost of the A/C unit?

 

[mugs]

Don't they both work basically the same way?

Is the dehumidifier old?

 

[thomsbrain]

they should be more or less the same in terms of effectiveness and energy usage, barring big differences in compressor efficiency. one will make it warmer in the room and one will make it cooler... just depends which you'd prefer.

 

[rhino56]

actually the ac unit would work better, its not just dumping the water back into the same air it takes it outside.

even if you have the dehumidifier hooked directly into a drain its still pumpming out a certian amount of hot humid air.

 

[amdskip]

Definately dehumidifier IMHO.

 

[jupiter57]

Originally posted by: rhino56
actually the ac unit would work better, its not just dumping the water back into the same air it takes it outside.

even if you have the dehumidifier hooked directly into a drain its still pumpming out a certian amount of hot humid air.

So true!

A/C is the way to go, IIRC, it will remove close to twice the moisture of a comparable dehumidifier.

 

[BoomerD]

Depends on what you are trying to accomplish. A de-humidifier will remove more moisture from th4 air than an A/C unit, but will add to the heat in the area. An A/C will cool better, but won't remove as much moisture. They are each designed for different purposes.

 

[Pikachu]

Find a way to circulate that air through the rest of the house. The cool air from the basement will cool the upstairs, and the air returning from upstairs will dry the basement. Shouldn't cost any more than the electricity used to run the furnace blower, which isn't that cheap, but less than a dehumidifier or A/C unit.

 

[thomsbrain]

Originally posted by: Pikachu
Find a way to circulate that air through the rest of the house. The cool air from the basement will cool the upstairs, and the air returning from upstairs will dry the basement. Shouldn't cost any more than the electricity used to run the furnace blower, which isn't that cheap, but less than a dehumidifier or A/C unit.

pretty good idea. fans use next to no power compared to a compressor.

 

[Thump553]

Originally posted by: Pikachu
Find a way to circulate that air through the rest of the house. The cool air from the basement will cool the upstairs, and the air returning from upstairs will dry the basement. Shouldn't cost any more than the electricity used to run the furnace blower, which isn't that cheap, but less than a dehumidifier or A/C unit.

I have baseboard heat, not forced air. Also the relative humidity here is in the 90%+ range more often than not so bringing the upstairs air into the basement would probably make it damper.

 

[Ika]

Originally posted by: Thump553

Originally posted by: Pikachu
Find a way to circulate that air through the rest of the house. The cool air from the basement will cool the upstairs, and the air returning from upstairs will dry the basement. Shouldn't cost any more than the electricity used to run the furnace blower, which isn't that cheap, but less than a dehumidifier or A/C unit.

I have baseboard heat, not forced air. Also the relative humidity here is in the 90%+ range more often than not so bringing the upstairs air into the basement would probably make it damper.

i would say a dehumidifier, unless you don't think you can stand the warmer air. AC would make it a lot more comfortable, though; at the right temperature high humidity is very nice.