JacobPM
August 5th, 2009, 12:23 PM
A customer contacted us online and this was their question:
"Hi........we are torn about what to purchase for our basement humidity problem. We almost went with the Santa Fe but then the company that pumped out our basement suggested the Humidex. In fact, we have it in a large box sitting in our living room waiting to be installed; however, my husband is still not sure it was the correct choice. I see that you do not sell them.........there must be a reason, correct?"
Answer:
The Humidex:
The Humidex system is basically an exhaust fan that ducts air off of the floor of the basement to the outside. It’s advertisements claim that it also reduces humidity.
While this system will increase basement ventilation it accomplishes it by slightly de-pressurizing the basement area. This will entice both the 1st floor air and outdoor air into the basement.
In the Northeast it will tend to reduce humidity during the winter months when the outdoor air is colder and thus drier. In the summer months during periods when the outdoor humidity is elevated it will likely increase the humidity in the basement and will certainly increase the humidity load on any operating air conditioning system. Also during the summer, in un-conditioned basements, this system increases the already high humidity. In both seasons it will tend to increase the energy cost due to the increased infiltration of outdoor air.
This increase in outdoor air infiltration will typically also be a greater cost than the electrical cost to operate the Humidex fan. It will also tend to increase radon entry into the basement from the soil on a year round basis because of the absence of a closed system.
The Santa Fe:
Santa Fe Dehumidifier units contain both air filters and dehumidifiers. It’s basically a dehumidifier that filters out mold spores and allergens up to 1 micron but only attends to the air that’s currently in the basement.
A Santa Fe unit is able to force air circulation in the basement, remove moisture and improve air quality with built in filtration.
By dealing specifically with the air that’s already in the basement it’s not creating a de-pressurized area to coax air from other sources. It filters and dehumidifies the air and continues the natural stack effect of the home’s airflow. Using existing air will also lower the cost of running the unit and will also lower the cost of air conditioning systems in the home by not injecting more moisture filled air during the summer months into the home. Dehumidifying the existing air will also limit future mold growth.
This is why we do not sell or install Humidex systems and why we install Santa Fe Dehumidifiers.
Any dehumidifier will work better with a closed moisture control system such as the Grate Drain installed by a Grate Products Authorized contractor.
"Hi........we are torn about what to purchase for our basement humidity problem. We almost went with the Santa Fe but then the company that pumped out our basement suggested the Humidex. In fact, we have it in a large box sitting in our living room waiting to be installed; however, my husband is still not sure it was the correct choice. I see that you do not sell them.........there must be a reason, correct?"
Answer:
The Humidex:
The Humidex system is basically an exhaust fan that ducts air off of the floor of the basement to the outside. It’s advertisements claim that it also reduces humidity.
While this system will increase basement ventilation it accomplishes it by slightly de-pressurizing the basement area. This will entice both the 1st floor air and outdoor air into the basement.
In the Northeast it will tend to reduce humidity during the winter months when the outdoor air is colder and thus drier. In the summer months during periods when the outdoor humidity is elevated it will likely increase the humidity in the basement and will certainly increase the humidity load on any operating air conditioning system. Also during the summer, in un-conditioned basements, this system increases the already high humidity. In both seasons it will tend to increase the energy cost due to the increased infiltration of outdoor air.
This increase in outdoor air infiltration will typically also be a greater cost than the electrical cost to operate the Humidex fan. It will also tend to increase radon entry into the basement from the soil on a year round basis because of the absence of a closed system.
The Santa Fe:
Santa Fe Dehumidifier units contain both air filters and dehumidifiers. It’s basically a dehumidifier that filters out mold spores and allergens up to 1 micron but only attends to the air that’s currently in the basement.
A Santa Fe unit is able to force air circulation in the basement, remove moisture and improve air quality with built in filtration.
By dealing specifically with the air that’s already in the basement it’s not creating a de-pressurized area to coax air from other sources. It filters and dehumidifies the air and continues the natural stack effect of the home’s airflow. Using existing air will also lower the cost of running the unit and will also lower the cost of air conditioning systems in the home by not injecting more moisture filled air during the summer months into the home. Dehumidifying the existing air will also limit future mold growth.
This is why we do not sell or install Humidex systems and why we install Santa Fe Dehumidifiers.
Any dehumidifier will work better with a closed moisture control system such as the Grate Drain installed by a Grate Products Authorized contractor.