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caudexpflanze5 Oct 2018 12:43Hello everyone,
We are planning to renovate our basement this winter, including new flooring, fresh paint, and so on.
In this context, I would like to ensure optimal ventilation in the future, so there is fresh air in the basement and the humidity levels don’t get too high.
Here is a sketch I made of our two basement rooms:
The house was built in 1965. It’s an end-of-terrace house.
This winter, we want to renovate the storage basement first. It will remain a storage space, but we would also like to store winter clothes and possibly canned goods there. So, musty air is not acceptable.
Currently, we have these old steel windows with glass and a grille in front. They are very old, warped, and basically just scrap now.
All our basement windows are always kept closed. In the storage basement, we have an electric dehumidifier that turns on automatically when the humidity gets too high.
Originally, I planned to simply install new windows and possibly add an automatic ventilation system with dew point detection in the wall or window frame.
Now, I’m wondering whether we actually need new windows at all or if it would be better to block them off completely. Because... they hardly let in any light, and we almost never open them.
These are the options I am considering:
a) New windows and an automatic ventilation system
b) New windows and continue controlling humidity with the dehumidifier
c) Close off the windows with thick insulation boards and only install an automatic ventilation system
Regarding option a)
This requires a significant investment for new windows and the ventilation system.
Option b)
I am leaning against this because it does not provide actual air exchange.
Option c)
This seems the most interesting to me at the moment, but I am unsure whether the windows are really unnecessary.
Why have we almost always kept the windows closed?
I have found that ventilating a basement is quite complex. You need to consider factors like the dew point and indoor and outdoor humidity and only ventilate under certain conditions. If you do it wrong, you can bring too much moisture into the basement.
Since we keep the windows closed and use the automatic dehumidifier, we have a stable humidity level and decent air quality for a basement in a house of this age.
What do you think? Which of the three options would you choose?
It’s important to mention that our heating system is room air dependent.
Thanks...
Peter
We are planning to renovate our basement this winter, including new flooring, fresh paint, and so on.
In this context, I would like to ensure optimal ventilation in the future, so there is fresh air in the basement and the humidity levels don’t get too high.
Here is a sketch I made of our two basement rooms:
The house was built in 1965. It’s an end-of-terrace house.
This winter, we want to renovate the storage basement first. It will remain a storage space, but we would also like to store winter clothes and possibly canned goods there. So, musty air is not acceptable.
Currently, we have these old steel windows with glass and a grille in front. They are very old, warped, and basically just scrap now.
All our basement windows are always kept closed. In the storage basement, we have an electric dehumidifier that turns on automatically when the humidity gets too high.
Originally, I planned to simply install new windows and possibly add an automatic ventilation system with dew point detection in the wall or window frame.
Now, I’m wondering whether we actually need new windows at all or if it would be better to block them off completely. Because... they hardly let in any light, and we almost never open them.
These are the options I am considering:
a) New windows and an automatic ventilation system
b) New windows and continue controlling humidity with the dehumidifier
c) Close off the windows with thick insulation boards and only install an automatic ventilation system
Regarding option a)
This requires a significant investment for new windows and the ventilation system.
Option b)
I am leaning against this because it does not provide actual air exchange.
Option c)
This seems the most interesting to me at the moment, but I am unsure whether the windows are really unnecessary.
Why have we almost always kept the windows closed?
I have found that ventilating a basement is quite complex. You need to consider factors like the dew point and indoor and outdoor humidity and only ventilate under certain conditions. If you do it wrong, you can bring too much moisture into the basement.
Since we keep the windows closed and use the automatic dehumidifier, we have a stable humidity level and decent air quality for a basement in a house of this age.
What do you think? Which of the three options would you choose?
It’s important to mention that our heating system is room air dependent.
Thanks...
Peter
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