My basement humidity in the summer in ny is 85% in the basement. My dehumidifier is running constantly to keep the humidity down to 50-55%. My plants are in tents, but want to know what would be the best thing to paint the basement stone walls to seal out humidity?? Also will the basement humidity go down when fall and winter come???
High Humidity basement, dehumidifyer running 24/7
- Thread starter Meast21
- Start date
BeastGrow
Well-Known Member
KILZ mold resistant paint, Flat White. Yes humidity will reflect outside humidity. In the winter you will need a humidifier.. i had it as low as 15% humidity last winter in my basement and this summer went up to 80% and had to get a dehumidifier. If you do get a humidifier make sure to use filtered water, distilled water, reverse osmosis water, or spring water... avoid tap water so you don't get salt buildups in your humidifier.
Alexander Supertramp
Well-Known Member
Exact same situation for years. What Beast said. And be sure to circulate the air in the basement continuously.
WeedFreak78
Well-Known Member
Hows drainage/runoff around the house? We had humidity problems for years until we filled and graded an area on the side of our house that was low. It would hold water instead of getting it away from the house, the ground would get saturated next to the foundation and then the moisture would come through the walls. Between that and running irrigation tubing from our downspouts out 20+ft from the house took care of most of the issue. The dehumidifier cycles on and off a few times a day now..maintains 55-60RH, we burned out 3 dehumidifiers in 4 yrs before this one because it never shut off. If I wasn't growing and putting humidity into the air, I don't think I'd need it now.
phil k
Well-Known Member
depends where you are michigan is a high humidity state its just a wetter area than most. so our humidity and ground moisture not only gets high but stays for a long time. From mid june to later october i generally always have two dehumidifiers running in each of my rooms. theres only a few weeks in the hot summer i generally get a break but for those months i always need the two dehumidifiers in each room. ALONG with my venting thats in there turning the room over.
PSUAGRO.
Well-Known Member
This, check you foundation first..........if not the issue, installing a massive exhaust and drawing in the driest part of the house(intake) would be the cheapest option before a mini split.
Good luck
phil k
Well-Known Member
also your not going to seal out the humidity with stuff like dry lock its in the general air it will come through the floor.. where the house meets the cement footings... the sump.. your not going to paint it out. however if your walls leech drylok is the only option to stop it. we use it on a lot of basements here in michigan
phil k
Well-Known Member
ye
yea i agree ... plus a minisplit isn't going to control a basements humidity.. it would be cheaper to buy 2 dehumidifiers and run them because it would be twice as strong i think mini splits are only rated at 40pints a day and good large dehumidifiers are running 60pints.
WeedFreak78
Well-Known Member
Umm..that's exactly what DRYLOC and other similar products are for..to stop water vapor from passing through..it won't stop standing water/flowing water. If your basement is well air sealed one of those products can help reduce moisture transfer considerably. Putting a sealed cover over a sump hole will stop a bunch of moisture transfer as well.
phil k
Well-Known Member
first off if you don't know what your talking about why give feedback? I've been a licensed builder for 15 years I've owned a maintenance and construction here in michigan for all that time..i can't tell you how many basements I've used drylok on. especially old leaky ones. Drylok also helps aid mold in growing it says that on the can... the other issues is it has no elasticity to it so it doesnt expand and contract with humidity making minor hair cracks in it that also allow water vapor to come through the paint (drylok) just helps block water from coming though not water vapors. it still leaches humidity it just does it over a slower period of time. there fore although it makes a difference in water coming to the basement adding dry lock won't stop the humidity issues... even if you used it your cement is still going to leach humidity into the basement through the floors and where the house meets and connects the basement footing (sill plate).. theres a sump down there that still leachs humidity theres a AC and heater unit that creates humidity theres a vent hole in your house for your furnace/ac that pulls straight clean air from outside for make up air for the furnace that brings all your outdoor humidity in the basement.. the best route is having a dehumidifier and venting done properly. Im not saying don't drylok especially if you have major water issues... I'm just telling you dryly isn't going to solve it and your making more work on yourself unless its needed
phil k
Well-Known Member
trust me drylok states all this on their site I'm not pulling it out of my ass plus if you took the time to read about the product you'd know all the previous issues others have had with what your wanting to do... i wouldn't suggest it in a grow area for the mold breeding issues alone. they are very clear the product can cause mold to breed in the walls.
phil k
Well-Known Member
yep very true.. the multi functions great if your not battling humidity if your literally battling the crap out of it.. it can really only be deleted by airflow and dehumidifying but i completely agree the multifunction in a area that just needs basic dehumidifying it can't be beat.. mainly cause the dehumidifier creates so much heat when its running over long periods and you won't experience that with the mini split...Yeah dehumidifier(s) are good at what they domini splits are a multi function machine......Have to deal with the extra btu load from the internal compressors though(dehumidifier), might be a good thing depending on location.....or not
Nope it is slopped to my house instead of away, just called someone to get soil and slope it away. Also the downspouts have shit in them and need to be cleaned.. Yeah I need to get this water away from my house.
WeedFreak78
Well-Known Member
"....why i never hire you guys.
Here's the Brochure for Drylok:
http://www.drylok.com/wp-content/uploads/DRYLOK-Latex-DRYLOK-Masonry-Waterproofer-Brochure1271.pdf
Seals and stops water,up to 10 psi of pressurize..or a 22ft column of water.. it's latex..therefore, flexible. The mold comes because it seals concrete..sealing your basement..meaning moisture that is still there cant transfer out the walls. It's not a first step or an end all be all solution.
I had a contractor tell me it wouldn't work..because they wanted the $3000 job of "waterproofing" my basement...that why you don't like it..because it works?
Here's the Brochure for Drylok:
http://www.drylok.com/wp-content/uploads/DRYLOK-Latex-DRYLOK-Masonry-Waterproofer-Brochure1271.pdf
Seals and stops water,up to 10 psi of pressurize..or a 22ft column of water.. it's latex..therefore, flexible. The mold comes because it seals concrete..sealing your basement..meaning moisture that is still there cant transfer out the walls. It's not a first step or an end all be all solution.
I had a contractor tell me it wouldn't work..because they wanted the $3000 job of "waterproofing" my basement...that why you don't like it..because it works?
phil k
Well-Known Member
yeah unfortunately your main issue is the slope all homes are setup with drainage systems around the bases ... when the grade around all your edges isn't properly graded away from the house everything back flows to the drainage lines and builds up which causes the bad leaking.
phil k
Well-Known Member
I'm sure big companies love you... i bet your the guy that buys 20 year guarantee paint and expect it to last a full 20 years... I'm lost on why you tell people that use a product on a consistent basis they don't know what they are talking about your damn near the stupidest person on here. i hope you understand the stupidity of what your not only saying but what you seriously arent fucking getting.. as for the idiot telling you he's going to "waterproof" your basement for 3,000$ if your truly that stupid you deserve to get screwed. I'm lost on why a reputable contractor would tell you he's going to fix a wet basement with drylok... but clearly you know the good ones.. i love how your talking about paying a guy to come put this product on your house and I've put it on hundreds of them and know what I'm talking about yet your so hell bent on being right that you can't get the product doesn't stop humidity coming into the basement it slows the process....drylok leaches humidity .. it cracks.. AND SEALING A WALL FACE WONT STOP HUMIDITY FROM LEACHING IT SLOWS THE PROCESS!!!! bottom fucking line. arguing this is stupid you not only are a homeowner that pays people to do simple things your one that so stupid you don't research a product. thats like saying "monsanto web site tells me their products are good and not unhealthy for anyone... LOOK READ THEIR SITE!"
