Last Saturday morning, I caught the last part of your explanation about reducing moisture in the basement. It had something to do with putting a fan in a vent and venting it through a wall or dryer vent. I'd appreciate it if you could supply me with the instructions again. Also would installing a gas fire place in the basement recreational room help. I have laid carpet and underpad over the concrete floor recently and now can detect a musty odor.
Answer:
The fireplace in the basement will niether help nor hinder the moisture problem but the underpad you installed will certainly hold onto moisture long enough for you to smell it. I know means foregoing the warrany on the carpet, but would never install an underpad down there.
Cold air holds more moisture than warm air and is, therefore, heavier. As air cools, it falls and keeps falling until it reaches the lowest level in the house. It cannot fall beyond the basement floor and that is where it has to be collected and pumped outside before that moisture gets a chance to condense in order to get rid of the moldy, musty odour and/or avoid it in the first place. A booster fan (250 CFM +) is available as a ‘pop in’ unit to fit 4”, 5” or 6” round heating duct. This can be installed in a totally separate duct line that is at least six feet from the nearest heat source. A timer on it will ensure that it operates only during the night (9pm to 9am) so cold, moist air it pumps out is not replaced by air that brings in even more humidity from outside. All joints and seams in the duct are taped and sealed for maximum efficiency and rather than a heating-type grill it should be a return air-type grill. To avoid having to core another hole in the foundation wall, this system can be vented, via a “TY” through the clothes dryer vent. Because none of the doors in the house go all the way to the floor, cold, moist air should find its way to that grill.
