Dehumidifier power

[daestrom]

there are 2 main systems for stopping damp/flooding in cellar's .
(1) a vapour barrour is placed on the walls/floor with a sump in the
center of the floor for the water to be extracted with a pump .
(2) the earth is dug away from the sides of the cellar out side and a
inpervious barryour is appleyd to the out side walls .
prob not what you wanted to hear I know .

Well....

*sometimes* ventilation is your enemy. Here in the northeast US, basements
are quite a bit cooler than the air temperature. What may pass for 60% RH
during the day may cause high humidity problems in a cool basement/cellar.

Basically, if the dew point outside is anywhere near the temperature of the
air in the basement, no amount of water proofing of the basement walls/floor
will prevent air from cooling as it enters the basement and causing humidity
problems.

One common test for "which is it?" is to tape a piece of clear plastic on
the basement wall, sealing all edges with tape. After a couple of days, if
the space between wall and plastic is wet, then your fix is the way to go
(moisture is seeping through the walls). If it is dry, or only the exposed
surface is damp, then high RH is being caused by ventilation air entering
the basement.

daestrom

 

[Mary Fisher]

Nottingham

Sorry, Nick, I can't remember why I asked that now - it's been a disrupted
today and yeterday we spent at Flamorough. If I remember I'll ask by mail.
if that's not your address mail me if you like.

Mary