My house stays relatively humid in the winter. Especially the basement. I've made great strides in sealing up the cracks, installing weather-tight windows and doors, and made sure vapor barriers and insulation is up to snuff in the attic.
I have a 1-level house with a (mostly) finished basement. However, at this point the basement is not heated. It does have a cold air return, though. I presume this is where some of my excess winter moisture comes from. But, I want to keep it in the air loop (it is more or less "open" to the first floor via an open-ceiling staircase.
I'd like to install a heat recovery ventilator...also known as an HRV (or air-to-air heat exchanger). I have total access to the current forced-air duct system, and the utility area in the basement is unfinished. I'm pretty confident I can install this, but I'd like some pointers from others.
The biggest hurdle I can envision at this point is the fresh-air intake and stale-air exhaust. These need to be 4 or 6 inch holes in the band joist and siding, with I assume some sort of damped wall cap. Any insight here? Also, I have steel siding, so it could be a real bear to make a nice cut in. Ideas?
Thanks much, I appreciate the help! I'm hoping this measure will keep the moisture level in my house down to where it no longer condenses on the brand new windows I installed!
And FYI - we have fully functioning bath vent fans and a high CFM kitchen hood. We always run the fans during cooking and showers (and for a while after the showers)...and we still have a problem. It's the downside of sealing up a house!
Thanks much
I have a 1-level house with a (mostly) finished basement. However, at this point the basement is not heated. It does have a cold air return, though. I presume this is where some of my excess winter moisture comes from. But, I want to keep it in the air loop (it is more or less "open" to the first floor via an open-ceiling staircase.
I'd like to install a heat recovery ventilator...also known as an HRV (or air-to-air heat exchanger). I have total access to the current forced-air duct system, and the utility area in the basement is unfinished. I'm pretty confident I can install this, but I'd like some pointers from others.
The biggest hurdle I can envision at this point is the fresh-air intake and stale-air exhaust. These need to be 4 or 6 inch holes in the band joist and siding, with I assume some sort of damped wall cap. Any insight here? Also, I have steel siding, so it could be a real bear to make a nice cut in. Ideas?
Thanks much, I appreciate the help! I'm hoping this measure will keep the moisture level in my house down to where it no longer condenses on the brand new windows I installed!
And FYI - we have fully functioning bath vent fans and a high CFM kitchen hood. We always run the fans during cooking and showers (and for a while after the showers)...and we still have a problem. It's the downside of sealing up a house!
Thanks much