Hey everyone! I have a garage built on a cinder block foundation, and it's part of a multistory house with a walk-out basement that has 7-foot ceilings. The dampness down there can be really bad—if I don't run my dehumidifier, mold starts to show up on the ceilings and the floor gets wet in spots. With the dehumidifier running, everything's fine, but I'm beginning to worry about the energy costs. My dehumidifier uses quite a bit of energy, often around 550W, and I suspect it's running around 12 hours a day. I estimate I might be spending about $50 a month just on this. Has anyone else dealt with this situation? I'm wondering if installing vapor barriers on the walls would help or if they would just trap moisture in the cinder block. I'm also looking to insulate the walls since I want to install a 12k BTU mini-split for winter use. Any tips or advice would be appreciated!
1 Answer
I totally get your situation! Using a mini-split could definitely help you control both temperature and humidity, but remember, it might cool your space more than you expect, which could mean you still need to run a dehumidifier. It’s important to be aware of how you’re using the solar energy too—are you storing it in batteries or just using it directly? Experimenting will be key to finding the best setup for you and your situation.
Yeah, I hear you! My parents had similar issues and switched to a mini-split system combined with a window unit. After that, they didn't need the dehumidifier as much in the basement. Plus, with solar, you really need to do the math on costs and savings—even though it might seem like a hassle, it can really pay off in the long run!