air dehumidifier

[h4tt3n]

I'd like some advice regarding buying or building an air dehumidifier. I know they exist, but I have no experience with them whatsoever.

 

I've got a small ( ~ 20 m2) cabin-like house with serious moisture problems. Food, papers and clothing will be ruined if left there. The surface is near ground-water level, and because of the surrounding trees it's in the shadow for most of the day. The average room temperature is pretty low.

The trouble is that I haven't got electricity installed to run a dehumidifier. I'm willing to invest in a 20-30 watt solar panel or fan, but I know it can be done without electricity too. I'd prefer a solution that can run 24/7 also when I'm not there, but it's not mandatory.

 

So, any ideas? Cooling or dessicant, or something else? Can it be done?

 

best regards,

Michael

[YT2095]

a damp coarse would be a good start, then perhaps cavity wall insulation (or any wall insulation).

 

as for dessicants Calcium Chloride is a frequently used one, you will however need to dry these out again!, and from the sounds of it you have your work cut out for you!

drying the stuff out could be a fulltime job.

 

ventilation and prevention would/Should be your 1`st port of call.

 

 

to do it Electricly you`ll need a condenser (like a fridge element) that will trap the airborne humidity and turn it into water than can be caught in drip tray and piped outside, this uses Much more juice than the solar panel you`re thinking of.

[Norman Albers]

I talked about these things in a 'thermo' thread, but right now I have an attached two-car garage which is fine for one car and some firewood and many tools. I also have to store a player piano, quite valuable for my rebuilding. Until outdoor temps went down into the 30's F, the garage was not so cold that I could run a dehumidifier (500W). Below 57 F it does nothing. The last two days have been unseasonably warm so I shared heating with the garage until I could get the dehumidifier to run, as I just said. When it's too cold the unit is still running and sounds like it's trying to work the compressor but no water comes out. I turn it off and pull the airscreen and look at the cooling fins and do not see ice. It has a thermal sensor. My question is what is happening in the compressor and will this damage it? [There are quite a few hints I could give if the OP is still around.]