Proper Ventilation in Finished Basement

Easy, open a window.

Posted by: guest at February 7, 2008 4:58 PM

Surely 4:58 you mean open two windows; one in the front and one in the back. You've gotta get that through air! ;-)

Posted by: guest at February 7, 2008 5:27 PM

As I stated, I do not live in the house and do not want to depend on my tenants to go down into the basement to open and close windows in an area that is basically off limits to them. I'm also looking for a better alternative than paying someone just to go into the house to open and close windows.

I know this question is not that ridiculous because I did find a product that not only vents but also acts as dehumidifer, Humidex, but it has not received great reviews.

I'm sure there are some other landlords here that might have suggestions.

Posted by: guest at February 7, 2008 5:43 PM

Get the Humidex. I installed one and it really works. It dehumidifies and it doesn't smell or feel like basement air anymore. It basically pulls air from the upstairs and exhausts out the dead air in the basement. You will need to help supply fresh air somehow. Maybe you could put a grill in the door to the basement.

Posted by: guest at February 7, 2008 7:38 PM

knock a hole in the concrete and run a 4" PVC pipe out with a "T" on the end to vent. be sure to put screens on it to keep out rodents. but you should already have venting if you have a boiler, it's required.

Posted by: guest at February 7, 2008 10:43 PM

Thanks. I have forced air gas heating and there is no vent. Although the furnace is functioning without any problems it is very old so I'm going to start getting estimates for a new one. Would an HVAC company also be the ones to install the PVC pipe for venting?

Posted by: guest at February 7, 2008 11:32 PM

not sure what style windows you have but if they are small panes...around 8X10" or anything near that you can replace one of them with a dryer cutout and use a 4" or 5" radon fan to exhaust. Yes, there should also be some air inlet as well but a dryer vent in another pane will serve well. The radon fans work in conjunction with PVC pipe and work well. I've had one running in a basement for 6 years. You can also get a hunidity controlled on/off switch

Posted by: guest at February 9, 2008 10:04 AM

i want to know the ratio of fresh air cutout
(area) require to the net basement area.

is there any direct method to solve it.

ex: if basement area is 10000 sq.ft
height =12 ft

smoke exhaust @ 20 acph=(10000x12x20)/60=2400000/60 = 40000 cfm

area for fresh air cutout??

Posted by: guest at February 18, 2008 3:15 AM