Cost of Installing Proper Ventilation in Finished Basement

Community,

The basement of the home we are about to close on is completely finished.  It has poor ventilation.  The boiler room stinks and the “recreational area” is muggy.  I was told I could just run a dehumidifier to “fix” the issue.  Running one of those bad boys 24/7 is going to get costly, very fast!  What does it cost to properly ventilate a basement?

Thank you!

guikazoid

in General Contractors 13 years and 9 months ago

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callalily | 13 years and 9 months ago

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We also have a poorly ventilated boiler room. We have two small windows, which we leave open all year round. It’s not ideal. The windows are covered by locking hatches, which of course cuts down on the amount of air going in and out. The boiler is not enclosed (and not required to be, since it’s a two family). Our basement walls are rubble. 

I’d love to know what a proper set-up would look like. Maybe two dedicated lines in and out with screens over them, plus the two windows as well? Anyone know? Also, anyone have a ballpark figure for chopping those holes into the rubble wall? A few hundred? Ten thousand per hole? Thank you!

Bklnite | 13 years and 9 months ago

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boiler room is lacking its own ventilation, meaning no fresh air intake ?
I would ask the engineer/building inspector you used about this. I think it’s a building code (and safety and boiler efficiency?) issue. If it’s required by code you should try to get the seller to remedy the defect or credit you at closing for how much it’s going to cost for you to do it.

bobjohn | 13 years and 9 months ago

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as alternative to humidifier, people here recomended exaust fan. Search the forum.

The boiler room should have its own ventilation (i.e. “fresh air intake”) and sort of sealed from the rest of the basement. Can you figure out why it stinks? In any case it MUST HAVE proper chimneys, etc.

wiley | 13 years and 9 months ago

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I kinda have to agree. I started using one this year, it’s worked well, and doesn’t run all the time . I’m guessing in the summer it runs me $15 to $20 per month to run and it hardly runs in the fall and winter. There are other systems out there that bring fresh air in but they were pretty pricey, used more electricity and put another opening into my buildings envelope.

Bklnite | 13 years and 9 months ago

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I run a dehumidifier in my basement and it does the trick. It doesn’t run 24/7 – it runs a fair amount during the dog days of summer, and shuts off when it gets dry enough or when the tank is full until you empty it. Doesn’t change the electric bill much. I would try a $200 dehumidifier before a more expensive ventilation system.