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Is it possible to *only* control humidity in a small space/limited to record storage shelf?

N

nsamm22

Active Member
Hey all! So, I finally did it, and moved/got our first house, with a dedicated finished room in the basement - nearly PERFECT setup for all my music gear, home theater, PC, etc etc. ANYWAY, I've got most things set up over the past few days, and like most basements in my area, we certainly have humidity.

Now, the thing is, I'm dealing with quite a few things down here affected by humidity, my guitars being arguably the biggest. My room humidity right now if 55% (this is what it's been for the short week I've been here - also been raining a lot, but also does seem to be the norm in my area) — if this is where it remains, this is pretty ideal for my guitars, but I've read that you want it closer to 40% for storing vinyl.

So my main question is (assuming 55% is way too high for records and will cause damage): is there a way for me to lower the humidity a bit, but ***only*** in the area where my records are kept? They're basically all on a Kallax shelf right now, so I'm not sure how possible this would be, but I'm wondering if there are any options or creative ways to drop the humidity JUST in the shelf, or in the very immediate surrounding area.

Now, I know they make little non-electric dehumidifier things that have like, beads and stuff like that to attract water and drain it into this. I've used them before, and they actually work surprisingly well, but they are very small and high maintenance (constantly need to be emptied, etc). Perhaps they make electric ones more geared towards something as specific as this, or maybe my best bet is a new shelf that's not as open and instead, more closed off?

Really not sure, and maybe I'm honestly not as bad off as what I'm reading with humidity down here (that'd be the best news, that I can just leave things as is). I also have no idea what it'll look like in the winter when the heat is constantly blasting, so that should drop it as much. Shorter summers here, too, so the annual humidity might be kept to a few months... we'll see. Maybe my best bet is to just run a dehumidifier for the whole room, and compromise on humidity levels for the whole room, somewhere around 45% or so. Just would prefer to not have to constantly run that and spike my electric bill.

Anyway, suggestions/advice highly appreciated!
 
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Regular Dehumidifier is the only thing that I know of. It's not going to run that much or cost a lot for only 1 room.
just get the smallest cheapest one.
Also, I have a box fan running to help circulate the air. Stagnate air is a problem, gotta keep it moving.
 
glend123 said:
Regular Dehumidifier is the only thing that I know of. It's not going to run that much or cost a lot for only 1 room.
just get the smallest cheapest one.
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But remember to empty it, they fill quickly in basements.

Not much else you can do short of sealing the walls with moisture barrier and increase fresh airflow.
 
I know very little about the various types of dehumidifiers that are available.

But once a few years back while looking at a home for sale in Wisconsin, I had seen what appeared to be clear heavy gauge plastic bags hanging that contained water in them. I might assume this is the type you are referring to in your post.

Seems like many there resort to having such in Basements, evidently they are needed.

Perhaps others can point you to these,and learn more about their cost, and effectiveness.

About a year ago, I bought my father in Illinois a GE Dehumidifier from Home Depot. I don't recall the model number offhand, but believe the price was about $156 or so. It works great, and it's amazing just how much moisture it removes.

This model, and I'm sure others are like it, where they can be tailored to adjust the target humidity levels, have various fan speeds, auto shut off when the tank is full, and provision to connect a drain hose to a basement floor drain for continuous use.

Here is the model I bought.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/GE-22-p...sq-ft-in-White-ENERGY-STAR-ADHL22LA/315445853
 
I'd try a smaller dehumidifier than your space calls for and keep it located near the records and away from the guitars. It's not a perfect solution, but at least it will focus most of the moisture removal to that area.
 
I think a regular room dehumidifier would be just fine. For acoustic guitars, 40-45% is ideal, and should be low enough to keep moisture content in your album covers low enough to avoid mold/mildew growth. As added protection, consider polyethylene inner sleeves.

If you want to go lower in room humidity, you could use case humidifiers to maintain higher humidity for the guitars.
 
All good suggestions from others.
No idea of where your location is, but reckon humidity is what it is, don't matter where.

Southwest Fla as one example, open a bag of Potato Chips, leave the bag open on a table for an hour or so, they don't even snap, just bend like rubber. Like a jungle. LOL

I imagine as you have mentioned, some advantages and disadvantages of the passive methods of lowering humidity, and the avoidance of electrical devices.

What these little room dehumidifiers remind me of, and probably use the AC equivalent of, is a very small window AC Unit, or small personal Refrigerator.

Sure they use juice, but are very convenient, reliable in operation, nice adjustable auto features, timers, etc, an ability to easily use them anywhere in the home if chosen.
 
Or when I lived in Southern NM for 14 years, I had the opposite issues, very low humidity most the year, until the Monsoon Season came.

Many of those SW States, people use what are called "Evaporative Coolers" (AKA Swamp Coolers) for indoor cooling. Both side draft, and down draft models can be had.

A little Egyptian Invention they say. Work great when humidity is low. It can be 100 outside, and a comfy 75 inside. And also by their nature add humidity to the very dry air. But once Humidity climbs, they become inefficient.

They still help some, but struggle.
 
Here in Central Florida, humidity is a thing from May through October. Fall and Winter are more of a variable. Our A/C is on year round and that controls our humidity. My little weather station show us at 35% during the Fall and Winter. I have not had it long enough to see what the humidity of the warm months bring. I'm assuming where you are, this was not a feasibility. If you can use a small window unit during your warmer months, that would be a possibility that would help. You home heating in the colder months should keep you dry enough.
 
KingBubba said:
Here in Central Florida, humidity is a thing from May through October. Fall and Winter are more of a variable. Our A/C is on year round and that controls our humidity. My little weather station show us at 35% during the Fall and Winter. I have not had it long enough to see what the humidity of the warm months bring. I'm assuming where you are, this was not a feasibility. If you can use a small window unit during your warmer months, that would be a possibility that would help. You home heating in the colder months should keep you dry enough.
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Most definitely, AC helps rid a home of Humidity.
Middle of summer in the corn belt, and even the northern portion on Minnesota, things can get quite "icky" in summer.

Bugs in Minnesota, and anywhere near those Lakes especially, you better bring plenty of DEET along.
A 15 mile drive, and can't even see out of your Windshield. Slap yourself silly with Mosquito Bites. Desert in New Mexico, and no water nearby, no bugs to speak of. A junk tire full of rain water, a bug-Mosquito factory in the desert

Humidity can bring on many other nasties besides molds, fungus, mildew, it can bring nasty creatures (bugs). That for sure you don't want in your home.
 
I have a 70 pt dehumidifier with a hose running to a drain. No problem keeping my 2000sqft basement under 50%. They do make desiccant type dehumidifiers that regenerate if you prefer.
 
This article says ideal for albums is 45-50% (https://mystorageplus.com/climate-c...n-the-attic-or-in-climate-controlled-storage/). If that's accurate, I would think 55% would be fine also. The humidifier won't run all the time, you can just set it to 55% (or whatever you want) and it will only run when it goes above that level. If you have a place to drain water to (e.g. a sump pump well), it's just set and forget (otherwise, it's set and empty the water bin as needed).

I'm monitoring my basement humidity with this (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07FBCTQ3L/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1). Using a GE humidifier set at 60%, it keeps it right below 60% 24 hours a day. The tiny dips in the humidity graph will show you when the humidifier is running to give you an idea of how much electricity you using.
 
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I've done HVAC controls nearly all of my life.
I didn't read the posts, but looks like you probably got your answer.
If you still have questions, just ask (maybe PM to get my attention).
 
If you have an older water heater in the basement replace it with an electric heat pump water heater. It dehumidifies as it runs and is more efficient than just about every other type of water heater.
 
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