Need a litlte help

[BlkWolfe]

If anybody owns or has access to a hygrometer (humidity), there is beer and/or ass kissing available to those who could loan it out. Or mushroom frags if you gotta have something to show for it.

In the middle of a dispute and need to take some readings to settle it.

[Beverly]

Josh,

We have two Bionaire instruments that register both temp and humidity. One is kept on the coffee table and the other is in with our ball python. One is older than the other and they look different, but both work well. Rona and Sears might have them, and probably Canadian Tire as well. They were about $30 each.

Don't know if we'd like to lend eithr of them out, because we refer to them all the time to make sure it's not too humid in the condo, but humid enough for the python.

At $30, I'd say buy one and use it all the time.

[AJ_77]

London Drugs has/had them as well, humidifier aisle.

[StirCrazy]

this is what I have and it works awsome

http://www.radioshack.ca/estore/Prod...roduct=6308152

Steve

[BlkWolfe]

Thanks Guys

Steve, thats exactly what i was looking at today. I was hoping somebody would have something a little more "professional".

We're having disputes with our builder about his window installs, and he's been trying to pass it off as humidity from the fish room. Window company came in and got a reading of approx 20% relative humidity. However when they found out they might get stuck with the bill for ripping out all the main floor windows, the humidity level esculated to "severe" and not their problem.

Warranty seems to be taking care of it, and its most definatly not related to the tanks, but it would be nice to supply our own readings so they cant keep passing the buck.

Be going back to radio shack tomorrow.

[Beverly]

Josh,

In new construction, houses are sealed much better than in older homes, including around the windows. I would expect higher humidity in a new home than in an older home. It would have nothing to do with window installment. The better the window installment, the fewer air leaks you are going to have, and the higher humidity you will experience.

Personally, I think the window guy is right that the humidity from your extensive fishroom might be contributing to the higher humidity in your home. When you get your new gadget, set it up in your fishroom to get a reading there. I'm going to guess that it will be quite high That humdity will travel throughout your house, I'm afraid

If the source of your humidity is from your fishroom, you can turn off or turn down the humidifier on your furnace to counteract the humidity coming from your fishroom.

[StirCrazy]

Originally Posted by Beverly

Josh,

In new construction, houses are sealed much better than in older homes, including around the windows. I would expect higher humidity in a new home than in an older home.

.

I am going to disagree here Bev, new homes are designed to deal with humidity better than old homes by far. my older home out here even had a 87% humidity and when I put in new windows, sealed up the house better and added a air exchange unit my humidity went down to 55%.

my new house is even better at 52% and I am evaporating 5 gal a day into the main part of the house. that is how good the newer technology is at removing humidity.

as building codes evolve one of the main goals is controlling humidity to proper levels (between 40 and 60) as excessive humidity can cause sick house syndrome.

I would spend the 20 bucks and take some readings in different areas of the house myself if they said 20% originally and now saying much higher sounds fishy.

Steve

[Beverly]

Wow, Steve, humidity at 52% I consider that to be pretty high, but we live in different climates, so 52% might be fine where you live.

We live in a 1500 sq ft condo with in-floor heating. The highest humidity we've had was 47% during a cold spell (-25 or something) and it felt like it was raining in here. Also, condensation on the windows was so great we had ice on all windows.

Since we have no forced air heating and therefore no heat exchanger, we open the balcony door while the fireplace and a couple of fans are on to remove excess humidity. Do this at least once a day if the weather is cold to get humidity levels as close to 30% as possible, though humidity levels in our condo range from about 32% to 40%.

With high humidity levels, there is always the chance of mold and fungus growth, something we want to avoid at all costs. I'm thinking a home with 52% humidity would be a good place for mold to grow. Has that ever been a problem or concern for you?

[Canadian Man]

My father in law just took a course in house efficiency. One of the topics was humidity in a home.

I was amazed to find out that the magical # is between 40% and 60%.

Too far below and bad things can grow and happen.
Too far above and bad things can grow and happen.

So 50% is actually a great # to have Bev. It's right in the good zone.

[BlkWolfe]

The problem with the windows was, during those couple weeks at -30 all the windows in the main floor living room, dining room, and kitchen developed a layer of ice around the casings and glass edges. Think of the layer of silicon youd ring your tub with, only around the glass and the step from the slider tracks to the casings, only the layer of ice was 3/4" thick. No condensation in the basement where the fishroom is, just these windows upstairs.

And for more fun, yesterday when it warmed up, all the casings along the ceilings started leaking and left puddles throughout the house in front of all the windows. Any drywall and insulation in contact with that is now gonna be soaked.

Bev, When they installed the windows they either didnt insulate inside the casings, or packed it in as much as they could and ended up with the same result. The cold is just seeping right through. If it was the tanks it would have completely frosted out the basement windows, which it never did.

Anybody thats been over, would you say this place is humid?

Builder, window installer, and warranty rep are here today, outta be fun.