Frequently Asked Questions

It is a mechanical ventilation system that plugs into a standard 120v outlet. Once installed in your basement and/or crawlspace, it will expel the damp musty unhealthy air out of the basement at a rate of about 200 cfm (Cubic Feet per Minute) and replaces it with fresh, drier, healthier air from upstairs in your home. In the average size basement that translates into about 10 air changes per day at high speed. Most people find they can then 'breathe better, feel better'.

Why do I need ventilation?

The EPA warned "Inadequate ventilation can increase indoor pollutant levels by not bringing in enough outdoor air to dilute emissions from indoor sources and by not carrying indoor air pollutants out of the home." A typical basement has no doors or windows. If there are a few windows, they are so tiny, they allow almost no air in. The basement is below ground and acts like a giant pool under your home, collecting moisture and contaminants, often becoming a breeding ground for mold and bacteria. Not only can this lead to rotting of wood and other materials costing $1,000's in repairs, it can become a health hazard for you and your family. Installing a basement ventilation system will effectively and economical help remove the moisture and airborne contaminants, keeping the basement fresher, drier and healthier for you and your family.

How does it improve indoor air quality?

By installing a basement ventilation system, not only are you carrying indoor air pollutants that normally build up in the basement safely out of your home, you are also bringing fresh air in upstairs from outdoors, replacing the air being pulled into the basement. Basically, your house is now 'breathing' by means of mechanical ventilation. Indoor air quality is greatly improved. That's good news for you and your family!

Why is it better than a dehumidifier?

Most dehumidifiers require daily maintenance (emptying of buckets), have only 1 year warranty or less, are energy hogs consuming 100's of watts costing $50.00 a month or more. They are noisy, can easily over-heat (potential fire hazard), and since they collect water, can become a breading ground for dangerous bacteria and mold. They also cannot expel odors since they constantly recycle the same stale air and so do nothing to improve the air quality. A basement ventilation system requires NO maintenance. There are no buckets to empty, it has at least an 8 year warranty (some 10 year), uses a fraction of the energy to operate costing only about $3.00-$4.00 per month. It is quiet, doesn't collect water and since it expels the contaminated, moist air out of your home, it is healthier and improves the indoor air quality.

Where does the water go?

A typical dehumidifier has refrigerated coils that condense the moisture and collect it in a bucket. A basement ventilation system simply and  efficiently expels the moist air out of the home in the form of water vapor (some-what like a clothes dryer does). No water is collected so you never have to empty a bucket. There are no drain hoses, so you never have to worry about damage from water leaks.

Will it increase the cost of my heat and air-conditioning?

A basement ventilation system is controlled by a humidity sensor. It only expels damp air. When it senses dry heated or dry conditioned air, it automatically slows down the fan. Also, damp air is harder to change the temperature of than dry air, so by expelling the damp air, your heating/air-conditioning system does not have to work as hard and can run more 'efficiently'.

Why is it so inexpensive to operate?

A dehumidifier uses a compressor to refrigerate the condenser coils on the unit using 100's of watts of energy. A basement ventilation system has an extremely efficient high velocity fan using no more than the equivalent of about a 40 watt light bulb. This means not only do you save $100's per year vs. a dehumidifier, you are protecting the environment by saving our natural resources.

How soon after installation will I see results?

There is no 'one-size-fits-all' answer. Some customers notice improvement with-in hours or days, most within a few weeks. Some longer. An empty basement with no water leaks typically can dry out faster. Others that are filled with porous materials like wood, cardboard, carpets, furniture, stacks of newspapers etc... and have been saturated with moisture for years will obviously take much longer. Water leaks need to be remedied for optimum results.