 rat_6
F 'em if they can't take a joke
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Joined: Jul 2006  VA, USA
 
 Posts: 165 Feedback: 100% (1) |
Posted: 7/30/2012 2:50:10 PM
THE IMAGE ABOVE IS A PAID ADVERTISEMENT I am looking for a standard consumer grade unit in the 45-70 pint range that I will use in a walk-in gun safe that is 1080 cu/ft. The walk-in safe is below grade in a walk out basement, and has four concrete walls, a concrete floor, and 4" concrete ceiling poured over steel. The temperature is holding steady at 72 degrees, but the RH is at 70%. I would like to reduce the RH to 50-60%. I am looking for a unit with a direct output to an available drain, an auto start feature, and one that allows a specific RH setting vs. a high-low setting. I have been looking at units online, but most reviews state that today's units fail between 18 and 24 months. Is this the case with what is available these days? If so, I will just select one to purchase with the expectation that it will need to be replaced in the next two years. Any advice or experience is appreciated. |
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SERVED_USMC
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Joined: Oct 2007 IN, USA
Posts: 1752 Feedback: 100% (43) Link To This Post |
Posted: 7/30/2012 6:36:31 PM
Tag for interest. I have also been doing research trying to find exactly what you are looking for, for myself. I have yet to come across something that I think will do the job for more that a year before needing replaced.
Also, your room is about 3 times larger than mine. And for this, I hate you.  |
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Posted: 7/30/2012 7:22:40 PM
[Last Edit: 7/30/2012 7:24:06 PM by cnk]
It's not for a walk-in gun room, but I use one for my basement. I got it from Costco and it's a Delonghi 50-pint unit. I've had it since March of this year and it's worked great so far. You can empty the bucket, do a gravity drain, or use the built-in pump. I have it connected to my sump so that it just drains the water there so I never have to worry about emptying it. You set the humidity level you want in 5% increments and the unit will run on it's own. The fan always runs though so that it can keep check of the humidity level.
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rat_6
F 'em if they can't take a joke
Team Member
Joined: Jul 2006 VA, USA
Posts: 169 Feedback: 100% (1) Link To This Post |
Posted: 8/21/2012 5:24:09 PM
Followup:
I bought a Kenmore Elite 70 pint dehumidifier (Model# 90701) from Sears. This unit was a bit pricey, but it came with a remote monitor that I was able to place outside my vault room which allows me to monitor the temp & RH while the door is closed. I have found that both the temp and RH levels are within +/- 5 points from my other meters inside the vault. The main reason for buying a Kenmore was that the Sears is not far from my work, and I was able to buy the extended warrenty. This way, if the unit craps out after 18 months, I can get it repaired or get a new one. I have only had it operational for about a week, but the "auto" feature is keeping the RH right around 50% with an internal temp of 70-75 degrees. |
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SERVED_USMC
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Team Member
Joined: Oct 2007 IN, USA
Posts: 1804 Feedback: 100% (43) Link To This Post |
Posted: 8/21/2012 8:29:50 PM
Originally Posted By rat_6:
Followup: I bought a Kenmore Elite 70 pint dehumidifier (Model# 90701) from Sears. This unit was a bit pricey, but it came with a remote monitor that I was able to place outside my vault room which allows me to monitor the temp & RH while the door is closed. I have found that both the temp and RH levels are within +/- 5 points from my other meters inside the vault. The main reason for buying a Kenmore was that the Sears is not far from my work, and I was able to buy the extended warrenty. This way, if the unit craps out after 18 months, I can get it repaired or get a new one. I have only had it operational for about a week, but the "auto" feature is keeping the RH right around 50% with an internal temp of 70-75 degrees. Very nice. Do you have the unit running to an open drain, or collecting in the catch bucket? I need to pick something up in the next month and am curious. |
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Posted: 8/22/2012 11:01:37 AM
Originally Posted By SERVED_USMC:
Originally Posted By rat_6:
Followup: I bought a Kenmore Elite 70 pint dehumidifier (Model# 90701) from Sears. This unit was a bit pricey, but it came with a remote monitor that I was able to place outside my vault room which allows me to monitor the temp & RH while the door is closed. I have found that both the temp and RH levels are within +/- 5 points from my other meters inside the vault. The main reason for buying a Kenmore was that the Sears is not far from my work, and I was able to buy the extended warrenty. This way, if the unit craps out after 18 months, I can get it repaired or get a new one. I have only had it operational for about a week, but the "auto" feature is keeping the RH right around 50% with an internal temp of 70-75 degrees. Very nice. Do you have the unit running to an open drain, or collecting in the catch bucket? I need to pick something up in the next month and am curious. Good source of distilled water if you collect it ! |
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rat_6
F 'em if they can't take a joke
Team Member
Joined: Jul 2006 VA, USA
Posts: 170 Feedback: 100% (1) Link To This Post |
Posted: 8/23/2012 12:45:15 PM
Originally Posted By SERVED_USMC:
Originally Posted By rat_6:
Followup: I bought a Kenmore Elite 70 pint dehumidifier (Model# 90701) from Sears. This unit was a bit pricey, but it came with a remote monitor that I was able to place outside my vault room which allows me to monitor the temp & RH while the door is closed. I have found that both the temp and RH levels are within +/- 5 points from my other meters inside the vault. The main reason for buying a Kenmore was that the Sears is not far from my work, and I was able to buy the extended warrenty. This way, if the unit craps out after 18 months, I can get it repaired or get a new one. I have only had it operational for about a week, but the "auto" feature is keeping the RH right around 50% with an internal temp of 70-75 degrees. Very nice. Do you have the unit running to an open drain, or collecting in the catch bucket? I need to pick something up in the next month and am curious. I had the builder rough in a drain pipe into the corner of the room. It stands about 24" off the floor at this point, and is just a capped 3" pvc pipe. I plan to add a threaded cap on the end so that I can modify a clean-out type cap to accept the 1/4" drain line from the dehumidifier pump. I also have a 3"-4" reducing collar that I will thread on to act as a drain sink for when I might want to pour hot water down some of the older rifles I have after shooting surplus ammo with corrosive primers...sort of like the rinse sink at the dentists office. Until I get it all plumbed in, I am just using the collection bucket, but have only had to empty it once in about a week's worth of operation. |
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TAP
Where There Are Sheep, Wolves Will Always Thrive
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Joined: Jan 2008 VA, USA
Posts: 3379 Feedback: 100% (8) Link To This Post |
Posted: 8/24/2012 4:01:14 PM
I've never had one last in my basement more than 14 months. For all these recommendations of "just got one", keep that in mind. I've tried the Sears and Lowes and HD ones, and am still looking for one that will work in the long term.
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