Humidifiers and Dehumidifiers - Dehumidifier & Air Purifier

I have been running on my treadmill for the past week and I dont know if it is the cold weather or the air quality in my unfinished partial basement but I am having some nasal and chest congestion issues that I cannot get rid of. I currently have a dehumidifier in the basement that doesn't run anymore since it's too cold in the basement. My forced air system has no registers in the basement. I was thinking of buying a portable air purifier to put by my treadmill. Will that solve my problem? Thank you!

You sure its not from the humidity being to low now . With the furnace running in the home?????

I dont know...What do you suggest?

Buy a RH meter and tell us what the RH is in your basement and main floor.

I would put in a vent or two down there to get some air changes, and will help even out the temp in the home.

My basement humdity is at an avg of 44% - 45%
My 1st and 2nd floor is at an avg of 35% - 36%

I have read on websites that ideal indoor humidity level should be between 35% to 50%. Does that mean the level of humidity in my entire house is OK?

Since I workout in my basement and the humidity is around 45%, what should I put down there? An air purifier or nothing at all?

Since I am at the bottom borderline throughout the 1st and 2nd floor for humidity level, should I connect a whole house humidifier to my forced air system or is that not necessary?

You are fine with the level you got there.. No need to add a humidifier to the home since it's in good range.


I would still advise you to put in a vent or two in the basment to help keep the basement air moving and even out with the upstairs.

If I put the vents in the basement, wont I lower the humidity in the basement? Is that what you mean by evening out with the upstairs? Isn't 45% a very good level? Is there a problem having the basement at 45% and the rest of the house at 35%?

Sorry for all the questions!

Go with Jay! No you will move the air around. RH is fine!!!

Jay11J - Would you recommend putting a return(s) in the basement too?

Yeah, wouldn't hurt to have one near the floor, and is this one room or a large area?

Having one there near the floor will help pull the cold air off the floor.

My basement is an unfinished partial basement and crawspace. The total basement size including both partial and crawl is about 1,000 sq ft. My basement does get a little humid in the summertime and I'm just concerned about bringing the humidity upstairs during the summer making it harder to cool. Should I be concerned with that?

No, that should help keep the basment dryer in the summer and less chance of mold growth.. Ideal to keep it under 50%. I take it you don't have a free standing dehumidifer down there

I do have a free-standing dehumidifier, but it's only a 30 pint one and I have to keep emptying the bucket. I want to get a 65 - 70 pint one and have it drain directly to my sump pump.

Jay11J - Should I be concerned about bringing any musty odors from the basement to the rest of the house if I install a return in the basement or should the dehumidifier take care of that? Do whole house humidifiers work well? I notice my humidity levels dropping below 30% as low as 25%.

No, the order should go away once the basement dries out.

Not sure where you are out of, may of had the cold snap that we had here last weekend. that will dry out the house, but if that was the only time it really got dry, then just get a free standing humidifer if the dry air bother you. Otherwise, 25% is not bad when it's colder out, that way no water damage to the windows and other hidden cold spots.