For those who layouts are in the basements

Maybe I should be looking for a dehumidifier for the moisture?

Most people need a dehumidifier in the basement. Can you tell us more about your basement? If you live in Missouri, you could have a walkout. Do you have a sump pump? How often does it run?

I was just looking at this site and these guys list a recommended dehumidifier.

https://www.uswaterproofing.com/

What do you mean about protecting electrical? I have surge protectors on my electrical panels and I am installing a NG generator to keep my sump pumps running.

George

Get a sump pump and direct the water to a sink or outside.  That way you don't have to keep emptying the bucket.   Don't know what brand I have oft hand but it's noisy as hell.   Get one with a energy star rating, maybe check into what Consumer reports recommends.

I live in the northeast, Long Island, I always ran a dehumidifier in the summer months. Nothing in the winter. I switched to a portable AC last year which does a good job. A little more expensive to run but much more comfortable when running trains down there. 

You might want to check out this thread …..

https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/...34#80551019512243234

Not to worry, got it covered.

If you have a floor drain you can run the drain hose from the dehumidifier into it. Dumping the bucket gets old real quick. Absent a floor drain I use a Little Giant pump to pump the condensate into the laundry tub.

Amazon haz 'em.

Lew

I purchased a TOSOT dehumidifier with pump last month and couldn't be happier with it.

https://www.amazon.com/TOSOT-D...&sr=8-3-fkmrnull

Dehumidifier on a heavy duty mechanical Intermatic timer set to run only during the day. Had a Haier from Target, it lasted about 10 years, a Frigidaire from Abt, lasted about 60 days, now using a Toshiba from Home Depot.

I got a 4-year warranty for the Frigidaire, so I now have second one sitting in a box, not sure what to do with it.

I had a Haier a few years ago, lasted less than one season!  I got a warranty replacement, it made it past the one year total mark and crapped out.  I stopped buying those.

Don't worry, you'll find a use for the Frigidaire soon, they all seem to have a limited life.

I use a Soleus Air dehumidifier which as far outlasted any other brand I have used.  Some others barely made it past one year.  I keep the humidity in my basement at 35% and get moisture out of the air year round.  I figure my investment in my trains is worth the electricity to run the dehumidifier.  I live in Wisconsin, by the way.

RON ARNDT 091718 posted:

I use a Soleus Air dehumidifier which as far outlasted any other brand I have used.  Some others barely made it past one year.  I keep the humidity in my basement at 35% and get moisture out of the air year round.  I figure my investment in my trains is worth the electricity to run the dehumidifier.  I live in Wisconsin, by the way.

Hmm...  I'd be careful...

Soleus Air dehumidifiers pulled from stores and our Ratings

You guys are killin' me, here in Vegas we can't get our layout rooms (even unconditioned ones) above about 7% humidity.  We have to ADD humidity.

Chris S.

We installed a Humidex in our home about twenty years ago. It came with a ten year warranty, the motor seized up at nine years, l called the company and they sent a replacement motor, no charge. It is quiet and very economical to run, downside was initial outlay, but twenty years later I am not sorry for this purchase.

RAY

I live outside of Philadelphia.  My small cellar does get humid.  I have one of those radon type fans attached to a humidistat, which helps.  I also cut a vent into the supply duct on the air conditioner.  The cooled dryer air helps a great deal.  I did not cut an opening into the return air duct, however.  

I used to have humidity problems in my basement here in Michigan. I bought a "brand x" dehumidifier from Home Depot and the compressor / condenser took a dive in less than 1 year.... When it worked it made a huge difference.

Next time I am hanging on to my receipt. 

I'm in Connecticut.  Bought a Hisense from Lowes, crapped out in a month.  Kept the receipt, got a new one, it's been running great for over a year.

We have a large basement/rec-room, with two separate train layouts.  One is overhead, goes around the main room and across the back bar.   The other is an 8X35 table layout through three narrow rooms.  There is a large 50 year old speaker system and a 60 inch TV.  Because of this, we always run a dehumidifier, except during the winter months.  I would guess those things have lasted between 5 and 8 years.  The newer ones have sensors that allow them to shutdown automatically.  I set it at 40% humidity.  We have a bathroom down there, so emptying the bucket into the sink is only a matter of a few steps.

Jerry

My train room is in my basement. My basement is the full foundation of the home and is 72 feet long and 30 feet wide.  One end has a walk out with two windows and a patio door going out to a deck.   I have walled off  25 feet of this end and finished it as a man cave/train room.  The remainder of the basement is typical with a large workcenter for repairing and restoring trains and a large woodworking facility plus the usual utilities such as furnace, water heater and water tank from the incoming well. Also, most important, my beer refrigerator.

I use a dehumidifier in each area. At present I have (2) Keystone dehumidifiers model KSTAD70B.  I will be cranking them up in the next couple of weeks for their fourth season. So far they have worked very well. They are both hooked to drains so I don’t have to worry about emptying the tanks. I try to keep my basement at about 40%.

Jim

I live in O Fallon Missouri.  How quiet  is the Keystone?