Dehumidifer can be equipped to drain on its own
Q. I want to keep my basement dry with a dehumidifier even though I am away from the house for extended periods sometimes. I can’t empty a dehumidifier every day. Can you help?
A. There are a couple of ways to do this. If you already own a dehumidifier and have a basement drain, you should be able to equip the dehumidifier with a hose that will let it empty into the drain instead of into a tray or tank.
Just make sure that the drain is open and in good working order. If you have an owner’s manual for the dehumidifier, it should have instructions for converting it.
If you don’t have a basement drain, you can buy an add-on pump for the dehumidifier so that the water it collects can be pumped into a basement sink or even to the outside.
If the water is pumped outside, the best bet is to drill a hole in the basement wall for the drain hose and run the hose to an appropriate drain spot. Drill the hole as high as possible in the wall and seal around the exit hole, inside and out, with epoxy putty or caulk.
You can also buy a DeLonghi dehumidifier that is equipped with a pump for about $250 and up, depending on capacity. An add-on pump kit by Whirlpool costs about $65.
You can get details on pumps and pump-equipped models by using an online search engine and the words Dehumidifier Pumps.
If you buy a new dehumidifier, it is best to get one that will operate at fairly low temperatures. Some standard dehumidifiers won’t work at temperatures below about 68 degrees.
Q. One of our bathroom sinks has developed a foul odor that I think might be coming from the overflow hole. I have sprayed several cleaners into the hole and tried to flush it with a bleach solution, but nothing worked. Any suggestions?
A. Sink odors are generally caused either by a polluted water supply or bacteria in the fixture itself. Since you are getting the odor in only one sink, bacteria is the probable cause.
Bacteria can develop in the hollow area into which the overflow empties, and the sink drain itself is also a likely source. One thing I would do is shut off the water to the fixture, remove the sink trap, and flush out the trap.
If this doesn’t help, continue flushing the sink drain and overflow regularly with a half-and-half solution of chlorine bleach and water. It should be possible to attach a narrow rubber or plastic hose to a spray bottle and insert the hose into the overflow hole. This will help you reach areas inside the fixture where bacteria might be lurking.
Q. When I take a shower, I get a lot of moisture on the shower walls. It seems to come from the joint where the walls meet the ceiling, and it happens on all three sides of the shower. I was told to go up in the attic and check, but I don’t know what I should be looking for. Can you help?
A. If there are plumbing pipes running through the attic, it is possible there is a severe leak that is causing water to enter the bath below. I doubt that this is the cause or you would not be getting water only when you shower, but it won’t hurt to check.
I think a roof leak can also be ruled out or you would be getting the water when it rains. It is more likely that the moisture is caused by very high relative humidity in the shower room.
This is the usual result of poor ventilation in the room and lack of an adequate exhaust system to carry moisture outside. If the shower room doesn’t have a vent fan, you should install one and make sure it is vented to the outside, not into the attic.
After taking a shower, use a squeegee to wipe most of the moisture from the walls. It will also help if you follow the squeegee treatment by wiping down the walls with a towel.
In some severe cases, a small dehumidifier in the room will go a long way toward controlling moisture. Excessive moisture in a bathroom can be more than a nuisance; it can lead to formation of mold and even cause structural damage.