I need to monitor the humidity in the crawl space under my house.
Radio Shack has a unit that you mount inside your house and then place
a remote sensor in the crawl space. Has anyone had experience with
this unit? Can anyone recommend a better uni?. I like the idea of
being able to monitor the humidity inside my house without having to
go into the crawl space.

Why monitor it, it will be high, so what. The radioshack unit im sure
only works in a specific temp range. Monitor your house where you live.

I have a RS model. Works well though I have no idea whether it is accurate.
It seems accurate enuf though.... consistent with weather guy on tv. It
doesn't stop my wife from asking me how cold it is outside.


wrote in message
...
I need to monitor the humidity in the crawl space under my house.
Radio Shack has a unit that you mount inside your house and then place
a remote sensor in the crawl space. Has anyone had experience with
this unit? Can anyone recommend a better uni?. I like the idea of
being able to monitor the humidity inside my house without having to
go into the crawl space.

What do you intend to do if you find it's high?

wrote in message
...
I need to monitor the humidity in the crawl space under my house.
Radio Shack has a unit that you mount inside your house and then place
a remote sensor in the crawl space. Has anyone had experience with
this unit? Can anyone recommend a better uni?. I like the idea of
being able to monitor the humidity inside my house without having to
go into the crawl space.

wrote in message
...
I need to monitor the humidity in the crawl space under my house.
Radio Shack has a unit that you mount inside your house and then place
a remote sensor in the crawl space. Has anyone had experience with
this unit? Can anyone recommend a better uni?. I like the idea of
being able to monitor the humidity inside my house without having to
go into the crawl space.

Aha! I was just thinking of doing the same myself to detect when the
crawlspace is flooded. There is indeed a remote sensing hygrometer set
selling for around $26+shipping mail order. Search for RMR603HGA with
froogle. But do your own research. It may or may not fit your needs.

I also did an experiment with a non-remote sensing digital hygrometer. I
hung it inside the crawlspace access panel. When the crawlspace is normally
dry, it reads about 50%, same as outside. When the crawlspace is wet with
puddles, it reads 75%.

If you're just trying to sense water, Glentronics has a water sensor model #
BWD-HWA 'Basement Watchman'. It's 9VDC, solid state, with a 100 dB alarm.
Don't remember where I got mine. May have been Grainger.
http://www.glentronics.com/water_alarm.htm

"peter" wrote in message
news:yeWvf.374$Xo5.100@trnddc02...
wrote in message
...
I need to monitor the humidity in the crawl space under my house.
Radio Shack has a unit that you mount inside your house and then place
a remote sensor in the crawl space. Has anyone had experience with
this unit? Can anyone recommend a better uni?. I like the idea of
being able to monitor the humidity inside my house without having to
go into the crawl space.

Aha! I was just thinking of doing the same myself to detect when the
crawlspace is flooded. There is indeed a remote sensing hygrometer set
selling for around $26+shipping mail order. Search for RMR603HGA with
froogle. But do your own research. It may or may not fit your needs.

I also did an experiment with a non-remote sensing digital hygrometer. I
hung it inside the crawlspace access panel. When the crawlspace is
normally
dry, it reads about 50%, same as outside. When the crawlspace is wet with
puddles, it reads 75%.

It is a new house and I plan on installing 6 mil plastic and foam
insulation on the block walls. If it is still over 55%, I plan on
adding a dehumidifier that is controlled by a humidistat controller.

On Sat, 7 Jan 2006 15:39:17 -0500, "Bob" wrote:

What do you intend to do if you find it's high?

wrote in message
. ..
I need to monitor the humidity in the crawl space under my house.
Radio Shack has a unit that you mount inside your house and then place
a remote sensor in the crawl space. Has anyone had experience with
this unit? Can anyone recommend a better uni?. I like the idea of
being able to monitor the humidity inside my house without having to
go into the crawl space.

Bob wrote:
If you're just trying to sense water, Glentronics has a water sensor model #
BWD-HWA 'Basement Watchman'. It's 9VDC, solid state, with a 100 dB alarm.
Don't remember where I got mine. May have been Grainger.
http://www.glentronics.com/water_alarm.htm

"peter" wrote in message
news:yeWvf.374$Xo5.100@trnddc02...
wrote in message
...
I need to monitor the humidity in the crawl space under my house.
Radio Shack has a unit that you mount inside your house and then place
a remote sensor in the crawl space. Has anyone had experience with
this unit? Can anyone recommend a better uni?. I like the idea of
being able to monitor the humidity inside my house without having to
go into the crawl space.

Aha! I was just thinking of doing the same myself to detect when the
crawlspace is flooded. There is indeed a remote sensing hygrometer set
selling for around $26+shipping mail order. Search for RMR603HGA with
froogle. But do your own research. It may or may not fit your needs.

I also did an experiment with a non-remote sensing digital hygrometer. I
hung it inside the crawlspace access panel. When the crawlspace is
normally
dry, it reads about 50%, same as outside. When the crawlspace is wet with
puddles, it reads 75%.



If the crawl space has bare earth floor, you should cover it with
plastic and provide some ventilation to the outside.

Mark

A humidifier in a crawl space can freeze up, and you have to make provisions
for condensation drainage. Is it possible to connect the humidistat to an
exhaust fan?

wrote in message
...
It is a new house and I plan on installing 6 mil plastic and foam
insulation on the block walls. If it is still over 55%, I plan on
adding a dehumidifier that is controlled by a humidistat controller.

On Sat, 7 Jan 2006 15:39:17 -0500, "Bob" wrote:

What do you intend to do if you find it's high?

wrote in message
. ..
I need to monitor the humidity in the crawl space under my house.
Radio Shack has a unit that you mount inside your house and then place
a remote sensor in the crawl space. Has anyone had experience with
this unit? Can anyone recommend a better uni?. I like the idea of
being able to monitor the humidity inside my house without having to
go into the crawl space.

I use the Oregon Scientific "Long Range Weather Forecaster with Audible
Alert
(BAR122HGLA) " partly for the exact purpose that you're referring to. It
come with a wireless remote and you can add 2 more channels -- I added the
THGR268 which is the Oregon Scientific Wireless ThermoHygrometer Sensor and
is the same as the one remote that is included with the BAR122HGLA. Since I
have two crawl spaces I have a wireless remote in each plus one outside and
then the base station gives me my living space readings.

My crawl spaces are closed off and I have gone through and sealed all the
rim joist areas of the crawl spaces as well as my partial basement. As
recommended by Advance Energy I also went through and sealed & Insulated all
of my ductwork in my crawl spaces. This has made a huge difference in the
air quality and comfort in our house!

When you put down your vapor barrier I would suggest you put down two layers
of 6mil plastic -- put down one layer that you'll be working on then before
you close it up I put down a second layer because no matter how careful you
are you are going to put holes in the plastic while working on it.

for a good reference on crawl spaces check
http://www.advancedenergy.org/buildi.../crawl_spaces/

I am using dehumidifiers in each crawl space -- in one it has an internal
pump that pumps the water out the other space has a simple gravity line.
Both work OK.


wrote in message
...
I need to monitor the humidity in the crawl space under my house.
Radio Shack has a unit that you mount inside your house and then place
a remote sensor in the crawl space. Has anyone had experience with
this unit? Can anyone recommend a better uni?. I like the idea of
being able to monitor the humidity inside my house without having to
go into the crawl space.

Bob,
Depending on where you are, an exhaust fan wired to a dehumidistat can
be a very ad idea. In this area, the bug companies love to do it.
Then the floor joists start to rot and the finger pointing begins.

In most areas it will help in the winter if it does not frreze the
pipes. In humid climates, it is about the worst thing you can do.

The OP has the right idea.

The Radio Shack units are reasonably accurate, at least the ones I have
checked. They have up to 3 remote sensors. I norm,ally use Hobo Data
Loggers from Onset Computer Corp. Then I can leave them in the
crawlspace for a couple weeks and download a graph to my computer for a
permanent record.

For more information see this link on Crawlspace problems:

http://www.contractingbusiness.com/C...S=&NI L=false

Stretch

add plastic, and additional ventilation to the crawl space.

most dehumdiferes today include a humidity read out.

your least expensive approach is great plastic sheet job, lots of
insulation, and a small muffin fan running 24/7 they use nearly no
electric but can keep humidity low.

make sure the area is welll drained, with downspouts and all routed all
away from house

I have checked the Radio Shack units and found them to be reasonably
accurate. As for using a fan to dry the crawlspace, in Arizona it
would work, but not in any high humidity climates. Check this link as
well as advanced energy.

Crawlspace problems

http://www.contractingbusiness.com/C...S=&NI L=false


Stretch

No experience w/ the RS unit but it seems reasonable

I've used http://www.davis.com for all sorts of sensors with good
results

http://www.davis.com/index.asp use humdity as keyword, your'll get a
variety of instruments that will do the job

looks like they have units similar to the RS unit but they can monitor
more than one location

cheers
Bob

put down a HEAVY plastic vap[or barrier over all the exposed earth,
overlap seams and tape well.

the insulate the foor above so pipes cant freeze, and ventilate well
the area with lots of vents.

whats up with your crawl space?

No experience w/ the RS unit but it seems reasonable

I've used http://www.davis.com for all sorts of sensors with good
results

http://www.davis.com/index.asp use humdity as keyword, your'll get a
variety of instruments that will do the job

looks like they have units similar to the RS unit but they can monitor
more than one location

cheers
Bob