Hi everyone, I wanted to share my experience with setting up a smart dehumidification system for my basement. I’ve been working on this project for a while and thought it might be helpful for others who are dealing with humidity issues in their homes.
The Challenge
My basement is around 60 square meters and serves as a gaming/entertainment room. It’s located under the garage, which means it’s prone to humidity buildup. I wanted to avoid damage to the walls, furniture, and electronics, so controlling humidity was a top priority.
The Setup
I decided to go with a dehumidifier since forced ventilation wasn’t an option. Here’s what I used:
- Dehumidifier: A basic model without Wi-Fi or a pump.
- Humidity Sensor: Placed in the opposite corner from the dehumidifier.
- Smart Plug: A Tapo P110 to control the dehumidifier.
- Smart Lights: Shelly1 to detect when the room is in use.
The Logic
- Dehumidification Cycle: The system activates when humidity exceeds 70% and the basement lights are off. It also prefers running during daylight hours to take advantage of my solar panels.
- Pause Detection: The dehumidifier occasionally pauses during its cycle. I set it to detect a full water tank only after 15 minutes of no activity.
- Notifications: When the tank is full, I get an alert via Telegram, and the dehumidifier turns off until it’s emptied.
- Noise Management: The dehumidifier stops when the basement lights are on, resuming once the lights are turned off.
The Rules
I implemented these rules using a combination of triggers and conditions. For example, when humidity drops below 65%, the dehumidifier turns off automatically. If the water tank is full, it sends an alert and disables future cycles until it’s emptied.
Challenges and Solutions
One tricky part was ensuring the system didn’t false trigger due to normal pauses in the dehumidifier cycle. Testing different thresholds and timing was key. I also had to set up the Telegram notifications correctly, which involved configuring the right endpoints and ensuring the system could send messages reliably.
Results
This setup has been working great for me. The basement stays at a comfortable humidity level, and I get notified when maintenance is needed. Plus, the dehumidifier runs during the day, which is more efficient given my solar setup.
If anyone has questions or suggestions, I’d love to hear them! Happy tinkering! 