I would find a different location to store handbags and save $9k. But maybe your pockets are quite deep and that expense isn't a big deal to you. I think you're the only one who can really answer if it's worth it or not. FWIW, I'm in the Chicago area and our basement is nice and cool without A/C even on the muggiest days.

Hi kpkowski! Thanks for your comment. You have a point there. I currently have my bags in storage but it's so expensive to pay for storage. We just purchased the house so maybe it won't be too bad with a few fans and a couple of dehumidifiers. I used to live in Chicago and it definitely gets muggy.

Yes, I think a dehumidifier would be a great, inexpensive alternative.

Install air conditioning now while you have easy access to stud and joist bays. To me, central/permanently installed air conditioning isn’t a luxury; it’s a necessity...like central/permanently installed heating.

You know what, Sammy? That was my other train of thought. That also make sense.

If you have only a few relatively large rooms to cool, also price out the installation of a mini-split A/C with multiple "heads". It might be easier to retrofit in the basement than a standard ducted A/C system.

Bruce

Thanks Bruce in Northern Virginia! We checked that out and the cost difference is only $700. I think it's more efficient to have the zoned cooling but I'm not a big fan of having the multiple units being hung on the walls.

In building climate zone 4 (mixed-humid) south NJ I would think AC would be needed. In our climate building zone 5 (the same as in north NJ), in well-insulated finished basements, we've often had to add heat in the summer.

For the additional AC, it's not clear that you would need a separate system, aside from ductwork. Ask your independent HVAC designer.

The first step in basement renovation: XPS foam board insulation

Tightly fitted moisture impervious insulation will help in any case.

AC alone will not keep rh levels below 50% in a properly insulated basement. I've used portable dehumidifiers for four decades. Draining them to floor drains is easy.

Hi worthy, One HVAC guy said he could use the existing system and another said that we would need to install another condenser unit that is 2.5 tons. Our basement is about 1600 sq.ft. The main floor A/C unit condenser is 4 tons for around 2400.sq. ft. Do the portsble dehumidifiers take up a lot of energy?

Who ever told you need 2.5 tons to cool a 1600 square foot basement in NJ should find another profession in my opinion. That is very over sized and unnecessary. Your 4 ton AC will be able to keep the whole house and the basement comfortable on the hottest day of the year.

You basement does not need much to keep it warm, and very little to keep it cool. Spending $9K to cool it is overkill. Is the furnace located in the basement? If so then I suggest you install some supply vents and a return in the basement. The return will help lower the humidity. This is has worked well in my basement in central NJ. I don't have a humidity problem and most days in the summer I find it is too cool for my liking.

Hi mike_home,

My husband and I had thought of your solution from the very beginning of our basement reno!

Everytime we ask a HVAC company to do just install some vents in the basement ceiling they try and sell us a split system or a new A/C system altogether. The cost is always around $10,000. If we could only find someone who does HVAC work that would do that for us our problem would be solved.

Yes, our furnace is located in the basement and the separate forced air A/C system is located in the attic. Our home is a Ranch style so the ductwork (is that the same as supply vents?) does not have far to travel. Our basement isn't that hot in the summer so we don't need much extra A/C/. It's so frustrating.

Thanks so much for your valuable input!

We are also in Central NJ, do you have someone that you could recommend?

Thanks so much mike_home! I'll contact Carrier and see what they say!

As a licenced homebuilder for years, I always used an independent HVAC designer, so there was no conflict of interest.

The electricity cost of dehumidifiers is a pittance compared to the damage they prevent. We have two portable 30 pint Danby units for our 3,770 sf home.

Alternatively, you can choose a centrally-mounted dehumidifier tied in with your HVAC system. It's more efficient as all the conditioned space is covered; and, located with the other HVAC equipment, it's quieter and out of the way. In fact, that's how we've planned our upcoming build, which has a separate HVAC for the basement.

Thanks worthy !

That's the route that we've chosen to go. :)

Hi Chinyere,

Yes, it would be a good idea to add AC, and you can add baseboard heat on a different zone, also good to have to get the chill out during the winter months, especially with baseboard heat, if the boiler has the capacity to handle another zone, I would add a few baseboards under the windows, because I'm also in Central Jersey, and when temp dip you feel it down there.

Good luck

Thanks GN Builders L.L.C! Great point about the baseboard heat :)

Here's a zero-clearance gas fireplace we built into the basement. When the kids were young, they loved playing in front of it in the winter. The electric baseboards were never used.

Ohhh... it’s really nice. Great job on the basement. Nice decor!