Using charcoal as a dehumidifier

[Denim]

Yesterday , after a bit of internet browsing I, I thought it might be worth trying to bring down the humidity indoors by using charcoal placed in trays or dishes ( whatever ) and leaving them all over the house. The cost was virtually nothing and although I have not succeeded in creating a European micro climate , there does seem to be a small but noticeable improvement, especially in the evening when we are in the living room. Wifey said a few bricks would be enough but I thought that if it works at all, the more the merrier so there are several trays out of sight under the sofa.

 

Anybody else doing this with any more similar useful tips ?

 

https://repurposeful.wordpress.com/2009/04/08/dont-buy-it-make-it-charcoal-briquette-dehumidifier/

[sometimewoodworker]

59 minutes ago, Denim said:

Yesterday , after a bit of internet browsing I, I thought it might be worth trying to bring down the humidity indoors by using charcoal placed in trays or dishes ( whatever ) and leaving them all over the house. The cost was virtually nothing and although I have not succeeded in creating a European micro climate , there does seem to be a small but noticeable improvement, especially in the evening when we are in the living room. Wifey said a few bricks would be enough but I thought that if it works at all, the more the merrier so there are several trays out of sight under the sofa.

They will only work for a short time, if they work, but will also cut down on smells while they are working.

Edited July 31, 2019 by sometimewoodworker

[Denim]

44 minutes ago, sometimewoodworker said:

They will only work for a short time, if they work, but will also cut down on smells while they are working.

 

Apparently you have to change the charcoal once a month but as it is dirt cheap, not a problem. Anything that help even a little is better than nothing.

[eyecatcher]

I have used it for drying out damp and smelly trainers and yes it works, well it speeds up the drying process.

But every pair of shoes now comes with silica gel.

charcoal in a room absorbs stale cigarette smoke, but so does an onion and so does a fan.

 

Just get yourself a demumidifier for humidity, use the charcoal on your teeth and buy a mother in laws tongue to re introduce ions back into the air that you just sucked out.

 

[sometimewoodworker]

57 minutes ago, Denim said:

 

Apparently you have to change the charcoal once a month but as it is dirt cheap, not a problem. Anything that help even a little is better than nothing.

If you use charcoal anyway it's virtually free as you just burn the old stuff, if you don't then you can reactivate it by heating it hot enough and long enough, then it's good to go again.

[Denim]

1 hour ago, eyecatcher said:

I have used it for drying out damp and smelly trainers and yes it works, well it speeds up the drying process.

But every pair of shoes now comes with silica gel.

charcoal in a room absorbs stale cigarette smoke, but so does an onion and so does a fan.

 

Just get yourself a demumidifier for humidity, use the charcoal on your teeth and buy a mother in laws tongue to re introduce ions back into the air that you just sucked out.

 

 

Well, I love my mum so I think I'll pass on the demumidifier.

As for mother in laws tongue I'll pass on introducing that into our house. She can stay next door where she is happy. ????

[Denim]

1 hour ago, sometimewoodworker said:

If you use charcoal anyway it's virtually free as you just burn the old stuff, if you don't then you can reactivate it by heating it hot enough and long enough, then it's good to go again.

 

That magic word again ....FREE.  And that's why I'm trying it because I can get it for free from the family which they can have in exchange at the end of the month.

[tjo o tjim]

Curious how long it would last here.  It would seem like a 10kg bag could de-humidify a 60m2 home to a reasonable level if you didn’t have any supplemental moisture infiltration or local sources of water (bath, sweat, etc), but given the additional sources I would think it would last only a few days maximum.

[Denim]

5 minutes ago, tjo o tjim said:

Curious how long it would last here.  It would seem like a 10kg bag could de-humidify a 60m2 home to a reasonable level if you didn’t have any supplemental moisture infiltration or local sources of water (bath, sweat, etc), but given the additional sources I would think it would last only a few days maximum.

 

Well, the Youtube and other tutorials mention a month. I will just leave it there that long and change it since to do so every few days would be a hassle. 

 

I never expected miraculous results but since it costs nothing and is a step in the right direction I'll keep on with it a while. Both the wife and I have noticed some improvement and feel less sticky while using the living room in the evening.

[sometimewoodworker]

2 hours ago, Denim said:

Both the wife and I have noticed some improvement and feel less sticky while using the living room in the evening.

Why not pick up a humidity meter then you will have a much better idea.

 

FWIW Currently it is 65% and 28C in the house, 75% and 30C outside. That is without running the AC so comfortable with fans on slowish speed.

[Denim]

7 minutes ago, sometimewoodworker said:

Why not pick up a humidity meter then you will have a much better idea.

 

FWIW Currently it is 65% and 28C in the house, 75% and 30C outside. That is without running the AC so comfortable with fans on slowish speed.

 

Yes....good idea. Will have a look on Lazada.

 

I have done lots of minute tinkering with our house to get things as comfortable as possible but as low tech as possible. Only one air conditioner and that's in the bedroom. People often enter and comment on how cool it is. Although every little thing only makes a hardly noticeable difference I'll go for it if is low tech, sustainable , maintenance free , cheap and based on sound physics.