- Cutting in a vent is honestly the move, even if it feels drastic at first. I’ve seen people try every “no-damage” trick in the book and still end up with ruined shoes and that weird closet funk.
- I’m always curious—did you notice any impact on your energy bills with the fan running? Sometimes folks worry about adding fans, but the trade-off for dry air seems worth it.
- Also, anyone tried those humidity-sensing switches? Wondering if they’re actually reliable or just another gadget to break...
Cutting a vent into a closet wall or door does feel like a leap, but honestly, it’s one of those things that just works. I’ve seen folks try everything from moisture absorbers to leaving the door cracked, and nothing really compares to actual airflow. The “no-damage” tricks are fine for short-term, but if you’re dealing with persistent humidity, you’re just delaying the inevitable.
On the energy bill front, I’ve noticed that running a small exhaust fan in a closet barely moves the needle. Most of these fans are pretty low wattage—think bathroom fan territory. If you wire it to run only when needed (like with a timer or humidity sensor), the impact is even less. That said, if your house is already struggling with HVAC balance, adding more vents can sometimes throw things off. I’ve had clients who ended up with colder bedrooms because their closet vent was pulling too much air from the main room. It’s rare, but worth keeping in mind.
Humidity-sensing switches are kind of hit or miss in my experience. The higher-end ones tend to be reliable, but the cheap models can be finicky—sometimes they don’t kick on until it’s already muggy, or they’ll run forever after a single humid day. I usually recommend manual timers unless someone really wants set-it-and-forget-it convenience.
Curious if anyone’s tried integrating closet ventilation with their whole-house dehumidifier? Seems like overkill for most homes, but I’ve seen it done in older places where mold was a constant battle. Wondering if that’s actually more efficient than just running a fan...
Curious if anyone’s tried integrating closet ventilation with their whole-house dehumidifier? Seems like overkill for most homes, but I’ve seen it done in older places where mold was a constant battle.
I’ve actually set up a closet vent tied into a whole-house dehumidifier in a 1950s ranch with chronic mold issues. It wasn’t as complicated as I expected—ran a short duct from the closet to the main return, then let the dehumidifier handle the rest. The difference was night and day for both mold and that musty smell. Energy-wise, it didn’t spike bills much since the dehumidifier was already running for the rest of the house.
That said, I wouldn’t call it efficient unless you’re already running a dehumidifier for other reasons. For most people, a dedicated low-wattage fan with a manual timer is simpler and less likely to mess with your HVAC balance. I agree about humidity sensors being finicky—had one that would randomly run for hours after a rainy day, which got old fast.
If you’re in a really humid climate or have an older home with persistent issues, tying into the dehumidifier can be worth it. Otherwise, airflow plus a timer usually does the trick without overcomplicating things.
I’ve wondered about the impact on closet temps when you tie in a dehumidifier like that. Did you notice the closet getting colder or draftier? I tried a small fan once and it made my shoes feel chilly, which was weird. Curious if anyone’s tried venting just at the floor level instead of higher up—maybe that’d help with airflow without making everything feel like a meat locker.
- Been there with the chilly shoes—nothing like putting on ice blocks in the morning.
- Venting at floor level actually helped in my last place. Didn’t turn the closet into a walk-in fridge, just kept the air moving enough to keep things dry.
- Dehumidifier made it less muggy, but yeah, it did cool things down a bit. I tossed an old rug on the floor to keep my toes from freezing.
- Honestly, it’s a balancing act. Mold hates airflow, but so do my feet.
- You’re not alone in the battle—closets are weird little microclimates.
