[Rasputin]

I run a Frigidaire Dehumidifier FAD704TDP on our 1984, 50' cutter sloop. The inside is all wood. We're out in Southern California (Long Beach) so winters are mild. I let it run continuously. Other than the bilge, it keeps everything dry, fresh and mildew free.

I've been noticing wood separation on the teak and holly floors, various gingerbread pieces and some floorboard / bilge hatch covers (not sure what the term is for the various wood access pieces to bilge areas) have actually warped some.

Can you run a dehumidifier too much? Is the over drying causing this or is caused by something else? Just seems like this is more pronounced over the last couple years since I've used the dehumidifier.

I welcome any thoughts. Huge thanks!

My follow-up questions will be specific to best ways to repair the separations and un-warping floor board hatches.

~Scott

 

[Faster]

YES YOU CAN!

When I first set ours up I ran it for about 5 days on continuous... my wooden sliding doors shrunk enough to fall out of their tracks.

Since then I leave it set for 50%. Seems to work fine there.

 

[Rasputin]

I'll crank it down today.

 

[Whitebread117]

Relative Humidity level below 35% is arid and wood will dry out and shrink (and sometimes warp/crack in the process). Above about 60% and it can swell, but not a major issue outside of delicate/fine furniture. Keep it below 70% to inhibit most mold growth.

45-55% RH is a good target for human comfort, wood interior comfort, and discouraging mold.

 

[hellosailor]

"Can you run a dehumidifier too much? "
Sure can! Too dry and you will ruin all the woodwork, as you're finding.
The US Navy used to keep the Polaris submarines at 74*F, 45% RH, as being the most effective environment for all "shirtsleeve" work and living environment.
Feels pretty good to me.

 

[Rasputin]

So now the bigger question, how do I un-do some of the damage done. I can fill the cracks and repair the separations but some of the wood hatches are bowed / warped. Is there a way to flatten them back out? Soak them and weight them to flatten the bowing out?

 

[miatapaul]

So now the bigger question, how do I un-do some of the damage done. I can fill the cracks and repair the separations but some of the wood hatches are bowed / warped. Is there a way to flatten them back out? Soak them and weight them to flatten the bowing out?

Most likely once there is a bit more moisture in the air it will smooth out. So I would not do anything for a few weeks at least. But if they had too much moisture at one point it may take some refinish work. Was there ever a mold problem?

 

[hellosailor]

I don't pretend to be a woodworker but suspect you'd need to steam them and bend them, the same way straight lumber is made curved. Except what you want to do would be to steam them till they were flexible, then clamp and press them into the "final" position you want, and let them dry out until they regained that final shape again.

Just a suspicion.

 

[Rasputin]

Never had a mold problem but did it to combat the diesel smell from the bilge and dampness through our winter and rain. Southern California summers are dry, even on the water.

I've turned the power down to low fan & 50% and will leave it there for a few weeks and see what happens. I'll eventually shoot for 45%.

Huge thanks for all the input. Very appreciated.

 

[Faster]

Never had a mold problem but did it to combat the diesel smell from the bilge and.....

Diesel smells are hard to cover up - better to find and eliminate any raw fuel leakage, in however small amounts.

 

[Bill-Rangatira]

lemon oil will mask some of the boat smell as will orange peels

 

[capta]

I would suggest you clean the diesel out of your bilges ASAP. California doesn't mess around with environmental spills. Just a few cycles of your automatic bilge pump could be a very expensive error.
Once clean, make sure the bilge under the engine is separated from the rest of your bilges, so any diesel leaks you may get do not get into your overboard pump and contaminate the rest of your bilges.