Computer in basement :/

[khero]

First post: So I have an open basement, and decided to move my computer down there. I have the laundry room directly next to me. Some cans of vegetables that were in the laundry room, began to rust on the bottoms. They're next to the washing machine, and the sink that water runs into. So I'm worried about my computer. I closed the door to the laundry room. There is a closet opening through the laundry room that runs under the stairway upstairs. I'm worried about the water and air corroding the computer. My dad had guitars and amps in the basement nothing happened to them. I began to see quite a bit of dust accumulate, and cleaning the computer. It's probably not a great area looking at some of the ware on the pipes mettalics. I could seal the closet and stairway, and whatever space under the door. To stop further moisture, I'm just thinking in the long run it's not a great idea to have the computer down there since the fan is running. I think If I put some type of plastic up over the closet. I wouldn't really be super worried. Whatcha think?? We have had a dehumidifier, and that thing will just fill up. so

 

[lxskllr]

Dehumdifier with a hose running into the sump pit.

 

[Carson Dyle]

The laundry room (dryer, actually) should be vented to the outside of the house. The vent may need to be cleaned of accumulated lint, but that's all that should really be necessary. Were those rusted cans sitting in some standing water, by any chance?

Dust from lint may be an issue near the dryer, but all it would mean is that you'll need to clean out the computer a little more frequently. Five minutes with a hand vac and some compressed air every two or three months should be sufficient.

 

[zinfamous]

Dehumdifier with a hose running into the sump pit.

bing bang boom, done

 

[Mayne]

how old is your water tank?

 

[Thebobo]

Is your grow room in the basement as well?

 

[khero]

Water tank?!!? Hehe The cans were right next to the sink almost I guess just free standing. No my grow room is not in the basement.

 

[Mayne]

just curious how old the water heater is. I'd be more worried about an old tank that will burst one day and flood your basement.

 

[khero]

just curious how old the water heater is. I'd be more worried about an old tank that will burst one day and flood your basement.

Fairly new

 

[Thebobo]

Had my C=64, C=128 and finally my Amiga 500 in a large basement room.

 

[whm1974]

I either wouldn't put the computer there or if did I'll properly fix up the basement to make it livable.

 

[khero]

Bobo you too much!

 

[Carson Dyle]

Bobo you too much!

He's not kidding. You've stumbled into a computer forum of senior citizens.

 

[Mayne]

Carson my man. 8k bro

 

[khero]

 

[Red Squirrel]

Lay a sheet of vapour barrier plastic then put the stuff on that. Couple drycore tiles might do the trick too.

This was my server setup when I first moved into my house, before I got a proper rack:



Damn I came a long way from that setup. lol.

 

[snoopy7548]

Lay a sheet of vapour barrier plastic then put the stuff on that. Couple drycore tiles might do the trick too.

This was my server setup when I first moved into my house, before I got a proper rack:



Damn I came a long way from that setup. lol.

I hope you turned that cave part into a gaming room and/or sex dungeon.

 

[BarkingGhostar]

Red: I never understood the desire to use concrete block over poured concrete. I mean, you are pouring concrete for the floor so why not for the exterior basement walls? Seriously, even your footings were poured. Can someone alleviate my ignorance here?

 

[Carson Dyle]

Blocks were common for foundations up until about the 1970s. I'm guessing maybe it had to do with more widespread use of concrete pumpers, or maybe just the gradual evolution from building those walls from stone.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Red: I never understood the desire to use concrete block over poured concrete. I mean, you are pouring concrete for the floor so why not for the exterior basement walls? Seriously, even your footings were poured. Can someone alleviate my ignorance here?

Older house, not really sure either why it was chosen over poured foundation. There is a concrete footing under the blocks, so it does seem to me while they had a cement truck at the work site may as well just do a full poured foundation. Maybe back then they didn't have the techniques down path for structural concrete. A wall and footing just needs to sit on top of soil while a wall needs to have strength to not cave in. Don't know, just a guess.

I hope you turned that cave part into a gaming room and/or sex dungeon.

Why not both?

Actually it's just storage but has lot of potential. Could technically game comfortably down there especially once I finish insulating. The basement part is insulated now and it's warmer down there then the rest of the house.



Now as for the level 2 dungeon... definitely need to do something fun in there.



Actually I kinda want to leave chains and stuff bolted to the walls in there and those 4 line cross patterns to count days like inmates do in jails. Would totally freak future owners out. Like I'd have to wall it in so that it gets rediscovered years down the line.

 

[Darwin333]

Ooh, you could also add in a secret/hidden door!

 

[lxskllr]

Red: I never understood the desire to use concrete block over poured concrete. I mean, you are pouring concrete for the floor so why not for the exterior basement walls? Seriously, even your footings were poured. Can someone alleviate my ignorance here?

Block is more labor intensive, and I favored it for the relative ease of making repairs if necessary. Not sure that's valid though. Poured foundations are relatively new around here(last 30 years or so), and are *much* quicker to install, but you either need to own forms, or rent them. So, I'd say block is better when you have time and man power, and lack infrastructure for poured foundations. Poured is better when you have the stuff to do them. I think repairabilty is fine on poured.

 

[snoopy7548]

Older house, not really sure either why it was chosen over poured foundation. There is a concrete footing under the blocks, so it does seem to me while they had a cement truck at the work site may as well just do a full poured foundation. Maybe back then they didn't have the techniques down path for structural concrete. A wall and footing just needs to sit on top of soil while a wall needs to have strength to not cave in. Don't know, just a guess.



Why not both?

Actually it's just storage but has lot of potential. Could technically game comfortably down there especially once I finish insulating. The basement part is insulated now and it's warmer down there then the rest of the house.



Now as for the level 2 dungeon... definitely need to do something fun in there.



Actually I kinda want to leave chains and stuff bolted to the walls in there and those 4 line cross patterns to count days like inmates do in jails. Would totally freak future owners out. Like I'd have to wall it in so that it gets rediscovered years down the line.

That's awesome. Got any pics of the level two dungeon?

 

[Red Squirrel]

That's awesome. Got any pics of the level two dungeon?

This is when I first moved in. Ironicly I have a phobia of spider webs (not spiders) but tried to see past that when buying haha.



This is it now, got it spray foamed as I was losing lot of heat due to it not being airtight. The garage is above there.



I'd have to find a cool use for that space actually. it's a very low ceiling though, like the pictures make it look bigger than it is. Now that it's spray foamed it does not get as much spider webs.

 

[IronWing]

Poured vs block must be a regional thing. The house I grew up in (built 1956) had a poured basement as did all the houses I saw being built growing up. I didn't see a builder using block for a foundation until I moved to a different part of the country. I thought the guy was just being cheap.