What do else do I need for chins in the basement?

[Kara315]

I'm thinking about putting my guys in the basement for the summer months, I had one day where I blew a fuse in my bedroom where they are with the AC and didn't know for a couple hours, luckily It wasn't too bad out and the room wasn't warm but things like this I worry about all the time, even now with no school/job and i'm home, so once school starts and after school working full time, it will be even worse with the worrying lol.

I'm looking into getting a dehumidifier and something that tells the temp/humidity. Are there anything else I should get/check etc.... This is an unfinished basement, they were down there in the summer months for the first five years i had them without anything and were fine. But i'm still going to get a dehumidifer just incase.
Do you think it would be a good idea to put a piece of fleece on the top part of the cage? to be even more safe with bugs? I've never seen them around their cage, but just in case.

So anything else I should know/look into etc....?
Thanks.

 

[Sandi]

My chins are in my finished basement. What kind of lighting do you have down there? I buy these bulbs for our basement...

http://www.amazon.com/ALZO-Digital-...3?s=lamps-light&ie=UTF8&qid=1341111397&sr=1-3

 

[Kara315]

My chins are in my finished basement. What kind of lighting do you have down there? I buy these bulbs for our basement...

http://www.amazon.com/ALZO-Digital-...3?s=lamps-light&ie=UTF8&qid=1341111397&sr=1-3

I'm not too sure actually, There are only about two light where they will be, but it lights it up perfect, so I can easily buy those type of bulbs. Are those better?
Would it be better to have a light on at all times for them?

I also will be putting a radio by them and have that on for them as well.

 

[Encantadora]

Here's what I have:
Overhead lights
Tall lights with daylight bulbs (since it's runs and the overheads don't reach into them well)
A fan, not pointed at them but keeps airflow going
A de-humidifier
Shop vac for the floor
All my supplies for easy access
A radio they like to listen to

This is what I need for mine.
I also have an air purifier but unplugged it when I moved in the standing light. I don't want too much plugged in for fire hazard fears.

 

[Kara315]

So is it best to keep a light on 24/7 in the basement? When I had them down their years ago, I had a small night light but didn't keep any of the actual lights on 24/7.

 

[Kylelemler]

We keep our chins in our unfinished basement. We did have a dehumidifier down there but then it stopped working, so we have been without that for two years now. I did put up a wall and a door to seperate them from the rest of the basement. There are two small windows one has a fan that blows air out 24/7 365 d/y. And the other window I use to bring fresh air in. And there is one duct open down there to help maintain temperature, a little a/c air in the summer and a little heat in the winter. But for l

 

[Kylelemler]

Oops I accidently pushed post. But for the lights they are on a timer that turns them off and on automatically, with an over-ride switch so I can turn the lights on when they wouldn't normally be on.

 

[Kara315]

I'm sure my guys will be fine then without some things. There's only one small window down their in the other "room" where they won't be. But I put them down their every summer for the first 4 years without anything and they were fine. So i'm thinking they will be fine, even a little better with a dehumidifer, possibly a fan, light and radio.
Thanks!

 

[Mystic]

I've had my chinchillas down in my unfinished basement ever since I got them. I don't have the lights on 24/7, but I do have them by windows which gives them that day/night feeling. I have a dehumidifier downstairs too. I also have a small "nightlight" for them that I plug into the outlet near their cages. I don't have fans running downstairs, but for my basement they don't need it. It stays a cool 68-70 degrees down there in the summer time.