What Size Of Dehumidifier Do I Need For My Basement?

Since basements are below ground level, it usually absorbs moisture from the soil causing the surroundings of the basement to be damp and humid. This encourages mold growth, mould growth can cause respiratory and allergic disorders. Aside from these health challenges it causes, it can as well damage items that are stored in the basement. As a result, a dehumidifier is required.

A basement dehumidifier is one that is especially able to function alone with features capable of offering efficient service for a basement. Considering the temperature level as well as the moisture content of your basement will guide your decision to find a good basement dehumidifier. You cannot just have any type of humidifier running in your basement and require efficiency from it. Various environmental conditions of your basement can affect a dehumidifier’s efficacy. So you have to choose carefully.

For a good basement dehumidifier, there are certain characteristics to look for which includes:-

Effective In Colder Temperature.

A basement can be the coldest part of your house, so whatever dehumidifier you are getting should be able to work at cold temperatures effectively. Modern basement dehumidifier has a refrigerator mechanism that ensures efficiency in low-temperature use. It can work even work at a temperature lower than 41°F.

Operating Temperature Range.

Most dehumidifier comes with a specified operating temperature range in its manual guide. So if you need a basement dehumidifier, you will surely require one with an average or higher operating temperature range.

Size Of The Water Tank And Unit Capacity.

It is important to consider the size of the water tank when buying a basement dehumidifier. A large tank size ensures that it takes less time for you to require draining water and replacing the tank than a smaller size water tank will.

The Capacity Of The Dehumidifier.

A dehumidifier is characterized based on its capacity i.e. how much amount of water it removes from the air in a day. For a basement dehumidifier to remove a high amount of moisture in a day, a large-size dehumidifier is necessary. The water tank capacity determines the capacity of the unit a dehumidifier can offer. The capacity is divided into three units; small, medium, and large.

Small Capacity.

This unit is designed to remove around 30 to 35 pint of moisture in a day and it is useful in small areas up to 2,500 sq. ft. A 30-pint dehumidifier can work well in the basement and crawl spaces of 1,500 sq. ft.  making it recommended for residential basements.

Medium Capacity.

The medium unit can perform a little level above the smaller one.. It can do well in damp areas but poorly in very wet areas. A 50-pint dehumidifier can work for basements with high moisture covering close to 2,500 sq. ft. It is overall better than the small unit.

Large Capacity.

This is when a unit can remove up to 70 pints of moisture from air in a day in spaces of more than 4000 sq. ft. It is more efficient and has a better performance than the other capacity units.

Drainage Feature.

A pump or gravity drainage is highly recommended if you have a small water tank for your basement dehumidifier. When you have a big reservoir in place, you don’t need a drainage accessory. This drainage ensures that you need not monitor the dehumidifier frequently as it automatically continuously drains water into a sink.

Continuous Working With No Interruptions.

Unlike other dehumidifiers in a home that may constantly have to shut on and off to regulate temperature. A basement dehumidifier must be able to function continually with no interruptions. This is to ensure maximum removal of moisture from the basement within a short range of time. This feature is important for basements that have high moisture issues.

Timer.

A basement dehumidifier must have a timer that can be set to shut off when it is no longer needed or to run at certain periods in a day.

Type Of Dehumidifier.

A basement dehumidifier can either be desiccant or compressor-based. A desiccant dehumidifier is useful for a basement that is colder than 41°F, while a compressor one is mostly recommended for temperatures above that range. So in the case of an effective basement dehumidifier, a desiccant is preferable as it can work in lower temperatures, unlike a compressor dehumidifier.

What Size Of Dehumidifier Do I Need For A 3 Bedroom House?

To decide what size of dehumidifier you need for your 3-bedroom house, you have a choice to get a whole-house dehumidifier or to buy each capacity unit and place it strategically in each of the rooms in your home.

In the latter option, it is necessary to consider each side of the room whether a small, medium or large capacity size would be preferred in each room. If you opt for the former choice; buying a whole-house dehumidifier can help to save stress in maintaining several dehumidifiers at a time. This type of dehumidifier can cover home grounds that are more than 5,000 sq. ft and this can be connected to the HVAC system in your house. This will ensure that the dehumidifier can cover all rooms in the room space like the kitchen and toilet. As far as each space as a duct outlet, the dehumidifier can work effectively there.

Dehumidifier Calculator.

To determine the size of a dehumidifier, you will need a dehumidifier calculator. This is used to calculate the capacity of the dehumidifier that is needed to remove moisture from a room or basement. It is measured in pints per day or liters per day and calculated based on different temperatures and humidity.

A dehumidifier calculator can help you determine what dehumidifier you need for a 500, 1000 to 5000 sq. ft. room.

Best Dehumidifier For Basements.

Getting a basement dehumidifier that can give you effective function can be a little task due to the diverse availability of dehumidifiers in the market. Not all dehumidifier units are the same so here are the top three best choices to offer maximum efficiency.

#1 Homelabs 4500 Dehumidifier

This basement dehumidifier can effectively remove moisture from the air. It has a 50-pint per day capacity so it can aerate a basement of more than 4,500 sq. ft. It operates in a low noise output system. Its tank capacity is about 1.8 gallons. Since it can work in a large capacity, it has an increase in moisture removal at a short period.

#2 Frigidaire 70-pint Dehumidifier.

The FRIGIDAIRE has a removal capacity of 70-pint making it efficient for large basements and rooms. It is light-weighted and comes with simple, easy features. It has a digital readout that you use to monitor humidity and a window to know when a bucket needs to be poured out. It also has a 24-hr timer. It is easy and convenient to carry around as it comes with portable side handles, wheel, and bag straps.

#3 Ivation 70 Pint Energy Star Dehumidifier.

The Ivation can collect 70-pint moisture from the air in a day and drains it through its continuous drainage system. It also has a tank capacity of 1.3 gallons and can cover close to 4,500 sq. ft basement space. It uses an auto-defrost mechanism that ensures immediate defrosting without another pump use.

Home Depot Dehumidifier

Products bought from Home depot are of high quality and comes at affordable cheap prices. Dehumidifiers are one of such products. Home depot has close to 170 different dehumidifier brands so it may be difficult in making a choice. A brand favorite is the FRIGIDAIRE energy star 70-pint dehumidifier. This comes at a good price and works well for a large size environment. It has a large tank space, a timer, and an auto-shutoff.

There are other home depot dehumidifiers that are highly recommended for your basement. Notable mentions are:

• GE 50-pint dehumidifier.
• hOmeLabs 4500 dehumidifier.
• Ivation desiccant dehumidifier.

Whatever choice you make, the home depot humidifier is always affordable and quality.

Conclusion.

Choosing the right size of dehumidifier for your basement is necessary. It is important to know your basement size to determine the unit capacity that can work efficiently in it. Knowing the feature that determines a good and effective basement dehumidifier is important as well. The size of the dehumidifier required for a 3 bedroom house was also highlighted.

With thorough research, three of the top best basement dehumidifiers were enlisted with features inclusive. Getting an affordable and high-quality basement dehumidifier with the right size is essential so you can get maximum benefits and worth for your money.