A crawlspace is an area that is mostly accessible by crawling and house wiring or plumbing and in some cases belongings. Indeed, you may not ever visit your home crawl space so you may see no issue concerning the humidity level in it. But this is a big mistake because moisture accumulated by crawlspace can affect the building structure. It can also encourage mold growth which poses health risks to your household.
You may wonder how water enters into your crawlspace to cause high humidity. If your crawlspace doesn’t have vapor barriers, then the water can evaporate from the ground and get trapped in the crawlspace. This will increase the moisture content in your home. Aside from the health risks, the high moisture content of your crawlspace can damage belongings stored in it, the woods, and walls. As a result, you will need a dehumidifier in your crawlspace.
It may not be easy for you to tell if your crawlspace needs a dehumidifier after all many homeowners rarely visit theirs except there is a need. Still, there are obvious signs to look out for to know if your crawlspace needs a dehumidifier.
- Strong odor
- Moisture deposit on windows
- Clammy even when an air conditioner is on
- Floors are creaky, saggy, or sloppy
- Visible cracks on the walls
If there are about three of these signs, then it is advisable to get a crawlspace dehumidifier or a whole-house dehumidifier.
Another thing to consider is encapsulation. This process ensures waterproofing of the crawlspace. An encapsulated crawlspace is always clean, dry, and well insulated so it is free from mold and pests growth. Since an encapsulated crawlspace is seemingly free from moisture, you may wonder if it is necessary to have a crawlspace dehumidifier.
So Does An Encapsulated Crawlspace Needs A Dehumidifier?
The truth is every encapsulated crawlspace needs to be kept dry at all times. Some crawlspaces have holes that ensure dry air to keep entering into them. This may be a good way of keeping your crawlspace dry, but the supply air-ventilation method has its downsides. Some of which are:-
- It can only dry your crawlspace when the HVAC system is functioning. When there is a high increase in humidity, the thermostat would not run.
- This method may not work during the spring and autumn seasons.
True, the supply air-ventilation method is cheaper than owning a dehumidifier and it can offer dryness to your crawlspaces at times but it can lead to poor air quality and HVAC issues. So having a dehumidifier in your encapsulated crawlspace is important. It is preferable to supply the air-ventilation method for the following reasons.
- A dehumidifier will respond to the moisture conditions of the crawlspace. If humidity increases, the dehumidifier can keep working effectively to remove moisture, unlike the supply air-ventilation method.
- A dehumidifier can keep running even when the HVAC system is not functioning.
- There is no airflow imbalance when using a dehumidifier in your encapsulated crawlspace.
Having a dehumidifier in your crawlspace also has known benefits than the supply air-ventilation method. This benefit includes:-
Improvement In Your Household Health.
By using a dehumidifier, you are decreasing the moisture content in the air, this, in turn, will reduce mold growth as a result allergy risks and respiratory disease are averted.
Control Of Pest Infestation.
High humidity encourages mold growth, which causes pests and mites to flourish in the crawlspace. Some of these pests can affect the wood and belongings stored. So a dehumidifier will remove moisture from the air, reduce humidity, and thus reduce pests infestation.
Increase In Building Structural Integrity.
High humidity in crawlspaces can affect the walls and other structural parts. This will cause damage and reduce building integrity. But with a dehumidifier, there would be a decrease in the moisture content of the crawlspace protecting the structural integrity.
Dehumidifiers In Crawlspaces Without Encapsulation
Since we now know it is important for dehumidifiers to be used in an encapsulated crawlspace, what about crawlspaces with no encapsulation? A crawlspace without encapsulation had a very high moisture level, this increases humidity and can cause damages to buildings as well as health risks.
A dehumidifier can not work well in a crawlspace without encapsulation. This is because a dehumidifier can only remove some moisture from the air. Without your crawlspace being encapsulated, the humidity will be very high for a dehumidifier to make a tangible difference.
Where To Place A Dehumidifier In The Crawlspace
Placing a dehumidifier in a crawlspace can be a challenge due to the limited spacing. Aside from that, there may be no electric outlet in a crawlspace to plug on the dehumidifier. It is recommended to put the dehumidifier close to the crawlspace opening with it wire connected outside in an electric outlet. This is in no way an ideal location, but the dehumidifier can still remove the humidity of the crawlspace. Depending on the size of your crawlspace, it is advisable to use a fan to circulate air around the crawlspace so that it can aid in the dehumidification.
Another option is a whole-house dehumidifier. In this case, the crawlspace should have a duct opening ensuring the dehumidifier can work effectively in the crawlspace.
Why Are Crawlspaces Now So Expensive?
Crawlspace dehumidifiers are high-quality dehumidifiers that can run continuously. They possess special features that enable them suitable for a crawlspace. Such as an in-built adjustable humidistat, auto switch-off control, continuous gravity drainage, a condensate pump, and an air-purification system.
The cost of a crawlspace dehumidifier is higher because you would always need high-quality dehumidifiers to remove moisture from the air in the crawlspace.
A crawlspace dehumidifier comes in compact size due to the crawlspace size, and yet it always has a larger unit than other residential dehumidifiers. So it requires more sophisticated components and engineering. All this contributes to the reasons why a crawlspace dehumidifier is more expensive than others.
Best Dehumidifier For Crawlspace
Since there is a need for buying a quality crawlspace dehumidifier, it is important to have a comprehensive guide on what dehumidifier will be most suitable for your crawlspace. This review of the top three best dehumidifiers for crawlspace will helpful to you.
#1 Alorair Crawlspace Dehumidifier
This brand comes with a compact design and it is outstandingly reliable. It can remove the moisture of 55-pint per day. It has an efficient hot gas defrosting valve that makes it good in low-temperature areas. It has an energy star rating making it energy-efficient and economical.
Highlighted Features:
- Compact design
- Large tank capacity
- HGV defrosting
What We Liked:
- It can work at low temperature
- Energy-efficient
What We Didn’t Like:
- Language barriers due to websites and customer service in Chinese
#2 Drieaz compact dehumidifier
This is also a compact crawlspace dehumidifier. It can remove 74-pint in a day when it has 60% humidity and 120-pint per day at 90% humidity level. It has a continuous drain pump. It is made of high-quality plastic and aluminum making it a heavy-duty dehumidifier. As a result, it can work in tough humid conditions.
Highlighted Features:
- Compact design
- Large tank capacity
- Continuous drain pump
What We Liked:
- It can remove moisture content of up to 120-pint in a day
- It can work in tough conditions due to its heavy-duty materials build.
What We Didn’t Like:
- It is very heavy weighted
#3 Aprilaire 1820 crawlspace pro dehumidifier
This brand is built with high-quality heavy-duty materials. It has tough aluminum coils and has plastic cover. It is of compact size yet can remove 70-pint moisture in a day. It has a continuous drain pump that needs to be cleaned only once a year. It also has automated controls that can be operated through your smartphone.
Highlighted Features:
- high-quality materials
- Continuous drain pump
- Automated controls
What We Liked:
- Resilience and tough
- It can be cleaned once a year
What We Didn’t Like:
- It requires a specific power source (110v-120v/60 Hz)
Conclusion
Crawlspace may not seem to be much of a threat, but it does pose many risks that can be avoided. Not only does it affect structural integrity, but it can also lead to certain health risks. A good way to solve this is to encapsulate your crawlspace, this will ensure it is clean and dry at all times.
To achieve total and continuous dryness of your crawlspace, a good dehumidifier is needed. It may come at a high price, but it is worth the price and will offer an energy-efficient, continuous moisture removal that would keep your encapsulated crawlspace dry all day.
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