How to choose a basement dehumidifier
Most homeowners have had to deal with a dampness in the basement or even in the laundry room. This problem is caused by the excess moisture in these rooms. This problem can be experienced even in homes with air conditioning thus a dehumidifier is needed.
Do I need a dehumidifier?
Any homeowner requires a dehumidifier if the relative humidity levels in the house are over 30% in the winter months and over 50% in the summer months.
How I measure the humidity to know the humidity levels are high?
You can easily measure the humidity of your basement with a hygrometer (can be purchased from most retail stores).
If you have no access to a hygrometer, then you can look out for the following signs:
- If the basement is damp and you can smell mildew and mold, this is a clear sign of high humidity.
- In extreme humidity levels in the basement, you will be able to spot condensed water on the walls or puddles of water on the basement floor.
For more information on why you should by a basement dehumidifier, check out our comprehensive list of why choose a dehumidifier.
How does a dehumidifier work?
There are a number of designs for basements dehumidifiers from different brands in the market today. However, in many dehumidifiers, moist air in the basement is directed over coolant filled coils by a fan. The moisture condenses over the coils and drips into a collection apart. The dry air is then expelled back into the basement.
How do I pick the right basement dehumidifier for my basement?
To pick the best basement dehumidifier, you must understand:
- The capacity of the dehumidifier – The efficiency of any basement dehumidifier is not determined by its size, but by its capacity. Capacity refers to how many pints of water the basement dehumidifier is able to extract from the basement in a single day.
- The size of your basement – This is a very easy task for anyone. It is important to get the exact measurements in square feet. Most basement dehumidifiers capacity is measured in per square footage of the basement.
You can use the table below as a guide to help understand how the size of the basement and capacity related to determining the best basement dehumidifier for you :
|
The condition of the basement |
1500 Sq. Ft. |
2000 Sq. Ft. |
2500 Sq. Ft. |
3000 Sq. Ft. |
4000 Sq. Ft. |
|
Moderately damp room with a musty smell. |
55/90 Pints |
90 Pints |
100 Pints |
120 Pints |
140 Pints |
|
Very moist room with damp stains on the floor and walls. |
55/90 Pints |
90 Pints |
100 Pints |
120 Pints |
140 Pints |
|
Very wet room with clear wet walls and floor. |
55/90 Pints |
90 Pints |
100 Pints |
120 Pints |
140 Pints |
|
Extremely wet room with puddles of water on the floor and dripping water on the walls |
90 Pints |
100 Pints |
120 Pints |
140 Pints |
140 Pints |
(The pints are measured after 24 hours)
Other important features to consider while choosing a basement dehumidifier, are:
- Plan to dispose of the water – If you have a very wet basement, it could mean your dehumidifier is produced over 12 pints of water. This would really mean you have to empty the collection container a few times a day. Most people would like to avoid this situation by choosing one of these two options :
- Buy a basement dehumidifier with a pump that is able to pump water to sink or out of the house
- Buy a basement dehumidifier that can be connected to a hose to drain the water.
- Buy a basement dehumidifier that is able to operate optimally even at low temperatures.
- Choose a basement dehumidifier with an auto humidistat – This allows the dehumidifier to automatically turn on and off depending on the level of humidity in the basement. This saves the energy and keeps the basement dry.
- Ask how noisy the basement dehumidifier is? Buying a dehumidifier that produces tolerable noise and buzzing. Is important to ensure your home remains comfortable.
For the best basement dehumidifier in visit crawlspace and basement dehumidifier.
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Control the humidity levels anywhere inside your home with BaseAire products.
Whether you're located in the Atlantic coastline states, the central states, or the Pacific coastline states, humidity remains an important factor in our daily lives.
The humidity levels change throughout the year depending on different seasons changing. You will
never see the increase in humidity, but you will feel it.
Most warm regions, especially along the coastline, are known to have high moisture and humidity levels.
High humidity is not only the biggest threat to the structural integrity of your home, but it can also affect your household belongings and physical health.
At BaseAire, we show our dedication to helping you control the humidity level in your home and
commercial workplace by offering a variety of dehumidifiers, different in:
- Capacity
- Size
- Airflow capabilities
Our specifically designed dehumidifiers will:
- Decrease the humidity level to below 50%
- Eradicate mold, mildew, and dust mite infestation
- Cleanse the indoor air of any mold spores, odor, and other impurities
- Reduce allergy triggers
The effects of high humidity:
i. High humidity levels in your home will make it feel warmer and stuffier.
ii. Increased humidity will make your home the perfect environment for mold, mildew, and dust mite
growth! Known as some of the most common allergy triggers, this can cause health issues.
iii. Skin allergies.
iv. Wood warping – since wood can absorb some of the excess moisture, this makes the wood warp,
causing wooden floors to feel uneven as well as wooden doors and windows not closing properly.
v. Appliance failure – in your home, if the excess moisture can condense inside the appliances, this can
cause fluid damage to said appliances.
vi. Wallpaper and paint will peel within a space with excess humidity.
vii. Wood rot – wet wood provides the perfect place for fungi growth which causes the wood to rot at an
accelerated rate.
Repairing the appliances or replacing the rotting wood can be expensive for many homeowners, hence
the importance of a BaseAire dehumidifier.
Common signs of high humidity in the house:
You can easily determine the humidity levels of your home using a hygrometer. But if you do not have access to one, here are some of the signs that show the presence of high humidity in your home:
- Constant reoccurring condensation on window planes and glass doors, especially in the morning.
- Water spots on the walls and ceiling.
- Black mold growth on the walls or ceiling.
In heavily moisturized spaces, like the basement, you will see condensed water on the walls or floor.
How does a dehumidifier work?
Dehumidifiers are electric appliances that extract excess humidity from the air.
We designed our dehumidifiers to pull the air from the house into the unit where it then passes over a
series of coolant coils that condense the excess moisture. This removes odor, mold spores, and other
impurities from the air. The unit then collects condensed water in a collection tray or pumped out of the
unit depending on the model of BaseAire dehumidifier you buy.
The air is then warmed up and pumped out of the dehumidifier back into the room. This process repeats
until the relative humidity level of the space lowers below the set level.
Why should you invest in a BaseAire dehumidifier today?
We have a wide variety of dehumidifiers designed for residential and commercial use. Our engineers have gone a step further, designing need-specific dehumidifiers for the basement, crawlspace, garage, office, and storage room. BaseAire dehumidifiers will lower the humidity levels in your home, making it impossible for harmful allergens like mold, mildew, and dust mites to grow. So, if a customer needs a humidity issue in their home fixed, our dehumidifiers will exceed their expectations. Improve your indoor air quality today! Speak to us about your humidity issues and our water damage & restoration experts will help pick the right dehumidifier for you