Basements are found in many homes across the United States and are used for many purposes. The unfinished basement provides much-needed storage space, while the completed basement adds a lot of square feet to the family’s living space. In terms of indoor air quality, the basement does have its own problems. Compared with other places in the home, humidity control here may be a greater challenge.
In a crawl space or basement at home, high humidity may cause mold and mildew to grow. In addition to affecting the poor air quality that family members breathe, these humid outbreaks also endanger the structural integrity of the house.
Responding to environmental challenges by using Baseaire basement dehumidifiers, these basement dehumidifiers can reduce the humidity in these underground areas. Read on to learn more about the benefits of basement dehumidifiers and the reasons why you should install basement dehumidifiers.

The moisture challenge in the basement

Excessive moisture usually affects the basement more than the superstructure of a house. The basement is damp because moisture may seep in from the foundation, through a leak, or due to high humidity in the main house. Moisture problems in the basement lead to mold growth, leading to health problems and structural damage to the house.
Relative humidity levels above 80% are responsible for the development of mold in basements. Using a basement dehumidifier to keep the humidity below 50% can prevent the growth of mold and mildew, protect indoor air quality, and prevent damage.

Signs that you need a basement dehumidifier

High humidity is not always easy to spot - knowing the signs to watch out for will help you know if you need to install a basement dehumidifier to deal with the humidity around the house. Signs that you need a basement dehumidifier include:

• Mold growth can be seen on floors, ceilings, walls, or other surfaces.
• You feel damp when you touch the wall.
• There is condensation on the surface.
• The basement has a moldy or musty smell.
• The watermark on the floor indicates that moisture is rising through the foundation.
• Items stored in the basement are moldy or moldy, and/or have obvious growth.

Purchase a basement dehumidifier

The dehumidification system required for the basement is different from the main house. To effectively remove moisture, you need to install a dehumidifier specifically for the basement environment.

Working principle of a dehumidifier

The size of the dehumidifier ranges from a portable room-sized unit to a system that adds to the entire house of a home HVAC system. The two types of dehumidifiers work in the same way. The unit is set to the desired humidity level. When the humidity measured by the humidifier is higher than the set value, the dehumidifier will turn on. The fan moves the moist air over the cold metal coil. The moisture condenses into water and then drains into a bucket or through a drain hose.

Type of dehumidifier

There are two main types of dehumidifiers: portable devices and whole-room systems. Unless you need to dehumidify the entire house floor or the entire house, portable dehumidifiers are the most common type of dehumidifier used to control humidity in the basement. Commercial or industrial-strength portable dehumidifiers are an effective choice for wet basements, crawl spaces, and any space prone to high humidity.

The size of the basement and the size of the dehumidifier

It is important to choose the capacity of the dehumidifier to fit the square footage of the basement. Low temperature or basement dehumidifiers are designed to work efficiently at temperatures below 65 degrees. These specialized devices provide enhanced performance in humid, cool environments to ensure the effective removal of moisture from basements. Check out our guide to help you understand the size of your basement and how to determine the best basement dehumidifier.

Automatic drainage

The basement is an area that is not always occupied. For convenience, choose a basement dehumidifier that can automatically drain excess water, rather than a model that must be emptied when the storage tank is filled with water. Depending on the model you choose, you can discharge the water collected by the dehumidifier into the sewage pump, floor drain, or even pump up to the sink drain.

An extra function of a basement dehumidifier

Although it is necessary to choose a suitable dehumidifier based on the size and conditions of the basement, it is also a good idea to find other features that can make the equipment easier to operate and meet other needs, such as air filtration.
Features of popular basement dehumidifiers:

• Automatic Humidifier-The humidifier can automatically turn on and off the dehumidifier to maintain the required humidity level and save energy.
• Automatic restart-the automatic restart function can automatically restart the dehumidifier when the power is off.
• Low-temperature operation-Dehumidifiers that operate and operate at low temperatures are very suitable for use in basements or crawl spaces.
• An automatic defrosting-The automatic defrosting function can defrost the ice on the equipment and make the dehumidifier run at low temperatures.
• Air filter-some basement dehumidifiers have an air filter that can trap allergens and particles, helping to reduce allergy symptoms and protect the components of the equipment from dust and debris.

Basement dehumidifiers can prevent mold growth and rot caused by excessive moisture in the basement. Adding a dehumidifier in the basement can also improve the indoor air quality of the home.
Baseaire's AirWerx 90X dehumidifier and AirWerx 140X dehumidifier are large-capacity low-temperature dehumidifiers that can easily dry large and very humid basements. They have internal pumps and have automatic drainage. For more information on dehumidifying basements, please visit our basement crawl space dehumidification page.

More ways to reduce basement humidity

If there are problems with basement seepage and stagnant water, even the best basement dehumidifier will not work effectively.
There are some simple ways to improve drainage around the foundation and reduce excessive humidity at the source, such as:

• Extend the downpipe of the sink to a location away from the foundation of the house.
• Keep drains and downpipes clean.
• Make sure that the soil is tilted away from the home to prevent water from accumulating around the foundation.
• Avoid beautifying the environment near the foundation.
• Make sure that the dryer is properly discharged outside.
• Use ventilation fans in bathrooms and kitchens to remove moisture.

If you need help to control the humidity in the basement, you can contact us by phone or email. We will select the best Baseaire dehumidifier based on the size and condition of your basement.