Best Basement Dehumidifier

A basement is the part of your house that’s either completely or partially below the ground floor. Because of its close proximity to the moist earth, it is more prone to dangerously high humidity levels all year round. High humidity levels cause basements to become cool, damp, and give off a noticeable musty smell. That smell is likely due to mold and mildew which proliferate where it’s dark and moist.

Mold and mildew can damage any belongings you may have in your basement as well as pose a serious health risk for anyone with sensitivities to them. To prevent these problems, a dehumidifier can be placed in the basement to effectively lower humidity levels.

Refrigerant Dehumidifiers

Although not explicitly stated in product descriptions or user manuals, most of the popular dehumidifiers in the market are refrigerant types. This is also the most common type.  Refrigerant dehumidifiers work by drawing moist air into the dehumidifier and passing it over a cold evaporator coil. The coil cools the air past its dew point, the atmospheric temperature below which water droplets begin to form. This causes condensation, which collects on a pan and can be removed manually or purged through a hose directly connected to the dehumidifier. The newly dried air is then released back into the room.

Desiccant Dehumidifiers

Desiccant dehumidifiers work by running moist air through a rotor that has a moisture adsorbent desiccant material. A desiccant is a hygroscopic substance that is widely used for drying purposes. Once the water is removed from the air, the dry air can then be released back out into the vicinity. Water collected from moist air is removed by heating and the vaporized moisture can then be ducted out of the house/building.

When it comes to choosing the right dehumidifier for your home, it’s important to keep these key characteristics in mind:

Extraction Rate

The extraction rate for a dehumidifier measures how much water it can extract on a daily basis. This is often measured in pints per day (PPD). Generally, refrigerant dehumidifiers are able to extract larger amounts of water as compared to desiccant dehumidifiers and are particularly more useful during flood restoration when materials require more rapid drying. Of course, extraction rates vary from brand to brand and from model to model so it’s best to do a little research beforehand.

Area Coverage

Area coverage simply measures how big of a space the dehumidifier is able to service. This changes dramatically depending on the relative humidity of the basement, the temperature, and how sealed the area is. A dehumidifier will be able to maximize its area coverage when the basement is very tightly sealed.

Operating Temperature

This is a very important characteristic that you will have to look into when purchasing a dehumidifier as the operating temperature directly affects how your dehumidifier will work. Desiccant dehumidifiers, in general, are able to withstand colder temperatures than refrigerant dehumidifiers. This is because refrigerant dehumidifiers struggle to reach the required dew point during the cooler seasons. There are certain brands of refrigerant dehumidifiers that are able to operate at temperatures as low as 33°F, though, so it’s best to do a little research on this.

Running Costs

Generally, dehumidifiers don’t cost much to operate. You can expect to spend $15 to $35 per month on electricity, but this can go upwards of $50 if your dehumidifier is running continuously. Between the two types, refrigerant dehumidifiers consume less energy than desiccant dehumidifiers.

Noise

Because refrigerant dehumidifiers use compressors to run, they’re typically louder and noisier than desiccant dehumidifiers. Generally, basement dehumidifiers make between 45 to 55 dB of noise which is comparable to urban ambient sound or conversation noise.

Size/Weight

Basement dehumidifiers generally come in more or less the same sizes. Their size is directly proportional to their specifications: the more powerful it is, the larger it will be. When choosing a dehumidifier, make sure you have enough space for it in your basement.

Compared to other types of home appliances, basement dehumidifiers often need very little maintenance, but they aren’t maintenance-free. There are still necessary steps you need to take in order to keep your dehumidifier in the best shape.

Ensure proper placement of unit

One of the first things to determine when bringing home your basement dehumidifier is where to place it. To get the most out of a dehumidifier, you have to place at least 6 inches away from the walls to ensure proper airflow. Furthermore, it’s best to keep the basement as tightly sealed as possible to keep the dehumidifier running optimally. Open windows/doors can make the dehumidifier work twice as hard to remove the moisture in the room, leading to higher electricity bills.

Adjust the humidistat to the right level

All dehumidifiers come with a humidistat that allows you to set the humidity to your desired level. Ideally, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends keeping indoor humidity levels to 30% to 50%. The same is true for your basement. To keep your dehumidifier from working too hard, make sure you adjust the humidistat to the right level and avoid setting it at a very low humidity level.

Replace the filter periodically

Most dehumidifiers come with an air filter to remove unwanted air pollutants such as allergens and dust. The filter protects the dehumidifier as well as ensures the air it releases is as clean and healthy as possible. Different models use different types of filters and it’s best to always check the manufacturer’s instructions or user manual to find out how often you should change out your dehumidifier’s filters.

Check the drain

It’s important to ensure that there are no blockages or airlock in the dehumidifier’s drain system to keep it running efficiently. Otherwise, a qualified service professional may need to repair it.

Check coils for frost or ice build-up

A common problem with dehumidifiers is that they’re prone to frost or ice build-up especially when they’re running in cooler conditions. This will interfere with how the dehumidifier operates.

If you think your dehumidifier is suffering from this problem, turn off the dehumidifier and unplug it so that you can safely access the internal system. Be warned, though, that opening your dehumidifier or taking apart may void your warranty. In these cases, it’s best to check for defrosting tips in the user manual or contact the manufacturer of your dehumidifier.

You can also try placing the dehumidifier in a warm place to hasten the defrosting process. Another way to curb this problem altogether is to purchase a dehumidifier unit with an automatic defrost function that shuts the compressor off when it detects ice build-up. The fan keeps running to melt the ice build-up and, once all the ice has melted, the compressor turns on again and operation resumes as normal.

Clean air intake and exhaust grills

As with any home appliance that solves air quality problems, the air intake and exhaust grills of the dehumidifier need to be cleaned regularly to keep it running efficiently. You can do this by running a vacuum brush over the grills at least once per season.

Avoid short-cycling the compressor

Avoid switching on and turning off your dehumidifier at short intervals. Doing this can cause the compressor to overheat and potentially trip your circuit-breaker. You should be waiting at least 10 minutes before switching your dehumidifier on again. This allows the pressure in the system to equalize and prevents damage to the compressor.

When you purchase a dehumidifier, you have the option to choose between three drain methods:

Manual draining from the bucket

This is probably the simplest but also the most tedious way to drain your dehumidifier’s water bucket. Dehumidifiers generally shut off automatically when the bucket is full. You can remove the water bucket, dump out the water, replace it back inside the dehumidifier, and it’ll run again as normal. Unfortunately, this option is very inconvenient, especially for the elderly or anyone with physical disabilities.

Gravity draining with a hose

Another, more convenient way of draining the water bucket is by attaching a standard garden hose to the dehumidifier. The problem with this method is that you have to place your dehumidifier at a higher level than your drain outlet because it works with gravity.

Automatic draining with an internal pump

Dehumidifiers with an internal pump, while considerably more expensive, rid you of the responsibility of having to manually empty your dehumidifier’s water bucket every now and then. You also don’t have to worry about having to position your dehumidifier higher than your drain outlet as the internal pump forcefully pushes out water via a hose and doesn’t rely on gravity.

• Where does the water extracted by my dehumidifier go?

• This depends on the drain method that you choose. If you’re using a hose to either drain your unit by gravity or with an internal pump, you can direct the hose to a floor drain, a nearby sink, a window, or attach it to an outlet pipe. There are several options for you and you can choose whichever option is most convenient.

• What is the ideal humidity level for my basement?

• The ideal humidity level for the crawl space is the same for the rest of the house: 30% to 50%. This is the humidity level recommended by the EPA and is the level at which mold spores are unable to grow. For more information on maintaining the ideal humidity levels at home, read our guide here.

• How much noise can I expect from my basement dehumidifier?

• Generally, basement dehumidifiers make between 45 to 55 dB of noise on the highest level which is about as loud as regular conversation noise or urban ambient noise. If you’re planning on only using it tucked away in a basement, then it shouldn’t be too distracting.

• Can a dehumidifier help control my allergy symptoms?

• Yes, it can. High humidity levels cause mold, mildew, dust mites, and bacteria to thrive in your environment. Dehumidifiers can help keep these humidity levels under control and thus can create an overall healthier and safer environment for anyone suffering from allergies.