Are you dealing with mold and dampness in the crawl space or basement of your house? Don’t ignore the problem, but instead, address it, as there are several health problems associated with damp and moldy environments. To get breathable air inside the crawl space of the house, you need to invest in a dehumidifier, and the good thing is that there are so many good options available on the market, so you won’t have a hard time finding the right product. You can go through the reviews of crawl space dehumidifiers consumer reports to determine which product is right for you.
Reviewing 5 Best Crawl Space Dehumidifiers
1. ALORAIR Commercial Dehumidifier 113 Pint, With Drain Hose For Crawl Spaces
This is a commercial-grade dehumidifier, which can get rid of 53 pints of humidity per day at AHAM. This crawl space dehumidifier is capable of clearing a room of humidity and its effects on a room as big as 1,200 sq. ft. The humidifier boasts a metal outer casing that allows it to withstand rough conditions, ensuring prolonged usage without needing expensive maintenance. You can easily adjust the humidity in this humidifier to reduce the moisture and foul odor.
For the protection of the internal components against dust, the company has installed a MERV-8 filter in this dehumidifier. Also, drainage in this humidifier is automatic, so there is no tank for you to empty. It also features an auto-defrosting system, which automatically comes into play upon sensing ice buildup. The dehumidifier boasts a compact design that makes it easier to fit into confined spaces of the crawlspace, basement, and other areas. The company provides 5 years of warranty on the product that covers all manufacturing defects.
2. AprilAire E070 Pro 70 Pint Dehumidifier For Crawl Spaces
Get this humidifier to prevent the entry of mold, foul odors, termites, and structural wood rot in the sealed crawl space of your property. You can place this dehumidifier anywhere, even between the joists and tight spaces. It easily fits through a majority of crawl space doors. As far as the efficiency of this dehumidifier is concerned, then it easily removes up to 70 PPD of moisture inside the property with an area of up to 2,800 square feet.
The water accumulated by the dehumidifier is easy to dispose of, as it doesn’t contain any water tray to empty. You just need to place the hose or the unit on the floor drain. The company has made this dehumidifier with quality materials, including aluminum coils, which are resistant to corrosion.
3. Abestorm Guardian SN55 Crawl Space Dehumidifier
A notable thing about this crawl space dehumidifier is that it takes less energy to remove moisture compared to conventional dehumidifiers. The unit is capable of removing 55 pints of water per day at AHAM and 120 pints at saturation. The dehumidifier covers an area of 1300 square feet, which makes it ideal for crawl spaces, basements, and other areas of the rooms where moisture accumulates. The dehumidifier comes with an auto-defrosting system along with a remote-control system that allows effortless removal of the ice that builds up due to continuous usage.
There is a drain hose given along with the dehumidifier that automatically drains the condensation due to gravity even at a low temperature of around 36 degrees Fahrenheit. The company has used a special tube evaporator in the dehumidifier that is made of rare Earth alloy to prevent freon leakage. The presence of internal corrosion protection advanced technology ensures uniform transfer of heat through the coil and prevents corrosion. You can easily adjust the dehumidifier at the ideal humidity setting to reduce the moisture and odor. The company offers a 5-year warranty on the product that covers all manufacturing defects, so if you come across any issue with the device, you can quickly reach out to their support.
4. Midea Cube 50 Pint Dehumidifier For Basement And Rooms
Have a look at this large dehumidifier from Midea, which boasts a three times larger water tank compared to the conventional dehumidifier. This allows the unit to operate longer without the hassle of emptying the tank frequently. The inclusion of an auto restart function handles the disruption caused due to power outages efficiently by starting the machine from the same settings as before. Then, there is an auto defrost function that doesn’t let the water to get freeze and damage the machine. This is a versatile unit, which comes with a no-bucket option that allows you to easily get rid of moisture.
When the water tank is filled with water, just place the unit above the sink and drain all the water using the hose that is included in the package. Or you can position the hose over the floor drain near the door or window. There is also an option to preset the water level where you will receive an alert when the water is filled to its maximum capacity. You can monitor the dehumidifier in real-time using the Midea Cube Air app, which lets you know about the dehumidification status. The dehumidifier covers an area of around 4,500 square feet, and easily collects 50 pints of water a day along with adjusting the humidity from 35-85%, hence making it ideal for crawlspace, basement, bathroom, and bedroom.
5. Vellgoo 4,500 Sq.Ft Energy Star Dehumidifier For Basement With Drain Hose
Last on the list is a dehumidifier from Vellgoo, which can cover an area of around 4,500 square feet. This dehumidifier removes 52 pints of water from the room in a day along with adjusting the humidity from 40% to 80%. Besides eliminating the humidity, the dehumidifier will save energy as well, thanks to the use of energy-efficient components and cutting-edge technology incorporated into the unit.
This is a smart dehumidifier, which stops working or restarts automatically when the set humidity level is reached or the humidity increases than the desired level. The unit also comes with a bucket full indicator with silent reminders that go on and off automatically according to the humidity level, so you don’t have to reach out to the unit to turn it on. When the tank fully fills with water, you can easily empty it using the drain hose that comes along with the unit. You’ll also get a male-threaded connector that can be used to connect to the garden hose.
The dehumidifier features two modes of dehumidification, which include customed mode and continuous mode, automatic restart and defrost options, built-in universal wheels, and a handle for easy maneuvering and safety protection. The inclusion of a reusable filter adds to the convenience, as you can simply wash it to use it again and again. The company also provides a child lock to ensure that children don’t injure themselves while exploring the dehumidifier. You will get a 1-year warranty on the product, which can be extended for 2 more years upon request.
Features To Look For In A Crawl Space Dehumidifier
Every dehumidifier is equipped with plenty of features. You may find that some are essential, while others are not. It all boils down to your requirements. So, let us now discuss the features one should consider while buying the best dehumidifier for crawl spaces.
Defrost mode
Needless to say, areas in the house such as basements, warehouses, and attics are quite humid, as they are not well insulated. The level of insulation is not as reliable as in other places. This is the reason for the temperatures to drop suddenly, which then causes ice to build up inside the tank. Inevitably, freezing can cause irreparable damage to the dehumidifier.
This is why it would be wise to invest in a unit with an automatic defrost feature. To be more descriptive, if you expect temperatures to drop below 5 degrees Celsius, that should be high on your priority list. This won’t let the coils freeze and get damaged.
Operating temperature range
You need to determine the optimum temperature range in the room where you wish to install the dehumidifier. Make sure to buy a dehumidifier that can operate at a lower temperature.
And while temperatures in your basement or attic never drop below 15 degrees Celsius (or thereabouts), you should get a unit that works successfully in lower temperatures. This is applicable if the basement isn’t heated or if you live in an area where it remains moderately warm throughout the year.
Drain system
Different dehumidifiers have different drainage options, so it is up to you to select the product that is suitable per your specifications.
Gravity drainage
Usually, gravity drainage does the job well. However, you will need to position the dehumidifier near a floor drain so that the water can drain freely. If this is not a possibility for you, you can consider another solution, namely, pump drainage.
Pump drainage
If you get a unit with a built-in condensate pump, you must connect an expandable hose to the outlet port. Then direct it to a nearby sink or outside the window.
Water tank size
To keep your dehumidifier running, you will need to empty the water tank regularly. Make sure the size of your water tank is big to empty the water tank less frequently. Therefore, if you have enough space, you can consider a unit with a large water tank to avoid frequent emptying of the tank.
Timer
This is a useful feature to rely on. It's as useful as the timer in your microwave or oven. You can easily set the operating times in the dehumidifier and set the timer to allow the unit to run for specific hours of the day. What makes this feature so useful? In most cases, you don't need to be around the machine all the time to start or stop it. If you don’t access the crawl space or basement, then this feature will be of great use.
Automatic restart
Auto-restart feature is something that you will find in most dehumidifiers. It's as simple as the name suggests: the dehumidifier is going to restart automatically in the event of a power failure. Then it will work again with the setting used before the failure.
Continuous mode
This is another feature that you will find in most dehumidifiers, so make sure you check for this feature, as it allows you to run the dehumidifier for 24 hours a day.
How To Take Care & Maintain Your Dehumidifier
While a dehumidifier takes care of your basement and crawl space by preventing the humidity from accumulating and damaging the surroundings, there are certain steps that you need to take to ensure that your dehumidifier does that day in and day out without any issues.
Regularly clean the water tank
Make sure to clean the water tank regularly besides emptying it. Mold can build up quickly in humid environments. So, you should use a disinfectant for deep cleaning.
Clean the intake and exhaust grills
Do this once in a season to ensure that dust and debris don’t accumulate and cause unwanted blockages in the dehumidifier. You can use a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment for the best results.
Adjust the humidistat
The humidistat is responsible for regulating the level of humidity inside a room. You should adjust the humidistat levels to use the device for a long period of time.
Position the dehumidifier correctly
It is important to place the dehumidifier in the right spot. Don’t place it within 6 inches of the wall or else the inlet and outlet are going to get blocked. Also, check the temperature inside the room before selecting a unit.
Replace the filter if needed
Finally, the air filter incorporated into a dehumidifier is designed to remove allergens and dust from the air. Thus, it improves the quality of breathable air while protecting the device. Due to this reason, checking the manufacturer’s recommendations for replacing a filer becomes important.
Final Verdict
A crawl space dehumidifier won’t just help you with the mold and dampness in the crawl space or basement of the house, but also a lot of money that goes into the renovation of the space. So, don’t delay the decision of buying such a useful product and check out crawl space dehumidifiers consumer reports to pick the right product.