There are several signs of high humidity in a home that can help you determine whether you need a dehumidifier. Inspect the windows and doors for fogging or excess condensation and note whether any moisture is accumulating on the walls or ceilings. This device monitors the indoor air quality and reports the readings. Humidity levels higher than this ideal range should be treated with a dehumidifier.
Is the entire house overly humid, or is the issue confined to one area such as the basement? The scope of the problem directly determines the nature of the solution. Larger whole-house dehumidifiers tie into the HVAC system and include a drainpipe that empties directly into a slop sink, sump pump , or to the outdoors. Portable dehumidifiers, meanwhile, are much less expensive and much more consumer-friendly.
They plug right into the wall and operate via built-in interfaces that are easy to understand and configure. Some portable dehumidifiers are equipped with hoses that can drain or pump out collected water automatically; others feature a collection bucket that must be emptied on a regular basis.
Even dehumidifiers of the same basic design can differ in capacity. Select a small one that can hold 10 pints of water for a square-foot space; add 4 pints of capacity for every additional square feet.
For a very damp basement or other space, it might be necessary to increase the size of the dehumidifier to efficiently remove the increased level of moisture from the air. Choose a dehumidifier that holds 12 pints of water for a square-foot space, adding 5 pints for every additional square feet.
The square footage of the home or of the room where you will set up the dehumidifier is the main deciding factor for choosing a product, but there are other household conditions that can affect the humidity level in the home and what size humidifier you need. For instance, if you need to dehumidify a large sq. For large spaces, you also need to take into account the amount of airflow that your dehumidifier can provide. Airflow is important for large spaces because you will need air circulation throughout the entire space to dehumidify it.
If your dehumidifier is placed on one side of a large open room, then the opposite end of the room might stay humid. Moving forward, all dehumidifiers will be tested using the new standard. However, there are still many dehumidifiers on the market that were tested to the standard.
The bottom line— make sure you know which standard a dehumidifier was tested to before you buy it. So while the dehumidifier is rated at pints under the old standard, it would be rated at pints under the new standard. Finding the right dehumidifier for your basement can be tricky because of varying size and humidity conditions. For an average-sized basement sq.
People often contact us to ask what size dehumidifier they should buy when they want to purchase a room dehumidifier to reduce the humidity in a room or a basement in order to prevent the growth of toxic mold and reduce the risk of mold-related health problems. Using a dehumidifier is an easy way to prevent mold, because mold requires moisture in order to grow and spread. What we mean, instead, is how many pints of water it can pull from the air in one day. Dehumidifiers that can remove more moisture from the air in one day tend to be larger, meaning they take up more space, than those that remove less moisture, but when talking about the size of a dehumidifier, think about how much work you need it to do.
Start by measuring the area in which you want to place a dehumidifier. Then refer to the guidelines established by the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers AHAM to help homeowners determine what size dehumidifier they should purchase:. That means it will be appropriate for most residential basements. Desiccant dehumidifiers also have the advantage of being quieter than refrigerant models.
Buy a refrigerant model for a hot and humid space. If your space is consistently hot and humid, a refrigerant dehumidifier may be your best bet. These dehumidifiers tend to have higher capacity ratings and operate more efficiently at high temperatures than desiccant models. You can choose a portable refrigerant dehumidifier for smaller spaces, or for a whole-home option, you can choose one that will connect to your central air system.
You can also use a dehumidifying ventilator if you want to move the humid air outside. These are most suitable for crawl spaces, basements, and attics.
Method 2. Look for signs of dampness to figure out how wet your space is. While you can measure the exact humidity level of a space using a humidity meter, it's usually not necessary to do precise measurements when choosing a dehumidifier. To get a general sense of how damp your space is, look for clear indicators of humidity, such as condensation inside the windows or damp spots on the walls. Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy focused on educating consumers about energy efficiency Go to source Your space is moderately damp if the air feels clammy or damp or you notice a musty odor when the weather is humid.
A very damp space always smells musty and feels damp. You may also notice damp spots on the floor or walls. If the space is wet, you may notice water beading on the walls or floors, or moisture seeping in around the edges of the room.
The room will feel and smell damp all the time. An extremely wet space will have obvious standing water on the floor. Get a dehumidifier with a capacity of 10—26 US pints 4. If your space is only somewhat damp, you won't need a super high-capacity dehumidifier. The total capacity you need will depend on how big your space is. Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy focused on educating consumers about energy efficiency Go to source For a space that's square feet 46 m 2 , a dehumidifier with a 10 US pt 4.
If your space is 1, square feet 93 m 2 , get a 14 US pt 6. For a 1, sq ft m 2 space, get a 18 US pt 8. For a 2, sq ft m 2 space, get a 22 US pt 10 L dehumidifier.
For a 2, sq ft m 2 space, get a 26 US pt 12 L dehumidifier. Choose a 12—32 US pt 5. If your space is very damp e. You'll need to take the size of the space into account as well as the level of dampness. Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy focused on educating consumers about energy efficiency Go to source 12 US pints 5.
Buy a 14—38 US pt 6. For wet spaces e. Select your dehumidifier capacity based on the size of your space. Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy focused on educating consumers about energy efficiency Go to source 14 US pints 6. Go for a 16—44 US pt 7. If your space is wet enough to have standing water, purchase a high-capacity dehumidifier based on the size of your space.
Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy focused on educating consumers about energy efficiency Go to source 16 US pints 7.
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