If your basement is musty or stuffy and the water condenses on the pipes and the windows, you should note this as signs that your home has very high humidity levels. Showering, cooking or running a dishwasher or washing machine, are all potential activities that can put moisture in the air. This can be a major problem especially if you are living in an area where the climate is humid and already uncomfortably high. Having a balanced humidity in the house is paramount and important not only for your health and comfort but that of your family and the house as a whole. When the humidity levels rise too high or they are too low, then a myriad of problems can arise. In this article, however, we will look at how you can deal with high levels of humidity with the help of the best dehumidifier for basement.
The Best Dehumidifier For Basement Buying Guide
It is very necessary to equip your house with a good dehumidifier because a dehumidifier helps remove the humidity, the musty odors and the bad smells out of your house, which contributes to make a fresh and healthy living environment for your living atmosphere. However, in the scope of this article, we would like to mention here the best buying tips so that you can select the most appropriate type of dehumidifier for your beloved house.
1. Size of Dehumidifier
Before selecting a suitable dehumidifier size, it is important for you to know clearly the size of the room where you intend to place the dehumidifier. By knowing this, you can both estimate exactly the moisture levels of that area and find a dehumidifier with right size that fits the area.
Remember that it is not difficult to check the size of each dehumidifier because the chart printed on each one shows the information concretely for customers to follow. Below dehumidifier sizing chart also provided to guide you on the right unit size to look out for your space.
2. Humidity Control Ability
It is advised to select a dehumidifier having automated controls, which help not only monitor but also set levels of humidity relatively. Besides, a dehumidifier with the adjustable humidistat can meet your need of dialing the most wanted level of humidity.
3. Water Capacity
The size of the bucket of the dehumidifier should not be ignored. The larger the size of a drip pan or a tub is, the less the dehumidifier needs emptying. In addition, a dehumidifier having the front-loading buckets is easiest for you to empty.
4. Automatic working process
You should choose the dehumidifier with automatic shut-off system so that it will switch off automatically once the water tank is completely full. Furthermore, select the one with an in-built humidistat, which can operate automatically when the level of humidity in your house reaches a definite point. Similarly, the one with a timer switch can help you switch the dehumidifier on and off automatically.
5. Level of noise
The noise made by the dehumidifier may disturb your quiet life; therefore, you had better choose the one advertised as “quiet operation”. Many experts also recommend customers to buy the dehumidifier having “two-speed fans” because this type of dehumidifier operates smoothly and saves energy. Significantly, it is best for you to test the noise level of any dehumidifier before making the final decision.
6. Energy efficiency
You would rather select the most update dehumidifier rather than choose an old type. Concretely, it is assessed that modern dehumidifiers are better designed with energy-saving characteristics such as automatic switch-off function, and more efficient fans and compressors.
Currently, most of saving-energy dehumidifiers on the market have “Energy Star” caption on their brands, so you can choose the ones with these features. Importantly, estimating the running costs of the dehumidifier by determining the kWh every hour when the dehumidifier operates is also essential.
7. Portability
You need to select the type of dehumidifier that is easily plugged in. That is the only suggestion we can make because current types of dehumidifier are becoming more and more convenient in use for customers.
8. Frost control ability
Unlike in summer, a dehumidifier may easily freeze up in too cold weather in winter. Hence, the one with “frost control” is a good selection for you to avoid that situation.
9. Maintenance
It is completely necessary for you to read clearly the instructions of maintenance printed on the catalogue before you decide to select any dehumidifier. For instance, you ought to understand how to clean the air filters, when to replace it, tips to drain the unit, guides to clean water reservoir and dehumidifier.
Moreover, “warranty service” needs paying much attention when you purchase a dehumidifier because this will help you much when you need to contact with staff for warranty service when there is something trouble with the dehumidifier.
Suggested Types Of Dehumidifier
On the current market, there are many types of dehumidifiers such as: 25 pint, 30 pint, 40 pint, 45 pint, 50 pint, 55 pint, 65 pint and 70 pint. To select the one with suitable amount of pint, you can take note these tips:
The ones of 25-30 pint are appropriate for the room of 1000-2000 sq. feet like garages or basements.
The ones of 40-50 pint are suitable for damp and musty room of 2000-3000 sq. feet like boat houses or basements.
The ones of 65-70 pint are best used for commercial and industrial purposes. However, we recommend you to purchase these types of dehumidifier:
- Best 70 Pints Unit – Frigidaire FAD704DWD and Keystone KSTAD70B Energy Dehumidifier
- Best 50 Pints Unit – Frigidaire FAD504DWD Energy Star Dehumidifier
- Best 30 Pints Unit – Frigidaire FAD301NWD Energy Star Dehumidifier
You can read our reviews for above mentioned dehumidifiers and decide what is the best for you?
Reviews of Best Crawl Space and Basement Dehumidifier for Homes
1. Frigidaire FAD704DWD Energy Star
This is probably one of the most popular dehumidifier in the market today, with the ability to get rid of up to 70 pints of water from a room each and every day; this dehumidifier earns its place in the list of high capacity dehumidifiers. It features a water tank that will store up to 16.3 pints of water and has a splash guard that keeps the water from splashing to the outside. It can also operate as an air conditioner as it has a washable filter that captures large dust particles, mold, pollen and other pollutants. Regardless of its efficiency, it still features caster wheels which make it easy to move around in the house.
And as if that is not enough, the Frigidaire FAD704DWD Energy Star features an in-built humidistat and a humidity sensor which aids in determining the humidity levels in the room for improved efficiency. Without this feature, the humidity would be slightly above the normal or the appliance will take the humidity levels lower than it is recommended. All you have to do is punch in the levels you would prefer and it will do the rest.
2. Frigidaire FAD504DWD Energy Star
This is a dehumidifier that comes with a high rating, very efficient and yet very quiet. It will suck 50 pints of water from the air it is placed in over a period of 24 hours. The fact that it has a low-temperature operation only means that it consumes less energy and that it will help you save some money the washable filters that it comes packing also helps to maintain the fresh air and can tilt out for easy removal. The filter also features anti-bacterial properties that help in getting rid of allergens and harmful bacteria that may be present in the air that you breathe.
The Ready-Select controls will enable you to operate the unit with just a touch of a button giving you total and precise control over the humidity levels in the rooms. Complementing the touch controls is a 6-foot power cord which makes it possible to use the dehumidifier in different rooms. Lastly, you will not have to worry about the dehumidifier failing you as it comes with a one year warranty.
3. Keystone KSTAD70B Energy Star
After carrying out some research, you will soon realize that this is probably and by far the best it will get in the current times. Why? Well, to begin with, and gotten from the name, the dehumidifier can extract 70 pints of water in less than a day in a room that is 3,800 sq. ft. This makes it best for basements.
It also features an LCD water level indicator to inform you when the water tray is full. The LCD panel is extremely easy to use and very convenient. For its price range, the quality of the build is very good. And in the event that it does malfunction, then you are covered with a full year warranty for labor and parts.
With its efficiency, you probably may be concerned that it will make a loud noise. Well, this is not the case with this appliance. As a matter of fact, it does not emit sounds higher than 54 decibels. And given the fact that it is Energy Star rated, you should not worry about your electric bill at the end of the month.
4. Frigidaire FAD301NWD Energy Star
The Frigidaire 30-pint FAD301NWD dehumidifier comes with a water container capacity daily. When it is located close to a proper drain, it will continue operating at its optimum. In addition to this, it also includes having a long power supply cord and has an auto turn-off feature whenever it is full thus avoiding any messy spills as well as leaks.
Aside from it being Energy Star rated, it features a washable antibacterial filter to help trap the dust particles. This can prove to be very helpful to those with allergies, asthma, and many other respiratory issues. It also has side handles, top handles as well as the caster wheels to the unit for improved portability. While the controls are manual, their operations are much easier than you would think. They enable you to keep the humidity levels at a comfortable range and reduce the chances of mold and mildew growth.
Now, you are ready to pick up the best dehumidifier for your home. As per the reviews, it can be hard to decide which one is the best among the many available units in the market. However, the answer to that if fully dependent on you preferences and the above considerations are only but to provide you with a clear path to follow when you are shopping for dehumidifiers.
What is our suggestion for dehumidifier?
It all depends on your demand, but we strongly recommend a 70-pint dehumidifier. Why?
Point One
70-pint dehumidifier will work harder and last longer compared with other size if we consider similar branch. For instance, with a middle size basement with more than 70% of moisture, if you leave a small size dehumidifier working, it would take about few hours to remove the unexpected moisture but with a larger one, for example, 70 pint dehumidifier; it lasts only for an hour. Moreover, 70-pint dehumidifiers are normally equipped with automatic features such as: auto shut-off when the air touches a certain moisture level as you set up and/or auto restart if the power cut-off happening that rarely seen in a small dehumidifier. Therefore, you save energy billing and do not have to worry about it too much. As you know that the lifetime of any equipment belongs to the conditions of working such as how many hours per day or how much stress does it work under. For a 70-pint dehumidifier, the amount of time spending to balance humidity level is much shorter than other smaller one, thus, it last much longer compared with small one.
Point Two
The second reason that why we recommend you buying a 70-pint dehumidifier is the fast moisture removal. We tested 3 machines including: 30-pint, 50-pint and 70-pint dehumidifier in the same working condition. Can you guess how fast 70-pint machine is? It takes less than nearly an hour to remove the same amount of moisture. Therefore, you are able to have a comfortable environment sooner that means you save your time.
Point Three
An extremely large water tank is the next reason why we say you should buy a 70-pint dehumidifier. Why a big water tank is needed? As far as you know that the dehumidifier removes moisture from the air and after few processes, a part of absorbed moisture becoming water as in a refrigerator and needed to store in a container. As we tested with a 70-pint dehumidifier, its tank can store about 14-16 pints compared with around 10 pints of 30-pint dehumidifier. What does it mean? It means that you are able to leave your home in certain time without concern about your dehumidifier. The large storage combined with an auto shut-off will be an ideal tool for your basement.
Point Four
Finally, a punch of new features and functions is also engineered into 70-pint capacity dehumidifiers. It will be the most important reason that why we recommend you buy a large one even you think that a 70-pint is not necessary for your small size basement. Many modern technologies such as automatic clean, air filter, bacteria reducing and so on do not apply on a smaller and less expensive one.
We hope that this article will be useful for you so that you can choose the most suitable dehumidifier for your house.
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