Home Improvement DIY

If you have a basement and are worried about damp and mold one of the best things you can do is buy a basement dehumidifier. The reason you would want to buy one is because having a wet basement can cause all sorts of problems to your home, your furniture and even your health. It’s shocking to think that the mold in your basement can cause problems with your respiratory system and will have terrible effects on members of your family who already have problems with allergies. A basement dehumidifier will deal with this excess water.

Condensation happens when water in the air meets cold air which is in your basement. When water condenses on your walls or other surfaces, the result is a wet basement. This problem tends to happen in spring and summer so it’s something you want to attend before you have any trouble. Fixing a wet basement is a case of using both insulation and a dehumidifier.

How to Buy a Basement Dehumidifier

First of all there are a wide range of basement dehumidifiers to choose from and they are not all produced the same. It’s important that you do plenty of research to find out what is the best basement dehumidifier for you. Because basements come in all different sizes this means that basement dehumidifiers come in different sizes. Strangely enough, the larger units use up less energy because the remove moisture from the air much quicker and so don’t need to be left running all the time. Small units have to be on all the time in order to achieve the same results. If you have a very large basement which is one single room you can easily buy a dehumidifier to deal with this.

Recommended Basement Dehumidifiers

Soleus Air CFM-40 E 40-Pint Dehumidifier with Humidistat	Soleus Air DP1-70-03, 70 Pint Portable Energy Star Dehumidifier, White
Santa Fe Advance Energy Star Low Temp Basement Dehumidifier	DeLonghi DE650P 65-Pint Dehumidifier with Pump
Soleus Air CFM-40E Dehumidifier – 40 Pint	LG 45 Pint Portable Dehumidifier LHD459EL

Because humidifiers are designed to extract moisture from the air, you need to understand that this water then has to be emptied out. This means you need to work out what the best drainage system is for you. If you don’t empty out the water on a regular basis, the dehumidifier will not be able to do its job. Large dehumidifiers can hold a lot more water but the problem with this is that the bucket can end up being quite heavy if you’re not emptying it out enough. Dehumidifiers can hold anywhere between 35 and 135 pints of water. Most units have warning lights to indicate that it is full and this allows you to easily see at a glance if there is a problem. Alternatively you can have the water drained out into a sink, floor drain or sump so you don’t have to worry about emptying the water. If you are using a hose, avoid having one which is too long as you could easily trip over it.

You will notice that dehumidifier specifications talk about temperature. This relates to the temperature of your room. Basically if you are operating it in a basement which is cold for much of the time, you will need to buy a dehumidifier which can operate at low temperatures.

They can also have a function which defrosts the dehumidifier if required. If you live in a part of the world which suffers from deep frost, this can cause frost to form around the coils of your dehumidifier. When this happens the unit cannot function as intended and the compressor will cycle on and off without removing moisture from the air. You can either deal with this problem by switching the machine off to allow it to defrost or you can buy one which has an antifrost sensor which turns the machine off and back on for you automatically.

Every now and again you should ensure that the coils are cleaned so that the dehumidifier can function properly. Make sure you keep the unit away from dust and smoke and only keep it running if there is a problem with high humidity.

How much you spend on your basement dehumidifier depends greatly on your needs, the size of your basement, quality and how much water it can hold. If you go for a recognizable brand you will pay more than if you bought one from a company no one has ever heard of before. Read through the specifications and ask advice from the sales person if you don’t understand. Quite often the sales info provided is quite technical and isn’t written with a regular consumer in mind.

Where to Place Your Basement Dehumidifier

Chances are, the dehumidifier you plan on buying will have a top-mounted air discharge so that you can place is against a wall. If this is not the case you will have to make sure you place it away from the walls and also any furniture, allowing the air to circulate properly.

When running your basement dehumidifier, make sure that you keep doors and windows (if you have any) closed. This will improve the functionality and efficiency. Always read the manufacturers instruction, especially the warnings about electricity. Because dehumidifiers are designed to extract water from the air, remember that water and electricity is a bad combination.

In order to get the most out of your basement dehumidifier, you will also want to ensure that your basement has plenty of insulation. You should do this by insulating walls, floors, ceilings and water pipes.

 

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