Choosing A Dehumidifier for Your Basement Keeping Mold and Mildew Down and Comfort Levels Up!

A dehumidifier works much like an air conditioner in extracting moisture from the air via coils that capture the water and send it to the pan that holds water. Many pans have a hose that works by gravity and empty into a proper drainage area. These reservoirs differ in size as does the capacity of moister each dehumidifier can extract from the air. The more humidity the greater the capacity of a dehumidifier is needed.

The air conditioner then fans the cooler air back into a room. A dehumidifier heats that air sending it back into the room without cooling the air. The difference however is that though the air isn't cooler, it does have less moisture. This makes the human body more comfortable. In some climates a good humidifier keeping high humidity down can be suplimented with a ceiling fan giving comfort without chilled air. Many people like this option.

Though common sense should note the following it is important to note that doors and windows of a room need to be closed to properly remove moister from the air otherwise the unit will be trying to perform an unending job of removing moisture from an unending source.

Placing the dehumidiier in an open area is also important. The more the air moves, the better the overall removal of moisture. Also a big factor. Where is the drain of the pan leading to or are you close enough to a proper drain to pour the water into?

The easiest is a drain hose gravity fed directly into a drainage source or be close to a drain so any carrying of water is minimal.

A few key things to be aware of are control, size, capacity, portability. A humidistat reads the humidity in the air and will automatically shut off the unit when the air is holding the proper moisture. It will turn the unit on again when moisture once agan seeps into the air. Many dehimidifiers are sold by size meaning how many pints of moisture it can take out of the air in a given period of time, usually 24 hours.

The capacity of the pan is also important. A small one means more emptying if not drained directly out. Too large and perhaps you can't lift it and move it easily.

Most dehumidifiers have wheels. That makes them more portable and can also be used to bring the unit closer to a dumping point.  Most use 110/120 volt power so they can be plugged into most outlets but the coils, fans and compressors do use a fair amount of current so a dedicated circuit, though not essential, is good to have.