How to Choose the Right Size Dehumidifier for Your Home Basement

Ever had problems with the air in the room? Not for certain: look for moldy spots in the rooms; are there dark stains on the ceiling bathroom, around your toilet, or elsewhere in your bathroom? It’s often because of excess moisture in the air. Moisture accumulating in your bathroom is normal, but too much can create a toxic living environment. This is especially true about other rooms in your house not typically accustomed to much moisture - resulting in condensation on windows, water run-off, a mustiness in the air, rotting wood and frequent allergy symptoms.

Does any of that sound familiar? If so, you should probably invest in a dehumidifier (DehumidifiersReviews.net – Dehumidifier Reviews) if any one of those signs rings true to your living or lodging situation. But how do you choose what’s best for your space? Controlling the air quality in the room will help not only you but your guests as well. So, let’s get going on figuring out how to choose the right sized dehumidifier for your space:

Choosing the right size

Size isn’t everything. Dehumidifiers are measured by their physical size but most importantly their capacity to remove excess moisture from the air, per day, in a 24-hour period. The size of the tank and the amount of water it holds can both differ and are not determined by the other. Therefore, don’t go into it thinking the largest tank is going to do the most damage. Consider these tips as guides to making an educated purchase:

Capacity size

Mentioned earlier, dehumidifiers are based on their daily productivity – meaning their daily moisture removal in pints. Starting at 30-pints and amassing over 90-pints, there’s a broad range that often confuses buyers. The capacity size must take into consideration the humidity level in the room as well as the room’s physical size. Average dehumidifiers are 70-pint, but finding different capacity levels for your needs isn’t difficult.

Humidity levels

Generally speaking, a room with a “good standing” humidity level will range between 35% to 40%. These numbers are based on a hygrometer test, which you can purchase on Amazon, that allows you to test the humidity levels of any room. If the results show that the humidity levels are above 60% your room ranges from damp to above 80, where it’s considered wet, and anything exceeding 90 is extremely wet. Knowing your humidity level allows you to know which dehumidifier is appropriate for your space. The greater the humidity the larger the capacity you’ll need.

Size of your room

How large is your room? Have you measured the room? The size of the room can determine the amount of overall humidity level and how much moisture a dehumidifier will be able to clear out of the room. Measuring your room is simple, take the length and multiply it by the width to get the square footage. Below is a chart with conditions and the square foot of space along with the amount of moisture necessary to be removed from the space:

Size of the dehumidifier

Last, the size of the dehumidifier itself isn’t the most important feature, but something to consider when you’re looking to move it around or lug it with you on your travels. Yes, travel-friendly dehumidifiers do exits. They can extrapolate just as much moisture as larger models, although most range between 30 – 45 pints. They get the job done, are lightweight, and accessible. The Iviation 70-pint Energy Star and the 70 Pint Portable Dehumidifier by Homelabs are great examples of travel models that are capable of covering the same range as larger models.

Conclusion

Although we began with understanding the capacity size of the dehumidifier, don’t forget to check your rooms humidity levels as well as square footage. The worst thing you could do in this situation is undershooting the capacity size needed and purchasing a dehumidifier with a low capacity. A larger capacity will only leave you with more liquid storage room than necessary and won’t require frequent disposal of liquids. So, when in doubt, go with the larger capacity. It’ll carry your buck a long way!