Moisture and water create mildew and mold on the walls, ceilings, and floor of your basement. They create problems such as stuffy air, peeled paints on the walls, and in extreme cases, respiratory problems. The solution to all these is one thing: a dehumidifier.
A dehumidifier is an electronic machine that gets rid of excess moisture in the air before turning into mold or mildew. When choosing a dehumidifier for your home, the common question you ask yourself is, “What is a good size dehumidifier for a basement?”
If this is your question, the answer is right here in this article. You will also learn how to measure a dehumidifier using pints of water.
Factors to consider when choosing the right sized dehumidifier
The level of humidity in an area depends on the size of the basement. To calculate the right dehumidifier size, you measure it by the total moisture removal capacity which is the pints of water it can hold.
A small-sized dehumidifier can hold 10 pints of water and can be used within a 500-square-foot area. To measure the right size of a humidifier, you should add 4 pints capacity for every 500 square feet.
So, to correctly choose a large-sized dehumidifier for a 1000 square foot basement area, you add 4 pints to the 10 pints of water to get a capacity of 14 pints of water. For a very humid basement, you need to add ten pints of water to your measurements. This way, you will get a large enough dehumidifier that is capable of getting rid of the excess humidity in the air.
Other factors to consider when purchasing the right dehumidifier are the size of the doors and windows and the number of occupants in the house.
Read Also: The best humidifiers for eczema
Is one dehumidifier enough for a basement?
Yes. You’ll only require one humidifier for your basement. The reason behind choosing the right-sized dehumidifier is to clear the basement air.
If you choose the right size, you wouldn’t need an additional dehumidifier. Besides, you wouldn’t need to empty it frequently.
Can a dehumidifier be too big for a room?
Yes. However, that shouldn’t be a big issue. Most dehumidifiers have a built-in humidistat that measures the preferred humidity in the room.
Even if you select a large dehumidifier for a room with low moisture content, the humidistat will switch it off when the favorable humidity is reached. Without the humidistat, the humidifier can then be too big for a room. The air will dry quicker.
Conclusion
A dehumidifier is a very helpful machine if you want to get rid of the damp air that is creating mildew and mold in your basement. To choose the right-sized dehumidifier, you can measure 10 pints of water for a 500 square foot area and then 4 pints for every additional 500 square feet.