Basement Dehumidifiers and Crawl Space Dehumidifier

The Importance of Basement Dehumidifiers - Control of Mold Growth.

The first step in controlling mold growth is to assess how bad of a problem you actually have. Take a look inside your crawl space or basement - these areas can be the most damp areas in your house and have a higher likelihood of being a breeding ground for mold and mildew. If you are able to identify signs of mold such as; black mold spots on the walls, a slight mildew or mushroom smell, white mold spots on items such as shoes or coats left in a wardrobe, condensation appearing on the inside of your windows... these are all symptoms of the beginnings of a significant mold problem.  You need to take measures to control the moisture in these areas - a basement dehumidifier is really the only way that you can begin to bring the humidity levels under control.

Fact: According to the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) Water creates basement moisture problems in three ways: direct leakage, seepage and condensation.

Tips About How To Get The Most Out of Your Basement Dehumidifier...

Your basement dehumidifier will operate the most efficiently if you place it in an enclosed area by making sure all the doors and windows are closed.  Since the size of space that your dehumidifier will work the best is greatly influenced by the rate at which new moisture enters the room, you will need to close all doors and windows and other outside openings. Your dehumidifier is designed to operate on ordinary household 110/120 volt 60-cycle alternating current... basically this means that all you have to do is plug it into your wall outlet and then turn it on.

Best Basement Dehumidifier Placement:
When placing your dehumidifier, be sure that it is placed so there is no restriction to air flowing either into the coils at the rear or from the front grille, allowing at least 12 inches of air space on the front and back of your unit. A dehumidifier operating in a basement will have little or no effect in drying an adjacent enclosed storage area, such as a closet, unless there is enough circulation of air in and out of the area. It may be necessary to install a second basement dehumidifier inside the enclosed storage area for the best drying results.

Important Questions To Ask Before You Purchase a Basement Dehumidifier

What are the dimensions of the basement to be dehumidified (width, length and height)?
How many people will be in the room most of the time, if any?
Do you have mold in your basement?
Do you use air conditioning in the basement?
Is the basement carpeted?
Do you usually open the windows in the basement, if there are any?
What is the basement mainly used for (ex.: storage, recreation room, home office)?

If for storage, what types of items are stored there (rare books, pictures, regular household out of season items, etc.)                                                                                                

Were you looking for dehumidifiers with a container to drain or dehumidifiers that could drain the water via PVC tubing to another area?

Unique information:  A new mold resource publication, entitled: Guidance for Clinicians on the Recognition and Management of Health Effects Related to Mold Exposure and Moisture Indoors (September 30, 2004), is available at no cost by visiting this link.