What Features Does a Basement Dehumidifier Require?

It is important for a dehumidifier to be able to work in lower temperature environments. Basements are usually cooler than the rest of the areas in the house, while covering a large amount of floor space. Dehumidifiers for the basement must be capable of extracting 100% of moisture in spaces up at least 2,000 square feet. Here are other important features we should consider.

Size

The dehumidifier must have the appropriate removal capability along with length coverage for the size of your basement. The letter the area, the better is it to have a larger capacity dehumidifier.

Water Colleting Tray

Since the dehumidifier is working to control moisture, it is important to know where the water will go. Consider the capacity of the product as well as its volume. For many of us, we might find it to be a waste of time having to remove water constantly. Therefore, it’s essential to choose a model with a large water collecting tray.

If you plan to place your device in the basement, a hose connection will direct the vapored water straight to the drain without any use of a tray. If your home does not have a drain, a simple pump will be needed to send the water to the sink or any drains through the window.

Auto Defrost

This is used to prevent the coils from freezing while allowing the dehumidifier to continue removing moisture.

Low temperature Operation

Dehumidifiers with low temperatures are ideal in cool climates as they will continue to draw moisture out.

Humidistat/Built-In Hygrometer

This allows you to set a desired humidity level at your own control.

Continuous Drain Option

This will ensure that the dehumidifier will continue to remove excessive moisture without the stress of emptying water buckets repeatedly.

Automatic Restart

This feature is useful when it comes to a power outage as the dehumidifier will restart once the power is restored.

Automatic Shut Off

For dehumidifiers that don’t offer the draining option, make sure it must have an auto shut off so the dehumidifier will not overflow. If the water tray gets full of water, the machine will automatically shut off to protect the machine and prevent any risks of water overload.

Timer

A timer is ideal and may come in handy if you tend to forget that it’s on. This will also lessen your electricity bill when the rates are lower during certain parts of the day. The device will easily turn back on after a power outage or off when you are out. This feature is also great for saving money, since the longer the machine runs, the more energy this device to use.

User-Friendly Settings

Search for models with wheels to easily maneuver your dehumidifier, also choose products with easy-to-read settings and dials. With complicated functions, this will cause a lot of wasted time and energy when using. Look to those with digital settings for easy to read.

What to Really Look For

As the main function for a dehumidifier is to simply remove humidity from the air, there are several characteristics that can differ from other models. Make sure to look for the reviews based on performance, easy-to-use, warranties, and the simple designs of the models that will best fit your home and needs. Knowing the size of the space and amount of moisture you want to remove is important as it will determine what type of dehumidifier is right for your needs.

For large floor coverage, you will need a high-capacity dehumidifier that will remove at least 70 pints of water vapor in a day. Make sure not to purchase anything small as you will end up spending more time on checking it often. Check the manufacturers list to get a proper estimate of the minimum and maximum footage the model can manage.