Home Dehumidification - Basement Dehumidifiers

A lack of air moisture (low humidity) or too much moisture is responsible for causing discomfort and various health problems. The recommended relative humidity level is between 40 - 60 percent. High humidity increases the growth of mold, mildew, dust mites, microbes, insects and other pests in the house. Humid air is also not favorable for getting sound sleep or for laundry drying. Home dehumidification refers to removal of excess water vapor or moisture from the air in order to reduce the humidity level inside the house. In other words, dehumidification keeps the rooms dry and comfortable and home dehumidifiers have been designed for this purpose.

Basement Dehumidifiers

In extremely humid conditions, adequate dehumidification is necessary to maintain healthy environmental conditions. Considering this, home dehumidifiers are a basic home equipment, especially in areas with humid climatic conditions. Also in comparison to other rooms, the basement is darker and colder, which are favorable factors for the growth of microbes. As basements lie below the ground level, these rooms are sensitive to dampness and humidity.

At times, the basement room smells fusty and musty. In such a case, you can consider installing a superior quality basement dehumidifier in order to make it a warmer place, free of toxic molds, mildews, dust mites and other allergy causing microbes. Basement dehumidifiers, as the name suggests, are designed especially for dehumidification of basements. They are heavy-duty dehumidifiers that can effectively lower the humidity level even in a large basement area.

Like other dehumidification machinery, a basement dehumidifier is installed with a fan, heating pump and cooling coil. The fan draws in the moisture from air over the heat pump, condenses the water vapor to water through the cooling coil and collects it into a holding tank. The collected water is then removed through a drain hose installed in the unit. In case drain hose is not installed in the machinery, the collected water should be removed manually.

Basement dehumidifiers are available in two types, namely, portable unit and installed unit. Portable unit can be easily set on your own, whereas installed unit should be fixed by a qualified professional. But it should be borne in mind that the effectiveness of portable is lesser than that of an installed basement dehumidifier. Regarding the cost, portable unit is comparatively cheaper than installed unit.

Buying Tips for Basement Dehumidifiers

Basement dehumidifiers are available in a wide variety of designs and technologies. While buying a dehumidifier, make sure you examine the drying capacity, operating temperature and energy efficiency according to the requirements of the basement room. In addition, the size of the appliance should be such that it can fit in the space properly.

Always opt for the basement dehumidifier that has a built-in on / off dehumidistat, so that you can set the humidity level as per the requirements of the room. Usually an indicator light is used for easy monitoring of the humidity level. Another important feature is the operating temperature of the basement humidifier. Some machineries do not function when the temperatures falls down to a certain level. For use in every season, you can select one that operates even at low temperatures.

Some of the essential added features of basement dehumidifiers are built-in pump for automatic draining of water. With such a feature, there is no need to empty the buckets manually. Proper maintenance of the dehumidifier is a basic key for optimum performance, energy efficiency and durability of the machinery. Some maintenance tips for home and basement dehumidifiers are, changing the water, cleaning internal filters and monitoring the coils (at least once in every four months).