How to Use a Wet Basement Dehumidifier

If you have a basement but are noticing a really bad smell from it, chances are it's because of damp. One way you can deal with this or prevent it happening in the first place, is by buying a basement dehumidifier. A wet basement more than just cause a bad smell, it can be very bad for the fabric of your home and also the health of your and your family. Warm moist conditions are perfect for mold to grow and this mold can cause respiratory problems and generally make you very ill. Damp is caused by excess water so a dehumidifier will help sort this out.

Air holds water and when this water meets cold air it turns into condensation. When this happens the condensation lies on surfaces such as flooring and walls causing your basement to become damp. These problems are normally worse during spring and summer months so you should look into these problems as soon as possible. Fixing a wet basement can be done by sealing any cracks, installing insulation and a using a dehumidifier.

How to Buy a Basement Dehumidifier

There are many basement dehumidifiers to choose from so do your research before buying. Surprisingly, the larger units on the market require less energy because the removal or moisture from the air is quicker. The units which are smaller in size have to work much harder and for longer to do the same job. If your basement is just one large room you should be able to use just the one dehumidifier.

Dehumidifiers extract water from the air which means the water is collected and needs to be drained. There are different ways the water can be drained. If the water doesn't get drained regularly enough the dehumidifier won't be able to function correctly. You may feel that buying a large dehumidifier is the best solution because it means you don’t have to empty it as much. The only downside to this is that the bucket can end up being very heavy to lift when emptying. The capacity of dehumidifiers can be anything between 35 and 135 pints of water. In order to be able to tell when your unit is full, warning lights can switch on. The easiest option would be to have the water drain out into a floor drain, sump or sink. This way you needn't concern yourself with the task of emptying it out. If you are using a hose, avoid having one which is too long as you could easily trip over it.

You need to realize that if a dehumidifier gets too cold frost can build up around the coils preventing the machine from working to full capacity. There are two ways to deal with this; either you switch off the unit and allow it to defrost, or you can buy a dehumidifier with a built-in sensor which will do this for you. If you live in a place which can get very cold weather you should make sure you buy a dehumidifier which is designed to work in low temperatures.

To keep the dehumidifier working to its optimum level, make sure you keep the coils clean. Also ensure that the unit is kept well away from dust and smoke. Also, remember dehumidifiers are designed to reduce the humidity in the air. If the humidity naturally drops to acceptable levels you don't need to have your machine kept on.
Because there are so many models of dehumidifier on the market, the amount you spend can vary greatly. It all depends on quality, brand, size and functions. When comparing units you will find that the specifications might not make much sense to you. If you don't understand anything, don't be shy, ask the sales person for advice. That's what they're there for after all.

Where to Place Your Basement Dehumidifier

Most dehumidifiers have the air discharge at the top so that you can position it against a wall. If this isn't the case then make sure you put have it away from the walls and furniture so that the air can circulate.

To improve your dehumidifier's efficiency, you should keep doors and any windows shut. Your dehumidifier will come with instruction so make sure you don't ignore them; particularly any instructions relating to safety.

If you basement is damp, another thing you should make sure you do is install plenty of insulation in the walls, floors, ceiling and water pipes.