Are you living in a humid place with endless moisture problems that you’re willing to buy as many dehumidifiers as you can? Hold that thought right there! We’ve all had these questions of “what size should I get?” or “how many dehumidifiers do I need for my house?”
In this article, we are going to tackle everything you need to know to maximize the usage of your dehumidifiers at home. There are several factors which you should consider to figure out the right fit and number for your home.
It’s beneficial to invest in dehumidifiers as a quick solution to take out excess moisture out of your home and prevent more severe problems. Check them out!
Why Do I Need One For My House?
There are a lot of perks in investing with a dehumidifier in the different parts of your home as it serves as an air vacuum to reduce humidity levels. Whether you are planning to place it in your bedroom, basement, or office space, dehumidifiers are ideal since they avoid allergens such as mold, dust mites, and mildew.
What’s worrisome about these allergens is that they aren’t very noticeable at first but slowly degrades the quality of your air at home. It’s also great to keep those unwanted odors away from your home. If you have ever noticed a “musty” or “rotting” smell, dehumidifiers can work like a charm by avoiding the formation of mold in your furniture, clothing, and other spaces.
Moreover, these allergens are debilitating for your family members at home, especially with children, since it promotes respiratory illnesses such as asthma. Constant exposure to these harmful allergens may also cause skin irritation, sneezing, or breathing difficulties.
Lastly, dehumidifiers are cost-effective and energy savers for your home. They conveniently reduce the energy that your air conditioning system has to provide due to the lesser moisture removal it has to work on. Your other electronics and furniture also tend to have a longer life with lower chances of rusting.
Sizes of Dehumidifiers Explained
Choosing the right size of dehumidifier for you should not be entirely based on its physical measurement and dimensions. Instead, it’s all about the amount of water you release in a space that’s measured in pints. To get the perfect size for you, take time to read its specifications carefully to figure out the right pints your space demands.
You should remember that the tank capacity of your dehumidifier is less than its actual size and the amount of water it can release each day. This means that there’s no need for you to pour out the capture bucket for a lot of times every single day.
Their level of capacity with moisture is often related to the amount it can contain with the capture tank. However, its capacity is higher than the capture tank, so there’s no need to worry about it.
It’s also essential to take note that the amount of water that your humidifier can extract can depend on the level of humidity and temperature on the specific place that you place it on. For instance, if you place a 40-pint dehumidifier, you shouldn’t expect to remove 40 pints of water within a day as well.
The capacity stated is just there to give you an idea of how much area it will cover depending on the space that you’d like to place it. Before deciding to go shopping for one, here are some helpful steps to find the perfect one for you:
Know the Measurement of Your Space
The first thing to check off the list before shopping for a dehumidifier is to make the time in measuring your space. Why? The size of your dehumidifier will matter given the space it will consume.
For example, if you only have a small space and you opt for a 50-pint type, it’s going to be bulky and inconvenient. More importantly, an incorrect measurement will cost you more.
To start, you simply need to prepare a measuring tape to cover your space in terms of length and width accurately. After that, multiply the measurements that you got. If you have a 15 ft. wide and 20 ft. long space, you then have an area that’s 300 sq ft, to begin with.
Once you get your measurement ready, you can visit the store where you’re going to get a dehumidifier and ask for some help in obtaining the right pints. There are varied options which will be presented to you depending on the brand and pint capacities.
Choosing The Right Dehumidifier
As your reference, the size should depend on the humidity condition of your space. You can use a dehumidifier with a recommended pint capacity with AHAM conditions if it is placed in a very damp area. Get a 60% average humidity condition rather than a 100% humidity saturation to ensure the best function.
Slightly damp places with around 50-60% humidity are spaces which feel damp and are sometimes observed with a musty smell. Moderately damp areas that are often damp and often musty-smelling come with around 60-70% humidity.
Very damp spaces, on the other hand, can physically be wet, smells musty, and can be seen with wet spots around the walls or ceilings. This type of space can be categorized with 70-85% of humidity. Lastly, wet spaces have 85-100% humidity wherein water can be seen seeping through the whole area, and molds have already formed.
You can also get a hygrometer to get the precise humidity of your space. Once you get the sense of the proper humidity level that you have, you can now quickly identify the appropriate pint capacity recommendation.
Common Dehumidifier Capacity
The dehumidifier’s pint capacity is the total amount of moisture that it can extract in a space within 24 hours measured in pints. In general, a residential house would require more or less of 70 pints. To give you a better idea on the pint capacity that you would need for your space, we’ve rounded up the most common capacities that you will need per section of your home.
When it comes to small to medium bedrooms, damp areas would need around 40 pints or lower. As for very damp bedrooms, 41-59 pints are recommended. If you have garage leak problems, damp garages usually require 60 pints or more given the location of most garages.
If you want to place a dehumidifier in a large bedroom or your living room, damp spaces would need around 40-60 pint capacities. As for very damp conditions, more than 60 pints may be required. Lastly, bathrooms that are usually damp will require 40 up to 60 pints to completely cover the moisture problems.
How Many Dehumidifiers Do I Need For My House?
Now that you’re knowledgeable regarding the different pint capacities and humidity levels, we’re going to find out now how many units are ideal for your house. To break it to you simply, you may only need one per area in your home if you’ve got the right measurement and capacity through the pointers that we provided.
You can also go for just one dehumidifier for your home if you have the resources to get a whole-home dehumidifier. However, we still highly recommend just getting one dehumidifier per area so you can save energy and money while still consciously protecting your home from a low quality of air.
Bottom Line
Don’t forget that with the right measurement and capacity of your dehumidifier, you will simply need one unit for a specific space in your home. Learn to maximize your resources by being wise in choosing the right brand, depending on your budget and space size.
It’s also practical to choose a dehumidifier based on the current condition of your space to get the perfect unit for you accurately. Choosing the right one for your home will not only significantly improve your space condition but your health and welfare as well. Good luck!
