I have an unfinished basement of about 2300 sq. ft. and currently, I use a small dehumidifier connected to my sump pump, but it only seems effective in the mechanical room. Despite using three powerful blowers for air circulation, the humidity stays around 65–67% in the summer, which concerns me due to potential mold and insect issues. I'm looking to upgrade to a more professional-grade dehumidifier that can quickly remove moisture and possibly tie into a dedicated outlet. Ideally, once I finish the basement, I would like this dehumidifier to work with the new ventilation system, so I won't need to rely on the AC just to control humidity.
3 Answers
If your current one isn’t cutting it, just upgrade to something with higher capacity. There’s no magic ingredient in dehumidifiers for basements; it’s all about the specs! You might also want to try starting with a 50-pint unit from Home Depot—maybe two for your space.
For a solid option, check out the AprilAire E100, but be prepared to shell out about $2000. I have it set up in my finished basement, and it keeps the humidity at a consistent 48%. Definitely worth it!
I've seen the AprilAire work wonders! It's particularly efficient if you can duct it to circulate throughout the house.
Consider a brand like Santa Fe; you can find a unit for around $1500-1800 that might be ductable, ideal for when you finish the basement. It’s powerful and can really tackle high humidity.
Absolutely! Start with one and see how it goes; you can always add another if needed.