I'm in a bit of a pickle with my old house—specifically, the basement. I live in the U.S. Midwest, where the weather can get pretty humid with lots of rain in spring and summer. I've been using those big box store dehumidifiers (around 50 pints), and they usually only last me about two summers. They cost between $200 and $300, but this year the prices seem to be climbing, probably due to tariffs. What frustrates me is that they come with a one-year warranty, and if I want an extended warranty, there's a whole messy process attached that feels like a waste of time. I've tried several brands, but they all seem to be designed to fail quickly. I'm not here to rant, but I'm really curious—are there any dehumidifier solutions out there aside from those throwaway consumer models?
I've seen these crawlspace dehumidifiers from brands like AprilAire, SantaFe, Fral, and Honeywell that cost significantly more than the consumer models but are supposedly built for commercial or industrial use. Would these be suitable for an unfinished, open basement if I can manage the drainage properly? If it means spending three times as much but getting five-plus summers of use, I'm all for it. If anyone has experience using these types of dehumidifiers in a residential basement, I'd love to hear your thoughts! Also, just to clarify, I'm only considering plug-in options for now and not looking at other ways to manage humidity. Thanks!
2 Answers
Have you thought about sealing up your basement? Sealing can sometimes really reduce moisture migration. It might be a hassle upfront, but if you prevent the humidity from getting in, you might not need as heavy-duty a dehumidifier. Plus, it sounds like you're already familiar with the struggles of dealing with those not-so-great big box models, so it could save you money in the long run!
Honestly, if you're considering spending $1500 or more on a dehumidifier, maybe look into the feasibility of sealing your basement first. Since it’s unfinished, it should be pretty straightforward to work on. However, I get the vibe that with an older house, sealing might feel like throwing good money after bad—these places are built to breathe, after all. But if you choose to go with a higher-end dehumidifier, I'd recommend those commercial options; they do have a solid reputation and may last you much longer than the standard ones!
I appreciate the input! I just feel like with a house this old, sealing it might not yield the results I'm hoping for. Moisture comes from all directions, like the walls and windows. Honestly, I just want something I can plug in and trust to do the job without breaking down every couple of years.