Can I use a regular dehumidifier in a crawl space

Can I use a regular dehumidifier in a crawl space?

3 Key Takeaways:

🚀 Crawl spaces and basements are highly susceptible to water seepage, flooding, and other humidity problems such as mold growth, mildew, condensation, and cracking.

🚀 The root cause of these issues is the basement and crawl space moisture. The solution is to install a dehumidifier specially designed for crawl spaces.

🚀 Regular dehumidifiers are not suitable for use in crawl spaces because their capabilities are insufficient.

Crawl spaces and Basements.

Were you scared of crawlspaces and basements as a child?

We all were. We were horrified to see dark corners, ghosting, and giant spiders on walls.
Little did we know that crawlspace moisture was responsible for all the eeriness. All you needed was a dehumidifier and not an exorcist!

So what’s the difference between a crawl space and a basement?

Basements are floors that are partly or entirely below the ground level in homes.
On the other hand, the crawl space refers to the narrow space between the ground and the ground floor. It is typically 3.2 ft tall in homes. If the crawl space is slightly bigger, from 3 ft 3 inch to 4 ft 11 inch, it doubles as a basement.

Crawlspaces and basements at homes are highly susceptible to water seepage, flooding, and other humidity problems such as mold growth, mildew, condensation, and cracking. The high humidity level is a perfect breeding ground for rodents, insects, wood-eating termites, and carpenter ants.

If the crawl space and basement moisture levels are not contained, they will cause respiratory ailments, allergies, and several other health issues to your family. Even the World Health Organization (WHO) deems that crawl space problems are one of the critical reasons for family health issues.

High moisture levels in the basements and crawl spaces also damage the structural integrity of the whole house. The mold spores, mildew, wall cracks, ghosting, wood rot, and pests from the basement quickly creep all the way up, infesting your entire living area in no time.

Even if you call the best pest control company and home cleaning service, their efforts will only turn futile if you don’t address the issue’s root cause.

Wondering what the root cause is?

It is the basement and crawl space moisture.

How do you address it?

Simple. Install a dehumidifier specially designed for crawl spaces.

Only by using dehumidifiers can you reduce the humidity level to around 55% RH, which is ideal for excellent indoor air quality. Basement and crawl space dehumidifiers help secure the wellbeing of your entire house.

Do I really need a dehumidifier in my crawl space?

Large enough for someone to crawl in, crawl spaces are usually built to elevate the building. But they also house your HVAC system, wiring, plumbing, insulation, and drainage system.

As the International Residential Code (IRC) allows vented and unvented crawl spaces, it is your responsibility to check and eliminate moisture problems.

Most crawlspaces have vents on all the walls. They have a class 1 vapor barrier and foundation vents to aid cross ventilation and air circulation. These vents allow moist air, surface water, and underground water to flow into the crawl space.

On the other hand, if the crawl spaces have no vents or external air circulation, you must make sure that the air is at least conditioned.

This gut scenario affects indoor air quality, causes health hazards, and damages the foundation of your house.

If you would like to live healthily and safely, you need to install a dehumidifier in the crawl space right now.

Regular vs. Crawlspace dehumidifier

When we say dehumidifier, we do not mean any old dehumidifying unit. Installing any home dehumidifying unit will only empty your bank balance and skyrocket your utility bills.

Wondering how a crawl space dehumidifier is different from a regular basement dehumidifier?

Crawl space dehumidifiers have greater dehumidifying intensity, hot air circulation, optimal square feet coverage, energy efficiency, and portability than whole home dehumidification system units.

Its smart digital control panel and auto restart, auto shutoff, and auto defrost features eliminate the need for you to keep visiting the crawl space throughout the day. You can control and monitor the dehumidification system using your smartphone or via Alexa or Google Home systems.

Commercial dehumidifiers are robust and strong enough to dry out standing water, floods, and excess moisture in the air. They can get rid of mold growth and pest problems in no time.

Make sure the crawl space dehumidifier has convenient continuous pump and drainage options to prevent spillage and flooding.

Shop Crawl Space Dehumidifiers Here

How to keep moisture out of your crawl space?

To keep moisture at bay in your crawl space, you need to create appropriate moisture barriers.
Got no clue about the kind of moisture barriers or dehumidification methods that would be effective?

Here are simple ways to reduce the moisture level in your crawl space. You can deploy a good foundation vent in the crawl space, add some supply air from the HVAC system, or switch on an extra exhaust fan for excellent makeup air.

The supply air method is a good way to dry out the crawl space air. You need to cut a hole in your supply plenum so that the dry and conditioned supply air blows into the crawlspace.

Another method is to lay a vapor barrier in the crawl space floor. The vapor barrier obstructs the water vapor and soil moisture from seeping in.

But the most effective method to keep your moisture problem at bay is by installing a crawl space dehumidifier.

How do I prevent my crawl space from seeping?

Crawl spaces usually have many water seepage issues in the form of puddles, mold problems, pests, and wet, cracked walls. Seepage can be attributed to the following reasons.

✦ Leakage in plumbing or drainage
✦ Surrounding soil water seepage
✦ Condensation

can i use a regular dehumidifier in crawl space

To get rid of the issue, you first need to understand the source of the water leakage. It could be due to surface water, groundwater, plumbing issues, or excess water vapour in the air.

Based on the source, you can employ the water removal methods below.
✦ Seal the cracks
✦ Install a french drain
✦ Deploy a sump pump
✦ Install a crawlspace dehumidifier with a pump

Do I have to run my crawlspace dehumidifier in the winter?

A dehumidifying unit’s water tank collects all the dirt and moisture from the air. If mold develops inside the tank, it will seep into your atmosphere and create greater allergies and respiratory diseases.
First off, just emptying the tank is not enough. You must clean it often to prevent mold growth inside the tank.

Adhere to the steps below for effective tank cleaning.

1. After you empty the tank, fill it will warm water and mild liquid soap.
2. Use a sponge to scrub all the sides and corners.
3. Rinse and spray vinegar solution.
4. Allow it to sit for at least 10 minutes.
5. Wipe, dry, and put it back into the dehumidifier.

Do I have to run my crawlspace dehumidifier in the winter?

Did you know using a cloth dryer, cooking, burning candles, and even growing a Christmas tree in your living room adds to indoor humidity during winter?

You can have a hygrometer handy to keep measuring the RH levels of your indoor spaces and set ideal humidity levels in your dehumidifier. If the relative humidity in your crawl space exceeds 50%, then it’s time to turn on the crawl space dehumidifier. But make sure you use a unit with an auto hot gas defrost feature, or else the dehumidifier coils will suffer from freezing issues.

If your crawl space humidity drops below the ideal level, ensure you switch off the dehumidifier. Or buy a crawl space dehumidifier with auto on and auto off features.

For best results, alternate between heater and dehumidifier to lower crawl area moisture.

FAQ Section

1. How much mold in crawl space is acceptable?

Mold growth in your crawl space is more than an eyesore. It is an indication of a greater looming problem. It has the potential to cause a range of health hazards to your family. It can cause asthma, allergies, coughing, wheezing, nasal congestion, sore throat, eye infections, and skin issues. Prolonged exposure to mold and damp spaces can result in obstructive lung diseases.

Now you don’t need to go into damp crawl spaces to contract these infections. Irrespective of where you are in your home, the mold effect circulates through the air to infect you. That’s how dangerous the crawl space mold is.

Hence not even the tiniest amount of mold on your floor joist or any item is acceptable in your crawl space. Whenever you see mold growth, use remedies such as rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide to destroy it. Or, for more effective results, use the best crawl space dehumidifier.

2. Does a whole home dehumidifier also dehumidify the crawlspace?

If you want to achieve maximum, energy-efficient dehumidification, you must choose dehumidifiers specifically designed for crawl space air. Though a whole home dehumidifier will remove moisture, you might suffer from increased cost and energy utilization.

3. Will a dehumidifier kill existing mold under crawlspace?

Yes, a crawl space dehumidifier can kill any existing mold in crawl areas.

4. Can a dehumidifier be too large for a crawlspace?

Dehumidifiers designed for living rooms, offices, and commercial spaces will have larger sq ft coverage, higher energy consumption, and larger pint capacity. These can be a bit larger for domestic crawl spaces. However, a larger dehumidifier size implies a larger dehumidification capacity.

For example, a 30 pint or 50 pint crawl space dehumidifier can efficiently dehumidify a crawlspace around 1500 sq ft to 2000 sq ft. But if your crawl space is a bit big, you need a 70 pint dehumidifier.

Wrapping Up

Ready for your crawl space dehumidifier installation?

We are sure you are. Remember to read dehumidifier reviews, get customer/ forum member feedback before buying the best dehumidifier for your crawl space.

Happy dehumidifier shopping!

About The Author

Olivia — a self-confessed air quality addict — is a home climate enthusiast, fresh air advocate, and someone with deep personal experience and knowledge about mold extermination. Her work was mentioned in countless notable humidity publications. Previously she was an editor at Mold Remediation.

Is dehumidifier water distilled?

3 Key Takeaways:

🚀 Dehumidifiers produce new water by absorbing humidity from the air at home, condensing it into a water reservoir.

🚀 The water collected in the condensation bucket of a dehumidifier is not potable as it runs over dusty plastic and metallic surfaces.

🚀 Distilled water from dehumidifiers can be used in Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machines after boiling.

August blues and Adam’s ale.

August blues are real! Especially when it comes to water scarcity scares.

Are you terrified even if a drop of aqua gets wasted? Do you feel blue when emptying Adam’s ale from the dehumidifier condensate tank?

If the answer is a big yes, then you are in the right place. Right from 2011 through 2018 to 2020, the US has experienced a significant depletion in groundwater. So it’s high time you save this precious resource. Water conservation is one critical issue where there can never be a contrary point of view.

Recycling and reusing the water from dehumidifier is a great way to save aqua. Dehumidifier does a fantastic job, absorbing humidity from thin air and condensing and holding it in a reservoir. The condensed water is one of the best-distilled water. Emptying such a precious resource into a drain without utilising it productively is such a shame.

Where does the water come from in a dehumidifier?

A dehumidifier produces new water by absorbing humidity from air at home. It further condenses it into a water reservoir. This condensation process removes some air bound minerals and contaminants from it. Thus the dehumidifier water is completely distilled and clean.

However, the clean water in the reservoir may get contaminated due to the reasons below.

• The reservoir is not clean
• There are much absorbed impurities from the air
• The condensate is only filtered and not purified

Because the dehumidifier only filters aqua, it cannot be used as drinking water or for other purposes on its own. It needs to be purified to be reused.

Can you drink dehumidifier water?

Wondering if you can drink the water from dehumidifiers? Is it safe to drink?

The water collected in the condensation bucket of a dehumidifier is not potable. As it runs over dusty plastic and metallic surfaces, it is exposed to carcinogenic compounds and heavy metals like copper, aluminum, and even lead.

These heavy metals and microorganisms like mold, bacteria, and viral strains cause terrible diseases when consumed. If the dehumidifier has a purifier and filter attached to it, you may think about using the water for various purposes. The purification unit should be capable of destroying microorganisms in the air, such as mold spores, bacteria, and viruses. Only then the water can be reused.

If the dehumidifier water is not purified, you should never think of drinking it. However, upon filtering, you can use it for the purposes below.

✔ Washing vehicles
✔ Filling radiator of a car
✔ Filling windshield wiper washing tank
✔ Filling a steam iron for clothes
✔ Irrigation
✔ Flushing toilets
✔ Cleaning the house

But if you would like to increase the dehumidifier water’s consumption potential, you can adopt simple methods to purify it. You can make it safer than well or tap water.

How to purify dehumidifier water?

The amount of water collected in the dehumidifier is huge, but not potable as it is. According to the Environmental Protection Agency view, stagnant condensate could harbor much serious air contaminants like mold, mildew, bacteria, and algae if the collection bucket is not cleaned regularly.
Are you relentless about harnessing water extracted from excess humidity in your air?
Then you must purify the water.

Got no idea how? We’ll help your search with simple ways to purify condensate.

⇒ Use a water purifier –This process can help purify dehumidifier condensates in no time. Run the collected water through the purifier during the day to ensure its potability.

⇒ Strain using sand and charcoal – For this method, you must get a water bottle with the bottom and cap removed. Then flip it and place a coffee filter on the cap hole at the bottom. Place an inch thick charcoal and alternate with many layers of sand and gravel. When you pour in the water, it comes out safe to drink.

⇒ Boil and bleach- Boiling is one of the easiest ways to purify water. But when vapor forms, the steam gathers concentrated contaminants. Add bleach to get rid of these pollutants. After 30 minutes of sitting time, the water is ready for drinking.

⇒ Iodize- Found purification tablets that contain iodine? They can purify water and make them as good as new. A single time usage in a day eliminates pathogens. Beware pregnant women and people with thyroid problems should not ingest them due to potential health risks.

Is it ok to water plants with dehumidifier water?

The reply is yes. You can use water from dehumidifiers to nurture your home plants. But it’s best to avoid using them on edible plants, as the hidden contaminants may affect the produce. Trace metals such as lead, copper, and iron may deposit and contaminate fruits and vegetables unknowingly.

You can water shrubs, trees, lawns, and plants that do not land on your plate. But, again if you purify the water, it can be used on all kinds of flora.

Can you use water from a dehumidifier in a CPAP machine?

The reply to this question too is yes. You can use distilled water from dehumidifiers in Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machines. But remember to boil the distilled water before filling the CPAP humidifier chamber. This will kill microorganisms, reduce mineral deposits, and maximize the life of the CPAP unit.

FAQ Section

1. Is water from a dehumidifier safe for aquariums?

The water from dehumidifiers may contain mold, mildew, spores, bacteria, algae, or even some heavy metal traces from the air. These air borne impurities depend heavily on your indoor air quality and may harm aquatic life. So it is better to adhere to a purification process before the water gets used in fish tanks and aquariums.

2. Can you use dehumidifier water in a battery?

Yes, you can use the water from dehumidifiers in batteries for your car, garage, and house as a whole. Make sure you strain the water so that the dust particles do not clog the battery.

3. Is dehumidifier water safe for dogs?

Though dehumidifier water is as good as distilled water, factors such as dirty reservoir and home environment increase the chance of mold, bacteria, and unwanted minerals leach. So it is better to purify it before feeding your dogs. Then you can be assured that your beloved dog is healthy and safe.

Wrapping Up

Dehumidifier water is distilled and soft, with a fairly neutral PH.

Still wondering? Can you drink water from a dehumidifier? The reply is yes.

But run it through a great water purifier to reuse the distilled water with confidence.

Read our dehumidifier posts to fuel your search for back-to-back info and point of views on dehumidifier products, purifier products, cleaning process, and other vital issues.
Contact us if you would like to know more.

About The Author

Is it cheaper to run AC or dehumidifier?

Air conditioner Vs. dehumidifier. Which one is the best?

Feeling sweaty and muggy? Are you wondering whether you must switch on the Air Conditioner (AC) or dehumidifier?

Well, the decision depends on where you live and the air quality at home. If you live in coastal regions or in areas where the climate is moderate or cold with high humidity, you will need a dehumidifier to warm and dehumidify the space.

But, if you live in a hot and humid place, you will require an air conditioner first to cool down the room, and then to dehumidify the space. Air conditioners have a remarkable cooling effect and a fair dehumidification level.

Now comes the critical question. Which among them is cost-efficient and effective?

To get the answer right, you need a comprehensive understanding of the functioning, similarities, and differences between an air conditioner and a dehumidifier.

3 Key Takeaways:

🚀 Dehumidifiers have high energy efficiency and consume only 1/10th power when compared to air conditioners.

🚀 Dehumidifiers can lower your power bills much more efficiently than an AC unit. In fact, a dehumidifier can use its annual saved power to run a refrigerator for four months.

🚀 Dehumidifiers can help improve air quality by reducing mold and allergens.

Function of an air conditioner

An air conditioner is a system or device that replaces warm air with cooler air. Its primary duty is to reduce the temperature of an enclosed area. It can operate in a lot of different modes that can control humidity, air circulation, and air quality.

Function of a dehumidifier

A dehumidifier is a machine or system that removes excess humidity and improves air quality in the house by removing mold and mildew growth, and dust mites. It reduces condensation, cracks, and ghosting on walls, eliminates wood rot and pest infestation, and preserves the structural integrity of your home. We have found an useful video on dehumidifier working for you to check it out.

Difference between AC and dehumidifier

Let’s dive straight into the basic distinctions between air conditioners and dehumidifiers?

Air conditioners distribute hot air outdoors and create cold blasts indoors. It does not remove all the fungus or mold. On the other hand, dehumidifiers remove moisture from the air, emit hot air indoors, and destroys mold growth, mildew, and dust mites.

In super wet and humid spaces such as water restoration sites, flooded areas, and other water damaged areas, the air conditioner will not be able to dehumidify adequately. Only a dehumidifier can do the job efficiently.

What’s more energy efficient? AC or dehumidifier?

Compared to air conditioning units, dehumidifiers use less power.

Let your AC and dehumidifier run for 24 hours. You will see that the energy use and power consumption is quite high in your A C . Excess humidity and heat increases the cooling cost of your HVAC system when deployed across your whole house.

Dehumidifiers have high energy efficiency and consume only 1/10th power when compared to air conditioners. In fact, your dehumidifier can use its annual saved power, to run a refrigerator for four months. It lowers your power bills much efficiently than the AC unit.

So, if you want to save money, you must invest in the best energy efficient dehumidifiers.

Dehumidifier power consumption mainly depends on the type of unit. Desiccant dehumidifiers have lower power consumption when compared to compressor-based and thermo-electric types.
If you want to reduce your power bill further, make sure your dehumidifier has the following power saving features.

‣ Energy star rating
‣ Digital humidistat control
‣ Optimal fan speed sensor
‣ Defrost cycle duration
‣ Auto restart functionality
‣ Filters, timers, and drain pumps

You also need to make sure that the pint per day capacity, tank capacity, and room size are optimal for maximized cost efficiency.

Does AC dehumidify?

The answer to this question is a big yes. Though an air conditioner’s primary job is to cool your room, it can also dehumidify the space to a certain extent. When heat and humidity are high, air conditioners will have to work their compressors really hard to make the whole house feel more comfortable.
Dehumidification is a byproduct of the way modern ACs functions.

For the air conditioner to cool your home, it needs to pull in hot air and run it over refrigerant coils. This process removes water vapor from the air, which condenses and collects in the water tank to be drained away. When the humidity is high, excess water vapor reduces airflow, causing the coil to freeze and the compressor to fail. Thus, for your air conditioner to dehumidify without any internal damage, you need to turn on the dry mode.

Do all AC units have dehumidifiers?

All air conditioners (both split and window units) can reduce your living space’s humidity level only to a certain extent. Some air conditioners have a dry mode option, which makes them act as effective dehumidifiers. The dry mode or dehumidifier mode reduces the temperature of the room by reducing humidity levels.

For building spaces such as attics or basements where the window unit cannot be installed, you can use a portable air conditioner on dehumidifier mode. Hence in a way, air conditioner units have dehumidifiers in them.

If you want increased cooling capacity along with more moisture removal, you can try the air conditioner, dehumidifier, and fan combo.

Which is the best 3 in 1 air conditioner, dehumidifier, and fan?

When your home becomes hot and humid in summer, there is nothing that adds more comfort and health than the fantastic 3 in 1 combo of air conditioner, dehumidifier, and fan. It gets rid of uncomfortable mugginess and health hazards and provides a pleasant and cool home environment.

This device reduces air temperature and removes excess moisture while saving up to 30% on your energy bill. These air conditioning systems are portable, compact, and easy to use.

Some of the best 3 in 1 air conditioner, dehumidifier, and fan combos are Whynter ARC-14S 14,000 BTU Dual Hose Portable unit, Whitewing Superdry 90, and Maytag M1200.

FAQ Section

1. Does a dehumidifier help the AC?

The dehumidifier does a lot of work to help the AC run efficiently. Firstly it is one of the best ways to reduce air temperature by removing excess moisture in the room. Secondly the reheater in the unit directs the excess heat outside the home. Hence the dehumidifier helps the air conditioner to conveniently work less to lower the discomfort level in the room.

2. What is dry mode in AC?

Turning on the dry mode in your A C is like turning on a large dehumidifier that has cooling effects as well. It is one of the best ways to remove excess moisture using an air conditioner. The dry mode will not dry out all the moisture, but it will make the user environment quite healthy and comfortable. Using the dry mode also helps increase energy savings and lower carbon footprint.

3. With AC on, the humidity is still 58. Should I get a dehumidifier?

According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, for a healthy and comfortable home, the humidity levels of the house must be between 30% and 50%.

If the humidity in your site is 58%, then you must use the best dehumidifier to lower moisture levels, and preserve the structural integrity of your home, reduce health hazards, eliminate mold, mildew, dust mites infection, and pest infestation.

4. Which cools better? AC or dehumidifier?

Without any doubt, the answer to this question is the air conditioning unit. Here’s the reason why. The cooling capacity of the AC is much greater than the dehumidifier that offers only dehumidification and heat.

Wrapping Up

Ready to buy a dehumidification unit, air conditioner, or a combo of both?

After reading our detailed deliberation on the pros, cons, differences, and synergies, we are pretty sure you can choose the right one for your whole house or business. Check out our reviews (All Rights Reserved) and customer feedback on social media channels such as Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter before choosing your best buy.

Can I use a regular dehumidifier in a crawl space?

3 Key Takeaways:

Crawl spaces and Basements.

Do I really need a dehumidifier in my crawl space?

Regular vs. Crawlspace dehumidifier

How to keep moisture out of your crawl space?

How do I prevent my crawl space from seeping?

Do I have to run my crawlspace dehumidifier in the winter?

Do I have to run my crawlspace dehumidifier in the winter?

FAQ Section

1. How much mold in crawl space is acceptable?

2. Does a whole home dehumidifier also dehumidify the crawlspace?

3. Will a dehumidifier kill existing mold under crawlspace?

4. Can a dehumidifier be too large for a crawlspace?

Wrapping Up

About The Author

Is dehumidifier water distilled?

3 Key Takeaways:

August blues and Adam’s ale.

Where does the water come from in a dehumidifier?

Can you drink dehumidifier water?

How to purify dehumidifier water?

Is it ok to water plants with dehumidifier water?

Can you use water from a dehumidifier in a CPAP machine?

FAQ Section

1. Is water from a dehumidifier safe for aquariums?

2. Can you use dehumidifier water in a battery?

3. Is dehumidifier water safe for dogs?

Wrapping Up

About The Author

Is it cheaper to run AC or dehumidifier?

Air conditioner Vs. dehumidifier. Which one is the best?

3 Key Takeaways:

Function of an air conditioner

Function of a dehumidifier

Difference between AC and dehumidifier

What’s more energy efficient? AC or dehumidifier?

Does AC dehumidify?

Do all AC units have dehumidifiers?

Which is the best 3 in 1 air conditioner, dehumidifier, and fan?

FAQ Section

1. Does a dehumidifier help the AC?

2. What is dry mode in AC?

3. With AC on, the humidity is still 58. Should I get a dehumidifier?

4. Which cools better? AC or dehumidifier?

Wrapping Up

About The Author

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