What size dehumidifier do I need?

Dehumidifiers are a boon to every home that battles high humidity levels. They are excellent devices that can remove moisture from different areas and maintain the ideal relative humidity level. It is important to place close attention to the high humidity levels of any living space because of the health problems and property damage that it can lead to.

Excess moisture in the air is never a good thing for property, your respiratory system, and for your mood. Too much water in the atmosphere slowly paves the way for fungal attack (mildew and mold growth), musty odors, difficulty in breathing, and various allergies. Ensuring that you invest in the right size dehumidifier that will offer whole-house protection is a wise step.

‘What size dehumidifier do I need?‘, is a common question that every homeowner faces. As much as purchasing the a dehumidifier with a good capacity unit is essential, it is equally important to pick the right size dehumidifier for your home. There are many models of dehumidifiers available in the market, but which dehumidifier do I need is a question you cannot skip. Let us keep reading to know more about different dehumidifier models, different sizes, and how to choose the right size for your home..

Does the size of a dehumidifier matter?

Yes, of course getting the right size dehumidifier matters! Every room in a house might have various needs, even when it comes down to moisture removal. The size of every home is also different, and different areas of a home will also vary in their needs. There is no comparison when it comes to what works for someone else will work for your home to maintain relative humidity.

To know what size dehumidifier you need, you first have to understand the various sizes and models available, and the needs that are specific for the areas in your home. This will make it easier to choose the right size dehumidifier for your home. To make the right pick you also have dehumidifier sizing standards and a dehumidifier size calculator which will help you to judge with better accuracy.

The RH or relative humidity level of various areas in your home might differ. You may have an area that is extremely wet and in need of constant water removal, or an area that is moderately damp that needs the moisture level to be monitored occasionally. For example; the kitchen, bathroom, laundry room, etc., are rooms that would have higher humidity and moisture content in the air, when compared to the living room, bedrooms, etc.

A basement, crawl space, closet, etc., are yet again areas that need specific attention. They could be small in area or square footage but are under a bigger threat of mold attack since they have reduced air flow. Although the function and capacity of a whole-house dehumidifier could be greater, it will turn out to be an absolute waste of energy when it is kept in an area with small square footage; like a crawl space or a small basement.

Apart from room size, room conditions are another determining factor to choose the right size dehumidifier. If the room has water damage, problems in the HVAC system, air conditioning units, preexisting mold growth, or poor ventilation; again the expectations from the dehumidifier will be to address these specific needs.

The different brands and models of dehumidifiers available come in several types. Desiccant dehumidifiers and electric or heat pump dehumidifiers are the most popular ones among them. You cannot predict large area coverage or large pints of water removal from a desiccant dehumidifier. They have very limited capacity when compared to large room dehumidifiers. If you intend to use these for large rooms, you must be prepared with sufficient extra refills.

The electric dehumidifiers or heat pump dehumidifiers are available with clear quotations on their area coverage. Based on the square feet they cover conveniently one can settle with these. You can get small room dehumidifiers; perfect for small kitchens, bedrooms, closets, bathrooms, crawl spaces, attic, cabinets, etc. These usually come with a capacity to cover anywhere from 200 square feet to 1500 square feet.

Their capacity is expected to be perfect for a small space. A large size dehumidifier not just offers increased capacity to cover more square footage, but it also comes with additional features like more pints of water removal, energy efficiency, advanced digital monitoring on relative humidity using humidistat, multiple water drain options, large water tank capacity, and more.

A 50-pint dehumidifier or a 70-pint dehumidifier is usually considered to be a large dehumidifier. All of these features that come with large dehumidifiers are absolutely essential when it comes to moisture removal from large rooms. You require technique and expertise to keep mold away and to maintain the ideal relative humidity level. This is why the size of the dehumidifier matters. Furthermore, you can refer to the our dehumidifier sizing chart mentioned below.

Can a dehumidifier be too big?

If you are wondering if a dehumidifier model can be too big for a room or space, the answer is yes, they can be. A dehumidifier model that specifically mentions it is for large units of water extraction and to cover large square footage, is certainly not an ideal choice to cover a small area. A small space will get sufficient humidity control and water removal from small size dehumidifiers.

Using a 50-pint or 70-pint dehumidifier to cover a 300 square feet area is not a wise option. The capacity from these large dehumidifiers is more and they have a good chance of making the air increasingly dry. Although many people prefer to order a larger model for their small room for several reasons. When you have a large size dehumidifier it comes with a large capacity.

This means you need to run the device only for a couple of hours or occasionally and not continually, unlike a small dehumidifier. The humidity control is also better than a small dehumidifier. The downsides are, a large model is not as portable as a small one, they are louder, consume more energy, dries out the air faster, and beyond the requirement.

How do you determine what size dehumidifier you need?

Determining the size of a dehumidifier before purchase is necessary and simple. By taking into account the room size and purpose, you can choose the right size dehumidifier for your living room, bathroom, bedroom, laundry room, basement, crawl space, attic, or the whole house. You can also take the help of a sizing chart or a dehumidifier size calculator to make this easier.

Apart from room size, which can be easily calculated using a tape measure, you have to consider the room conditions. What is the current relative humidity in the air, is there adequate ventilation, is the HVAC and air conditioning unit functioning seamlessly, is there water damage in the room, is it moderately damp or extremely wet (in the case of a bathroom), what is the square footage that the dehumidifier should aim to cover, how many occupants would be in the room, does the room have constant exposure to a washer or dryer (in the case of a laundry room and kitchen), etc.; these are some questions one should ask oneself before investing in a dehumidifier.

To calculate the square feet of the room, use a tape measure and multiply the width of the room against its length. For example, if the room is 70 feet long and 40 feet wide, the room measures 2800 square feet. A room with large square footage like this could use dehumidifiers with a medium size unit, like a 40 pint or 50-pint dehumidifier. Different brands and companies also offer different features that might interest you. It is good practice to look into each of them carefully before you select the device.

How many square feet does a 50-pint dehumidifier cover?

A 50-pint dehumidifier is considered a large dehumidifier. It can easily cover any space that is above 2000 square feet to 4500 square feet (provided the relative humidity range is within 70% to 85%). Any 50-pint dehumidifier will have a large unit that will work efficiently to remove excess water content from the air in the area. However, it is not an ideal choice for areas under 1500 square feet. It might become too heavy for a small space, which will result in excessive dryness (unless this space has more than 85% of relative humidity).

What size dehumidifier do I need for a 3 bedroom house?

Purchasing the right dehumidifier for a 3 bedroom house is a little tricky and you have to weigh your options correctly. You have 2 choices. You can either buy several small or 3 small mobile dehumidifiers or you can buy a single large whole-house dehumidifier. The purpose of mobile dehumidifiers is that they can be moved into any space within a 3 bedroom house where moisture removal is essential. This is cost-effective and efficient as well. You can turn on just one of the small dehumidifiers in whichever space you require humidity control at that given point in time. However, the disadvantage is that it can get difficult to maintain several dehumidifiers under one roof.

The second option is to go in for a good 70-pint dehumidifier, that can cover a large space; or for any other whole-house dehumidifier. The advantage is that you can have just one dehumidifier and get the job done, by ensuring the entire home is protected against the humid air. The smart way to make this work is to install the dehumidifier into the HVAC system. Since this system has ducts that run to every other place in a home, you can get humidity control also carried out simultaneously.

What is the best dehumidifier for a large basement?

Learn more about hOmeLabs dehumidifier- the perfect Energy Star Dehumidifier for large spaces.

Keep your large basement and home guarded against the damaging effects of humidity with this 50-pint dehumidifier. It was initially categorised as a 70-pint dehumidifier by the 2012 DOE Standard. It has a large water tank with a 1.8-gallon capacity. This can hold the 50 pints of water removed every day from the air, which is directly proportional to the moisture content in the air. This large dehumidifier can cover an area of up to 4,500 square feet effectively.

It is an Energy Star certified dehumidifier which means it saves energy and money. The design is elegant, sleek, and portable; perfect for the modern-day home. Despite its large unit, it can be easily moved to any place you want for humidity control. Other attractive features of this dehumidifier include; automatic shut off on tank becoming full to prevent overflows, 24-hour continuous cycle operation, tank full indication, drain hose outlet for continuous draining, built-in pump compressor for odor and moisture control, Turbo mode that can increase fan speed from Normal Air CFM 165to High Air CFM 188. This guarantees maximum moisture removal and odor reduction. If these are the features that you expect from dehumidifiers that can cover large basements, you have arrived at the right dehumidifier.

Wrapping Up

Hope you have understood the relationship between dehumidifier size and its performance. You can always refer to a trustworthy sizing chart before you purchase your dehumidifier. Different brands of dehumidifiers come with varied capacity. Be cautious before you pick the right size and right device for your home. Let us know which dehumidifier works best for your home.

Stay Safe ! Stay Comfortable!