Where To Place A Dehumidifier?
3 Key Takeaways:
🚀 Dehumidifier placement is essential for effectively controlling humidity levels in the atmosphere.
🚀 The best place to put a dehumidifier in a house is towards the center of the room, facing the room, and at least 6 to 12 inches away from walls and other objects to facilitate airflow.
🚀 If separate dehumidifiers are needed for downstairs (closer to basements and floors exposed to increased water content) and upstairs (closer to the attic and atmosphere).
Dehumidifiers are important home appliances that help to reduce the moisture level in the air. Excess moisture in the environment leads to an increase in the relative humidity level. This will cause humid and heavy temperature that is not alone difficult to stay in but also a cause of concern.
High humidity levels, excess moisture, lack of air circulation: Each of these become favourable breeding grounds for fungal growth like mold and mildew, poor air quality, source of air-borne diseases that wreak havoc on the respiratory system. If there is a moisture problem anywhere in the house, it can be prevented and controlled by keeping a track of the humidity levels in your living space.
This is where dehumidifiers come to the rescue. Their different ways of handling moisture levels will reduce the water content in the air and benefit the overall well-being of the person and property in the area.
For dehumidifiers to effectively control the humidity levels in the atmosphere it is important to pay attention to where you put a dehumidifier. Be it a whole-house dehumidifier or a dehumidifier for your laundry room; no matter what is the size of the room, but dehumidifier placement in a space is one of the important factors that influence the results and effectiveness of using a dehumidifier.
Where you place the dehumidifier is essential to get rid of the problem that is the source of moisture issues in your house. Let’s discuss more on ‘Where do you place a dehumidifier in a room?’ and its role in relative humidity control.
Does it matter where you place a dehumidifier?
As aforementioned, where you place a dehumidifier is one of the important factors that contribute to the device’s performance. Dehumidifier placement within any location matters because the device can function efficiently based on its proximity to the source of excess moisture seeping into the home, whether it is placed upstairs or downstairs based on the building structure, the humidity level in the area, etc. Where you place the dehumidifier must take into consideration the above-mentioned criteria for it to be able to control the moisture level as expected.
Which is the best place to put a dehumidifier in a house?
When it comes to dehumidifier placement you have to pay some attention to it. Where you place a dehumidifier will give you the results you expect and will determine whether dehumidification is successful or not.
Source of moisture– always always always isolate the moisture source as the first step in humidity control. Identify what is causing the shoot in moisture levels in your home. Is it the climatic conditions of your location, any water leak or crack in your HVAC systems, crawl space, basement, bathrooms, laundry room, kitchen, improper drainage, poor ventilation, or lack of air circulation? Each of these could be contributing factors to an increase in the humidity levels within your house. But the question is, how sure are you about the source of moisture, and is your dehumidifier placement suitable to control the problem?
Once you have confirmed on what is leading to the rise of the dampness in the air and in the surrounding space, placing a dehumidifier will become simple. The common areas in a home that are constantly exposed to dampness must be equipped with a dehumidifier to handle the moisture. These areas with an excess amount of water exposure are prone to mold growth and mildew. Hence, one best way to prevent your home from turning into a popular breeding ground for mold and mildew is by placing a dehumidifier in the area.
A whole-house dehumidifier is an excellent choice that will ensure your entire home is covered. You can have any model that offers adequate coverage across the entire stretch of your home. You can even have dehumidifiers installed into the HVAC systems to get humidity level maintained throughout your house; including the basement and crawl space. If the structure of your building has a couple of floors, you must ensure every floor is safe from excess moisture in the air as well.
If separate dehumidifiers are in need downstairs (closer to the basements and floor that is exposed to the increased water content) and upstairs (closer to the attic and atmosphere), it is best to have them installed with appropriate drain hose outlet. Having an exclusive basement dehumidifier is another option to keep your basement protected at all times.
Placing a dehumidifier in the center of the room will guarantee that the unit can carry out its operation across every nook and corner of the room. This is especially true in the case of a large room. A small room, however, will benefit from the dehumidifier even being placed in a corner (provided its unit has sufficient capacity to cover the area).
Should a dehumidifier be placed high or low?
It is always best to have a dehumidifier placed on the coldest floor. The floor with the lowest temperature in the house is the one in need of immediate or quick dehumidification. Make sure the device is plugged in correctly and is at a safe distance from any water source. Both, the water outlet and the electrical outlet of the device must be carefully monitored no matter where their location is.
Can you put a dehumidifier on the carpet?
Yes, placing a dehumidifier on a carpet is not a cause of concern. In fact, a dehumidifier is a good choice to remove water content from a wet carpet, in comparison to exhaust fans and fans. The unit’s capacity of the dehumidifier is capable of removing the dampness from the air and the carpet faster.
Can a dehumidifier be off the floor?
When it comes to placing a dehumidifier on a floor or not, the answer is convenience is the best decision-maker. Although it is recommended to have the device set on the floor, if the location and space that you have do not permit it, it doesn’t matter if the unit is on an elevated area. Ensure the water removal from the dehumidifier is carried out hassle-free, despite the height.
Which way should a dehumidifier face?
Dehumidifier placement in a room is recommended to be towards the center as best possible, facing the room and at a minimum of 6 to 12 inches away from the wall and any other property (furniture, appliances, etc). The need for this blank space is to facilitate air flow in and out of the unit. Air moisture removal by dehumidifiers is done by passing the warm humid air flow in the room over the cold condenser coils of the unit. This is why the device must be in a safe space away from the walls for air flow free from obstruction.
FAQ Section
1. Do I need a dehumidifier in every room?
Having a dehumidifier in every room is a guaranteed way of keeping humidity and its accompanying problems at bay. However, placing a dehumidifier in every room is not a feasible option for everyone. The best method to regulate the moisture levels throughout the house is by having a whole-house dehumidifier with a large capacity, installed with the HVAC system.
Or, you can have small dehumidifiers or even DIY dehumidifiers or Desiccant dehumidifiers placed in every room or space with excess moisture. This could be your basement, attic, crawl space, cabinet, closet, kitchen, living room, bathrooms, laundry area, etc. Small dehumidifiers in different places will offer effective humidity control. It could become difficult to track different dehumidifiers, hence natural or DIY dehumidifiers with minimal maintenance is the ideal choice.
2. Where to put a dehumidifier in the bedroom?
Dehumidifier placement in a bedroom is not difficult. Bedrooms are usually smaller in size when compared to a living room or basements and the humidity source can be easily controlled. Although not all bedrooms battle with humidity, some minor issues can lead to rising moist air in it too.
Leaky windows, small cracks around the windows or doors are common reasons how moist air can easily infiltrate inside a bedroom. Whe+n this happens, there also comes the need to have a dehumidifier inside the bedroom to reduce the increase in the humidity levels. When not controlled, they can cause disruption of peaceful sleep, growth of mold and allergens, and respiratory health problems.
3. Can you put a dehumidifier in a garage?
Yes! You can. Basements and garages are the common breeding areas for fungal growth in a home due to high humidity levels. The best way to handle them is by installing a good dehumidifier near the source of trouble. If there are already signs of fungal growth, it is best to have an expert have them removed completely and suggest the type of dehumidifier that can arrest and prevent future trouble.
4. Should you put a dehumidifier in my crawl space?
The often neglected area in a home is a crawl space. It is a cramped place that does not have proper ventilation. During the warmer weathers; when the temperature inside the home is lesser than the temperature outside, there will be a natural rise in humidity in the area that leads to condensation as well. The other causes for moist air infiltration inside these spaces are leaking pipes and inadequate insulation. With this comes the need for dehumidifiers inside the crawl space. You have explicite dehumidifiers for a crawl space, or you can also settle with a small dehumidifier that can do the job. Remember, these spaces are in need of a strong fan that can circulate air, hence, make sure that the model you purchase can guarantee you with that.
5. Can you put a dehumidifier in my car?
Condensation within a car causes foggy windows, which is hazardous when you are driving your car. To tackle this problem you can have small size dehumidifiers placed inside your car.
Wrapping Up
Hope you understand the importance of carefully choosing the place a dehumidifier is kept in a room. Be it a small bathroom or a large basement, in the living room downstairs or the closet upstairs; the place you keep a dehumidifier must be chosen with planning to get the maximum effect of using the machine. Let us know in the comments below where is your dehumidifier placed and how it helps to tackle the moisture problem in your home.