The crawl space is an area of your home that you know can have various problems. Sometimes, excessive moisture and humidity in the crawl space will lead to issues with mold.
If you live in a very humid area, you might have more problems than usual with your crawl space. This might make it so you’ll need to call professionals to remove mold or mildew every so often.
This is obviously an annoyance, and you might be wondering if you can turn things around. Would putting a dehumidifier in the crawl space make a difference?
Read on to learn about whether you can put a dehumidifier in a crawl space. This should help you to understand what you can and cannot do.
You Can Put a Dehumidifier in a Crawl Space
Yes, you can put a dehumidifier in a crawl space. Many people suggest doing so since it can be quite beneficial.
Using a dehumidifier in the crawl space can help to protect your home. When the crawl space is very humid, it could cause moist air to make its way into your home.
That humid air can seep into the flooring, and this might cause several different issues. If you want to keep your home safe, it’s a good idea to use a crawl space dehumidifier when you live in a very humid area.
Granted, not everyone is going to need a crawl space dehumidifier. It depends on how humid it is in your area and whether you truly need to take steps to protect your home or not.
Do I Need a Dehumidifier in My Crawl Space?
Whether you need a dehumidifier for your crawl space depends on the situation. People who live in areas with very high humidity levels will likely benefit from using dehumidifiers.
Sometimes you might have issues with standing water under your home. There could be problems where you’ll see water marks outside of the house.
In this situation, it’s wise to use a crawl space dehumidifier. It can help to mitigate such problems and protect your home.
If you don’t have these issues and your crawl space stays dry on its own, it might not be necessary. A lot of this depends on the conditions where you live.
It stands to reason that those who live in humid areas would be more likely to have significant problems. So you should address those problems if you have them.
You don’t want things to be too dry in the crawl space either. The humidity level should stay between 30% and 65%.
When the humidity exceeds 65%, that’s when you need to start worrying. So you can measure the humidity in the crawl space and get an idea of where you stand.
How Do Crawl Space Dehumidifiers Work?
Crawl space dehumidifiers work much the same as standard dehumidifiers. They work to eliminate moisture from the air.
You place a dehumidifier in the crawl space and it runs. As it runs, it’ll remove the moisture from the air and cool it.
There will be residual water left over from this process. Some crawl space dehumidifiers deliver the water to a tank which you will have to empty every so often.
Others drain the water through a water line. Installing a dehumidifier such as this will reduce issues with humidity, and it’ll keep mold problems from being a concern as well.
How Much Does a Crawl Space Dehumidifier Cost?
Crawl space dehumidifiers are going to cost you a fair bit of cash. If you discover that you need a dehumidifier for your crawl space, it’ll set you back at least $1,500.
Some of the dehumidifiers cost $2,500 or more. It just depends on the specific unit that you’re looking at.
Since these dehumidifiers are somewhat costly, most homeowners only want to purchase them if necessary. If you can get by without using one, it makes sense not to spend thousands of dollars.
However, there are clear benefits to using a crawl space dehumidifier when you live in a humid area. So you shouldn’t avoid buying one if you know that your crawl space has moisture issues.
Why Are Crawl Space Dehumidifiers So Expensive?
Buying crawl space dehumidifiers will cost quite a bit of money. They’re so expensive because they’re made to a very high standard of quality.
These dehumidifiers need to run constantly. Also, they must be compact enough to fit in a tight space.
For the most part, crawl spaces are rather small, and this means that the dehumidifier must be compact. It has to be very powerful despite having a small design.
These dehumidifiers are more sophisticated in terms of engineering and the components that are used to construct them. This contributes to the higher overall cost.
How Much Does It Cost to Run a Dehumidifier in a Crawl Space?
Running a dehumidifier in your crawl space won’t add too much to your monthly energy bills. On average, it should cost no more than $30 per month to run.
Depending on the dehumidifier that’s being used and the size of your crawl space, it might cost only $10 per month to run. So you should have no problem factoring that into your budget.
The cost to run the dehumidifier is much less of a concern than the initial investment. Since buying a crawl space dehumidifier can cost thousands of dollars, it still might be difficult for some people to move forward.
Knowing the costs will help you to plan ahead. You can figure out how to fit it into your budget if you do, indeed, need a crawl space dehumidifier for your home.
Are Dehumidifiers Good for Crawl Spaces?
Yes, dehumidifiers can be very good for crawl spaces. They help to keep problems with humidity in check.
Using one can make it so your home won’t have to deal with many problems. It’s less likely that mold will become an issue, and you won’t have to deal with unpleasant odors coming from the crawl space either.
For many, using one of these will be important. Others might not find a crawl space dehumidifier to be necessary.
As mentioned earlier, it depends on many factors. These dehumidifiers are good for crawl spaces, but whether they’re necessary depends on the humidity level in the area and the particulars of your landscape.
Where to Place Dehumidifier in Crawl Space
Figuring out where to place the dehumidifier in the crawl space can be tougher than you might think. The amount of space that you have to work with in a crawl space is rather limited, after all.
Where is the best spot to put the dehumidifier? It’s probably best to keep the dehumidifier close to the opening where you can access the crawl space.
This allows you to easily plug the dehumidifier in, and you can check on it if necessary. Sometimes this won’t be the best spot, though.
The dehumidifier might need to be further in. This is especially true if the crawl space is rather large.
In some situations, people use fans in conjunction with crawl space humidifiers. This allows the air to circulate around the dehumidifier better.
If you need help, it might be best to ask for professional installation. The companies that sell these dehumidifiers will often install them for you.
They can also answer any questions that you might have about the process. So you can make things easier by getting professional advice about where to put the dehumidifier to get the best results.
Can I Use a Regular Dehumidifier in a Crawl Space?
No, a regular dehumidifier isn’t going to work well in a crawl space. It’ll likely wind up damaging the dehumidifier if you try it.
These dehumidifiers aren’t powerful enough to handle crawl spaces. They also aren’t durable enough to put up with the environment.
Even if the dehumidifier operates for a while in the crawl space, you won’t get good results. The power will not be sufficient for what you’re trying to do.
It’s necessary to purchase a true crawl space dehumidifier. Even if you want to save money, it’s not advisable to attempt to use a regular dehumidifier for this job.
Are Crawl Space Dehumidifiers Loud?
Sadly, many crawl space dehumidifiers that you can purchase are quite loud. Often, you’ll be able to hear them operating while you’re sitting in your home.
Some might be quieter than others, but it isn’t likely that you’ll find a quiet crawl space dehumidifier. They’re all at least a little loud.
It might be worthwhile to look at reviews for the different options. This can give you an idea of how loud each unit is.
If you’re looking for a relatively quiet unit, you can try to find the one that is the least noisy. Remember that the important thing is to have a dehumidifier that works well.
Are Crawl Space Dehumidifiers Worth It?
Owning a crawl space dehumidifier is worth it compared to the alternative. If your crawl space is humid and has moisture issues, it could wind up damaging your home.
It’s possible that mold might become a big problem in the crawl space. Mold and moisture could negatively impact your flooring and the foundation of your home.
All of this damage could lead to thousands of dollars of repair costs. You might have to replace your flooring, pay for mold removal specialists, and do many other things.
By comparison, spending a few thousand dollars on a crawl space dehumidifier is nothing. So it’s worth it if you truly need to solve problems in your crawl space.
Will a Dehumidifier Dry Out Crawl Space?
You can indeed use a dehumidifier to dry out a crawl space. To do so, you’ll need to buy a proper crawl space dehumidifier.
Put it in place, hook it up, and then set it between 35% and 45% humidity. It’ll work to dry out the crawl space as it runs.
It won’t dry the crawl space out immediately, of course. This will take several hours to finish.
It’s estimated that it’ll take eight to ten hours for the crawl space to dry out. This is assuming that you’re using the recommended settings and the dehumidifier is powerful enough.
What is the Best Crawl Space Dehumidifier?
Picking the best crawl space dehumidifier is tough. There are many excellent crawl space dehumidifiers that you can purchase.
All of them are going to cost you a fair sum of money. The Aprilaire 1820 crawl space dehumidifier is one of the premier options on the market.
It’s made to work fantastically well, and it has convenient automated controls. Also, it has a continuous drain pump.
The Drieaz compact dehumidifier is another option to consider. It has a great compact design, but it also has a very high tank capacity.
This dehumidifier also has a continuous drain pump, and it works nicely in rough conditions. Even if it’s a little on the heavy side, it’s a good dehumidifier to own.
Finally, you might want to check out the Alorair crawl space dehumidifier. It’s compact, works well at low temperatures, and is very energy efficient.
There are many other good dehumidifiers out there as well. You should look at various options and compare them.
If you’re at a loss for what to get, you could seek out professional help. They can recommend a unit that will work well on your property and then install it for you.
Final Thoughts
You know a lot more about crawl space dehumidifiers now. These types of dehumidifiers are actually important for many homes.
Crawl spaces can be rather damp and humid. Not everyone is going to have problems with humidity in their crawl spaces, but some will.
If your crawl space has issues with moisture, it’s likely that you’d benefit from buying a dehumidifier. You can’t use a regular dehumidifier, though.
You have to use a special crawl space dehumidifier that is powerful enough to get the job done. They’re rather pricey, and they might cost thousands of dollars in some cases.
Regardless, it’s better to buy one if you truly need it. Otherwise, your home could get damaged due to excessive moisture and mold seeping in from the crawl space.
Ben has a bachelor’s degree in construction engineering. When not constructing or remodeling X-Ray Rooms, Cardiovascular Labs, and Pharmacies, you can find him at home with wife and two daughters. Outside of family, He loves grilling and barbequing on his Big Green Egg and Blackstone Griddle, as well as working on projects around the house.
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