Last Updated: Oct 2023
Best Dehumidifier For A Basement
Basements can be cold, damp places at the best of times, but during the winter months, they can feel even damper. Telltale signs like black patches on the walls, condensation on any windows, that musty mildewy smell that’s usually associated with old churches, or even mould and mildew patches on the walls. These are all indicators of a problem with damp.
Sometimes there’s nothing to repair, it’s just the overall dampness of the basement caused by the low level of the building. So you just have to put up with it, right? Well, you could, or you could invest in a dehumidifier to extract all that moisture. It can be confusing, there are so many makes, models and types of dehumidifier out there that choosing one can seem insurmountable.
- Moisture and odour control – The AERO 360° moisture absorber is a simple solution to effectively absorb excess moisture and neutralise bad smells in your home. It is ideal for rooms up to 20m²
- Optimal performance – The aerodynamic design promotes 360° air circulation for advanced efficiency. The tabs are made of active moisture absorbing crystals and include patented anti-odour agents
- DAMPNESS / HUMIDITY REMOVER: Ansio Interior Dehumidifiers are designed to remove dampness & humidity from the air. For domestic purposes only.
- EFFECTIVE IN REMOVING DAMPNESS: These disposable Dehumidifier tubs contain unique hydrophilic crystals that are specifically formulated to draw and retain moisture from the air. This helps combat condensation, damp rooms, allergens in the air, mould, mildew and neutralises odours. The dehumidifier tubs act as good condensation absorbers for windows.
- 【Energy Saving, but Efficient】The dehumidifier effectively remove most of the humidity and avoid mould in the room, up to 300ml/Day. Dehumidifier for home run well at temperature range of 15-40°C. Besides, with 23W rated power and auto power-off function, it saves you lots of power.
- 【Ultra Quiet, More Reassuring】Dehumidifier for home damp operates quietly and without disturbing you, whenever you are sleeping, working, or reading. Low to unobtrusive 40dB, this dehumidifier for drying clothes is ideal for daily, suitable for 10-15㎡ room like bedroom, office, bathroom, laundry room and so on.
- LOW ENERGY CONSUMPTION - This Energy Efficient 12L/Day Dehumidifier by Pro Breeze uses an ultra-efficient compressor, a 24-Hour on/off timer and an energy saving auto shut-off system - helping you to reduce power consumption and energy bills. It is ideal for damp, mould, condensation and moisture in homes, basements and bathrooms. Running cost as low as 7p per hour (October 2022).
- QUIET DEHUMIDIFICATION - This powerful dehumidifier for home uses the latest ultra-quiet compressor technology to combat damp without disturbing you in the kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, conservatory or garage.
- EfficienStrongly Removing Moisture: With Peltier technology (no compressor needed), the water tank volume of our small dehumidifier is up to 1000 ml. And it can remove up to 450 ml of water per day at 30 ℃ and 80% RH. Dehumidifiers for drying clothes and It is perfect for bedroom,office,bathroom,caravan.
- Ultra-Quiet&Low Energy Consumption: The dehumidifiers used Peltier technology, the operating sound is about 39 dB that's suit for sleeping, and the dehumidifier can run all day long without loud or annoying noises.
What Do You Need To Know Before Buying A Dehumidifier?
Read on to find out what you need to take into account before making your final decision.
How Cold Is The Basement Likely To Get?
This should be your first consideration, once you know how cold the area is likely to get, you can decide which dehumidifier is best for your basement. Some dehumidifiers won’t operate in cold conditions, so if your basement does get particularly cold it will influence your choice of machine.
Dehumidifier Water Tank Size
The water tank is where the water extracted from the air is collected and stored. If the tank is too small you’ll be forever having to empty it. If it’s too large it might be a struggle to carry when it’s full. Some models have a drainage pipe that drains directly to a drain or sink and prevents the tank from filling and the machine from cutting out.
Capacity Rating
The capacity is basically a measure of how much moisture can be extracted in 24 hours. So you might see on the specs, water tank 10 litres, capacity 70 litres – This means it has the capacity to extract 70 litres of moisture every 24 hours but after 10 litres have been stored in the water tank, the unit will cut out until the tank is emptied.
Overall Room Size
To operate correctly and efficiently, the dehumidifier needs to be the correct size for the size of the area it’s going to be dealing with. To get the correct measurements for the total area of the room, just multiply the length by the width for example, a basement with a length of 30 feet and a width of 40 feet will have a total area of 1200 square feet. That looks like this:
30 x 40 = 1200
Length X Width = Square feet
Once you have the area, you can see just how much capacity your dehumidifier needs to have.
Automatic Cut Off Function
A decent dehumidifier will have an automatic cut off that stops the machine once the water tank is full. But many have automatic sensors, that stop the dehumidifier once the room reaches the desired humidity (preset into the machine). Many will then restart if moisture levels rise again.
Defrost capability
Depending on the type of dehumidifier you buy, this might be a useful feature, but it’s not necessary with desiccant type dehumidifiers (more on this later). Basically if the internal components start to freeze a defrost function cuts in to prevent freezing and potential damage to the machine.
Brand Name
Buying a well-known, well-established company’s dehumidifier should ensure a reliable machine. Also any warranty or guarantee issued by the company will have some backing. Plus their customer support department will be able to help and advise you with any problems.
Guarantee
Most decent brands offer guarantees ranging from 1 to 3 years. Plus if you purchased a dehumidifier from a reputable company, they will honour the terms of their guarantee.
What Type Of Dehumidifier Should You Buy For A Basement?
To answer this fully, we first have to explain the way dehumidifiers work. We know they extract moisture from the air, and deposit the water into an internal water reservoir or tank. But how does it achieve that extraction? Well there are 2 main ways, and they are sold under different type names, they’re both dehumidifiers, but operate in different ways. They are:
Refrigerant (Compressor) Dehumidifiers
These work on a similar principle to your fridge. A coolant is passed through a coil, as the moist, warm air touches the cold coil, the moisture condenses and drips into the water tank. This type work best in hot, steamy conditions. There’s more to it than that, but that explanation is sufficient for our purpose.
Desiccant Dehumidifiers
This type relies on a desiccant attached to a rotor that attracts the water from the moist air, as the rotor spins, the desiccant gets exposed to a heat source which dries it out and the water drips into a reservoir and the process continues. Desiccant dehumidifiers are usually quieter than refrigerant models too. Again that’s a simplified explanation but it’ll do for our purpose.
Which Type Of Dehumidifier Should You Choose For Your Basement?
You can probably see why you needed to find out just how cold your basement gets. The refrigerant type of dehumidifier can freeze if temperatures drop too low. That would stop them from operating, and possibly damage components and void any warranty. So if you have a particularly cold basement or if you just want to err on the side of caution, we advise you to go for a desiccant dehumidifier.
What Size Dehumidifier Do You Need For Your Basement?
As we said earlier, the size of the total area you want to treat will determine the size of the dehumidifier you buy. Using our simple equation above, calculate your total area and then use our handy guide below, to determine the best dehumidifier for your basement.
| Total area in square feet (square metres) | Capacity in litres (Pints) |
|---|---|
| 500 (46 square metres) | 4.7 (8 pints) |
| 1000 (93 square metres) | 6.6 (11 pints) |
| 1500 (140 square metres) | 8.5 (15 pints) |
| 2000 (190 square metres) | 10 (18 pints) |
| 2500 (230 square metres) | 12 (21 pints) |
Where To Buy A Dehumidifier Suitable For The Basement
All major retailers sell dehumidifiers, including Argos, Currys, Amazon, Appliances direct, Screwfix, B&Qs, John Lewis, Robert dyas, and many more.
Buying Tips
Having read all the information, and done the research, it’s important you don’t fall at the final hurdle. Follow our buying tips to be sure of the best model at the best price, with the best deal possible.
- Have a specific type in mind
Either refrigerant or desiccant, choose the most suitable type for your basement. - Know which features are important to you
From noise level, tank capacity, auto cut off, defrost capability, size, etc, it’s your choice, and you are going to have to live with that choice for sometime. - Brand name and model
You might have a particular brand you trust, or you might have a model in mind that has all the features you need. Don’t be swayed by a smooth talking salesman, stick to your guns. - Length of guarantee
Some models have much longer warranties than others, if this is important to you, be sure to choose the right one. And again don’t be swayed. - Price
You might be surprised at just how much you can save on the price of the model you choose just by shopping around. It’s easy to compare prices nowadays with the internet at the end of your phone. - Check reviews
This can be especially handy if you are buying online, somewhere like Amazon print lots of customer reviews that give honest opinions on each model. - Take your time
You’ve lived without it for this long, don’t rush out and buy the first one that comes along. Always compare like for like, sometimes another reputable company might have a very similar model at a substantially lower price.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big a dehumidifier you need for your basement depends on the total area of your basement and how much humidity there is.
The best place to put a dehumidifier in the basement is as near to the centre of the space as you can. So that it can achieve maximum air flow.
A dehumidifier will help to get rid of smells in the basement, if they are caused by damp conditions. Otherwise you will need an air purifier.
You should turn on your basement dehumidifier as soon as the humidity level rises above 50%.
You should keep your basement at a humidity level between 30 to 50%.
Your basement dehumidifier should be set at anywhere between 30 to 50% humidity.
If your dehumidifier is running but not collecting water it could be that the compressor has packed up.
You should run a dehumidifier in your basement in summer if the humidity level is above 50%.
Mould will grow at 55% humidity and above.
It is perfectly normal for a dehumidifier to blow hot air. It uses heat to process the moisture. This has to be vented off.
