Best Crawl Space Dehumidifier
[amazon table=”3235″]If you have a basement or crawl space at the bottom of your home, then you’ll know all too well how humidity-related issues like mold can thrive in those areas.
In order to stay on top of the humidity levels in these moisture-retaining parts of the house, you can have a crawl space dehumidifier installed.
A crawl space dehumidifier is a compact device specifically designed for tight spaces, but with enough moisture-extraction power to combat the high humidity found in such spaces.
Here are our top picks…
👑 Our Pick for Best Overall
[amazon box=”B01LWA8J37″ title=”ALORAIR Crawl Space Dehumidifier” description=”The ALORAIR crawl space dehumidifier is an outstanding device packing plenty of power in a small package. The efficiency of this device is unrivalled, and the array of features make it well worth the significant investment.”]⭐ Our Other Top Picks for Crawl Space Dehumidifier
- Best of the Best: ALORAIR Crawl Space Dehumidifier
- Runner Up: ALORAIR LGR 85
- Best on a Budget: Waykar 150 Pint Dehumidifier
- Best Premium: Dri-Eaz 1200 Commercial Dehumidifier with Pump
Best Crawl Space Dehumidifier Reviews
ALORAIR Crawl Space Dehumidifier (👑 Best of the Best)
In our view, the best crawl space dehumidifier is the premium ALORAIR device. While it’s undeniable that this dehumidifier requires a significant investment, the value return for your money is hard to understate.
This compact device punches well above its weight and covers a large area of 1,300 square feet, which should be ideal for any basement or crawl space. To give you an idea of the power of this small device, it can remove up to 55 pints of moisture per day by AHAM standards (equating to around 120 pints), which is a significant amount. Plus, as an Energy Star certified dehumidifier, you won’t have to shell out large amounts of extra money on your energy bills while this device is working hard to maintain the perfect humidity level for your home.
The design of this dehumidifier is both easy on the eye, and, more importantly, compact. Measuring 19.2 x 12.3x 13.3 inches, you have plenty of options in how you install this nifty little device and it shouldn’t require much configuration of the space you have. Inside the device is a MERV-8 filter, which shields the internal components from environmental particles like dust damaging them. This is a filter which you’ll have to replace once every 2 or 3 months. Then there’s the convenient remote control that allows for remote monitoring. This helps you keep track of things without having to put yourself out too much.
The ALORAIR crawl space dehumidifier has a trio of excellent automatic features which should make the process of using it a lot more straightforward, requiring less effort on your part. First, you have auto shut off, which is fairly standard for most good dehumidifiers and pauses operation once the reservoir is full. Then, there’s auto defrost, which will prevent the coils from freezing, which makes this unit able to thrive in cooler environments like crawl spaces, basements, and garages. Finally, there’s auto restart, which will ensure that following a power outage your device will resume operation as soon as the power comes back on.
This crawl space dehumidifier comes with a generous 5 years warranty, and local professional customer support will be on hand to help in the unlikely event that you have any trouble with the device.
- Removes up to 55 pints officially (AHAM), which equates to 120
- Covers spaces up to 1,300 square feet
- Compact design
- Energy Star certified
- Auto shut off, restart, and defrost
- Remote control
- MERV-8 replaceable filter
- 5 year warranty
ALORAIR LGR 85 (🥈 Runner Up)
Our runner up pick for the best crawl space dehumidifier just so happens to be another device manufactured by ALORAIR, proving that it’s a brand with a lot of expertise in this area.
This compact device has a clean red and grey finish, and is listed as an ‘Amazon’s choice’ product, which means it has passed the tests for being a well-priced device that has been well-received by customers and ships quickly. What makes it stand out compared to other crawl space dehumidifiers on the market is its astonishing moisture removal rate of 180 pints per day. This is enough to take on the highest of humidity levels, even in notoriously damp areas of the house such as the deepest, darkest recesses of the basement. Humidity-related issues like the growth of mold won’t stand a chance when this machine is in operation. But the main purpose of this device given its staggering capacity to extract moisture from the air is to restore areas which have been damaged by water and flooding.
This device not only works in damp areas of the house, but is also fit for use in large spaces such as warehouses, shops, and storage areas. The design of the unit reflects its utility, since it can be easily carried around with the two handles and it has a compact shape which conveniently fits into most spaces. It’s also stackable, so you can have several on hand if you feel like you’ll need to protect several spaces from potential water damage. The waterproof design means that it can be placed into water since the rubber seal protects the circuit board, this makes it suitable for times when you foresee a flood coming or anticipate water damage from bouts of heavy precipitation.
It’s a cETL Certified device, and drains out using a condensate pump. The height of the drain is 14.7 feet and the drain pipe 19.6 feet. It is fitted with a washable MERV 8 filter, which is easy to slide out and replace when you need to every 2 or 3 months. The setup couldn’t be more simple, since all you have to do is plug the device in and select your preferred settings. You can adjust the settings using the easy touch button control panel, which has a bright LED display and will show you the current humidity level.
There’s a 5 year warranty for this device, and a ‘hot gas’ defrosting system, which should both ensure that this device lasts for a very long time.
Features:
- Removes up to 180 pints per day
- Designed to restore damage caused by water and flooding
- Digital humidistat control
- Compact design
- ‘Hot gas’ defrosting
- Waterproof design
- Replaceable MERV 8 filter
- Control panel
- Uses a condensate pump
- cETL Certified
- 5 year warranty
Waykar 150 Pint Dehumidifier (💰 Best on a Budget)
As far as budget crawl space dehumidifiers go, we highly recommend the Waykar 150 pint model, which offers excellent performance at a more affordable price.
This box-shaped unit which resembles a blocky projector is a large capacity commercial-level dehumidifier perfect for any crawl space,basement, or even big spaces like warehouses. It’s even possible to use this dehumidifier for the whole house, given that it has an astonishing capacity to remove up to 150 pints of water per day. The coverage of the device extends to up to 6,500 square feet, which is an extremely large area for a single dehumidifier to cover. It does this without needing a large and bulky design too, as it’s both compact and portable which helps to facilitate easy storage and placement.
This compact device is made up of an air inlet and outlet, a filter, and both a display panel and humidity sensor. There’s also a washable filter on the inside, as well as a cable for both the humidity sensor and a drain hose. It can be placed in most rooms of the house, more often than not through the use of duct. In crawl spaces and basements, the best way to install it is to use flex duct.
As mentioned, there is a control panel on this device, which is touch-operated and allows you to configure the settings of the dehumidifier as well as check in on the current humidity level with the built-in humidistat. Specially the control panel will let you adjust the desired RH, program a timer up to 24 hours, and indicate when there’s a fault or when the device is in auto defrost mode. The automatic features of the device include the defrost setting which keeps the equipment running even in low temperature, and auto shut off, which powers the device down when the reservoir is full of water. There’s also an auto restart function, which has the device resume normal operation after a power outage.
There is a 30-day money-back guarantee with every purchase of this dehumidifier from Waykar, and a 1 year warranty, which should alleviate any concerns you may have about the product not working correctly.
Features:
- Removes up to 150 pints per day
- Covers up to 6,500 square feet
- Compact design
- Washable filter
- Touch-operated control panel
- Auto shut off, restart, and defrost
- 30-day money back guarantee
- 1 warranty
Dri-Eaz 1200 Commercial Dehumidifier with Pump (💎 Best Premium)
If you’re looking to get the very best crawl space dehumidifier, and are willing to spend extra to get it, then the Dri-Eaz 1200 could be the best option for you.
This heavy-duty dehumidifier is primed for action in just about any space, and can be used to effectively dry out everything from basements and crawl spaces to utility rooms and garages. It’s a device intended to tackle the worst affected rooms when it comes to high humidity levels, so you can say goodbye to mold, mildew, and other moisture-related issues that are so common in houses.
This device is slightly bulkier than other crawl space dehumidifers, but it makes up for this with a portable design that features both a handle and 2 large wheels. This makes it easy to carry or wheel the unit around the house, so that you can target multiple humid areas. It also means it’s an excellent choice for anyone living in humid climates or concerned about the potential for water damage caused by excessive rain and/or flooding.
The Dri-Eaz 1200 works to remove up to 145 pints of water per day, which would be 64 under AHAM test conditions. It has a built-in duct attachment ring for easy setup and to facilitate drying efficiency. There’s a long 25 inch power cord to hook the device up to power supplies across large rooms, and a 40 inch hose attached to the pump basin. It works in spaces up to the size of 3,000 square feet or so. The design means that the device is stackable so that you can have multiple on hand to prevent water damage when necessary.
As for features, the device is equipped with a ‘hot gas’ bypass which allows for rapid defrosting in cold environments such as crawl spaces and basements. It has electronic touch pad controls, and automatic restart to restore normal operation after a power outage.
Features:
- Removes 64 AHAM pints per day (which equates to 145)
- Electronic touch pad controls
- Covers roughly 3,000 square feet
- 3M HAF replaceable filter
- Hot gas bypass
- Compact design with wheels and handle
Ultimate Guide
It’s important to find the best crawl space dehumidifier for your needs first time, so that you don’t have to worry about replacing it any time soon.
There are many things which make the great crawl space dehumidifiers stand out from the competition, so we’re going to walk you through what we believe they are.
Some of the most important factors include the coverage provided by the device, the weight and size of it, and what features it has that can help with efficiency and maintenance.
Before we get into any of the details of the devices themselves though, we’d like to start by addressing a commonly asked question regarding this type of dehumidifier.
Do You Need a Crawl Space Dehumidifier?
In most cases, it should be fairly obvious whether you need a crawl space dehumidifier, but not always.
Humidity-related issues such as the growth of mold, mildew, and fungus can severely affect the structural integrity, and safety, of homes.
While a lot of the time you will notice the signs of mold growing in your home, if it’s in the basement or a crawl space, then there’s a possibility that you haven’t yet investigated the possibility.
It’s easy to think that certain indicators of a humidity problem are just the norm, when in reality they can develop into serious issues.
To clear up any doubt in your mind, here are some of the telltale signs that you have a humidity problem, and could benefit from using a crawl space dehumidifier:
Strong Odor
A strong odor or foul smell around the house isn’t always a result of expired food or bad plumbing, but sometimes caused by excess moisture in the air.
This is especially noticeable if the odor is coming from the crawl space in your home, since this is a space often with high humidity, due to its proximity to potentially damp soil underneath.
If you notice that there is an odor in your home, the first place to investigate should be the crawl space. If it appears to get worse on the lower levels of the house, then you can almost be sure that this area is the source.
Mold or Fungus
Every homeowner’s worst nightmare, short of insect infestations, has to be the visible growth of mold or fungus in their house.
Mold is the growth of bacteria which thrives in humid conditions, which is why it is most at home in naturally moist parts of the house like the crawl space, basement, or garage.
If you rarely venture down into the crawl space of your house, then now might be the time to muster up the courage and make sure there’s no humid-related issues which could be causing things to deteriorate.
Moisture-related Damage
Another telltale sign that you have a humidity problem in your home is moisture-related damage.
This refers to anything from the rotting of wood to the rusting of metal, so pay special attention to structural support like wooden beams and other parts of the house which could be affected by high levels of moisture in the air.
This can lead to a serious structural problem in the house if not addressed, so it’s worth keeping an eye on.
Tank Capacity
Now that you should have a better idea of whether or not you need to invest in a crawl space dehumidifier, it’s time to assess the devices themselves and how to differentiate them.
The first factor we’ll take a look at is the tank capacity.
Each dehumidifier has a reservoir for the water it collects, which is then either drained manually by emptying it out, or is connected up to a drainage system for automatic draining.
What determines the efficiency of a crawl space dehumidifier, and how often it needs to be emptied out, is the tank capacity.
The capacity refers to how much water the device can hold, and how many pints it can remove from the air in a period of 24 hours.
While the smallest and cheapest models will remove anywhere up to 30 pints of water per 24 hours, the more premium ones can remove 60 pints or more in the same time frame.
To determine which one is best for your needs, consider how severe the humidity problem is, and whether or not you’re likely to experience water or flooding damage.
The larger capacity devices tend to be more suitable for bigger crawl spaces too, with some covering as much as 6,000 square feet.
The opposite is true too, with the smallest devices being more suited to smaller crawl spaces, offering less coverage.
Design
Something which goes hand in hand with the tank capacity and efficiency of a crawl space dehumidifier is the design of the device.
The design in this case mainly refers to the size, weight, and portability of the unit.
While some crawl spaces are so large that none of these design aspects play a significant role, for most people it’s worth considering all 3 to make sure it’s the right fit.
Size & Weight
The first thing to establish here is that having a small crawl space dehumidifier doesn’t mean it’s necessarily less effective or powerful than the full-size units you might have at home.
In fact, many crawl space dehumidifiers aren’t built specifically to retain a high level of efficiency even with their compact size.
That said, the capacity is important as we already discussed, as is the space you have available in your home.
If your crawl space is quite cramped, you probably don’t need a large dehumidifier down there which could prove too bulky or large.
Likewise, if its size causes it to be too heavy, it might be a real pain to get into position in the first place.
Portability
The other main design element to take into account is portability.
While some people are happy to have a bulky unit that stays put in the crawl space, others will want to get the most out of the dehumidifier by using it in different rooms around the house.
Key portability features include a telescopic handle and wheels, since these will transform a hard to move device into something resembling a suitcase.
This is especially important if you want to use a dehumidifier to proactively prevent damage from rain or flooding.
In this case, you might also want to consider devices with waterproof housing such as the ALORAIR LGR 85 which can operate while submerged in water.
Features
The features of a crawl space dehumidifier are also an important consideration, so we’ve gathered what we believe are the best ones to have.
Automatic Functions
There is a trio of automatic functions which most good crawl space dehumidifiers will have, which can reduce the amount of maintenance required to keep them running, and optimise the efficiency of the process.
- Auto Shutoff
Auto shutoff refers to the process of switching off once the tank is full of water. This helps to preserve the device and prevent the need to constantly check in on it.
- Auto Restart
The auto restart function is a neat feature which allows the dehumidifier to resume normal function after a power outage.
- Auto Defrost
Auto defrost keeps the dehumidifier working even in the cold conditions you often find in crawl spaces and basements.
Control Panel
Some form of control panel is essential, and on it you’ll normally be able to check the humidity level via the built-in humidistat, as well as make adjustments when necessary.
A neat feature to look out for with a control panel is a timer, which will allow you to set the device to run for a specified period of time.
Condensate Pump
A condensate pump is useful if you want to remove yourself almost entirely from the process, as you can have the water directed to an external source automatically.
Filter
A filter is important for any dehumidifier, as it prevents airborne particles such as dust from damaging the internal coils of the device.
It’s worth keeping an eye out for filters with high MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value) rating, as the higher the number the smaller the particle it can keep out.
For example, a MERV rating of 1-4 will be able to deal with anything greater than the size of 10 micrometers such as bugs and dust mites.
Whereas a rating of 5-8 capture particles that are greater than 3 micrometers which includes mold and pet dander. Our top pick, the ALORAIR crawl space dehumidifier has a MERV8 filter, which means it provides excellent protection to keep the device running smoothly year-round.
Warranty
A warranty is one of those things that you don’t want to have to use, but can save you a lot of money and hassle if anything goes wrong with your dehumidifier.
Of course, the longer the warranty, the more protection you’ll have.
Frequently Asked Questions About Crawl Space Dehumidifiers
Do dehumidifiers work in crawl spaces?
Yes, dehumidifiers can work in crawl spaces, and can be very effective for protecting your home from the damp soil underneath.
However, not just any dehumidifier will work in a crawl space, you’ll have to find one which has been specifically designed for the purpose.
Crawl space dehumidifiers are necessary if you notice damp, mold, or general signs of damage in your home since these can all be issues that come from the bottom of the house.
Where should a dehumidifier be placed in a crawl space?
The best place to put your dehumidifier in a crawl space will be the area where it can be drained easily, placed upon concrete blocks, and in a space where it won’t block discharge airflow.
For the best results, more often than not people will use a dehumidifier which has a drain hose or built-in pump for a crawl space, since automatic drainage makes things much easier. So this should definitely be taken into consideration wherever you place the device.
However, you do want to be able to access the device from time to time in order to check the humidistat reading and make any necessary adjustments without too much inconvenience.
What is the correct humidity level for a crawl space?
The correct humidity level for a crawl space should be somewhere in the region of 30-60%, although it’s often recommended that you aim for 55% for the best results.
To reach this percentage figure, you can make any necessary adjustments to the device, and keep track of the current humidity level with the built-in humidistat, if your device has one.
Why are crawl space dehumidifiers so expensive?
Crawl space dehumidifiers tend to be so expensive mainly due to the fact that they have to be able to remove anywhere between 50 and 100 pints of moisture from the air per day.
While this is standard for many larger dehumidifers intended for use around the house, the premium price tag of the crawl space models can be attributed to the compact design.
They have to be specifically designed to fit inside a tight crawl space, so the engineering that goes into a crawl space dehumidifier in order to retain the effectiveness of a larger unit is no small feat.
A Final Word From Wellness Nova
Having a crawl space dehumidifier installed in your home can be a real game changer when it comes to keeping things comfortable where you live.
Problems related to humidity like mold and damp can develop over time as a result of the foundations of the house coming into contact with damp soil, so it’s worth investing in a dehumidifier to stay on top of such issues.
