Are you having problems because of unwanted moisture in your room, garage or basement? Maybe you wanted to remove mildew or possibly prevent its growth. If so, you've probably turned to a dehumidifier for an easy solution – but then you have to ask yourself, “What size dehumidifier do I need?”
Regardless of how unique your dehumidifier needs may be, you're in the right place. At Appliance Accreditor, we're here to help you answer these tough questions so that you can confidently purchase the perfect dehumidifier for your home.
If you're looking for an easy option, we're going to recommend the versatile Vremi dehumidifier, which you can find here on Amazon. It has a lot of great features that make it ideal for a variety of spaces and room sizes.
Table of Contents
How Do Dehumidifiers Work?
Dehumidifiers are the perfect tool for removing excess moisture in your basement or room, which can otherwise contribute to the spread of mold and affect your health and overall well-being.
Dehumidifiers work by removing excess moisture, mold, and mildew while eliminating the chance of water damage and pests. They work by using refrigeration technology. Dehumidifiers draw air in, filter it, cool it to condense the moisture and then reheat it and push the warmer, dryer air back into the room. This process warms the room but not as much compared to a heater. Dehumidifiers can also solve the problem of living with excessive moisture, an issue that frequently leads to unwanted smells or foul odors in the affected area.
The moisture-removing capabilities of dehumidifiers can also have other benefits. For example, it will also protect your clothes (like our favorite Tampa shirts from Neighborhoodies) and electrical appliances from moisture-related damage. So even if you don't currently have a significant problem with humidity in your home, a dehumidifier can be a great investment for the longevity of your home, furniture and other possessions.
What Size Dehumidifier Do I Need?
Now that you understand how dehumidifiers can solve your humidity problems, let's tackle the big question! There are a lot of dehumidifiers in the market today and choosing the one that is best for you might be daunting and confusing. By the end of this guide, you'll be able to confidently answer the question, “How big of a dehumidifier do I need?”
When it comes down to it, there are four main things you need to consider when buying a dehumidifier. These are:
- Room size
- Pint rating (or capacity of the dehumidifier)
- Level of humidity (or the dampness of the room)
- Dehumidifier type
So let's take a closer look at these qualities and how they relate to your dehumidifier purchase.
How to Measure Room Size for a Dehumidifier
First, you need to measure the size of the room or location you are going to use the dehumidifier in. Using an underpowered dehumidifier in a large room will not only render it useless but will also potentially shorten its lifespan by contributing to wear and tear. It is ideal to use a tape measure for you to be able to accurately measure the room you will be using the dehumidifier in.
With your tape measure, simply measure both the length and width of the room. Multiply the resulting numbers to determine the area of your room in square feet. If you are using a dehumidifier for multiple rooms or even the whole house, be sure to measure all rooms to determine your total square footage.
Make sure you remember this number for the next step! It determines the exact size of dehumidifier that you need for your space when compared to a dehumidifier's pint rating.
What Does the Pint Rating on a Dehumidifier Mean?
The pint rating, also known as pint capacity, measures the amount of moisture a dehumidifier is capable of removing from a given area in a period of 24 hours. Dehumidifiers with higher pint ratings can remove more humidity and at a faster rate. So, you need to make sure your dehumidifier has a pint rating that fits the size of your space.
Generally, most homeowners find that pint ratings up to 70 pints are perfect for their homes. For commercial use, you may want to consider something even higher.
Here are our recommended pint ratings based on room size:
- 30 pints: Recommended for areas up to 1,500 square feet
- 50 pints: Recommended for areas up to 2,000 square feet
- 70 pints: Recommended for large space, more than 2,000 square feet
How to Use a Dehumidifier to Dry a Room
Most people find that by finding a dehumidifier with the optimal pint rating, their humidity troubles are long gone. But if you plan on using your dehumidifier to control severe dampness or humidity in a room, you might want to take another moment to assess your needs.
Before making a purchase, be sure to assess how damp, wet or humid your room is. If it is a particularly wet environment, you'll probably want to get a more powerful dehumidifier (in terms of pint capacity) than the pint ratings we mentioned earlier. This is because in a wet space, your dehumidifier will have to work extra hard, even if it is small in terms of square footage.
Consider the following guidelines for determining the level of dampness in a room:
- Moderately Wet: Light humidity in the air and some occasional musty odors. Use the recommended pint rating for your square footage.
- Wet: Water beading on the walls or floors, or the room itself is damp. Use a dehumidifier with a pint rating at least 10 pints higher than recommended based on your square footage.
- Extremely Wet: There is standing water on the floor. Use a dehumidifier with approximately double the pint rating that is recommended based on your square footage.
In addition to the wetness of the space, you need to consider climate conditions, the number of people occupying the room, pets, doors, windows and even certain appliances. Consider the following guidelines when selecting your dehumidifier.
- Add 10 pints if your house is located in a humid climate
- Add 5 pints if there are a lot of people living in the concerned area or space
- Add 5 pints if the room has multiple windows and doors
- Add 5 pints if there is a washer and/or a dryer nearby
What Type of Dehumidifier Do I Need?
The last thing that you will need to consider is what type of dehumidifier is best for your room or area. The two types of dehumidifiers are refrigerant and desiccant. In a nutshell, a refrigerant dehumidifier is used in very hot and humid temperatures as they have a higher pint rating. On the other hand, desiccant dehumidifiers are ideally used in lower temperatures since they have lower capacity ratings.
Although desiccant dehumidifiers are a little less powerful, they are much quieter machines. So you may want to consider a refrigerant dehumidifier for utility, or a desiccant dehumidifier for comfortable home use.
We've covered the most important qualities you need to look for in a dehumidifier. If you're really looking for the perfect appliance, here are a few more qualities to look for:
- Bacteria repellent – Some dehumidifiers offer antimicrobial coatings which will hinder the growth of bacteria
- Humidistat – A feature that will let you set a target relative humidity for the room
- Indicator lights – Light that that will notify you when the water bucket is full so you won't need to check your dehumidifier from time to time
- Restart feature – Helpful for homes who experience frequent power outages since it will restart on their own
- Convenience – Water-collecting buckets with handles and splash guards
- Portability – Wheels and handles will be useful as some dehumidifiers can be heavy
What is the Best Dehumidifier to Buy?
When it comes to selecting the very best dehumidifier for you, we understand that everyone has different needs when it comes to their homes and their home appliances. At Appliance Accreditor, we're proud to do all of the rigorous testing and research to make sure your dehumidifier exceeds your expectations. We've reviewed several dehumidifiers based on specific criteria. Take a look at some of our recommended products, or read the full reviews for yourself!
- Best Dehumidifier for Basement Use
- Basements are categorically some of the hardest spaces to keep dry. We found that the Vremi dehumidifier was the perfect fit for most basements.
- Best Dehumidifier for Laundry Rooms
- Your laundry room is another space where humidity is often a problem. If you hang dry any clothing, the Afloia dehumidifier is a must. It's perfect for protecting your clothes and preventing odors.
- Best Dehumidifier for Garage Use
- Your garage probably sees a little more exposure to the elements than interior spaces. For that reason, you need a dehumidifier that can withstand its surroundings – and the Yaufey dehumidifier is your best bet.
- Best Dehumidifier for Cars
- When dealing with humidity in your car, you need a small, portable and energy-efficient solution. While you have a few different options, we think the Eva-Dry E-500 will satisfy most people's needs.
- Best Dehumidifier for Boats
- Boats are probably more exposed to humidity than anything else in your life! But life on the water doesn't have to be humid and wet. We'd recommend the Yaufey dehumidifier for nautical use.
We hope you've found the answer to the question “What size dehumidifier do I need?” If you are looking for other home appliance guides and recommendations, don't forget to visit our blog for all of our latest content.
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