Best Crawl Space Dehumidifiers in 2023: Buying Guide

You probably think humidity isn’t a problem for your crawl space. You’d be wrong if you thought that. The main function of crawl spaces is to separate the foundation of your home from the damp soil that foundation is built on. Crawl spaces also allow you to access the more intricate set ups of the plumbing system of your home. This means you’re in real trouble if humidity wreaks havoc below your feet. Let’s talk about why you might want a dehumidifier for your crawl space.

The article below that you’re about to read will discuss the many opportunities you have to gain when you get a crawl space dehumidifier. Please read the buying guide below to find out the reasons why a crawl space dehumidifier may be just the thing you need for your home. What are you waiting for?

Let’s get right into it!

Why Use Crawl Space Dehumidifiers?

Crawl spaces are moist. They’re damp. Wretched. You have to get on your hands and knees, or duck deep down in the most uncomfortable way. However, crawl spaces are super beneficial for the structural integrity of your home or building. This is because the dampness of crawl spaces causes a huge amount of mold; the moist soil, because it’s trapped in the crawl space, creates disgusting mildew that can rot your foundation.

This mildew and mold can spread, quickly (in 48 hours or less) throughout the rest of your home. It can also form black mold, which is toxic to humans. Black mold releases spores through the air, which can attach itself to humans – and even be inhaled. Imagine the damage of mold in your lungs! It’s horrible to think about.

Mold, especially black mold, can spread to humans. Because mold is microscopic, it can’t be seen by the naked eye and is difficult to protect yourself from. Regardless of how sensitive you are to black mold, there are a few common symptoms to be vigilantly on the look out for.

These include:

• Severe fever
• Chronic headaches
• Irritating rashes
• Insane sneezing

Chronic fatigue

Remember: black mold grows in any place there is undisturbed water areas. Whenever an area is damp or moist, because of water damage, there is a chance that black mold has ample opportunity to smoothly evolve into something that ruins your livelihood and home. Dehumidifiers are one perfect answer to the struggle for keeping your crawl space (or any other moist part of your home) dry. Even so, the number one thing you can do is to fix the problem at the source.

This means taking care of sitting puddles and repairing any leaks. Once the main sources of the problem have been attacked and taken care of, can then a decent dehumidifier be installed in your crawl space. Let’s take a look at what you need to look into in order to find the right dehumidifier for you.

How To Find The Best Dehumidifier

Look at any online store and you will see hundreds to thousands of dehumidifiers. It seems like a no-brainer to close your eyes and pick one, right? The problem is: each dehumidifier is designed to take care of a particular environment and/or particular room.

For example, you would never buy a crawl space dehumidifier if you’re looking for a bedroom dehumidifier to run while you sleep. Here are a few things you need to look for when you’re browsing for products that take care of your crawl space:

Noise Output Levels

The noise levels of your crawl space dehumidifiers? Who cares. They’re under your crawl space. You’re not going to hear them unless they sound like a honking elephant or a roaring lion. Even then, you don’t want to focus too much on the noise output levels of dehumidifiers.

How Much Humidity Does It Remove?

Removing the humidity from your entire crawl space is the endgame goal here. Naturally, the #1 thing you should look for is the power of your dehumidifier. The more they cover your home’s footprint, the better. Measure the volume of space beneath your home – then convert that to litres. Depending on the size, 60-90 pints (34-50L) of removed moisture per day is what you’re aiming for. The more power, the more moisture removed.

Energy Use

How your dehumidifier uses energy is important, too. There’s no use in installing a massive machine if it shoots up your electricity bill while getting relatively rid of a little bit of liquid.

Drainage

Continuous drainage systems are to dehumidifiers what apples are to doctors. One doesn’t work without the other. Without a drainage system, all that liquid the dehumidifier removes from the soil will go back into the soil. Be sure your dehumidifier has one or suffer the consequences.

Temperature

Believe it or not, dehumidifiers need a low temperature to perform optimally. This doesn’t mean freezing, however, since most have an automatic-defrost option. You won’t need to worry about these being covered in frost if you live in snowy areas.

Automatic Reset Option

Automatic reset functions are incredible. They are most useful after a power outage, as they don’t require you to manually go down and switch them back on. Don’t skip on this function.

We’ve gone over what you should look for in a dehumidifier. Let’s take a look at 5 dehumidifiers that may be just what you need. But by no means is this list something you should choose from – feel free to buy any dehumidifier you want to. There are an endless amount of options, in every market in the stores right now. All we are offering you is a great starting point.

Dehumidifier Variety

Believe it or not, there are different types of dehumidifiers out there. Selecting the right one depends on how you plan to use it. Here are just a few of those different types:

Refrigerants

These ones you commonly see. They work by collecting vapors from the air, which are caused by condensation. This condensation is caused by cold evaporator coils used to run moist air through.

Bucket Based

These are, as the name implies, used with an attached “bucket” that collects moisture and water. This requires manual removal of the collection throughout usage.

Gravitational Force

These dehumidifiers are set vertically, and rely on gravity. When operating correctly, they “push” collected water and moisture through a hose to a connected drain.

Pump

These humidifiers are similar to gravitational force ones, but pump dehumidifiers come with a hose that can be used at a longer distance. These are typically more expensive, as they’re usually higher-end on the model spectrum.

Best Crawl Space Dehumidifiers

3) AlorAir Basement/Crawl Space Dehumidifier

The AlorAir HD90 crawl space dehumidifier can remove as many as 90 pints of water (11.25 gallons or 42.5 liters) of water every 24 hours at AHAM conditions. This isn’t the most efficient moisture removal rating you can find in low-end commercial dehumidifiers, but it certainly an excellent job at removing moisture and prevent mold growth in homes.

Thanks to an air-quality sensor, the Sentinel HD90 turns on and off based on a room’s relative humidity levels. Simply turn on the device and let it manage itself the 198-pint reservoir has reached max capacity. Sadly, this unit does not come with a pump, but it comes with a hose that you connect to the back end that sends water away. The included remote control will help you achieve ideal humidity in a room with a few quick taps of the buttons.

Sentinel	HD90	HD55	Hdi90
Water removal per day (80°F-60%)	90 PPD	55 PPD	90 PPD
Water removal per day (max. at saturation)	198 PPD	120 PPD	198 PPD
Power (115v)	5.56 A	4.1 A	5.56 A
Outlet Airflow (max.)	210 CFM, 350 CMH	130 CFM, 230 CMH	210 CFM, 350 CMH
Condensate Pump	No	No	✓
Dimensions (L×W×H)	23.2×15.2×17.7 in	19.2×12.2×13.3 in	23.2×15.2×17.7 in
Size for	2,600 sq.ft	1,300 sq.ft	2,600 sq.ft

This dehumidifier comes with multiple self-servicing features to ensure maximum performance with minimal maintenance. First, there’s an automatic defrost function that keeps the coils consistently above 36°. There’s also an internal corrosion protection system to minimize the risk of rusting and freon from leaking. Together, the HD90’s coils remain in working order for much longer than in most competing models.

2) Aprilaire 1820 Pro Dehumidifier

If you’re looking for a dehumidifier for more spacious rooms, the Aprilaire 1820 Pro Dehumidifier is for you. This low-end commercial dehumidifier operates optimally in spaces of up to 2,800 square feet by removing around 70 PPD at AHAM conditions. Similar to the AlorAir, this device doesn’t have a pump, so you’ll need to rely on gravity to direct water into a sink or window.

The 1820 Pro comes with a 5965 filter that traps large particles from the air, protecting the coils from becoming overly clogged. This set-it-and-forget-it dehumidifier relies on built-in sensors that measure relative humidity levels and kick-start the motor when needed. With anti-corrosion aluminum coils, you can expect long-lasting dehumidifying performance with infrequent coil maintenance and changes. It activates its defrosting mode regularly to further guarantee optimal performance.

Aprilaire	1820	1830	1850	1852	1872
Range of Applications	Whole-Home, Basement, & Crawl Space	Whole-Home, Basement, & Crawl Space	Whole-Home, Basement, & Crawl Space	Whole-Home, Basement, & Crawl Space	Whole-Home, Basement, & Crawl Space
Capacity (Pints Per Day)	70PPD	70PPD	95 PPD	95 PPD	130 PPD
Area Size Coverage (Sq. Ft.)	up to 2,800 sq. ft.	up to 3,800 sq. ft.	up to 5,200 sq. ft.	up to 5,200 sq. ft.	up to 7,200 sq. ft.
Built-in Digital Control Mounting Options	Front mount only	Top or front-mount	Top or front-mount	Top or front-mount	Top or front-mount
Unit Size & Weight	25" L, 12.5" W, 12.5" H, 56 lbs.	25" L, 12.5" W, 14.5" H, 67 lbs.	27.5" L, 12.5" W, 14.5" H, 70 lbs.	27.5" L, 12.5" W, 14.5" H, 70 lbs.	30" L, 19.5" W, 18.75" H, 114 lbs.
Voltage, Phase, Frequency	120VAC, 1 phase, 60 Hz	120VAC, 1 phase, 60 Hz	120VAC, 1 phase, 60 Hz	120VAC, 1 phase, 60 Hz	120VAC, 1 phase, 60 Hz
Current Draw (@ 80°F/60% RH)	5.8 Amps	6.3 Amps	8.0 Amps	8.0 Amps	8.3 Amps
Includes Leveling Feet or Casters	Leveling Feet	Leveling Feet	Leveling Feet	Casters	Casters
Includes Drain Tube	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes
Price	Check price	Check price	Check price	Check price	Check price

The 1820 Pro is missing an energy-saving feature, but with a 5.8-amp motor operation in 60% RH conditions, you’re not going to spend an arm and a leg on energy costs. Most customers are happy with their purchase and would recommend this unit to anyone living in places where with heavy rain. Overall, this unit isn’t the most feature-packed crawlspace dehumidifier you can find, but it certainly does the job.

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1) ALORAIR LGR 180 Pint Commercial Dehumidifier

The last item on this list is another Alorair-made device—the LGR 180 Pint. From its name, you can already tell that this is a heavy-duty, commercial-grade dehumidifier. With the capacity to remove up to 180 PPD, places with the most annual rainfall should be able to enjoy dry floors, fewer mold spore attacks, while spending less on upfront and operational costs.

The LGR 180 suctions air at a rate of 210 CFM and disposes of condensed moisture particles through a long tube. Thanks to the built-in pump, you can leave this device on the ground and run the tube through a higher-up window without worrying about the LGR 180 sitting in a pool of water. Measuring just 23 x 14 x 17.3 inches in size, there should be no problems in locating the ideal placement for this compact dehumidifier.

ALORAIR	Storm LGR Extreme
Water removal per day (80°F, 60%)	85 PPD
Water removal per day (max. at saturation)	180 PPD
Outlet Airflow (max.)	210 CFM/350 CMH
Power (115v)	5.62 amps
Condensate Pump	Yes
Unit Dimensions (L×W×H)	22.8×13.7×17.3 in (580×350×440mm
Size For	2,300 Sq.Ft

The LGR 180’s design allows you to stack multiple LGR 180s on top of one another for even greater dehumidifying efficiency. Each unit has a 20-foot power cord and uses just 640W of power. Alorair even claims that you can dunk this device in a tub of water since its rubber strips keep the unit fully waterproof. This is a huge upside for those whose crawlspaces and basements experience annual floods.

Related Article: What Size Dehumidifier For Crawl Space?

FAQ

Q: Do I have a basement or a crawl space?
A: Basements are deeper than crawl space, as crawl spaces are typically 1-4 ft. high. Basements could also be renovated into a storage room or second bedroom; crawl spaces cannot.

Q: What about crawl space encapsulation?
A: Because rodents, birds and other pests can infest crawl spaces, installing encapsulation is ideal. This will create an “insulation barrier” in your crawl space to further prevent mold, moisture and infestation.

Q: Can I use my household dehumidifier?
A: It’s strongly not recommended. Crawl space dehumidifiers were specifically designed to remove moisture from crawl spaces. The dehumidifier you use on your bedside table while you sleep was not made for removing moisture from areas large, or as “dangerous” as crawl spaces.

If you have any questions or comments, please add them below in the comment section. Similarly, please let us know if you spot any mistakes or omissions. Thanks!

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Last Update: 2024-04-26 | Affiliate links/Images from Amazon Product Advertising API