6 Best Crawl Space Dehumidifiers of 2024

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Some crawl spaces don’t require continuous dehumidification, but are still vulnerable to occasional water intrusion. In the case of flooding or other water emergencies in a crawl space, this B-Air commercial dehumidifier stands upright and ready on its pair of oversized wheels for easy transport and quick setup. Its 38-foot drain hose, condensate pump and 25-foot grounded power cord mean you can put it right where you need it.

Moving 325 CFM of air over its coils and pulling 7.36 amps of electrical power, the B-Air delivers enough power to remove up to 150 PPD of water from saturated air at temps of 33 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit. While the Vantage VG-1500 doesn’t have all the bells and whistles of traditional crawl space dehumidifiers, it does feature an easy-to-use control panel and solid customer reviews.

Pros

• Impact-resistant plastic construction
• 38-foot drain hose with pump
• Large wheels for portability
• Includes five-year warranty

Cons

• Pricier than other models

What to Look for When Buying a Crawl Space Dehumidifier

Crawl space dehumidifiers work hard under tough conditions, but they have limitations. While they’re perfectly capable of helping to protect your home from water damage, other water extraction methods may be required if you need to deal with a flood or dry out a flooded basement carpet. However, if your crawl space requires dehumidification to mitigate a moisture problem, here are a few things to look for when deciding which is right for your home:

• Size: Match the square-foot capability to the size of your crawl space. A dehumidifier’s Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) rating is its ability to pull water from the air. While that information is important, bigger is only better under a few circumstances. Instead, choose a dehumidifier based on the crawl space you’re conditioning compared to the size rating of the machine.
• Drainage method: Choose a condensate drainage method. If there’s no drain present nearby and/or down slope of the dehumidifier, a condensate pump is necessary for continuous draining.
• Temperature/humidity range: Ensure the machine you choose has an operating temperature and humidity range adequate for your location’s climate.

Why You Should Trust Us

Deane Biermeier has over 30 years of experience in residential construction, contracting, remodeling, maintenance, and home repair. Throughout his time in the field, he’s dealt with a lot of crawlspaces and basements and knows how much damage excess moisture can cause. He’s an expert on what features to look for to find the best products for his customers.

We consulted with Josh Mitchell, a plumbing and HVAC technician who runs websites that help others solve their home repair problems. As the owner of Air Conditioner Lab and Plumbing Lab, Mitchell helped give more insight into why dehumidifiers can be important in a crawlspace and how to find the best option for you.

How We Found the Best Crawl Space Dehumidifiers

With a long history of helping you choose the best products in and around your home, it’s no surprise that Family Handyman also cares about the products under your home. However, our opinion matters little without thorough research. We examined as many machines as possible to help you choose the best crawl space dehumidifier for your needs. We rated them based on performance, features, reviews and standout qualities.

FAQ

Is it a good idea to have a dehumidifier in a crawl space?

Crawl spaces vary in shape, size and configuration. Many of them have water issues, however, not every crawl space needs a dehumidifier. It’s a good idea to set one up only after the area is encapsulated against water and vapor penetration, venting to the outdoors is sealed and any mold or water damage is remediated.

“Installing a dehumidifier in your crawl space can be a worthwhile investment, especially if you’re experiencing issues with high humidity levels, mold growth, or musty odors,” adds Mitchell. “Excessive moisture in a crawl space can lead to structural damage over time, as well as contribute to poor indoor air quality in the living spaces above. A dehumidifier helps maintain a dry environment, protecting your home from these risks.”

What type of dehumidifier do I need for a crawl space?

The best crawl space dehumidifiers must meet unusually high demands. The first thing to take into consideration is the size of your crawlspace. The capacity of the dehumidifier should match or exceed the square footage of your crawlspace. A crawl space needs a dehumidifier that can run continuously, if necessary, drains itself with a pump or by gravity, is highly effective at controlling humidity and generally doesn’t need you to do much other than change its air filter occasionally.

Will a dehumidifier dry out a crawl space?

Similar to how a whole-house fan cools your home if the venting is correct, a dehumidifier effectively dries out a crawl space under the right conditions. Removing the bulk of the water from the crawl space first is crucial for a dehumidifier to work well. Foundation drains, vapor barriers, vent seals and waterproofing are all effective methods of helping a dehumidifier do its job.

How big of a dehumidifier do I need for my crawl space?

Dehumidifier size refers to how much water it can remove from the air under normal crawl space conditions. A machine rated to remove from 65 to 80 PPD is sufficient for most well-sealed, average-sized crawl spaces. Spaces under 1,000 square feet can get by with ratings from 30 to 50 PPD. A dehumidifier large enough to eliminate humidity in a vented or poorly sealed crawl space doesn’t exist.

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