Why a regular dehumidifier is not enough
The portable units sold at big box stores are built for basements and closets. Under a house they struggle with cool temperatures, dust and constant run time, and they need you to empty a bucket. Most burn out within a couple of seasons.
We install commercial-grade crawl space dehumidifiers made for low temperatures and continuous operation. Each unit is sized to your crawl space, mounted off the ground, and drained to the exterior or a condensate pump, so there is nothing to empty.
The humidity target
Mold grows when humidity stays above about 60 percent. Wood rot needs even more moisture. We set your dehumidifier to hold the crawl space between 45 and 55 percent humidity. Many units include a remote display or Wi-Fi monitor, so you can check the reading from inside your home.
When you need a dehumidifier
- After a full encapsulation (almost always)
- When a sealed crawl space still reads above 60 percent humidity
- When ducts or pipes sweat in summer
- When the house has a musty smell even with a good vapor barrier
Replacing an old unit
If you already have a crawl space dehumidifier that is noisy, icing up, or no longer keeping humidity down, we can test it and replace it with a properly sized model. We also clean filters and check drain lines during service visits.
Energy use
A correctly sized crawl space dehumidifier uses less power than most people expect, and the dry air under your home lets your AC run less. Many homeowners see their upstairs humidity drop, which makes the house feel cooler at the same thermostat setting.