Perhaps more than any other area in a house, the basement is especially prone to dampness and humidity. Enter the basement dehumidifier, which can help keep the area dry and humidity low.

If humidity rises above a 50% level, the increased water vapor present in the air can begin to cause furniture to warp, harbor toxic mold and encourage fungus to grow and can accelerate wood rot. For people with allergies, a basement dehumidifier is essential to decrease health risks particularly associated with the toxic mold and fungus.

A dehumidifier works in a quite simple way, drawing water in from the air and collecting it in a holding tank or pumping it out through a hose connection. A basement dehumidifier can be permanently installed or portable, allowing the homeowner to carry it to other parts of the house as necessary.

Choices

Purchasing a basement dehumidifier is not complicated, but takes a bit of work. How big is the basement space that needs it? How cold and/or wet might it get in the basement? Do you want a permanent fixture or a portable unit?

If you need a basement dehumidifier for a large space, the Santa Fe dehumidifiers are frequently rated best. They are ideal for spaces that are moderately wet or need moisture removal via dehumidification and that get down to as low as 55 degrees.

The Santa Fe basement dehumidifiers are rated best in their class and include a full year whole unit warranty, and a 5 year warranty on the compressor, evaporator and condenser. They are good for basements ranging from 1,500 to 2,500 square feet.

For an economy-priced basement dehumidifier, worth considering is the Millennium low temp dehumidifiers. These units will remove moisture down to 50 degrees, and are best for spaces 800 to 1,100 square feet in size.

Colder Basements

Delonghi basement dehumidifiers are good for temperatures down to 44 degrees, are portable and can remove up to 65 pints of water in 24 hours. These are best for spaces up to 1,300 square feet.

Also rated well and best at water removal are Comfort-Aire electronic dehumidifiers. These are best for spaces up to 1,300 square feet and for a temperature as low as 42 degrees. These are portable basement dehumidifiers that consistently rate high but cost a bit less than the best-rated Santa Fe basement dehumidifiers.