Choosing the Best Basement Dehumidifier in Boston
If you have a dehumidifier in your finished Boston area basement and the space is still damp and musty, then there's an obvious conclusion: it's not doing its job.
Dehumidifiers are often set to automatically shut off when the space is dry enough. If it doesn't shut off, then the space is never at that acceptable dry level. If your dehumidifier includes a collection tray, you can expect it to fill with water about once every 12 hours or so. If you're only emptying it once a week, then it's hardly ever working at all!
There's a lot to look for when shopping for a basement dehumidifier in the North Shore Boston, Barnstable, Beverly, Framingham areas. To help you pick the best for your basement Total Basement Finishing of Massachusetts offers these 5 tips.
1. Your Dehumidifier should be Powerful Enough to do the Job
The most common basement dehumidifier complaint that we hear comes when a homeowner has purchased a dehumidifier that runs constantly, but does not dry the basement. The end result for this is a continuously damp, moldy space, with the only difference being a higher energy bill.
You could spend more money and buy a second dehumidifier. But the end result will be an expensive and inefficient solution. Twice the dehumidifiers means twice the electricity, and, very often, a basement that's still damp.
Start off right with a powerful 100-liter basement dehumidifier that will assure that the moisture in the space is being removed in an energy-efficient method. The SaniDry XP Dehumidifier dehumidifies an entire basement, using a powerful motor that will send dry air all over the space.
2. Find an Energy-Efficient Dehumidifier
Few dehumidifiers in the Boston area come with an Energy Star rating dehumidifier, but these are really worth it. The best dehumidifiers can do more than twice the work at less than a third of the energy usage, saving you a lot of money in the long run.
If you are concerned about the energy usage of your basement dehumidifier, you may also want to find a model that allows you to adjust your dehumidifier to a specific dryness level. This way, you can set it to full-blast if you want the most comfortable environment that is easiest on your cooling bills or you can simply set it to keep the space dry enough to help prevent mold growth.
3. Install a Self-Draining Dehumidifier
Cheap dehumidifiers come with a collection tray that will fill up with water about every 12 hours. This means that keeping your basement dry involves emptying this tray 14 times a week or more.
Most homeowners will fall into a routine where they're emptying it only once weekly. This means that your dehumidifier's tray will fill and shut off right away, allowing it to work only 7% of the time, whereas the humidity goes unchecked the other 93%. Why bother?
Your time and energy is too important for you to have to continually empty humidity collection trays -- find a dehumidifier that can drain the water away by itself. Basement dehumidifiers can be set to drain to a sump pump, a sink, or other available opening, or they can be hooked up to a condensate pump that's designed to discharge the water through a tube run through the home's rim joist. No matter which option you choose, your dehumidifier will be much more convenient and effective.
4. Your Basement Dehumidifier Should Include an Air Filter
If you're hoping to fight mold, mildew, and dust mites by dehumidifying the basement, then take your efforts to the next level. There are dehumidifiers on the market today that can filter particles out of the air as small as 2 microns while they dehumidify the space. While these systems are not air purification systems, they're able to filter out dust mite waste, mold spores, pollen, and a variety of other home allergens commonly found in a basement. Dehumidifiers can also come with an odor filter, which is great for removing that musty smell that is sometimes common in a basement.
5. Duct your Dehumidifier into the Finished Space
If you're finishing your Cambridge basement, the last thing you want to see in the newly finished space is a basement dehumidifier in the corner. This problem can easily be avoided by installing the dehumidifier in a closet or in an unfinished section of the basement.
However, to do this, your basement dehumidifier will need a blower that's powerful enough to be ducted out of the space so it can keep the entire finished area dry. Total Basement Finishing of Massachusetts, has the basement dehumidifier you'll need to dry your space. The SaniDry XP Basement Dehumidifier they offer is an Energy Star-rated solution for your home that will keep the space dry the way it was meant to.
It's designed to be self-draining and its powerful blower can send dry air all over the basement. An air filter can remove dust mite waste, pollen, and most mold spores out of the air while an optional odor filter keeps the air clean and fresh.
If you'd like a free, no-obligation quote call or contact Total Basement Finishing of Massachusetts today!
