Whole House Dehumidifiers
A whole house dehumidifier is a high-capacity unit, often 70 to 130 pints per day at AHAM conditions, that dries a large basement, crawl space or entire home. Some connect to ductwork, while others sit in a crawl space with an internal pump or gravity drain and run continuously.
What to compare
- Ratings: compare pints per day at AHAM conditions (80°F, 60%), not "at saturation" figures, which are much higher.
- Installation: freestanding units can be placed and plugged in. Ducted units need HVAC work.
- Low-temperature performance: crawl spaces can be cool, so check minimum temperature and defrost.
- Drainage: a condensate pump or gravity drain is essential.
- Remote humidistat or control: helps when the unit sits in a crawl space.
- Budget: freestanding crawl space units are often under $1,000. Ducted systems with installation often cost more.
Shop Crawl Space Dehumidifiers and Commercial Dehumidifiers for the heaviest moisture loads.
FAQs
Do I need a whole house dehumidifier?
Consider one if portable units cannot keep humidity below 60% across your home, if you have a large wet basement or crawl space, or if you live in a humid climate where indoor humidity stays high all summer. If one damp room is the problem, a portable unit is cheaper.
What does pints at saturation mean?
It is the water removed at 90°F and 90% humidity, very wet conditions that inflate the number. AHAM's standard conditions are 80°F and 60%. A unit listed as 120 pints at saturation might remove around half that at AHAM conditions. Compare models at the same conditions.
Can a whole house dehumidifier connect to my HVAC?
Ducted models can be connected to your HVAC system's ductwork or have their own dedicated ducts, distributing dry air through the home. This requires an HVAC contractor and usually adds cost. Freestanding high-capacity units work without ducts in basements and crawl spaces.