Getting rid of excess moisture with a dehumidifier is a great idea for many homeowners, boat enthusiasts, and renters alike. But with every moisture-filled space comes different demands on the dehumidifier you choose.
Not all dehumidifiers will work in all spaces, which is why getting the right dehumidifier size for your needs is important. After all, you don’t want to overwork a dehumidifier, but at the same time don’t need a dehumidifier that is too big for the job at hand.
So where does one begin on finding the best dehumidifier size for their needs? Well, let’s start with how dehumidifiers are sized.
How Dehumidifiers are Sized
Dehumidifiers are sized by how much moisture they can remove from any given space. This is measured in pints. Dehumidifiers come in a size range of 10, 20, 25, 30, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 80, 90 and 100-pint capacity. The pints/liter sizes also refer to the dehumidifier’s water tank reservoir and can vary depending on certain features such as automatic drainage and hose connections.
But pint size isn’t the only sizing factor dehumidifiers follow. Dehumidifiers can come in a wide range of sizes, brands, and features. And these combinations differ depending on where you need the dehumidifier in the home.
Some dehumidifiers are better at removing excess moisture in very humid rooms such as bathrooms and basements. While other types of dehumidifiers are better in small rooms or rooms with minimal humidity.
So how do you know which dehumidifier size you need?
Figuring out which dehumidifier you need is easy. When choosing a dehumidifier to use these three key points to determine which dehumidifier is the ideal fit for your home, shed, office or boat.
- Size of the room or environment
Dehumidifiers will only work well for the space sizes they are designed for. Some dehumidifiers are built for small spaces, single rooms, boats, bathrooms, and crawl spaces. Others are built to handle larger rooms, pool areas, spa rooms, boathouses, and other large areas.
How sizes are determined is by square feet or square meters. Room sizes for most dehumidifiers range between 300 square feet to 2,500 square feet or approximately 45 to 225 square meters. To determine room size, take the width and length of the room and multiply those numbers.
- Moisture levels in the room or environment
Moisture levels depend on a variety of factors such as climate, season, and the room in question. Bathrooms, basements, kitchens, pool/spa rooms, and laundry rooms tend to have the highest moisture levels in the home.
Attics, living rooms, dining rooms, sunrooms, and other drier areas tend to have less humidity. People who live in wetter climates or around large bodies of water may require a larger dehumidifier for a small area, whereas, drier climates may need smaller dehumidifiers for larger areas.
To determine how damp your space is, you’ll need to observe the walls of that particular space for water. This can range between dry (40% or less humidity), moderately damp (50% – 60% humidity), very damp (70% – 80% humidity), wet (80% – 90% humidity), and extremely wet (100% humidity).
- The temperature of the room or area
While it may not seem like a crucial point, temperature differences impact dehumidifiers depending on the type of dehumidifier. Refrigerant dehumidifiers do well in temperatures that are above 65 degrees Fahrenheit, while desiccant dehumidifiers work well in cooler temperatures.
If you intend to remove moisture in basements, a desiccant dehumidifier is ideal, whereas refrigerant types are best for in the home.
With all of this in mind, let’s take a look at the different size capacity and types of dehumidifiers.
Types of Dehumidifiers
As you now know, dehumidifiers range by pint sizes or liters. On top of the pint/liter measurement, dehumidifiers are categorized by their size capacity ranging from small to the whole house. With each capacity comes trade-offs and other features.
Here are the major types of dehumidifier categories:
- Small-Capacity / Portable dehumidifier
These models tend to remove anywhere from 10 – 35 pints of moisture per day from the air. They are compact and the most portable of the type of dehumidifiers. The only drawback is these types are meant for small spaces and dry to moderately damp rooms.
- Medium-Capacity dehumidifier
Dehumidifiers that have a 40 – 50-pint removal capacity. They work well in medium to large spaces or places with moderate humidity levels. These dehumidifiers are small enough to still have mobility but may be heavier than their smallest counterparts.
- Large-Capacity / Commercial dehumidifier
Large-capacity dehumidifiers can handle up to 60 to 70-pints of moisture remover per day. They are capable of handling a wider range of humidity levels and work well in very damp and wet spaces. Ideal for some basements, pool areas, and laundry rooms.
The drawback with the large-capacity models is with their larger size they can be heavier than other models and not as portable.
- Whole-house dehumidifier
These models are meant for large homes of 5,000 square feet. They can handle a wide variety of humidity and moisture levels but will require an additional installation. You can get them as portable units or they can be added onto your central air conditioning system.
- Desiccant dehumidifier
Unlike other dehumidifiers, this type does not use a refrigerant method to remove moisture from the air. This dehumidifier type uses a silica gel and a rotating wheel to remove moisture. These are ideal for basements, attics, sheds, and those who live in colder climates.
Knowing the space you’re trying to dehumidify is helpful, but that’s not all you need to know when choosing a dehumidifier. There are a few other considerations you may need to make before selecting the right size dehumidifier for your home.
Additional Points to Consider When Choosing a Dehumidifier
When putting in your final calculations for tank capacity, you’ll want to factor in the following:
- Add 5 pints for multiple person homes/spaces
- Add 5 pints for spaces with many windows and doors
- Add 10 pints for homes/spaces that reside in humid climates
- Add 5 pints for areas that have a washer or dryer
Final Thoughts
Finding the right dehumidifier for the job is easy once you understand what you need to consider first. So, whether you are just looking to keep your attic less wet or wanting a basement to be a bit more livable, there is a dehumidifier to help you do just that. We hope this dehumidifier size guide helps you find the ideal dehumidifier size for your home, office, boat and more.