What Size Dehumidifier
Do You Need?

What size dehumidifier do you need? The proper dehumidifier size depends on the size of the space you need it to dehumidify and on how damp that space is. It’s important to figure out the correct size dehumidifier you need because if you purchase a dehumidifier that’s too small for your needs, you will not get the benefits you’re looking for. On the other, you can save money on both the purchase price of a dehumidifier and on your monthly energy bill by not purchasing a bigger dehumidifier than you really need.

How Is Dehumidifier Size Measured?

When people talk about the size of a dehumidifier, they are usually referring to what’s technically known as capacity. The capacity of a dehumidifier is how many pints of water it can remove from the air in one day. Generally speaking, higher capacity dehumidifiers are larger in size than smaller capacity dehumidifiers. For example, the 30 pint dehumidifier from Frigidaire is just over 19 inches high and 14 inches wide, while the 70 pint dehumidifier from Frigidaire is 25 inches high and almost 18 inches wide.

Wondering what size dehumidifier you can purchase? Different brands offer different sizes. For instance, Frigidaire offers 30 pint dehumidifiers, 50 pint dehumidifiers and 70 pint dehumidifiers. General Electric offers 30 pint, 40 pint, 50 pint and 65 pint dehumidifiers. You can also purchase a whole-house dehumidifier if you need to control moisture throughout the house instead of simply one room.

So What Size Dehumidifier Do You Need?

Selecting the right dehumidifier size is important if you want to remove excess moisture from your home, improve the air quality in your home and prevent the growth of mold in the home. The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) has issued some basic guidelines to help you select the proper dehumidifier size for your needs.

A 30-pint dehumidifier should be adequate for most spaces up to 1500 square feet, regardless of how damp the area is, according to the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers. A 30-pint dehumidifier should also be sufficient for a moderately damp space (feels damp and smells musty when it’s humid outside) up to 2000 square feet. However, you’ll need a 40 or 50-pint dehumidifier for a 2000 square foot space that feels damp and smells musty all the time, or a 2000 square foot space where you can see moisture on the walls or floor, or a 2000 square foot space where you’ve experienced a problem with mold. You may need a 60 or 70-pint dehumidifier for larger areas, particularly if the space is very damp.

Measure the area that you want to dehumidify to make sure you know what dehumidifier size you need. To calculate the square footage, simply multiply the width of the room and the length of the room.

While people may be most likely to find dampness and a musty smell in their basements, they may find mold growing in other areas of the home such as bathrooms. Humidity can be a problem in any room, even if it’s more common in some rooms than others. If humidity is a problem in a significant portion of your home, a whole-house dehumidifier may be the right choice for you. A whole-house dehumidifier is installed as part of your home heating and cooling system and it keeps the level of humidity constant throughout the house. You can select the degree of humidity you want; in order to prevent the growth of mold, it is recommended that you keep the humidity below 50 percent.

Buying The Right Dehumidifier

After evaluating the top brands of dehumidifiers based on performance, reliability, durability and price, we have found that the best overall dehumidifiers are made by Frigidaire. They operate very quietly, and they come with an air filter built in, so they not only remove moisture from the air but also airborne dirt particles. You can also set the humidity level that you want to maintain, which is very important in preventing mold. To view the full line of Frigidaire dehumidifiers, follow this link to Amazon.com. They have the best prices and we found their customer reviews very helpful.