When researching dehumidifiers for your crawl space, you will come across a large amount of information. Some of it true and some of it not. Here we will dispell common myths and inform you of facts regarding crawl space dehumidifiers.

1. Dehumidifiers are Difficult to Install {FICTION}

It might seem like a dehumidifier would be something that is challenging to install and require modifications to your home. While there are a few steps involved, we have detailed instructions in our online guides and manual to make it easier. Plus, if you don’t feel comfortable doing it yourself, you can use the help of an installer.

2. Dehumidifiers are Difficult to Maintain {FICTION}

Another common worry about installing a crawl space dehumidifier is that the unit will be challenging to maintain. The truth is that as long is it’s not an excessively dirty environment, you will only need to do annual maintenance. The annual maintenance will involve cleaning the coils, filter, and drainage system. All of these tasks can be done without removing the cover from the unit. Occasionally, of course, there will be some advanced cleaning or a unforeseen repair but typically, annual cleaning is all that is necessary.

3. Dehumidifiers can Reduce Mold Growth {FACT}

Dehumidifiers can, in fact, slow down the growth of mold in your home. Since mold spores spread more quickly in high humidity, a humid home is much more likely to have mold growth. Thus, if you control the air quality and eliminate the excess humidity, you can reduce the spreading of mold. To control the humidity, you can use a Watch Dog dehumidifier, which will automatically maintain your desired humidity level, thanks to to its built-in humidistat.

4. Dehumidifiers Can Reduce Allergy Symptoms {FACT}

Dust mites and mold are two major causes of allergens in your home. Both thrive in high humidity environments and will be much more common in high humidity homes. If you reduce the humidity, the number of allergen triggers will also be reduced. By maintaining a lower humidity level, you can create a much more comfortable environment for the people living in your home.

5. Dehumidifiers Can Reduce Pest Infestations {FACT}

As with mold and dust mites, dehumidifiers can deter pests from your home. Pests, such as bugs or rodents, are attracted to water. So, if you have standing water or puddles in your crawl space, pests are more likely to enter. By regulating your humidity with a dehumidifier, you can minimize humidity and water therefore, making your home much less attractive to pests.

6. Dehumidifiers Can Reduce Wear & Tear on Your Home {FACT}

If ignored, high humidity will begin to have a harmful effect on your home. For instance, you may notice constant condensation in the windows, peeling paint on the walls, or warped floor boards. Furthermore, the side effects of high humidity like mold and pests, can harm your home as well. One example of this would be if you have a termite infestation, which will start to eat away at all of the wood throughout your home.

7. A Dehumidifier in Your Crawl Space Won’t Maintain Your Entire Home {FICTION}

Believe it or not, a dehumidifier installed in your crawl space can maintain the air quality of your entire home. In fact, the air in your crawl space is spread throughout the house. This is due to a phenomenon called “The Stack Effect” , which states that the humid air in your crawl space is drawn upwards into the home. As the air travels to the top of your house, it becomes warmer, creating a vacuum effect. This causes outside air to be pulled into the crawl space and the cycle to continue. Therefore, when you install a crawl space dehumidifier, the conditioned air will be spread throughout your home.

8. Dehumidifiers can only be used in crawl space {FICTION}

While a crawl space is the most common place to install a WatchDog dehumidifier, that’s not the only option. A WatchDog will dehumidify any damp or humid area from a basement to a garage to a warehouse.

9. Higher Pints Per Day is Better {FICTION}

When it comes to dehumidifiers, bigger isn’t always better. It’s more important to find a dehumidifier that is suitable for your space. The best way to know which dehumidifier is right for you is to calculate the cubic footage of the space (For more information on cubic footage, check out this blog). If you have a crawl space that is 8,000 cubic feet, the WatchDog 550 is the best option for you. The 550 is more than capable of maintaining the space so there’s really no need to move up to the WatchDog 900. You could, of course, use a 900 model and it would dehumidify the space but it really doesn’t gain you much. While the 900 may reach your desired humidity level a little quicker, both the 550 and 900 will maintain the space nearly the same.

10. Dehumidifiers Require Special Electrical Power {FICTION}

Often, people assume that a crawl space dehumidifier will require a special electrical hookup. This, in fact, not true since your WatchDog dehumidifier can plug into any standard outlet (115V, 60Hz).