Where Should I Put My Dehumidifier?

Does the air feel a little too sticky inside your home? Or maybe you're greeted with that familiar musty smell every time you head down to the basement to grab something from storage. A dehumidifier is a simple device that can help you reduce home humidity.

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But what's the best place for a dehumidifier? That often depends on your situation. Find out where to put a dehumidifier for optimal use.

Where to Put a Dehumidifier in Your House

Where to put a dehumidifier depends largely on the extent and location of the humidity problems. Many homes have too much moisture in specific areas, such as the basement, laundry room or bathroom, or you might have a specific area where you want to minimize humidity. For example, keeping humidity low in closets can keep your clothes from getting damp and moldy.

If you're targeting a specific part of the home, place your humidifier in the center of that space or near the moisture source. Say you have a bathroom in your basement, which is already very humid. That could be the best place for the dehumidifier because it's a main source of moisture.

When the goal is to reduce home humidity overall, place it in a central location. Dehumidifiers work best when they're away from walls, furniture and other items, as this allows for good air circulation. It's also best to keep the unit away from direct sunlight or areas where the temperature might fluctuate, such as near a vent or front door.

Keep in mind that dehumidifiers need to be emptied of the water they remove from the air. Manual removal requires you to empty the collection container. Choosing a spot that's easily accessible and near a sink or drain makes the job easier. Some units come with a hose that allows for automatic draining. The hose needs to empty into a nearby drain, which will affect where you can put it.

Safety is also a consideration when deciding where to put a dehumidifier. For example, if you're putting a dehumidifier in the living room, keep it out of the normal traffic flow, and be careful of where the cord runs to avoid tripping hazards. When deciding where to put a dehumidifier in a basement, watch for standing water, which can be dangerous for the electrical device. While you want to place it near the main source of humidity, you don't want the humidifier to be close to water.

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Should I Have More Than One Dehumidifier?

In general, you only need one dehumidifier in your home, especially if you know where to put it for optimal use. However, you may need additional units in certain circumstances. That may include:

• A very large home with excessive moisture throughout

• A multi-level home with humidity issues on all levels

• Heavy moisture issues in multiple areas

The size of the dehumidifier can also impact how well it can manage your moisture problems. Choose a unit that's appropriately sized for your home for improved dehumidifier effectiveness.

When deciding if one is enough, start with a properly sized unit and position it centrally or in the area with the biggest humidity problem. Give it some time to see how well it handles the excess humidity. A hygrometer helps you monitor the moisture levels to determine if the single dehumidifier gets the air to the ideal range of 30% to 50%.

You can later add another dehumidifier if necessary to reach an ideal humidity level. Or you can install a whole-house dehumidifier that works with your HVAC system and removes moisture from the entire home.