If you are looking for a way to remove moisture from your home, consider investing in some dehumidifiers.
The question of how many do I need for my house?
This question has crossed your mind at least once. So, this article will help answer that question and more.
How Many Dehumidifiers Do I Need For My House?
The number of dehumidifiers you need for your house depends on various factors including the size of your home, how much humidity there is in your area and various rooms, as well as your budget.
Let’s look at these factors in detail:
Size of Your Home
This is perhaps the major factor when it comes to how many dehumidifiers you need for your home. The size of the unit will determine how much moisture it can extract from the air in a given time frame.
A small room would only require one or two dehumidifiers while a larger home may need more units.
Humidity Levels In Your Area
The humidity in your area will also determine how many dehumidifiers you need for your house.
If the air is moist, then you will need more units to combat this moisture and extract it from the air.
In areas that are arid or dry, to begin with, a single unit may be enough even if there’s plenty of moisture.
Rooms And Areas To Be Dehumidified
If you live in a large house with several rooms that need dehumidification, then you will want to invest in more than one unit for your home.
The location of the room can also factor into how many units you might need as well if there is a particularly moist or wet area.
For instance, the basement may have a lot more humidity than, say, the living room. This would mean you need more dehumidifiers to combat the moisture in that particular area of your house.
Budget Factor
As with any product or service, there is a general rule when it comes to investing: get as much quality and features for your money if possible. When buying dehumidifiers, this rule still applies.
You may be able to buy a single unit for less than the price of two, but it will not have as many features or extract as much moisture from the air as a more expensive model.
Note that you can get a single, large dehumidifier that is expensive but with the power to extract humidity from multiple rooms.
However, if your budget is limited, then it will more economical to buy smaller, cheaper dehumidifiers for various rooms in your house.
Can One Dehumidifier Do A Whole House?
Yes, a single dehumidifier can serve an entire house.
However, the dehumidifier has to have the capacity to effectively dehumidify the entire house.
In most cases, this type of dehumidifier is those with coverage areas of up to or more than 5000 sq. ft.
If you have a smaller house, then one of these units should do the job.
Dehumidifier Size Chart (AHAM)
| Humidity Levels | 300-500 sq. ft. space | 800-1200 sq. ft space |
| Slightly Heavy Air (50-60% humidity) | 20-45-pint | 40-70-pint |
| Occasional Musty Smell (60-70% humidity) | 20-45-pint | 40-70-pint |
| Wet Spots on Floor or Walls (70-80% humidity) | 25-50-pint | 45-80-pint |
| Mold, Seepage on Walls (80-100% humidity) | 30-60-pint | 50-90-pint |
How To Measure The Room’s Size
To measure your room size, you will need a tape measure, a pen/pencil, and a piece of paper.
Take the length and width of the room and multiply them together to get the square footage.
Once you have that number, use the chart above to find out which size dehumidifier is best for your needs.
Why It Is Important to Pick the Right Size?
It is important to get the right size of your room or house because of the following reasons, among others:
1. Dehumidifiers Come with Different Size Capacities
Different dehumidifiers come with different size capacities.
Buying a dehumidifier that is too small for your room will not be effective in extracting humidity from the air and you will end up wasting money on it.
2. Too Large of a Dehumidifier Can Waste Energy
On the other hand, buying a dehumidifier that is too large for your room will also be wasteful.
The unit cannot extract moisture from the air if there is no humidity in it, so you are basically wasting energy and money because of that.
The chart above should give you a good estimate of the ideal size for your room. This way, it will be more economical to buy and use dehumidifiers because they won’t waste energy or money like buying an oversized unit would do.
Related Article: Do Dehumidifiers Use A Lot Of Electricity
3. Humidity Differences
The bigger the room, the more likely it is that you will need a large capacity dehumidifier.
In most cases, the smaller the room size, the more likely it is for one unit to be enough no matter how humid or moist your home may be.
If there are big differences between humidity levels in different rooms of your house, then investing in multiple units becomes even more important.
4. Dehumidifier Effectiveness
You don’t want to invest in a dehumidifier that is too small for your room because it will not be able to extract moisture effectively.
However, you don’t want to invest in an oversized unit either because it will only use up energy and money without getting the job done properly.
The ideal size of each humidifier is different depending on the size and humidity levels of the room.
That is why it is important to measure your room before buying a dehumidifier or at least make sure you pick one with an accurate size capacity according to the chart above.
Other Factors In Choosing Dehumidifier Size
There are various other factors you should consider when choosing the size of your dehumidifier.
Room height, for instance, can play a role in how large of a unit you will need.
If your ceilings are high, then you may need to get an oversized unit to ensure that all of the air in the room is being extracted properly.
Window location and size will also affect the size of the unit you should get. If your windows are located high off the ground or have small openings, then a larger dehumidifier is recommended so it can extract moisture from all areas of the room without leaving wet spots on your floor or furniture.
What you do in the house, for instance, working out or if you have an indoor pool is another consideration.
If you have a high humidity level in your home because of one or more of these factors, then you will need to get a dehumidifier with a higher capacity than the average room size.
You also want to make sure that the unit is not too loud for your liking and that it has an automatic shut-off timer so you can set it and forget it.
Can A Dehumidifier Be Too Big?
Yes. Depending on the size of the house or room, a dehumidifier can be too big. Oversized dehumidifiers use more energy and can be less efficient in extracting moisture from the air.
It is important to measure your room size before purchasing a dehumidifier.
When it comes to picking out the right-sized dehumidifier for your home, it is important to take into account all of the factors that will affect the size of your unit.
FAQs
What size dehumidifier do I need for a 3 bedroom house?
As I mentioned earlier, the size of your house and rooms will determine the size of the dehumidifier you will need.
A large capacity unit would be needed for a three-bedroom house if you were to buy a single one for all the rooms in the house. The coverage area of such kind of a dehumidifier would range from 3000 sq. ft. to 6000 sq. ft.
How much area does a 50-pint dehumidifier cover?
A 50-pint dehumidifier can cover areas of up to 2000 sq. ft. However, there are superior 50-pint models that are able to extract moisture from an area of about 3000 sq. ft.
What size dehumidifier do I need for 2,500 square feet?
You will need anything between a 60-pint to a 70-pint dehumidifier to cover a 2500 sq. ft. area.
Should I oversize my dehumidifier?
No, it is not a good idea to oversize your dehumidifier because it will make your air excessively dry. You don’t want to feel too cold all the time or have dry skin and hair just because you are trying to solve humidity issues.
Plus, the energy bills will thank you for not going overboard. Room size and humidity levels should be considered when choosing the size of your dehumidifier.
Final Thoughts– What Size Dehumidifier Do I Need
The number of dehumidifiers you need for your house will vary depending on a variety of factors, the most important being the size of your home and the humidity levels inside.
Make sure to measure your room sizes before making a purchase.
Hopefully, this article has helped you in making an informed decision when it comes to purchasing a dehumidifier for your home.
With the help of this guide, you are sure to find the perfect unit that will address all of your humidity needs.
Looking For Dehumidifer Guides?
If you’re looking for more dehumidifier resources, consider checking out our other post on Dehumidifiers.
(Author)
Irene Batres is eager to help others create an indoor allergen-free home. She has years of experience testing out air purifiers, dehumidifiers, and other products designed to help with indoor air quality. Learn more about me.
