Blog Post

Do I Need a Dehumidifier for My Basement?

Aug 08, 2022

If your home struggles with dampness, musty smells, or mold, you may be considering a basement dehumidifier. Installing a basement dehumidifier comes with a wide range of benefits for your home, your belongings, and your health.


Proper installation and upkeep of a dehumidifier is a key part of keeping your home dry. Get a service or installation quote now by calling Bill Bradley Services at 334-262-8368.

Alabama Humidity at Work

Since Alabama borders the Gulf of Mexico, there’s no shortage of moisture here. As moisture evaporates from these waters, the air gets thick and humid. Communities throughout the state often have dense, humid air throughout the year. During the most humid times of the year, humidity ratings can spike well over 80%.


Experts recommend keeping a home humidity level of 30% to 60%, with some recommending a top humidity level of 50%. As you can see, it’s easy for an average Alabama day to make it impossible to maintain that humidity level without extra help.

Basement Dehumidifiers Can Improve Your Entire Home

If humidity is a problem for your entire home, why do you only need a basement dehumidifier? Basements generally suffer the worst outcomes when humidity is high. Specialized basement dehumidifiers can offer numerous benefits to homeowners. They automatically detect humidity levels in the air and adjust their work accordingly. This ensures that you don’t have to spend every hot, sticky Alabama day checking your dehumidifier and adjusting it.


A basement dehumidifier doesn’t just make your basement more comfortable and breathable. It can also make every other part of your home cleaner, drier, and less prone to mold and mildew. Close to half of the air you breathe on the first floor of your home is actually from your basement. Dehumidifying at the lower level of your home leads to better air quality on upper levels.

Health Benefits of Dehumidifiers

Humid air is the ideal environment for mold and mildew to grow. This is particularly true in basements, which tend to have dark or poorly ventilated areas. Even finished basements have less access to natural light that can kill mold. 


When you have an area prone to humidity, limited airflow, and darkness, mold can spread like wildfire. Mold spores can cause a wide range of health issues in you and your family members. Mold exposure can lead to watery eyes, coughing, runny nose, wheezing, headache, fatigue, and difficulty breathing. Consistent exposure to mold spores can cause chronic health problems, especially in children and aging seniors.


The best way to prevent mold from taking root in your home is to give it fewer places to grow. Keeping your basement dry and free of excess humidity is a big part of this.

Choosing a Basement Dehumidifier

Once you’ve decided to take the plunge and get a basement dehumidifier, it’s crucial to spend some time choosing the right one. Consulting with an expert, such as the team at Bill Bradley Services, is one way to evaluate your space and its needs.


Some basic guidelines make it easier to choose the proper dehumidifier for your needs. In general, you’ll want a dehumidifier that holds at least 10 pints of water for up to 500 square feet. For each additional 500 square feet of basement space beyond that, plan on an additional four pints of water storage. 


Drainage options are another important factor. Although some dehumidifiers have manual drainage, this is by far the less popular option—no one wants to spend their free time running down to check and drain the dehumidifier bucket. Instead, most people prefer a dehumidifier with an automatic draining system.


Talking to the team at Bill Bradley Services can help you understand the variety of options available to you in basement dehumidifiers. For example, you may want one with air filters, automatic defrosting, a humidistat that automatically adjusts to the current humidity level, or an automatic restart feature that kicks in when you lose power.

Get Your Installation Estimate Today

At Bill Bradley Services, we pride ourselves on finding solutions for every customer. If you’re interested in a basement dehumidifier, choose us to help you find a solution. Contact us online or call us at 334-262-8368 to set up a time to look at your basement.New Paragraph

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