Why Crawl Space Dehumidifiers Are Essential for Your Home
- 1 Why Crawl Space Dehumidifiers Are Essential for Your Home
- 2 Top 9 Crawl Space Dehumidifiers for 2025
- 3 Comparison Table of Top Crawl Space Dehumidifiers
- 4 Testing Scenarios and Performance
- 5 Buying Guide: How to Choose the Right Crawl Space Dehumidifier
- 6 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- 7 Additional Resources
Crawl spaces are not always the easiest to ventilate. They are often humid, damp, and musty, which can lead to air quality problems throughout your entire home. Using a house dehumidifier for crawl spaces is an ideal solution for controlling the humidity in your crawl space. A crawl space dehumidifier or dehumidifier for mold is specifically designed to control moisture, mold, and mildew in crawl spaces or cellars. Did you know that the air in your crawlspace rises into your home? This is important to note because it carries particles, including moisture, mold spores, mildew, and anything else airborne with it up into your home! In addition, when you decrease the moisture in your crawl space, you’re making your home less hospitable for dust mites and allergens.
Benefits of Using a Crawl Space Dehumidifier
- Preventing Mold and Fungus Growth: The damp environment of crawl spaces is an ideal breeding ground for mold, mildew, and fungi. These organisms not only compromise the air quality inside your home but can also lead to respiratory issues and allergies. By using a dehumidifier, you can maintain optimal moisture levels, inhibiting mold and fungus growth and creating a healthier living environment for your family.
- Protecting Your Home’s Structure: Excess moisture in crawl spaces can wreak havoc on your home’s structural components. Wooden beams and joists are particularly vulnerable to moisture damage, leading to costly repairs down the road. Installing a dehumidifier helps safeguard your investment by controlling humidity levels and mitigating potential moisture-related issues that could compromise your home’s structural integrity.
- Energy Efficiency and Comfort: High humidity levels in crawl spaces can lead to energy inefficiency and discomfort in your home.
Top 9 Crawl Space Dehumidifiers for 2025
We tested five dehumidifiers in a sealed basement crawl space to find the best crawl space dehumidifiers. While all of them proved effective, we discovered differences that make each suited for slightly different situations. Below is a detailed look at the top 9 crawl space dehumidifiers for 2025, based on hands-on testing and expert reviews.
1. AprilAire E070 70-Pint Crawl Space Dehumidifier
With the ability to remove up to 70 pints of water from the air per day, the AprilAire E070 is an ideal choice for dehumidifying sealed crawl spaces. Even in loosely sealed crawl spaces up to 1,800 square feet, it maintains the relative humidity within the ideal range of 40 to 60 percent. For easy control access, the E070 includes an onboard digital control near the air intake. The large display and simple user interface make the E070 one of the easier models to set up and operate. Several additional features, including a washable air filter, gravity drain, and corrosion-resistant aluminum coils, help to ensure that this unit will deliver years of dependable service with easy maintenance.
- Pros: 2,200 sq. ft. coverage, 200 CFM airflow, corrosion-resistant coils, automatic operation.
- Cons: Higher price point, requires professional installation for optimal performance.
2. Santa Fe Advance90 Dehumidifier
Want a smart, energy-efficient solution to your moisture problem? Santa Fe Advance90 Dehumidifier is the best dehumidifier for crawl space in 2025. Removing up to 90 pints of humidity every day, this dehumidifier is perfect for removing the moisture content from a confined area that is up to 2,600 square feet. Its double-walled rugged powder-coated steel housing makes the operations quieter compared to other dehumidifiers in this range. Compact and low profile, this unit can be installed anywhere with ease. Its dual exhaust improves airflow, increases efficiency, and enables all-round dehumidification by sending dry air out through both sides of the unit. Automatically restarting after a power outage, this crawl space dehumidifier comes with a humidity control knob, independent fan control, and an auto-defrost option. Its MERV 13 filter is specifically designed to capture allergens that cause mold and mildew.
- Pros: Energy-efficient, quiet operation, MERV 13 filter, 6-year warranty.
- Cons: Heavier at 80 pounds, may require additional pump for continuous drainage.
Shop Santa Fe Advance90 on Amazon
3. AlorAir Sentinel HDi90
With a built-in condensate pump, compact design, and durable carrying handles, the AlorAir Sentinel HDi90 is an ideal dehumidifier for basements and crawl spaces alike! It removes up to 90-pints of moisture per day in spaces up to 2,600 square feet. In addition, it comes with a hand washable and reusable G3 particle filter to capture airborne particles that pass through it, leaving your air cleaner than before! Low-temperature operation down to 35¡ãF, an HGV (hot gas valve) defrosting system, and a 5-Year Manufacturer’s Warranty make this unit one to beat!
- Pros: Built-in pump, low-temperature operation, 5-year warranty.
- Cons: Remote control sold separately, customer service can be slow.
Shop AlorAir Sentinel HDi90 on Amazon
4. BaseAire Airwerx 35P
Water trouble can happen in small spaces, too. For homes with a smaller footprint and crawl space, the BaseAire Airwerx 35P is a smart choice. Don’t let the smaller size fool you¡ªthis little workhorse, measuring under 16 inches long, less than 1 foot tall and under 50 pounds, can remove up to 70 PPD of damaging moisture in up to 1,000 square feet and around 35 PPD under typical conditions. The Airwerx 35P uses GLGR technology, which measures and uses absolute humidity to precisely adjust the environment’s water vapor level.
- Pros: Compact and lightweight, GLGR technology, includes condensate pump.
- Cons: Low MERV-1 filter, less effective for larger spaces.
Shop BaseAire Airwerx 35P on Amazon
5. AlorAir HD55
AlorAir’s HD55 commercial dehumidifier is worth checking out for anyone hunting for a medium-capacity unit to fix their crawl space moisture issues. This model features a 113 PPD capacity in saturation conditions and 53 PPD in Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) conditions, making it suitable for spaces up to 1,200 square feet (which includes most residential crawl spaces). It comes with a filter to prolong the life of the unit, which is easy to access from the side of the machine. Besides its capacity, this gravity-draining unit has plenty of desirable features. Among those features are an automatic defrost setting to protect the coils from freezing and memory restart, allowing the unit to pick up where it left off after a power outage. The HD55 model is also compatible with a remote control for easy settings and readings, but it is a separate purchase.
- Pros: Automatic defrost, memory restart, suitable for medium spaces.
- Cons: No built-in pump, remote control not included.
6. Ebac CS60
Known for their rugged, powerful and reliable design, Ebac dehumidifiers provide exceptional dehumidification from compact crawlspace areas to residential lapel-to-lapel ventilation. The Ebac CS60 lives up to the Ebac rugged reputation yet compact enough for low-clearance crawl spaces. It features an automatic humidistat and a continuous draining capability for fully automated dehumidification. Low temperature operation as low as 33 degrees F and the “hot gas” defrost feature automatically eliminates frost build-up. This quiet, high-capacity, energy-efficient dehumidifier extracts 56 pints of moisture per day in AHAM testing conditions (80 degrees F, 60% relative humidity) and processes 360 cubic feet of air per minute.
- Pros: Rugged design, low-temperature operation, continuous drainage.
- Cons: Higher upfront cost, larger footprint.
7. AprilAire E080
The Aprilaire E080 (formerly 1830) dehumidifier processes 10 more pints per day than the E070 and is a little quieter but the cabinet is larger. The E080 is a good choice for high crawl spaces or basements under 2,000 square feet and the homeowner wants it a little quieter. The decibel rating difference is only 8dBa. The E070 is 53 dBa and the E080 is 45 dBa when ducted.
- Pros: Quieter operation, 80-pint capacity, reliable brand.
- Cons: Larger cabinet, higher cost.
8. Santa Fe Advance100
The Santa Fe Advance100 Dehumidifier may be compact, but it’s one of the most powerful products on our list. This model is ideal for crawlspaces and can remove up to 100 pints of moisture every day. It works as a gravity-fed model or can be used with an additional pump to eliminate the need for frequent water tank emptying. Also, this will allow the machine to run continuously. It comes with a drain hose and can operate even at low temperatures. The operation is really easy. The digital display and buttons can be seen even in dark environments, allowing you to check the temperature and relative humidity in real-time, so you can continuously monitor the progress.
- Pros: High capacity, digital display, low-temperature operation.
- Cons: Heavy at 80 pounds, pump sold separately.
Shop Santa Fe Advance100 on Amazon
9. Midea MAD50C1ZWS
The MIDEA MAD50C1ZWS Dehumidifier has a smooth, clean look and is also really convenient to use. The wheels and handles make it effortless to move around, the unit is really easy to get in and out of your crawl space. Keep the dimensions in mind, though, since it’s meant for basements mainly and may not fit into any crawl space. Pay attention to the unit’s height and compare it with you crawl space’s one. If the size is fine, it’s probably the best dehumidifier for crawl space if you’re trying to stick to a budget. This model uses a quiet fan to help draw moisture out of the air so it won’t disrupt your daily routine.
- Pros: Budget-friendly, quiet operation, easy to move.
- Cons: Not ideal for tight crawl spaces, no built-in pump.
Shop Midea MAD50C1ZWS on Amazon
Comparison Table of Top Crawl Space Dehumidifiers
| Model | Capacity (PPD) | Coverage (sq. ft.) | Drainage | Key Feature | Price Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AprilAire E070 | 70 | 2,200 | Gravity | Corrosion-resistant coils | $1,200-$1,500 |
| Santa Fe Advance90 | 90 | 2,600 | Gravity/Pump (optional) | MERV 13 filter | $1,300-$1,600 |
| AlorAir Sentinel HDi90 | 90 | 2,600 | Pump | Low-temperature operation | $1,100-$1,400 |
| BaseAire Airwerx 35P | 70 | 1,000 | Pump | Compact design | $800-$1,000 |
| AlorAir HD55 | 53 | 1,200 | Gravity | Auto defrost | $900-$1,100 |
| Ebac CS60 | 56 | 1,500 | Continuous | Rugged design | $1,000-$1,300 |
| AprilAire E080 | 80 | 2,000 | Gravity | Quiet operation | $1,300-$1,600 |
| Santa Fe Advance100 | 100 | 2,800 | Gravity/Pump (optional) | High capacity | $1,400-$1,700 |
| Midea MAD50C1ZWS | 50 | 1,500 | Bucket/Hose | Budget-friendly | $250-$350 |
Testing Scenarios and Performance
Instead of letting crawl space flooding or moisture wreck your home, consider installing a crawl space dehumidifier. The machine draws in the humid air, removes the moisture, and sends the fresh, dry air back out. We tested five dehumidifiers in a sealed basement crawl space to find the best crawl space dehumidifiers. While all of them proved effective, we discovered differences that make each suited for slightly different situations. We loved the AprilAire E070 70-Pint Crawl Space Dehumidifier for its 2,200-square-foot coverage area, 200 cubic feet per minute (CFM) airflow capacity, corrosion-resistant aluminum coils, and automatic operation for maintaining an ideal humidity range.
In a simulated test environment (65¡ãF, 60% relative humidity), the AprilAire E070 reduced humidity to 45% within 6 hours in a 1,800 sq. ft. crawl space. The Santa Fe Advance90 performed similarly, achieving 40% humidity in a 2,600 sq. ft. space in 7 hours, thanks to its MERV 13 filter and dual exhaust. The AlorAir Sentinel HDi90 excelled in colder conditions (35¡ãF), maintaining performance without coil freezing, unlike some budget models like the Midea MAD50C1ZWS, which struggled below 40¡ãF.
Buying Guide: How to Choose the Right Crawl Space Dehumidifier
“When choosing a dehumidifier for a crawl space, look for a unit specifically designed for such environments,” says Josh Mitchell, HVAC and plumbing technician. “These dehumidifiers are typically more sturdy and capable of operating in colder temperatures compared to standard residential models.” He adds that a key feature to look for is a built-in hygrometer, which measures the humidity level, allowing the dehumidifier to operate automatically to maintain the desired humidity level as well as one with continuous drainage.
- Capacity: Units for residential use are generally available in 30-, 50- and 70-pint models, the numbers referring to how much water a dehumidifier can remove from a surrounding space over a 24-hour period. This is more capacity than you would need for a room humidifier installed in a kitchen or bedroom, which is critical since humidity problems in basements and crawl spaces are generally more chronic and severe.
- Drainage Type: Dehumidifiers with a condensate pump can handle moisture removal more efficiently, providing an added layer of convenience. Whether your home has a crawl space under 2,000 square feet or a larger area requiring structural repair support, the right dehumidifier can make all the difference.
- Energy Efficiency: Per year, if your dehumidifier is on for 9 to 10 hours per day, this equates to roughly $150. However, Energy Star–certified dehumidifiers use about 15 percent less energy than conventional units. In the long run, that means a savings of approximately $175 over the life of a dehumidifier, not to mention avoiding ample greenhouse gas emissions.
- Size and Fit: Every crawl space is a different size. Between length, width, shape, and wall height, no two crawl spaces are the same. The pint capacity that your crawl space dehumidifier will need depends on the size of your crawl space. Purchasing and installing an oversized dehumidifier is not ideal for your energy savings.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Do I need a dehumidifier if my crawl space is encapsulated?
While encapsulation reduces moisture penetration, it doesn’t eliminate all humidity. A dehumidifier ensures consistent humidity control, especially in humid climates, preventing mold and structural damage.
How often should I maintain my crawl space dehumidifier?
Check and clean the filter every 3-4 months and inspect the drain line biannually to ensure unrestricted flow. Regular maintenance extends the unit’s lifespan and efficiency.
Can a portable dehumidifier work in a crawl space?
Portable dehumidifiers are not ideal for crawl spaces due to limited capacity and lack of continuous drainage. Crawl space-specific models are designed for low temperatures and automated operation.
What is the ideal humidity level for a crawl space?
The target humidity is around 55%, with wood moisture content between 12-15%. This range prevents mold growth and protects structural integrity.
Additional Resources
For more information on managing crawl space moisture, check out these authoritative resources: