Where To Place Your Dehumidifier? A Complete Dehumidifier Placement Guide

Living in a humid place is not great for your health. High humidity will also affect the safety of your house. More and more people choose to get one or a few dehumidifiers installed at home since it is an effective way to combat dampness. 

Once you get your dehumidifier, the next question will likely be where to place it. 

Simply put, the best placement for a dehumidifier is a location that is close to the humidity source and has adequate airflow. You should also ensure your device has the capability to handle it. 

I will walk you through the factors that determine the placement and guide you on how to choose a dehumidifier placement for different rooms, including the basement and bathroom.

This post will provide you with many useful tips regardless of which room you want to place your dehumidifier in.

Let’s get started!

What to consider when choosing a placement for your dehumidifier?

There are some general rules of thumb for dehumidifier placement. That is, they are applicable anywhere a dehumidifier is used, such as in the basement or living room.

Humidity source 

Finding the humidity source is one of the most crucial things to do when using a dehumidifier. 

You can use a hygrometer to test the humidity of each room or check if any place has mold and mildew thriving or other signs of high humidity showing up.

Once you confirm the source of moisture, position your dehumidifier near it. It can thus remove excess moisture and prevent it from spreading to other areas.

Adequate airflow 

The dehumidifier acts as a filter, removing excess humidity from the air. As a result, you should allow enough air to flow in and out freely. Otherwise, less moisture can be removed.

Avoid placing your dehumidifier too close to a wall, a corner, or anything else that could obstruct airflow.

Room size 

A dehumidifier is often identified as being appropriate for an area of certain square feet. If you have a small one, then placing it in a bathroom or crawl space would be better. For those how to want to reduce the humidity in the living room, a model that has a larger capacity is needed.

Beyond that, placing it in the center of the room can improve the performance of your device for a large room, but it doesn’t matter too much for a small room since it can lower the humidity level easily.

Distance to the drainage

Some models allow the collected water to go down the drain directly through a drain hose. Hence, it is better to find a location that is within the distance between the unit and the drainage. This would not be a problem if you don’t mind emptying the water bucket on a daily basis.

Distance to the electronics and power supply

Dehumidifiers are electronic devices. As a result, ensure that the cord can connect to the socket.

However, because it makes water, you should keep it away from electronics.

Which room should a dehumidifier be placed in?

Technically, you can place your dehumidifier in any room. However, the basement, crawl spaces, kitchen, and bathroom are the most common places in the house where a dehumidifier is required.

Because of your daily activities and water seeping through, these areas are naturally more humid.

Should you place your dehumidifier on the floor or up high?

Placing your dehumidifier on the floor is a better choice since it is more convenient for you to drain the water through the pipe or the water tank. 

On top of it, more water will go down to the ground according to the condensation and the gravity. Your machine can stay closer to the source of humidity if you put it on the floor.

Where to place a dehumidifier in basements?

dehumidifier placement for basement

Except for those who live in extremely arid areas, most people require a dehumidifier in their basement.

The basement typically has a lower temperature, resulting in a higher relative humidity.

More importantly, moisture from the soil can seep into the basement through the walls, and basements are typically poorly ventilated. It is also a location prone to leaks.

Even if your basement is finished, it is still susceptible to moisture, necessitating the use of a dehumidifier.

If you have a large basement, you should place the dehumidifier in the center of the room. When you have a small to medium-sized room, place it near the basement drain.

Make sure the doors are closed to prevent too much humid air from getting upstairs.

Where to place a dehumidifier in crawl spaces?

The crawl space is another humid place in the house, especially in summer when the room temperature is lower than the temperature outside, but it is more difficult to access because it is usually cramped.

A compact model is appropriate for most crawl spaces, and you should make sure the machine is easily accessible if there is no drainage for you to drain water.

Furthermore, avoid placing it too close to a wall or corner. Because the space between the floor and the ceiling is so small, you must ensure adequate airflow for your device.

To mitigate this potential issue, consider purchasing a model with a powerful fan.

Where to place a dehumidifier in bathrooms?

If you’re wondering why your house is so humid, you should look into your bathroom. The bathroom is where you take a hot steam shower, wash your hands, and go to the toilet. All of these activities can add moisture to the environment, encouraging mold and bacteria growth.

A bathroom requires adequate ventilation. Common practices include using an exhaust fan or opening windows. If these methods are ineffective or insufficient, a dehumidifier is required.

Because bathrooms are typically smaller than other rooms, bathroom dehumidifiers are often small. It should not be placed in the middle of your walk path, but it should be placed slightly away from the wall.

Another option is to put it on a shelf. If you want to use this function, make sure the drain pipe can reach the floor drain.

Where to place a dehumidifier in kitchens?

Cooking can generate a lot of water vapor, and our dishwasher uses some water. These are just two examples.

Many activities and appliances in the kitchen can increase the humidity level. That’s a primary reason why you often see bugs and molds thriving in your kitchen.

Again, you should ensure the airflow is sufficient when you place your dehumidifier in your kitchen. For better results, you can place it near the source of humidity, such as the sink or dishwasher, to capture the moisture going out from the pipe and the machine as soon as possible.

Where to place a dehumidifier in bedrooms?

Because we spend so much time in our bedroom, air quality is a thing that will never be overemphasized. 

The bedroom is not a place that is often invaded by excess moisture. Nevertheless, in the later spring or summer months, the room’s moisture level can also exceed the ideal range. 

The situation can deteriorate when there are cracks and crevices in the window, or you place too many houseplants in your room.

To place a dehumidifier in your bedroom, you should avoid the corners and any tight place with limited airflow. If you find the source of humidity is the window, place your dehumidifier close to it.

In addition, dehumidifiers can be noisy, especially when using a compressor model. It’s a good idea to keep it a few feet away from your bed to avoid disturbing your sleep.

Where to place a dehumidifier in living rooms?

When it comes to dehumidifier placement in living rooms, you should be more careful.

To begin, because your living room is usually the largest in your home, make sure your unit is powerful enough to handle it.

Finding a central location for your dehumidifier is a good idea, but it may interfere with your normal daily activities, particularly during the day. You can put it on the side where there is some wall clearance.

Windows and doors could be the source of extra moisture. In this case, position your dehumidifier near the windowsill or in front of the door. However, it is critical to keep your machine out of direct sunlight.

Where to place a dehumidifier overall?

This post discussed everything you need to know about the dehumidifier placement at home.

Although the location may vary depending on the type of room, it should always be close to the source of humidity. To ensure that your device receives adequate airflow, avoid placing it too close to a wall or corner.

Furthermore, if you want to drain the collected water through the drain hose, make sure the hose is long enough to reach the sink or any floor drain.

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Liz Yang is the founder of Airsmartly. She has been working at home for a few years and realizes that the performance of the HVAC system plays such an important role in our life. She has tested a lot of products in person, like humidifiers, air purifiers, dehumidifiers, and ACs, and wants to share tips about using or troubleshooting these products with you. Her uncle is an HVAC expert with over 30 years of experience in the field, and often offers assistance when she is unsure how to handle a situation. He is also in charge of reviewing the articles on this site.

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