With the advancement of technology, more and more household appliances, such as humidifiers and dehumidifiers, appear on the market to assist us in regulating the air quality at home.
Many people confuse a humidifier and a dehumidifier when it comes to controlling humidity in the basement.
Because basements are typically damper than other areas of the home, you will most likely require a dehumidifier. However, in some cases, the basement may be dry, necessitating the use of a humidifier.
In this post, I’ll go over a lot of useful information about using a humidifier or a dehumidifier in a basement. After reading this post, I believe you can easily determine which one you require.
What is a humidifier?
Many people who are unsure whether their basement needs a humidifier or dehumidifier are unfamiliar with these two pieces of equipment. As a result, I’d like to begin with a brief introduction.
A humidifier is a household appliance for combating dryness in the room by adding extra moisture to the air. While radiator humidifiers are not powered by electricity, other types of humidifiers are.
The moisture disperses into the air through either evaporation or high-frequency vibration. But the effect is more or less the same.
While humidifiers can help relieve sore throats, dry skin, asthma, and other respiratory issues, they can also encourage the growth of dust mites and mold spores when overused.
What is a dehumidifier?
In contrast to a humidifier, a dehumidifier is a tool for lowering humidity by removing excess moisture from the air.
An environment that is too humid or too dry is not good for our health and the condition of our house.
When the indoor humidity level is too high, it can foster the growth of mold spores and dust mites and damage the wood structure in the house. That is the primary reason why people opt for a dehumidifier.
The air will be sucked up into the chilled coils in the machine by a fan. It can get rid of the excess moisture after condensation, and dry air will enter the room. The dehumidifier has a water tank to collect water drawn from the perspective.
Humidifier or dehumidifier, which one do you need in the basement?
According to what we discussed above, whether you need to use a dehumidifier or a humidifier in your basement is dependent on the indoor humidity level.
In practice, the likelihood of needing a dehumidifier is much higher than that of needing a dehumidifier in the basement since basements are usually the dampest place at home.
Why is your basement so damp?
The dampness in the basement has to do with many factors.
As the basement is under the ground, water can easier seep through the structural cracks. The water vapor can also go from the porous foundation to the drier parts of the basement.
Aside from that, moisture in the surrounding soil can enter the basement via the concrete mass due to the capillary suction effect.
The leakage could be another culprit since there are many ducts and pipes around.
Another important factor is that the basement has a lower temperature than other rooms, making its relative humidity level higher. As you know, the lower the temperature, the less moisture the air can hold.
Therefore, a dehumidifier tends to appear more than a humidifier in the basement.
Signs that you need a dehumidifier in the basement
If you are those who don’t know how to tell if you need to use a dehumidifier in your basement, there are many signs to help you make the judgment.
1. Musty odor. This is a common odor that presents in the basement. This is because the mold spores and bacteria are thriving.
2. Molds on the floors, walls, and ceilings. When the humidity level exceeds 60%, molds will start to thrive. These creatures are wreaking havoc if you see the black or brown stuff showing up.
3. The floor is wet or has a watermark on it. When the air in the house starts to raise in the spring, the moisture will condense when it in touch with the cold floor in the basement.
4. The basement furniture is swollen and even warped. Wood absorbs moisture and begins to swell when too much moisture enters the gap between planks.
If you want to know more about the signs of high humidity, check here.
Is it possible that you should use a humidifier in the basement?
Albeit dampness is a common issue for basements, you may need to use a humidifier in some cases.
If you live in an arid area, the humidity level can go down significantly in winter, especially when the heating system sucks up the moisture further. In this case, you may run a humidifier all over the house, including your basement.
Signs that you need a humidifier in the basement
There are many ways for you to tell if the air is dry. If you notice any of these symptoms in your basement, it’s time to turn on your humidifier.
1. Dry skin. Our skin is very sensitive to the change in our environment. As I said, basements tend to be a bit more humid than other rooms. If you spend a while in the basement and still feel the skin is dry, your basement may also need a humidifier.
2. Static electricity. When you touch the surface and get a gentle electrical shock, it is a good sign that the air is too dry.
3. Breathing difficulties. It will be difficult to breathe when the air dries out your sinuses.
4. Allergic reactions. The low humidity level can promote the growth of bacteria and allergens. If allergic reactions start to flare up, you may have to deal with the dryness.
5. Wood shrinking. When the wood is dry, air can suck up the moisture, leaving gaps between the planks and causing shrinkage.
Conclusion
Many people who care about the air quality don’t know if they need a humidifier or dehumidifier in their basement.
In most cases, you will need a dehumidifier to combat the dampness in the basement. As the basement is under the ground and equipped with many ducts and pipes, it has a lower room temperature and is susceptible to leakage.
However, the basement’s humidity could be too low in the winter months. If this case, you may also need to run a humidifier.
There are numerous indicators to help you determine the condition, but installing a hygrometer appears to be the most straightforward method.
