Many homeowners fail to prioritize their crawl space. After all, it is mostly out of sight. But unfortunately, unpleasant conditions may begin to develop there that can impact the entire house negatively. 

Crawl space failures are often caused by several weeks or months of moisture buildup. These spaces are enclosed with very little ventilation. So, using a dehumidifier in there can abate the danger. But do you need one for your space? And what features are especially useful for a crawl space dehumidifier?

What Is a Crawl Space?

You'll find the crawl space beneath the first floor of some buildings. This structure can serve practical and even economic functions. For example, it may hide electrical wiring, and plumbing or gas lines. 

Also, it is commonly used as a barrier between the living area and damp soil. This house foundation option is more affordable compared to a full basement. 

However, due to the natural humid state, mold and musty odor can fester there. This unpleasant situation can slowly spread to other areas of the house. 

Before long, the dark and damp condition will begin to attract harmful insects and pests that can only cause us more harm.

Why Should You Care About Crawl Space Humidity?

Most crawl space concerns are caused by high humidity levels. Prolonged relative humidity levels close to 100% slowly exposes your home to all sorts of risks. Below, we’ve detailed how this happens.

Moisture Can Affect Indoor Air Quality

Excess air moisture around the home can impact air quality. Although many people do not consider the air quality in their home, poor air quality leaves a noticeable impact such as, runny nose, sneezing, or even itchy skin in many individuals. 

But it doesn’t only cause minor discomforts. Remember that humid air best transports dust mites and other irritants. So, you may lose sleep and suffer from stress due to poor air from the crawl space.

While operating an air purifier in the room can improve the air condition, the root cause remains largely unaddressed.  

Mold and Pest Problems

Mold, a type of fungus, can begin to spread within the confined space. This organism particularly thrives in humid areas with low ventilation common in crawl spaces. 

Inhaling tiny mold spores (especially black mold) can cause lingering health issues. So humid crawl spaces can diminish one’s health and finances by way of hospital bills, especially over a long exposure period. 

Damp crawl spaces may be hostile to you, but they attract flies, mosquitoes, and other pests. More than just home nuisances, these disease-bearing vectors can impact our health when they bite the skin or perch on food. 

Musty Odors and Potential Allergy Concerns

Musty and unpleasant air may begin to seep through the crevices into the home. If left unaddressed, you slowly start accepting this odor as normal, even when it repulses neighbors and visitors.

Of course, it’s beyond just an unpleasant smell. The foul air can carry along tiny pores and particles that can cause respiratory health conditions or trigger an allergic reaction like a fever or asthma. 

So simply spraying fragrance in the home is like applying band aid to a fracture; a mere cosmetic. You will need to nip the problem in the bud.

Potential Structural Damage

While it will take many months or years before any structural damage begins to show up, it may be too late when it happens. 

Exposing the house foundations to prolonged moisture and wood boring insects like termites can lead to expensive maintenance projects. In the worst case, the damage may have become irreparable.

Damage to the structure of a building is critical but it’s preventable. Smart homeowners operate a suitable dehumidifier in moisture-prone areas of the home like the crawl space, especially during the winter, when the problem exacerbates. 

If you have to deal with a humidity-laden crawl space, you likely want to know what dehumidifier will do. This is exactly what we answer next. 

Why Do Crawl Spaces Need a Different Kind of Dehumidifier?

At Waykar, we optimize crawl space dehumidifiers to perform optimally in often isolated spaces with very high evaporation needs. Thus, a regular home humidifier will only deliver best results in smaller living spaces. Also, these are generally not built for rigorous use.

But what features should you aim for in a crawl space dehumidifier?

Compact Size for Tight Spaces

One reason crawl spaces get ignored is because they are harder to reach. Unlike a full basement, some are only a few inches high and may not fit any standard, high-capacity dehumidifier. 

Except, of course, the dehumidifier was made with this compactness in mind. This is exactly where the 70-pints ENERGY STAR Crawl Space dehumidifier shines. It is just around 13 inches high. So it will get into confined spaces with ease. Yet, the compact size takes nothing away from its power. 

The device can still extract up to 70 pints of moisture in 24 hours, under specific conditions. Thus lowering the relative humidity of extremely damp areas to as low as 10% only. At this stage, the air is fresh and there is zero risk of mold growth. 

Higher Capacity for Larger or Wetter Crawl Spaces

Although crawl spaces tend to be compact, they are moisture prone. As a result, they require higher capacity dehumidifiers. The average 30-pint rated dehumidifiers may struggle to perform in extremely damp conditions. 

Similarly, larger crawl spaces require higher-capacity, commercial units like the 125-pint or 158-pint crawl space dehumidifiers. 

Of course, bigger is not always better. Some higher capacity devices might be an overkill for a more compact space. Hence, you must consider the wetness level and size of the entire area when choosing a commercial unit. The same principle applies to home dehumidifiers. Learn more in our detailed guide to choosing the right home dehumidifier.

Durable Construction for Demanding Environments

A crawl space dehumidifier must be durable. After all, it is constantly in use and must operate under harsh conditions. We’ve built this durability into our Waykar models. And it’s not just a single feature, it’s the overall design. 

For example, we encase the commercial units using high-strength metal so it resists corrosion and physical impacts. So you can safely bump into objects while moving it underneath the house. Also, it is minimally impacted by months or years of humidity exposure. 

Another durable design is the automatic defrost that prevents ice buildup that may cause the unit from working temporarily. In addition, our dehumidifiers have overload protection for preventing damage due to excessive electrical load or overheating. 

Pump Drainage for Convenient Continuous Operation

Manually emptying the dehumidifier tank can be a hassle, especially when it is somewhat inaccessible in a compact crawl space. Hence, the pump drainage feature is particularly convenient for operating a crawl space dehumidifier. 

The pump drainage empties up the water tank without your input. So the machine operation never has to stop due to a full tank. It spares you the stress of visiting the crawl space more often than you’d like. The pump expels the extracted water to a drainage location of your choice.

Also, the auto restart feature is another convenient design. Our devices automatically resume operation after a power outage, without any input from you.

Ducting Options for Difficult Crawl Space Layouts

In a large and irregular-shaped crawl space, the ducting feature can be quite useful. With ducting, you can route airflow to or from a specific area, without needing to move the machine physically. 

Instead, there are two connection points for air ducts. So you get to choose where the machine draws air from and where it sends treated air. Thus, you can reach blocked or secluded areas that may not be possible with the usual open-air circulation. The Waykar 158-pint model is one device with this dual duct mount feature. 

Another scenario where this feature is handy is when you want the dehumidifier to remain in a location you can access even when it operates in the crawl space. You can then extend the duct for drawing air into the less accessible area. Although using the wired remote controller is another way to address this concern. 

Conclusion

Crawl space humidity is easy to overlook, after all you don’t live there. But if your crawl space is prone to high humidity levels and is poorly ventilated, you should address the concern immediately. Otherwise, you risk harboring molds and pests that may slowly get in the home.

A functional dehumidifier might set you back by a few hundred bucks, but it's a worthwhile investment that not only protects your building, but also does the same for your family and pet health. 

For the best experience, remember to choose an equipment based on the size of the space, the moisture condition of the space, and your drainage needs. 

Enjoy a 2-year extended warranty and a 30-day money-back return policy when you shop on Waykar. Also, remember that shipping is free. Let us help you care for your business; place your order today.