Do Dehumidifiers Work in Crawl Spaces?

When it comes to protecting your crawl space from unwanted damage, there are a few different solutions available to you. If you have standing water in your crawl space, for example, you may want to invest in a heavier-duty waterproofing measure—but then again, only after you’ve worked with a contractor to patch up the leak or crack allowing moisture into your home. Some of the best home waterproofing measures include:  

• Sump pumps  
• Interior drains  
• Full encapsulation with a vapor barrier 
• Waterproof insulation  

When Can Dehumidifiers Help Your Home?  

In some situations, however, a dehumidifier can help you better control the level of moisture entering your home. If you’re dealing with high levels of humidity, or if you want to get ahead of the kind of damage that can compromise your home’s structural integrity, then you can install a dehumidifier in your crawl space.   

Provided that you’ve fitted your dehumidifier to your crawl space, this unit can pull pints of water out of the air on a daily basis, preventing the growth of mold and the development of wood rot all the while.  

Covering All the Bases  

Note that dehumidifiers on their own may not always serve as perfect waterproofing solutions. You may also want to pair your dehumidifier with a vapor barrier and interior drainage if you want it to work more effectively. When paired with other home waterproofing measures, dehumidifiers live longer and tend to protect your sensitive crawl space more effectively.  

Of course, dehumidifiers and other crawl space waterproofing measures are only effective when you’ve properly attended to the damage that’s allowing moisture into your home. When in doubt, reach out to a professional contractor in your area to determine whether your home requires additional repairs before you install your dehumidifier.