Should I Put a Dehumidifier Upstairs or Downstairs?

Weird as it sounds, there exists a right and wrong regarding locating a place for your dehumidifier. A dehumidifier pulls out excessive humidity from indoor air to enhance air quality and comfort. However, where to place dehumidifier in a two-story house really counts. 

The location of the dehumidifier depends on which level has increased humidity and moisture problems. Correct dehumidifier placement guarantees superior home well-being, energy efficiency, and peace of mind. Today’s post assists in determining the ideal place in your house to extract humidity effectively. 

Should I Put A Dehumidifier Upstairs or Downstairs? Here's How to Decide

Finding the best place to put a dehumidifier in a two-story house rests on some factors surrounding the moisture levels in distinct areas of the house, the origin of humidity, and the design of the home. So, begin with an easy step: 

Calculate Humidity Levels

Put a hygrometer on every floor for numerous days, and the optimal indoor humidity ranges between 30%_ 50%. The floor that constantly reads over 50% is the first choice for dehumidifier placement. 

Target the Most Damp Area First

Definitely, position a dehumidifier downstairs if the basement hits 60% RH (relative humidity) while the upstairs remains at 45%. However, a dehumidifier for upstairs usage is practical, if the morning and laundry humidity forces upstairs into the 55_60% range. 

Utilize HVAC as A Guide

Houses with central HVAC might spread moisture unequally. One or two units may serve if the setup stabilizes the RH well. If not, think about standalone units for every level or a whole-house dehumidifier built into the HVAC system. 

Airflow, Size, and Capacity

A dehumidifier functions well when there’s better air circulation. So, make sure that the unit is installed in a place where air can flow smoothly. Besides, you might require a more strong dehumidifier if the upstairs region is bigger, or consider putting one on every floor for best moisture management. 

According to a Reddit user living in a Bi-level house, “without significant airflow between spaces, multiple dehumidifiers are going to be more effective.” This highlights the significance of analyzing each level and selecting the correct dehumidifier placement to confirm full-house ease. 

How Dehumidifiers Work in a Multi-Level Home?

Dehumidifiers function by pulling air in, chilling it to liquify moisture, and emitting dry air. Humid air is likely to rise from down to upper levels, particularly in houses with heat-driven flow. 

Ventilation and insulation can hinder this circulation, which indicates that a dehumidifier upstairs would not completely manage basement moisture and vice versa. That said, a whole-house dehumidifier combined with HVAC ducts to control moisture across floors equally. 

Compact units function better for area-specific usage, like a dehumidifier for upstairs bedroom or a basement dehumidifier for humid lower levels. 

Signs You Need a Dehumidifier Upstairs

High dampness upstairs mostly remains invisible until it impacts well-being and comfort. It’s a strong signal that moisture levels are very high _ generally over 60%, if you observe condensation on bedroom walls or windows. 

Also, mold or mildew near windows or ceilings means confined humidity, specifically in badly ventilated rooms. Stale air in bedrooms, muggy smells, or wet bedding are more signs that moisture is an issue. 

 Signs You Need a Dehumidifier Downstairs (Basement or Crawlspace)

Crawlspaces and basements are naturally exposed to excessive moisture because of poor ventilation and cooler surfaces. Evident mold, damp smells, or humid walls mostly indicate that moisture is rising. 

Your house’s ground level likely goes beyond the endorsed 50_60% RH range, if you notice standing water, marks, or feel cold, humid flooring. Prolonged humidity in these spaces can result in bent wood, rotted beams, or saggy insulation. 

When Might You Need One on Each Floor?

Bigger houses might need dehumidifiers both downstairs and upstairs. You probably require separate units if calculations reveal excess humidity (over 55%). For instance: 

• Upper floors might gather moisture from laundry rooms or bathrooms. 

• Crawlspaces or basements mostly stay humid because of bad ventilation and ground dampness. 

So, placing a dehumidifier upstairs alone cannot resolve basement humidity, and vice versa. Researches indicate that dampness can move between levels via stairwells and HVAC ducts. 

In such scenarios, operating both a dehumidifier for upstairs and the basement unit confirms thorough moisture control. A whole-house dehumidifier might be an ideal backup as it integrates with HVAC setups and balances dampness across the home. 

However, in several cases, two portable units, one downstairs and one upstairs, offer targeted control at a reduced price. 

How Does HVAC Design Influence Dehumidifier Placement?

HVAC systems play a crucial part in managing indoor humidity. The layout of your HVAC setup affects where to place dehumidifier units efficiently: 

• Zoning and return vents: Well-planned HVAC systems share out conditioned air equally. Houses with return vents on every level might not require compact dehumidifiers everywhere if the HVAC setup involves integrated humidity control. 

• Ductwork and Insulation: Ducts having leaks or bad insulation can present damp air from crawlspaces or attics, lowering dehumidifier efficiency. Installing a dehumidifier close to return vents can aid in protecting air quality and system performance. 

• Supplementary versus full-coverage: In houses with limited HVAC humidity control, portable dehumidifiers can increase moisture removal in troubled areas. For example, a dehumidifier can repair the imbalance if the HVAC system dampens upstairs humidity but struggles in the basement. 

Research from the ASHRAE Journal emphasizes that incorporating HVAC and dehumidifiers lowers home humidity variation by over 40%. 

How Room Function Affect Moisture Needs?

The best place to put dehumidifier in 2 story house also relies on the way every room is utilized: 

• Bathrooms or Laundry upstairs: These rooms discharge moisture constantly. A dehumidifier for upstairs hallways or bedrooms assists in removing extra humidity.

• Home gyms or indoor spas: These areas produce increased moisture and might need separate dehumidifiers. 

• Kitchen area: Cooking introduces steam, so placing a dehumidifier close by helps avoid humid air from moving to sleeping areas. 

• Basement areas under kitchens or bathrooms: Drainage and plumbing problems can add unseen dampness. A dehumidifier downstairs maintains these spaces dry. 

An easy rule is: put the dehumidifier where activities produce high humidity, not just where you store things or sleep. This adjusts dehumidifier placement with your house’s particular moisture drivers. 

Choosing the Right Dehumidifier for Your Space

Picking the right unit guarantees effective humidity control: 

Aloraircrawlspace brings models upgraded for both upstairs living areas and baseline crawlspaces to meet whole-house dehumidifier requirements with intelligent, efficient design. 

Final Thoughts

So, should I put a dehumidifier upstairs or downstairs, amounts to calculating dampness and noticing moisture activity. Utilize a hygrometer to begin, then install units where required: upstairs for condensation or laundry spikes, downstairs for damp basements or crawlspaces. That said, in houses with both problems, consider having a dehumidifier for upstairs and one downstairs.