Should I Turn Off My Crawl Space Dehumidifier in Winter?

A crawl space dehumidifier controls humidity under your house, especially during wet seasons. But when the winter months are coming, and the thermometer starts dipping, people often wonder if they should let their dehumidifier run. Read more about the pros and cons of running a crawl space dehumidifier during winter. Whether to keep it on or shut down depends on how the climate would work in your crawl space, and that's something you'd want to figure out before you decide anything. 

Browse through BaseAire's Crawl Space Collection, featuring dependable dehumidifiers designed to safeguard your home all year round.

Understanding the Role of a Crawl Space Dehumidifier

Before you turn off your crawl space dehumidifier during winter, you must know what you are doing. Let's break this down for you:

• Moisture Level Control: Crawl spaces are naturally moist, especially in humid or airless areas. A dehumidifier is necessary to prevent moisture from flooding this area.
• Prevent Mold and Mildew: Water accumulation inside a crawl space is a perfect place for mold and mildew to grow. These organisms cause health problems and destroy your home's air. A dehumidifier decreases moisture, thus helping to prevent these organisms.
• Protects Structural Integrity: Water seepage can cause the ground and the structural components in your home to break down due to continuous moisture. With this, dehumidifiers ensure that the humidity levels in your home are kept at bay and thus protect your house's foundations against any water damage.
• Year-Round Relevance: You would use your dehumidifier most when the season is warm and hot. However, even in winter, when climates fluctuate, condensation occurs. It keeps the humidity balanced and does not let it bulge up, irrespective of the season.

Should You Turn It Off in Winter?

The decision to turn off the dehumidifier during winter partly hinges on the climatic conditions of your region and the crawl space conditions. You might even feel that the low winter temperatures would naturally drop the humidity levels in the atmospheric air. Well, guess what; that is not automatically the case. Crawl spaces, especially those not as well insulated, are still bound to retain much moisture owing to temperature fluctuations between indoor and outdoor surroundings. Avoid moisture accumulations by determining if your crawl space needs to be dehumidified during colder months. For a reliable crawl space humidistat solution, check out BaseAire's offerings.

Why You Should Consider Keeping the Dehumidifier On

Keeping it running even in winter might seem pointless initially, but keeping a dehumidifier running all year long for a crawl space is crucial for several reasons. Here are some of the most important ones:

• Prevention of Mold and Mildew Growth

Even in winter, this humid crawl space underneath your home can support mould and mildew development. While you would probably sense that the air is drier under your home, it may retain enough moisture to become a breeding ground for these destructive organisms. A dehumidifier helps maintain a stable environment and limits mould growth, which could negatively affect indoor air quality and structural components' integrity.

• Condensation Risks During Temperature Fluctuations

In temperate climates, nighttime temperatures can be below 32° F  during the day during the winter. Such drastic fluctuations make condensation a menace in your crawl space, elevating humidity levels. A running dehumidifier diminishes the likelihood of condensation build-up and water damage.

• Protecting the Structural Integrity of Your Home

Excessive moisture causes wood rot cracks in the foundation and may eventually lead to pest infestations, which love moisture. To protect the building structure, stabilise from the BaseAire collection humidity in your home with a dehumidifier product in the BaseAire collection to protect the building structure.

When You Might Turn Off Your Dehumidifier

Sometimes, conditions demand you turn off your crawl space dehumidifier, especially during winter months. If you live in a region with extremely low winter temperatures and humidity, you might discover that the dehumidifier isn't necessary. Cold air can typically hold much less moisture than warm air, and if the temperature seems to stay frozen most of the time, the crawl space would not need a dehumidifier as much. 

Keep an eye on the humidity levels in the crawl space, making sure that they do not get worse.If you have not made up your mind, purchasing a humidity monitor for your crawl space will help you decide whether to turn the dehumidifier off or not. In tightly sealed and insulated crawl spaces, the dehumidifier does not need to turn on during winter, as fewer moisture sources will enter the crawl space.

Using Your Dehumidifier Efficiently in Winter

If you wish to run your dehumidifier full-time, consider doing the following to ensure it works efficiently:

• Check Relative Humidity Periodically: You can use your hygrometer to find the relative humidity in your crawl space. Ideally, it should be between 30% and 50%.
• Check out and Clean the Dehumidifier: Vacuum or clean the filters, inspect the unit for signs of wear and ensure it works well when it starts getting cold.
• Seal and Insulate: Ensure your crawl space is adequately insulated and sealed so that cold air doesn't penetrate this section where condensation happens. This will make your dehumidifier less work and let the unit run less.

Additional Crawl Space Winter Maintenance Tips

• Winter is also an excellent time to think about other crawl space maintenance issues besides the management of humidity:

• Inspect for Drafts: These cold air entry points in the foundation may cause temperature shifts and conduce to condensation.
• Check for Water Leaks: Winter rain or melting snow may introduce water into a crawl space. Do not have leaks or standing water in such spaces.
• Consider Vapor Barriers: Installing a vapor barrier may prevent moisture from entering your crawl space. This means your dehumidifier will be more effective, and there is less chance your home's foundation will deteriorate soon.

Conclusion

So, do you turn off that crawl space dehumidifier in winter? It depends on your situation. Often, it is advisable to leave the dehumidifier on all the time, especially if your crawl space is prone to moisture or if you live in a variable-temperature area. Water is easily formed through condensation and moisture accumulation during cold weather, raising your chance of mould, mildew, and structural damage. To secure your home, it's essential to check the humidity levels and that everything is checked in your dehumidifier.

If you're unsure if you need it to go 24/7 through winter, a hygrometer will help you decide whether or not to keep it running. Quality dehumidifiers, such as those sold by BaseAire, are built to effectively control crawl space humidity throughout the seasons. By understanding and addressing the specific needs of your crawl space, you will make better decisions and ensure that your home's structure and air quality remain healthy in the long term.