Hi - I need a dehumidifier for an approximately 400 square foot basement - which has your typical musty basement odors. It's a finished basement - which I use for watching TV (it serves as a den). Should I purchase the 30-pint or the 50-pint? Thanks! null

Question

FrigidaireSupport · Accepted Answer

Hello Linz! A 30 pint dehumidifier will help remove moisture out of a 400 square foot basement. However, the smaller the dehumidifier the more often you may need to drain the bucket. We hope this information is helpful to you. –Thanks!-

Answered by FrigidaireSupport 8 years ago

Johnmik · Answer

Get the 50 pint. I've got the same scenario. 640 sq. ft.

everyoung · Answer

We have an unfinished basement ,walled off into seperate areas for laundry, furnace room and workshop. the 50 pt. works great

Slapinson · Answer

I purchased the 50; for an area similar to yours. If you get the 30, you may have to empty it more frequently.

Jimbo · Answer

Go with the 50 pint

OldHomeOwner · Answer

Follow up to my original answer: I was referring to size of the bucket and not the unit's capacity to dehumidify the room. For that info, Google AHAM dehumidifier sizing table. The size 30 pint vs 50 pint vs 70 pint determines how much moisture is pulled from the room, that is, smaller units will run longer than larger units. The table I'm referring to has a 1000 sq ft room that is fairly damp with a musty smell requiring between 14-17 pint unit. For extreme conditions, a 2500 sq ft with wet floor and damp walls would require a 47 pint unit. I had both sizes, a 50 pint and a 30 pint after that. I found that the 50 pint turned on more times for shorter periods all day long. The 30 pint unit stayed on longer but the unit lasted longer (6 years) before it broke down. The 50 pint broke down (just stopped working) in 4.5 years probably because it turned on and off more frequently than the 30 pint unit.

Answered by OldHomeOwner 8 years ago

OldHomeOwner · Answer

If you are connecting the unit directly to a drain using a hose then a 30 pint is sufficient. I have a 25'x18’ basement and the size of the unit doesn't matter because the water bypasses the bucket and flows directly into the drain. Just remember to flush the hose every 6 months to remove the gunk that builds up in the hose.

Answered by OldHomeOwner 8 years ago

“Hi - I need a dehumidifier for an approximately 400 square foot basement - which has your typical musty basement odors. It's a finished basement - which I use for watching TV (it serves as a den). Should I purchase the 30-pint or the 50-pint? Thanks!”

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