Do I Need A Dehumidifier If I Encapsulate My Crawl Space?

You're considering encapsulation for your crawl space. You know your crawl space needs to be dealt with, but you're weighing your options. If you go the encapsulation route, will you also have to invest in a dehumidifier? Or are dehumidifiers optional for encapsulated crawl spaces?

South Central Services has renovated hundreds of homes with spray foam insulation, including attics, basements, and crawl spaces. Our team also has years of background in HVAC equipment.

The short answer is that encapsulated crawl spaces need some form of dehumidification system. What that looks like depends on your crawl space.

By the end of this article, you will understand:

• The difference between a dehumidifier and a dehumidification system
• When separate dehumidifier purchases are necessary
• Which types of dehumidifiers work for crawl spaces

Don't have time to read right now? Check out everything you need to know at a glance.

Encapsulated Crawl Spaces Need A Dehumidification System.

When a crawl space is encapsulated, it cuts off infiltration from outside of the home. Cold air and moisture no longer penetrate. Even insects find it more challenging to make a home there.

However, the crawl space isn't cut off from the home itself. Instead, the crawl space is brought into the home's conditioned space. Conditioned space refers to any part of the house where HVAC equipment makes the air comfortable and clean.

For the crawl space to have conditioned air, some HVAC equipment is needed to do the job. Any time a crawl space is encapsulated, it should have a dehumidification system.

A dedicated, crawl space-specific dehumidification system is the best practice for encapsulated crawl spaces.

Dehumidification Doesn’t Always Mean A Separate Dehumidifier Purchase.

The air needs to be conditioned somehow, but it doesn't necessarily need to be a dehumidifier doing the conditioning.

A dehumidification system refers to a way for air to be conditioned in a space. While dehumidifiers are designed for that purpose, other HVAC equipment can be used to condition air.

When Do Encapsulated Crawl Spaces Need Dehumidifiers?

A dehumidification system can be created using existing HVAC in a crawl space. If HVAC is already running down in the crawl space, a dehumidifier may not be necessary. Instead of investing in a separate piece of equipment, the existing HVAC can be tapped into and condition the air.

If no HVAC is running in the crawl space already, purchasing a dehumidifier is necessary. Without a dehumidifier, there is no way to condition the air in that type of crawl space.

Check your crawl space for HVAC ductwork. If no HVAC runs down there, expect to spend at least $1,500 on a dehumidifier.

What Kind Of Dehumidifier Can I Get For My Encapsulated Crawl Space?

It will be a costly investment if your encapsulated crawl space needs a separate dehumidifier. When you think of dehumidifiers, you may think of a small machine designed for a single room. Those types of machines are available at Lowe's and Home Depot for $150 to $500.

You must invest in a crawl space-specific dehumidifier for an encapsulated crawl space. These systems are not sold at home improvement stores and cost between $1,500 and $3,000.

Why can't you use a less expensive dehumidifier for the crawl space?

A $200 dehumidifier at Lowe's does not have the pint capacity to run successfully in a crawl space. Appropriately sized HVAC equipment is important. If a machine is sized too small, it will never be able to keep up with the needs of a home. Oversized HVAC equipment runs inefficiently and drives up utility costs.

Crawl spaces require dehumidifiers designed for their needs and sized appropriately to the space's humidity.

The Bottom Line About When Dehumidifiers Should Be Used In Encapsulated Crawl Spaces

An encapsulated crawl space will always require a dehumidification system. However, that dehumidification system can be achieved in one of two ways: tapping into existing HVAC or installing a separate dehumidifier. If your crawl space does not have HVAC running, you can expect to invest at least $1,500 in a crawl space dehumidifier. No matter what, an encapsulated crawl space needs a system to condition the air.

Now that you understand whether your encapsulation will include a dehumidifier, your next step is to:

• Compare the best crawl space dehumidifier brands
• Calculate an estimate for encapsulating your crawl space
• Decide if encapsulation is worth the investment cost