Does a Dehumidifier Stop Mold?

Why this question keeps coming up

People buy the unit, feel virtuous, and never look at the humidistat again. The bucket is full or the coil is furry.

What it looks like in York County

Cool York basements defeat cheap warm-room units. If yours short-cycles or grows a block of ice, it is the wrong machine, not proof that dehumidifiers “don’t work here.”

What to do

• Pick a basement-rated unit.
• Drain with a hose.
• Set about 50% and leave it.
• Fix bulk leaks first.

What makes it worse

• Empty a bucket as your only plan if you travel.
• Run it with the Bilco door open in July.
• Expect it to clean a wall that is already moldy — you still clean or remove that.

Sizing: pick a unit.

Questions people also ask

These pages are homeowner education from Radon Mitigation of York, written by Dave Kessler. They are not a medical diagnosis, a species identification, or an insurance determination. Color does not tell you which mold you have. If someone in the house is sick, talk to a physician. EPA's homeowner guidance treats roughly 10 square feet as the line where many people stop DIY cleanup and call a remediation crew — sooner if sewage, HVAC, or anyone immunocompromised is involved. We are a radon and basement crew. When we are already under a York house we will tell you what we see and what we would do in our own place. We do not pretend a radon fan is a mold remedy.