Crawl space dehumidifiers
Once a crawl space is sealed, something has to pull moisture out of the air. In York County, that's usually a dedicated crawl space dehumidifier.
A crawl space dehumidifier is a low-profile, self-draining unit that keeps the air in a sealed crawl space dry. For Rock Hill homeowners, contractors install new units, replace worn-out ones and set up the condensate drain, controls and filters so it runs on its own.
Why not a regular dehumidifier?
Room units need their buckets emptied, aren't built for the cooler temperatures under a house, and usually can't keep up with a whole crawl space in July. Crawl space units are designed to sit on a liner or hang from joists and drain continuously.
How is it sized?
South Carolina's residential code, the 2021 IRC with state modifications, includes dehumidification as an option for unvented crawl spaces, sized at 70 pints of water removal per day for each 1,000 square feet of crawl space floor. A contractor will also consider how tightly the space is sealed and how much moisture comes from the clay and block walls.
Signs your unit isn't working
- It runs nonstop or the humidity reading stays high
- The musty smell is back
- Water is leaking around the unit
- The condensate pump or drain is clogged
- Error codes, ice on the coils or unusual noise
Repair or replace?
Dirty filters, kinked hoses and failed pumps are cheap to fix. A failed compressor, refrigerant leak or chronically undersized unit usually means replacement. Sometimes better sealing helps more than a bigger unit.
What affects the cost?
- Unit capacity and features
- How the water drains
- Whether a dedicated circuit is needed
- Access and placement
Pricing comes from the contractor you're connected with.
Common questions
Can I put a dehumidifier in a vented crawl space?
You can, but it ends up drying outdoor air coming through the vents. It works far better in a sealed crawl space.
How big a dehumidifier does my crawl space need?
South Carolina's code option uses 70 pints a day per 1,000 square feet of crawl space floor as a baseline. The contractor will size it for your space.
Where does the water go?
Through a drain line to the outside, a condensate pump, or an existing drain, depending on the layout.
Where you can get this done
Related services
- Crawl space sealing and encapsulation
- Vapor barrier replacement
- Rotted sill and joist repair
- Sump pumps and crawl space drainage
South Carolina licensing, the CL-100 moisture rules and York County soils are covered in the York County crawl space guide.
Wet clay under the house, a musty smell or a soft spot in the floor?
Give us a call and we'll connect you with an independent crawl space contractor working in Rock Hill and the rest of York County.