Tips for Hassle-Free Crawl Space Dehumidifier Drainage Management

 

Given Argendon’s higher extraction capacity, our dehumidifiers extract more water than conventional portable dehumidifiers. This is a good thing for households in the country’s most humid states, like Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Hawaii.

A more efficient water vapor extraction system also means more water is collected at a faster rate. This is why Argendon has two options for water drainage. The next section compares Argendon’s drainage solutions with typical home dehumidifiers.

How Do You Drain Water from a Dehumidifier?

There's usually three ways to drain a room dehumidifier: manually or automatically using gravity or a water pump.

1. Manual draining

This is a common, energy-efficient drainage option for dehumidifiers in the mid to lower end of the average market price range. As mentioned above, many portable dehumidifiers have a water collection tank. A crawl space dehumidifier with a water collection tank can typically hold up to two gallons of condensate.

Some dehumidifiers have indicators that signal when the container is full. For units without this feature, owners must figure out how long the water tank in their dehumidifier fills up and establish a routine on when to check the water level and empty it before the tank overflows.

2. Gravity-assisted draining

This system is more convenient and cost-efficient over time than manual drainage because it ensures continuous water drainage without electricity. How it works is simple: one end of a tube is attached directly to the water collection chamber while the other end leads to a drain. This allows the condensate to flow continuously out of the dehumidifier.

Gravity drainage systems need one thing: the dehumidifier must be higher up. This way, water can flow easily down the tube. This can be challenging when your crawl space dehumidifier is in the lowest part of the house.

In this situation, a dehumidifier hanging kit is a must. It should include provisions like chains and hooks, allowing you to hang the unit from a structural beam instead of placing it on the floor.

3. Water pump-assisted draining

You might be dealing with a situation or asking questions like:

"What if you use a dehumidifier in your basement, but there’s no floor drain?"

"What if the only exit for a drainage tube is through a window that’s nearly level with the ceiling?"

In situations like this, you’ll need a water pump for dehumidifier drainage.

Pump-assisted draining can be internal or external.

a. Internal Water Pump

This applies to dehumidifiers with built-in water pumps. These units provide reasonably long tubes that you can lead out the nearest window or any opening that is level or higher than your dehumidifier unit.

b. External Water Pump

For without built-in pumps, an external condensate pump must be used. This is a more complex set-up because you would have to buy an external pump and configure the dehumidifier to accommodate it.

For example: dehumidifiers that are designed only for manual draining, you would have to drill a hole in the water collection tank and attach a tube for the water to flow out of it. It may be more economical and convenient to buy a model with a built-in pump than to choose a cheaper dehumidifier that still needs repairs or modifications.

Argendon Dehumidifiers Have Dual-Draining Options

How are Argendon dehumidifiers drained? Each of our dehumidifiers has two draining options: gravity drainage and pump drainage.

Automatic Gravity Drainage

• The water outlet for gravity drainage is located near the bottom edge, on the front side of the unit.
• Each Argendon dehumidifier comes with a 6.5-foot drain hose for the gravity drainage outlet.
• This is the default drainage method for Argendon dehumidifiers. Simply attach the drain hose to the designated outlet to allow the condensate to drain continuously from the dehumidifier.

Automatic Pump Drainage

• The water outlet for pump drainage is located at the back of the unit, below the vent where air enters the dehumidifier.
• Each Argendon dehumidifier comes with a 19.6-foot drain hose for the pump drainage outlet.
• If you choose the automatic water pump for dehumidifier drainage, plug the gravity drainage outlet with the accompanying rubber cap. This prevents water from leaking out of the gravity drainage outlet and exit via the pump drainage outlet instead.

All Argendon dehumidifiers — Shield, Sandidry, Guardian, and XStorm — have dual draining features. This gives users flexibility and elbow room in designing dehumidifying systems in their homes. They may not have a manual draining option, but these dehumidifiers guarantee continuous, hassle-free draining once set up.

Drain Access: A Crucial Requirement for Gravity and Water Pump Drainages

Where should dehumidifier drain tubes lead to? Here are the ideal exit points for gravity- and water pump-drained dehumidifiers.

1. Floor Drain

The drainage tube can be affixed to the wall or floor, with the end of the tube positioned directly above the floor drain.

2. Sump pump

This usually applies to dehumidifiers in basements and crawl spaces, where sump pumps are accessible.

3. Furnace condensate pump

This is a good alternative to a basement sump pump, especially for dehumidifiers on upper floors.

4. Wastewater drain

If you don’t mind drilling through flooring or walls, you can connect the dehumidifier directly into your house’s wastewater drain system where your washing machine, dryer, and dishwasher are also connected.

5. Outdoor drain

With a plumber's help, you can connect dehumidifier drain tubes to your indoor plumbing. This plumbing can lead to a catch basin or French drain outside your house. This is a better alternative to simply tucking the end of a dehumidifier drain tube out the window. Dehumidifiers can extract several gallons of moisture on a humid day, so you want to redirect that water away from your house.

6. Utility Sink

Leading a drain tube towards a sink is crude compared to the other options, but it should work as a temporary solution or if the other options aren’t at all possible.

The Pros and Cons of Manual, Gravity, and Pump Drainage

All three drainage options discussed are advantageous in certain situations. Likewise, they can also disadvantage users if people use them in mismatched conditions.

The table below lists the pros and cons of manual, gravity, and pump drainage in dehumidifiers.

Drain Type	Pros	Cons
Manual	Energy-saving; no energy/electricity required.    The dehumidifier can be a plug-and-play appliance because there's no need for drainage provisions.	Users must constantly check if the water collection tank is near overflowing.    Users may have to empty the tank two or more times a day.
Gravity	Energy-saving; no energy/electricity required.    Allows continuous drainage; no need to constantly check on the water tank and empty it before it overflows.	There must be a floor drain, sink, or exit point nearby for the drain tube to go through.    This option requires a dehumidifier hanging kit if the nearest drain or exit point is level or higher than the dehumidifier.
Water Pump	May be automatic, depending on the functionality of the dehumidifier.    Ensures continuous drainage for basement or crawlspace dehumidifiers that don’t have access to floor drains or lower-lying exit points for the drain tube.	Using the water pump constitutes additional electricity consumption.    There must be a physical drain or exit point within reach of the drain hose. If there’s none, users may have to drill through the floor or wall to access the nearest drainpipe.

The Importance of Proper Condensate Drainage

Dehumidifiers are used to extract excess moisture from indoor air. If the condensate ends up leaking, it will defeat the purpose of dehumidifiers and waste the hours spent and electricity consumed by dehumidifying a room.

Here are some valid reasons why it’s important to have an effective drainage system for dehumidifiers:

• Prevents mold and mildew
• Prevents water damage to your home
• Protects nearby appliances, furniture, and other belongings
• Keeps away mosquitoes and other household pests
• Prevents the spread of bacteria
• Keeps your home smelling clean and fresh

What Else Can You Do with Water Collected by Dehumidifiers?

So far, we have only discussed the various ways you can dispose of the water collected in dehumidifiers. But if you consider the situation from a conservation perspective, that’s several gallons of usable water literally down the drain.

A 28-story building in Chicago was able to save and reuse 150,000 gallons of water collected from cooling condensate in one year. The water savings in a single household will be much less, of course, but the principle stands. So, if you’re considering reusing dehumidifier condensate instead of throwing it away, here are some things you can do with it:

1. Watering plants

You may use room dehumidifier condensate for watering potted plants and the grass in your front yard. However, it is highly discouraged to use it for watering fruit-bearing plants, herbs, and any greenhouse crops you intend to eat.

2. Cleaning floors and patios

If pouring buckets of clean water on floors and patios makes you feel like you’re wasting water, using the water from dehumidifiers for this same purpose should alleviate the guilt.

3. Rinsing outdoor rugs and mats

Condensate is also perfect for this. You can save clean water instead of using it to wash something that will get dirty again.

4. Flushing the toilet

Residential toilets use approximately 1.28 gallons of water per flush, according to the EPA. Old, inefficient toilets are worse because they use as much as 6 gallons per flush. With toilets being a major source of water waste, you can conserve clean water and save on utility bills if you use condensate for flushing toilets at home.

A word of warning: although condensate from dehumidifiers looks clean, it isn’t sterilized. It might contain trace metals from the coil, as well as dust and other particulates that enter the dehumidifier. As such, condensate water isn’t safe for drinking or cooking.

Some say it’s good enough for washing clothes. But, with the possibility of contamination, you’ll risk staining your clothes or at least making them smell unpleasant.

Choose Dehumidifiers with Hassle-Free Drainage Solutions

What is the best drainage option for dehumidifiers? Consider your lifestyle. If you travel frequently or work long hours in the office, gravity and pump drainage are best for you. If, however, you’re always at home and you don’t mind emptying the tank once, twice, or more times a day, then manual draining should be alright.

For convenient and hassle-free dehumidifying systems, do check out Argendon dehumidifiers with their dual-drain options. Whether you need a crawl space dehumidifier or a portable, standing dehumidifier you can set up in the living room, we have one for you.

Browse our Shop today.