Though having access to a basement space is typically a luxury, some of the common issues associated with the space are certainly less sexy. One of the biggest challenges of being responsible for a basement is dealing with humidity. Because they're beneath the ground, basements are usually surrounded by dirt and the like, which tends to, you know, absorb water when it rains. Since the basement is cooler than the rest of the house, that moisture tends to sweat through the basement's floor and walls. On top of that, basements rarely have windows (and when they do, they're rarely opened), so the room tends to hold a lot of trapped moisture that never gets the chance to dissipate. To combat this icky humidity and thereby prevent rot and mold, get yourself a quality dehumidifier. Our team rounded up a few of the best options out there,- so check 'em out. hOmelabs Energy Star Dehumidifier Have Your Cake and Eat It, TooThis one blends style and substance in an affordable package that's simple to use and reliable.Best OverallFind on Amazon Whether you live in the steamy South, the rainy Northwest, the thick-aired Midwest, or anywhere else, your basement is going to be mighty gross if you’re not pulling some moisture out of the air. Of course, you’re not going to be able to pull it out yourself, silly; no, you’re going to want the help of a humidifier like this one. Able to draw out up to 22 pints of humidity a day, this beauty isn’t all looks – it’s got utility, too. One of its best features is its auto-off function, which not only stops the unit from filling up further once it’s at full capacity, but it also sounds an alarm to alert you to the fact. Most importantly, it’s a piece of cake to operate. (On second thought, the words “cake” and “humidity” probably don’t belong anywhere near each other…) Anyway, this is a great humidifier at an even better price. Pros: Available in multiple sizes Has an optional drain hose that you can install, rather than having to manually empty it Cons: The motor is quite loud, so if you sleep in the room this operates in, you’d better not mind machine-generated white noise Waykar 40-Pint Dehumidifier Lean, Mean, Dehumidifying MachineThose whose bedroom happens to be a basement would be wise to invest in this unit from Waykar.Best for Medium SpacesFind on Amazon If you or your kids live in the basement, this dehumidifier from Waykar is probably the perfect size for you. Designed to hold up to 40 pints, this unit does what it’s supposed to do (you know, dehumidify), but it’s the slick look and the extra features that make it perfect for a basement bedroom. For starters, the thing looks plain clean, which is great, because the very concept of a contraption that sucks a bunch of humid water out of the air isn’t exactly the most lovely idea in the world. Having a sleek machine to cover it helps shield any houseguests from even thinking about what lies just beneath the unit’s surface. Anyway, aside from its looks, we also find this one’s portability to be one of its main selling points. With lift-up handles and wheels that rotate 360 degrees, you can scoot this bad-boy into the corner (or the closet) when friends and family are over and pull it back out later just as easily. Pros: Button layout is intuitive and easy to use It’s quiet, so it won’t disturb your sleep or drive you crazy during the day Cons: Bright LED cannot be manually dimmed at nighttime Kesnos 70-Pint Dehumidifier Big MamaIf you've got a sizeable house, a large basement, and a grand sense of cleanliness, why go for anything but a big dehumidifier?Best for Large SpacesFind on Amazon Though this model doesn’t particularly shine in terms of features, nor will it win be winning many awards for the ingenuity of its design, this dehumidifier from Kesnos makes no such claims. Rather, this sucker says loud and proud, “I am big, and I’m just right for a big basement.” Designed to carry up to a whopping 70 pints of humid air at full capacity, this one’s ideal for those of you mamas with a basement too big to be conquered by the wimpier dehumidifiers on the market. Pros: Fairly easy to install It is quite space-efficient despite its large capacity One-year warranty included Cons: Interface is not the most intuitive. You may need to familiarize yourself with the contraption’s nuances by reading the manual Frigidaire FFAP5033W1 Humidity? What's That?Easier on the eyes than on the wallet, this one from Frigidaire is a costly investment, but it's without a doubt worth ever single penny.Most ReliableFind on Amazon With custom humidity control, multiple fan speeds, a washable filter, a built-in pump, automatic shut-off features, and the honor of being made by one of the most trustworthy names in the game, this one from Frigidaire is a winner. This model in particular has built a name for itself not by being the flashiest or anything like that, but rather because it simply does the job really, really well. Everything else aside, what you’re buying when you buy a Frigidaire dehumidifier is trust. You can trust that this one will work, wherever and however you decide to use it. Pros: Very quiet as it works Displays the room’s humidity level so you can decide what level to customize it to Cons: Costlier than most other options on the market, but that’s the price you pay for top quality Tenergy Sorbi 1000ml Say Hello To My Little FriendTenergy's Sorbi dehumidifier aptly demonstrates that big things do, in fact, come in small packages.Best On a BudgetFind on Amazon Look, not everyone’s got the money (or the need) to buy an enormous dehumidifier. Could be that you’re limited in terms of space. Maybe your basement isn’t that humid. Or, maybe it is humid, and you just want to work within your budget. That’s all fine. Whatever the case may be, the Sorbi from Tenergy is a great place to look. Though it’s small and its capacity is limited, it does a great job of pulling a bit of humidity out of the air and subsequently reducing odors, mold, and airborne allergens. Packed with all the best features (auto-off, water level sensor, LED lighting) and weighing only 7 pounds, this one gets two thumbs up from us. The best part? It’s got a true HEPA filter. Pros: Since it’s so small, it won’t generate a lot of heat like other larger models will Quite energy efficient Thanks to its weight and small form factor, it can be moved to different rooms at a moment’s notice Cons: It’s really quite small, so if you’re dealing with a really humid basement that’s larger than “tiny”, you’ll probably want to look to one of the other models on our list Frequently Asked Questions How exactly does a dehumidifier work? A dehumidifier creates a micro-environment in which water condenses more than it does in the surrounding area. It does so by utilizing a fan (or fans) to draw air into the dehumidifier’s body. This air, like all air, contains some level of airborne moisture (also known as humidity). Once the air is pulled into the dehumidifier, it is blown onto cooling coils. Because cool air is less able to hold moisture than warm air, once the air is blown onto the cooling coils, condensation forms. As a result, water collects, and the dehumidifier’s water container is there to catch it as it drips from the coils into the bucket. The dry air, now stripped of its moisture, is then released back into the room and the cycle continues. What else should I know about a dehumidifier? There are two main things you should know when you use a dehumidifier. First, you’ll definitely want to buy one with an auto-off feature unless you’re prepared to manually oversee the machine’s water level any time it’s in use. Second, you should know that using a dehumidifier may raise the ambient temperature in the room in which it’s used. This is because, unlike an A/C unit, a dehumidifier does not vent its heat outside the structure (think of the backside of a window air conditioner – that’s where the heat that’s generated by its electrical usage dissipates to). A dehumidifier simply vents the air back into the environment. Though it’s not a big deal usually, it could be noticeable depending on the size and temperature of the space in which you use it.