A:Answer The general guide for choosing the size of dehumidifier to use is:
30 pint capacity is for 1500 square feet or less
50 pint capacity is for 1500 to 2500 square feet
70 pint capacity is for more than 2500 square feet.
Note that the capacity is how much water the unit is able to remove from the air IF the unit runs continuously for 24 hours.
I use the 50 pint capacity unit in my 1200 square foot basement here in Michigan. I have it set to maintain 60% RH (relative humidity) and it cycles on and off throughout the day. On average during the summer, it removes about 15 pints per day (16 pints is 2 gallons). I do not have a sump pump in the basement and our laundry is not in the basement. I have never had wet or noticeably damp basement walls, but it did smell like a basement. Using the dehumidifier has removed the basement smell.
Based on my experience, I believe the 30 pint capacity unit would have been capable of doing the job in my basement.
