A permanent basement dehumidifier in the Birmingham area typically costs $1,100 to $2,800 installed, a crawl space unit $1,000 to $3,000, and a ducted whole house unit $1,500 to $3,500, according to HomeGuide's February 2026 dehumidifier guide, with running costs of about $10 to $30 a month. The EPA recommends keeping indoor humidity below 60 percent, ideally 30 to 50 percent. NOAA's 1991 to 2020 normals give the Birmingham airport station a July average low of 72.1 degrees, so even summer nights stay warm and damp. BDry Alabama measures the humidity below your home, finds what is feeding it, and sizes a dehumidifier to the space.
We install basement and crawl space dehumidifiers for homeowners in Birmingham, Hoover, and the surrounding towns. Reach out for local pricing and a free estimate.
Birmingham's housing is old by Alabama standards: Census ACS 2023 estimates put the median home at 1965, with about 42 percent of the city's 108,903 housing units built before 1960. The typical Birmingham home dates to around 1965 per Census data, roughly 61 years of Alabama weather and daily use. Call (205) 942-1976 or book a free estimate for Birmingham pricing. More on Birmingham
Hoover is a newer suburb: Census ACS 2023 estimates put its median home at 1994 across 39,090 housing units, with about 71 percent owner occupied. The typical Hoover home dates to around 1994 per Census data, roughly 32 years of Alabama weather and daily use. Call (205) 942-1976 or book a free estimate for Hoover pricing. More on Hoover
BDry Alabama handles humidity control and dehumidifiers in all 28 of these cities and the towns around them. Linked cities have their own local page. See every service area.
These are typical national ranges from HomeGuide's February 2026 dehumidifier guide, not quotes. The size of the space, how damp it stays, and where the unit can drain set your price, which comes from a free inspection.
| Dehumidifier type | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Medium portable unit, no installation | $130 to $300 |
| Permanent basement dehumidifier, installed | $1,100 to $2,800 |
| Crawl space dehumidifier, installed | $1,000 to $3,000 |
| Whole house unit, 70 to 80 pints a day, installed | $1,500 to $2,900 |
| Whole house unit, 120 to 200 pints a day, installed | $1,900 to $3,500 |
| Running cost | $120 to $360 per year |
| Replacement filter, at least yearly | $10 to $30 |
Figures are typical ranges and vary by project. Your free estimate is exact.
BDry Alabama measures your project and gives you a clear written estimate at no cost.
We are a local foundation repair and waterproofing contractor and we stand behind every job. You are not handed off to a subcontractor. Every job follows the same disciplined process:
The damp season below a house here is summer, not winter. NOAA's 1991 to 2020 climate normals for the Birmingham airport station put the July average high at 91.0 degrees and the average low at 72.1, with about 65 days a year at or above 90. Air that warm carries a lot of water, and when it drifts into a basement or crawl space that stays cooler than outside, its relative humidity climbs and it can condense on ducts, pipes and walls. That is when musty odors return, metal sweats and stored boxes soften. A dehumidifier sized for the space holds the air in the EPA's range, below 60 percent and ideally 30 to 50, through the months when opening a window only lets more moisture in.
A permanent basement dehumidifier in the Birmingham area typically costs $1,100 to $2,800 installed, according to HomeGuide's February 2026 dehumidifier guide, depending on its size and whether it is ducted through a wall. A crawl space unit runs $1,000 to $3,000 installed, and a whole house unit tied into the ductwork runs $1,500 to $3,500. Portable units are cheaper up front, $130 to $300 for a medium size, but they are built for rooms, not for long run times below grade. Plan on $10 to $30 a month to run any of them. BDry Alabama measures the humidity in the space and finds what is feeding it before recommending a unit, then gives you one written price.
Below 60 percent, and ideally between 30 and 50. That range comes from the EPA's mold and moisture guidance, which says to "keep indoor humidity below 60 percent (ideally between 30 and 50 percent) relative humidity," and HomeGuide's February 2026 dehumidifier guide repeats the EPA's 30 to 50 percent recommendation. A basement that sits above 60 percent for weeks at a time is where musty odors, sweating pipes and mildew start. What matters most is consistency: a space that swings between 45 and 75 percent with the weather is not under control, even if one reading looks fine. A simple humidity gauge tells you where you stand, and BDry Alabama measures the level at every inspection so the plan is based on a number, not a guess.
It depends on the square footage and how damp the air is. HomeGuide's February 2026 sizing table puts a 1,500 to 2,500 square foot space that feels damp, at 50 to 60 percent humidity, at 40 to 50 pints a day; the same space at 70 to 80 percent, with noticeable condensation, needs 60 to 70 pints; and a very wet space at 80 percent or higher needs 70 to 100 pints or more. HomeGuide also suggests going larger when the space has several doors and windows or a washer and dryer nearby. Undersized units run constantly and still fall behind. BDry Alabama's inspection measures the humidity and looks at the layout so the unit is sized to keep the level steady, not just to knock it down for a day.
HomeGuide's February 2026 dehumidifier guide puts the running cost at $10 to $30 a month, or $120 to $360 a year, depending on the unit's size, how many hours it runs, and local electricity rates. By capacity, HomeGuide lists a 30 pint unit at 300 to 500 watts, a 50 pint unit at 500 to 600 watts and a 70 pint unit at 600 to 700 watts. Larger units draw more power but remove water faster, so they often run fewer hours. ENERGY STAR rated models typically cost less to operate over time. The cheapest kilowatt hour is the one you do not need: sealing the moisture source first means the dehumidifier has less water to pull out of the air.
Sometimes for a small, mildly damp space, often not for a whole basement. BDry Alabama's dehumidification page notes that portable units are usually designed for finished rooms and short term use, while basement and crawl space systems are sized for the space and built for long run times. HomeGuide's February 2026 guide adds that a portable unit typically lasts 3 to 5 years, against 5 to 10 years for a well maintained whole house unit, and that portables need more energy and maintenance, including emptying the bucket unless they drain to a floor drain or sump. If you are emptying a bucket every day or the humidity creeps back up overnight, the unit is too small for the job.
That is condensation, and it means warm, humid air is meeting a surface cooler than its dew point. In summer, the cold air conditioning ducts and water pipes in a basement or crawl space are the coolest things in the house, and NOAA's 1991 to 2020 normals put the Birmingham airport station's July average low at 72.1 degrees, so the air around them stays moist even at night. HomeGuide's February 2026 sizing table treats noticeable condensation as a sign of 70 to 80 percent humidity. Sweating ducts drip onto insulation and framing, and that water feeds mildew. Lowering the humidity stops it at the source. BDry Alabama checks the common condensation points at the inspection and measures the humidity around them.
High humidity rarely shows up as standing water. BDry Alabama's humidity control page lists the common signs: air that feels heavy or sticky, floors and walls that feel damp or clammy, musty odors that come back after cleaning, condensation on ducts or pipes, and a space that takes a long time to feel dry again. Its mold page adds cupped flooring and floors that feel soft or uneven. The EPA's guidance is to keep humidity below 60 percent, and a simple humidity gauge will tell you whether you are above it. If the reading stays high for days, the moisture is coming from somewhere, and that source is what an inspection is for.
It removes one of the things mold needs. Mold grows on damp material, and the EPA's mold guidance says to keep indoor humidity below 60 percent and notes that materials dried within 24 to 48 hours usually will not grow mold. A space that stays above that line for weeks gives mold time to start on wood, drywall, cardboard and dust. A properly sized dehumidifier holds the level down so surfaces stay dry. It will not remove mold that is already growing, which needs to be cleaned or treated first. Note that BDry Alabama's warranties exclude mold, mildew and organic growth, and that the BDry Elite Gold plan, at $595 a year, includes an annual air quality test for mold spores and allergens.
Often, yes, in this climate. An air conditioner removes some moisture while it cools, but it runs to hit a temperature, not a humidity level. HomeGuide's February 2026 dehumidifier guide says a dehumidifier helps if the home still feels humid with the air conditioning set to 72 degrees or lower, and that homes in muggy climates typically need one. It also notes that an oversized AC unit that cools the house too quickly can leave humidity uncomfortably high. Basements and crawl spaces are the bigger issue, because they often get little conditioned air at all. A unit sized for the basement, at $1,100 to $2,800 installed per HomeGuide, treats the dampest air in the house where it collects.
HomeGuide's February 2026 dehumidifier guide says a well maintained whole house unit lasts 5 to 10 years and a portable unit 3 to 5, and that units in muggy climates tend to wear faster because they work harder. Maintenance is simple but easy to forget: clean or replace the filter at least once a year, at $10 to $30, and make sure the drain line or condensate pump is flowing. A clogged filter cuts airflow and makes the unit run longer for less result. The BDry Elite Silver plan, at $349 a year or $35 a month, includes a dehumidifier filter change or cleaning and a humidity measurement on two visits a year, plus a free humidity gauge. Dehumidifiers are covered by their manufacturer's warranty.
BDry Alabama
1490 Valley Drive, Bessemer, AL 35022
Local, and proud to do the work ourselves. Tell us about your project and we will give you a clear written estimate at no cost.
Explore My Options →or call (205) 942-1976