Many people often ask us, Why do I need a dehumidifier? The reason you need one is because they help get rid of excess moisture in your house or basement. If you are finding things like wet stains on ceiling and walls or condensation on your windows, odds are you have too much moisture in your house. Sometimes you will have "stuffy" or "sticky" rooms where there is too much moisture in the air. Other signs of excessive moisture are rotting wood and musty smells. Our daughter has allergies to dust mites so we bought a humidity meter to determine the moisture levels in her room and eventually we bought a dehumidifier to cut down on the moisture. Other allergies related issues to excess moisture are those to bacteria and molds. One of the most common rooms in the house that requires a dehumidifier is the basement since they can become damp and often lack proper ventilation.
A dehumidifier works by taking moisture out of the air by moving the air over chilled coils. Once the dehumidifier is full with water, it should automatically shut off until it is emptied. Some units have a drainage system that allows the dehumidifier to continue to work since it never gets full (water gets routed to a floor drain). The more expensive Delonghi DE500p ($330) actually has a pump that forces the extra water out a tube and through a window although this particular unit didn't rate very well by Consumer Reports. Before buying any dehumidifier you need to determine which section of your house has the biggest problems with air moisture. Some people buy whole house dehumidifiers, but often that is overkill and you are more likely to need it just in a basement or bathroom area. Look for models that have some kind of indicator to let you know that the water tray is full. Also, consider features like a built in humidistat that is accurate. Frost sensors are also necessary so that the dehumidifier will shut down if it gets too cold. Wheels on larger units that are heavier is a nice feature and look for units that run quietly. Large capacity dehumidifiers tend to run louder than the mid-size and smaller units, but the Danby DDR606 is the best of the larger capacity dehumidifiers with low noise ratings. Tank size is rated in terms of pints (anywhere from 10 to 23 pints) and the claimed pints/day are what manufacturers say their units will remove (range from 25 to 75). There are dozens of reviews online that we found on websites like Sears.com (Kenmore dehumidifiers), Amazon.com, and Epinions. We also found a recent article from Consumer Reports (June 2008) in which we were able to compare all the findings from professionals and homeowners. There were a few clear winners per the experts, although one of the top ranked brands in the past, Whirlpool, didn't do as well with these recent tests. Consumer Reports tested their dehumidifiers for water removal, energy efficiency, noise, and humidistat accuracy and they looked for features like frost control and digital displays. Prices ranged from a low of $140 for the Goldstar GHD30 up to $330 for the Delonghi. Other top brands include Kenmore, LG, GE, Danby, Comforte Aire, Amcor, Sunpentown, Haier, Soleus, and Bionaire. You can find them in home improvement stores like Lowes or Home Depot and in major department stores like Sears or Target. Shop around as we found some big price differences from store to store and depending on season. BUYING ADVICE - Amazon.com carries all the leading brands and has the biggest inventory we could find. See their top selling dehumidifiers online here.
Best Dehumidifier:
There are really 2 top picks and just depends on your needs. The Danby DDR606 ($250) got the Best Buy award from Consumer Reports and it rates well on other sites too. The Danby dehumidifier scored well in water removal, noise levels, and in energy efficiency. The tank capacity is 15 pints and it can remove up to 60 pints/day. The accuracy of the humidity control is what owners like on DDR606 model as well. Another excellent choice is the Soleus Air CFM-40 E 40-Pint Dehumidifier with Humidistat ($215) which offers up an 11.5 pint tank with capacity to remove 40 pints/day. It's quiet, has an auto-defrost feature, and uses quite a bit less energy than the larger capacity Haier HD656E.
Top Rated Medium Capacity Dehumidifier:
The LG LHD45EBL ($200) was one of the quietest running dehumidifiers we found in all the ratings and comparisons. It ran more efficient than the other models in this category, although the humidistat control was less accurate than the Kenmore 54501 (Sears) which is the same price. The Kenmore dehumidifier has the same tank capacity and does 5 more pints/day. You can read some great consumer reviews online at the Sears.com website for the Kenmore product. See all the medium capacity dehumidifiers on Amazon.com here.
Small Dehumidifier:
If you aren't using the dehumidifier in your basement, then you probably only need a smaller, more compact unit. The Soleus Air CFM-25E 25-Pint Dehumidifier with Humidistat ($150) is very reasonably priced and gets great reviews from owners. The Haier HD306 ($140) offers up a 23 pint tank size with 30 pints/day capability in removal. The Haier rates very good for water removal, but lacks in energy efficiency and was only mediocre in noise levels. Almost all the small dehumifidiers scored well in tests and real life for low noise levels, but they tend to be less accurate in humidistat readings and are less energy efficient compared to their larger counterparts. The smallest dehumifidier we found was the Eva-Dry EDV-1100 ($55) which works wells in closets and cars. Owners note that Eva-Dry is quiet to run, but the overall sturdiness of this unit are questioned for long term use. You can get it on Amazon.com along with the Soleus model.
Basement Dehumidifier:
We found some conflicting reports for basement dehumidifiers. Some models score well in some tests and fail in others. The Danby DDR606 is certainly one to look at since it offers up a decent pint/day removal. The GE AHK65LK ($320) is more expensive than the Danby and handles up to 65 pints/day but it rates terrible for noise levels. The Kenmore 54701 ($250) gives you accurate humidistat control readings and does a good job on water removal but it too could be quieter and more energy efficient. The GoldStar DH504EL ($200) can remove up to 50 pints/day and has a hose connection so you can have it drain through the floor instead of having to empty the water tray all the time. However, much like some of the other models, it rates low for noise levels. One owner did mention that noise wasn't that much of a concern since it sits in the basement away from where she spends most of her day in the house.
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($215) which offers up an 11.5 pint tank with capacity to remove 40 pints/day. It's quiet, has an auto-defrost feature, and uses quite a bit less energy than the larger capacity Haier HD656E.
($150) is very reasonably priced and gets great reviews from owners. The Haier HD306 ($140) offers up a 23 pint tank size with 30 pints/day capability in removal. The Haier rates very good for water removal, but lacks in energy efficiency and was only mediocre in noise levels. Almost all the small dehumifidiers scored well in tests and real life for low noise levels, but they tend to be less accurate in humidistat readings and are less energy efficient compared to their larger counterparts. The smallest dehumifidier we found was the Eva-Dry EDV-1100 ($55) which works wells in closets and cars. Owners note that Eva-Dry is quiet to run, but the overall sturdiness of this unit are questioned for long term use. You can get it on Amazon.com along with the Soleus model.