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Dehumidifier Reviews and Buying Guide:

Most homes at some time suffer from too much moisture in the air due to bad ventilation and this leads to water buildup on the walls and can be a cause for molds and peeling wallpaper. Dehumidifiers take the excess moisture out of the air and give you an economical solution on how to control dampness and condensation in your home. Winter time is when a dehumidifier is needed most since there is very little ventilation and modern insulation keeps all the moisture in our homes which can be bad. A dehumidifier will balance out a well insulated, heat efficient home as it draws in air and water is removed from the air "by passing over a refrigerated evaporator and then warm dry air is returned to the atmosphere".



We found dehumidifier reviews done by Good Housekeeping magazine and their website has the results posted. Also, Consumer Reports also does periodic testing of dehumidifiers, although we could not find anything done recenlty. In expert reviews, the Whirlpool dehumidifiers are always top ranked. However, when we looked at consumer reviews posted online, the findings are different and the Whirlpool dehumidifiers get less favorable feedback. The Whirlpool AD40USR ($200) is a 40-pint dehumidifier and is the smallest of the 3 models offered by Whirlpool yet it gets the best ranking. It will operate down to 44 degrees and has an electronic humidistat that will remove 40 pints of waters per day from a 3200 SQ Ft area. There are 2 slighly larger models, the AD50USR ($220) and the AD70USR ($250) that offer even more capacity and superior reliability. The Whirlpool AD40DSR ($150) dehumidifier is very similar to the USR model but the temperature rating only goes down to 55 degrees Fahrenheit (not 44 degrees). It comes with a de-icer to help prevent freeze ups. If you have a little more money, then we recommend the Comfort-Aire BHD-501 ($320) because it offers more features than the Whirlpools and still delivers high reliability scores. It comes with a washable air filter and automatic restart after power outages. The Comfort-Aire BHD-501 can remove 50 pints of water per day from a 1000 square foot area and can handles temps down to 42 degrees. This model also comes with an automatic defrost control which keeps it from freezing up in cold temperatures. From what we could find online at Amazon where there are 100's of owner comments posted, the Soleus, Honeywell, and Frigidaire brands the most reliable. Longterm dependability is still in question as many of the postings mention issues 6 months to a year down the road.

How to choose the best dehumidifier for your home?

Each home is different but the main question to ask is "what is the size of the area where there is too much moisture?". Dehumidifier sizing is based on how much moisture is removed from the air in 24 hours. They come in 3 sizes - large capacity, mid sized, and economy. Expert reviewers say you should buy a larger dehumidifier over a small dehumidifier unless you plan on putting it in a tiny area like a bathroom or closet. Large-capacity dehumidifiers are more energy efficient since they can remove moisture from a room in a shorter period of time than smaller models. If you put a small capacity dehumidifier in a large room, it may wind up running continuously. Some dehumidifiers are awarded Energy Star status by the EPA when they meet certain energy efficiency criteria, so look for rating when buying one. The higher the energy factor #, the more efficient the machine. RECOMMENDED - We suggest shopping online at Amazon.com since they carry all the leading brands and often have the lowest prices on the Internet. You can browse the top selling dehumidifiers online here.

Dehumidifier - 40 Pint:

The top rated dehumidifier on Amazon.com is the Soleus Air CFM-40 E 40-Pint Dehumidifier with Humidistat and it wins by a longshot. There is not a single competitor that can come close to the performance of this unit. This small dehumidifier has a removable reservoir tank, an optional continuous drainage port, a washable air filter, automatic shut off to prevent overflow, and an adjustable humidistat. Owners mention that this quiet dehumidifier has "whisper quiet operation" and it's lightweight. You can transport it easily from room to room in your house which makes it portable. We must admit that the most recent reviews on Amazon are not favorable and we certainly can't blame those that want to avoid it altogether. The next best model is the DeLonghi DE400 40-Pint Dehumidifier which features electronic controls and a digital display. The low temperature operation is a nice feature, especially when using it in your basement. The overriding issue it appears with almost all dehumidifiers that we found reviews for online and in magazines is that their longterm durability is questioned.

Portable Dehumidifier:

When it comes to room dehumidifiers, the best 70 pint models are from Frigidaire and Soleus. RECOMMENDED - We think that the Soleus Air DP1-70-03 70-Pint Portable Energy Star Dehumidifier is the better of the two, although the Frigidaire dehumidifier is worth looking at as well. The portable Soleus gets perfect reviews from consumers and is energy efficient with an Energy Star rating. Features a push button electronic control panel, 3 fan speeds, and auto defrost. Just remove the front of the dehumidifier to get to the water tank or use the drain hose option. The rolling casters truly make the Soleus dehumidifier easy to move around and quite portable. The unit will shut off automatically when the bucket is full (there is an indicator light too). Owners say it works great on damp basements or any other musty room in your house. The Frigidaire 70-Pint Dehumidifier is slightly cheaper although reviews are not quite as positive, though still favorable towards it. The FDF70S1 from Frigidaire removes up to 70 pints per day. Works great in large rooms. The one complaint on the unit is that it is too noisy with a loud fan. Owners say the lower fan speed is not too bad, but in order to reduce humidity faster you need the faster fan speed.

Basement Dehumidifiers:

The best whole home dehumidifiers for basements or storage areas are the Sante Fe Dehumifiers. Dehumidifiers for the whole basement or crawl space help control mold and mildew allergies, mold and mildew odor removal, indoor relative humidity control, air moisture removal, and moisture damage prevention. Sante Fe offers 3 models to choose from, the Sante Fe Whole Basement, Sante Fe HC Crawl Space, or the Santa Fe Advance. They are expensive, costing upwards of $1500. See Environmentdepot.com for buying information on the Santa Fe models.

Commercial and industrial Dehumidifiers:

Want the best light commercial dehumidifier, then go with the Millenium Industrial Dehumidifier- Woods 65 Pint for $475. Handles up to 1300 square feet of space, energy star certified, and has a washable air filter. The Ebac CD30 Low Temp Dehumidifier runs $750 and is considered a portable heavy duty unit that is great for harsh environments. Also, see the Ebac CD35, 35P Low Temperature dehumidifiers for $720. It's considered a light commercial dehumidifier good for museums, computer rooms, hotels, offices, etc. The Ebac Neptune Low Temp Dehumidifiers are another light commercial dehumidifier ($760) with operation temperatures down to 33 degrees. You can find the best industrial dehumidifiers from Ebac here.

Do you have a quality site or product that belongs in this guide? We are always happy to evaluate or review new products and websites. Feel free to contact us at the email address below and let us know about you. If you have a demo product you'd like us to look at, please contact us before sending anything. Thank you.


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