Best Dehumidifiers in 2023
By Luna Thorton · Nov 03, 2022
BEST PICKS
7 Best Dehumidifiers in 2023
Tosot 20-Pint Capacity 1,500 sq. ft. Energy Star Dehumidifier (GDN20AZ-A3EBA2A)
hOmelabs 1 500 sq. ft Energy Star Dehumidifier (HME020030N)
Colzer Commercial Dehumidifier 140 Pints (PD582A)
Frigidaire High Humidity 50 Pint Capacity Dehumidifier with Wi-Fi (FFAP5033W1)
Frigidaire 22 Pint Dehumidifier (FFAD2233W1)
Midea 1,500 Sq. Ft. Energy Star Certified Dehumidifier With Reusable Air Filter (MAD22C1AWS)
GE 50 Pint Prtable Dehumidifier (APER50LZ)
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7 of the Best Dehumidifiers in 2023FAQs
Pros & Cons
Advantages
- 2 drainage options
- Quiet operation that never exceeds 45dB
- Excellent for high humidity, high-temperature areas
- Auto shutoff and auto on/off
- 3 fan modes
- Energy Star certified and UL Energy verified
Disadvantage
- Non-stop operation is not default
FAQs
Pros & Cons
Advantages
- 2 drainage options
- Efficient even in humid garages
- Turbo mode and comfort mode
- Energy Star certified
Disadvantage
- Drainage hose develops gooey gel that needs yearly cleaning
FAQs
Pros & Cons
Advantages
- 2 drainage options
- Included drainage hose
- Works in up to 6,000 square feet of space
- Laundry mode and auto defrost
- 360-degree easy-roll wheels
Disadvantage
- Drainage hose over built-in pump means gravity is necessary
FAQs
Pros & Cons
Advantages
- Built-in pump
- Works in up to 1,500 square feet of space
- Low-temperature operation
- Custom humidity control and automatic shutoff
- Energy Star certified
Disadvantage
- Heavy
FAQs
Pros & Cons
Advantages
- Optional drainage hose hookup
- Quiet operation
- Low-temperature operation
- 3 fan speeds and automatic shutoff
- Energy Star certified
Disadvantage
- Heavy
FAQs
Pros & Cons
Advantages
- Optional drainage hose hookup
- Quiet operation
- Auto restart and auto comfort for hands-free adjustment
- 360-degree rotatable wheels for easy transport
- Energy Star certified
Disadvantage
- The exiting air is hot
FAQs
Pros & Cons
Advantages
- Full home capacity
- Built-in pump for hands-free drainage
- Convenient empty alarm and clean filter alert
- Energy Star certified
Disadvantage
- Emptying the bucket is a little difficult
- Heavyweight
List of all Best Dehumidifiers in 2023 for your needs
| Product | Date | Price | Shop |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tosot 20-Pint Capacity 1,500 sq. ft. Energy Star Dehumidifier (GDN20AZ-A3EBA2A) | 11/2022 | $ 171.67 | Buy |
| hOmelabs 1 500 sq. ft Energy Star Dehumidifier (HME020030N) | 11/2022 | $ 157.97 | Buy |
| Colzer Commercial Dehumidifier 140 Pints (PD582A) | 11/2022 | $ 439.99 | Buy |
| Frigidaire High Humidity 50 Pint Capacity Dehumidifier with Wi-Fi (FFAP5033W1) | 11/2022 | $ 321.75 | Buy |
| Frigidaire 22 Pint Dehumidifier (FFAD2233W1) | 11/2022 | $ 199.00 | Buy |
| Midea 1,500 Sq. Ft. Energy Star Certified Dehumidifier With Reusable Air Filter (MAD22C1AWS) | 11/2022 | $ 179.00 | Buy |
| GE 50 Pint Prtable Dehumidifier (APER50LZ) | 11/2022 | $ 209.99 | Buy |
Why use a dehumidifier?
The purpose of a dehumidifier is to remove extra moisture from the air. Humid air is stifling and makes it difficult to breathe, causing irritation, triggering asthma, and causing stuffy noses. It can also cause mildew to grow and encourage insects to reproduce in your home. If you live in an area with high humidity levels of 60% or more, whether the temperature is hot or chilly, you can benefit from a dehumidifier.
Dehumidifier terms to know
- Floor area: The maximum space the dehumidifier can remove moisture from, usually in square feet
- Operation mode: Usually the default setting but can also refer to additional modes you can choose from
- Air flow volume: The amount of air in the number of cubic feet per minute (CFM) the dehumidifier takes in
- Capacity: The amount of water the dehumidifier can remove in 24 hours, often measured in pints
- Bucket capacity: The amount of water the bucket or tank can hold
- Relative humidity: The percentage of moisture in the air the dehumidifier can operate well in
- Air changes per hour: The number of times the dehumidifier draws all of the air through it in 60 minutes
- Humidity range: The levels of humidity the dehumidifier can remove moisture from
Dehumidifier parts
Most dehumidifiers have the following parts:
- Reservoir: To collect the condensation in the form of water
- Compressor cooling coils: To cool the humid air
- Reheater: To collect the heat from the humid air
- Fan compressor: To compress and expand a refrigerant gas (such as Freon) to cool the coils
- Hose or hose hookup: To drain the water instead of the bucket
- Humidistat: A control that lets you set your favorite relative humidity level. A sensing element and a relay amplifier work together to create resistance between two conductors, then turn the dehumidifier on
How a dehumidifier works
A dehumidifier removes moisture from the air by drawing the air into its coils with a fan using the following process:
- A fan draws air from the surrounding area and into the dehumidifier.
- The air comes into contact with the dehumidifier’s cooling coils.
- Collected moisture drips from the coils into the reservoir.
- The dehumidifier reheats the air and releases it back into the area.
Types of dehumidifiers
The mechanism for removing the moisture depends on the type of dehumidifier, either desiccant or refrigerant (mechanical):
- Refrigerant or mechanical dehumidifiers are most common in residential areas. They each have a compressor to draw in warm air and pass it over cold coils, which results in condensation. Water collects for drainage, and the dried air passes back out.
- Desiccant dehumidifiers are common in commercial areas where there are strict humidity requirements, usually below 45% relative humidity. They each have a silica gel wheel to absorb the moisture from the air. Dry hot air blows over the wheel to allow more moisture removal.
There are also portable dehumidifiers. They are not a type of dehumidifier but a subclass of desiccant or mechanical dehumidifiers and are an alternative to permanent ones, which require professional installation. They allow you to move them anywhere, often with a carrying handle and wheels. Affordable, plastic, and lightweight, their weight usually ranges from 40 to 50 lbs. Portable refrigerant dehumidifiers are easier to install than desiccant ones.
Other subclasses of dehumidifiers include:
- Whole-home dehumidifiers: usually remove 70 or 100 pints of water a day
- Basement dehumidifiers: have a design that is best for the humid environment of basements. They are efficient for humidity levels of up to 95%
- Crawlspace and indoor pool: have special sizes available from some manufacturers to target especially high humidity
How dehumidifiers drain water
Dehumidifiers have three methods of drainage, either a water bucket, a built-in pump, or a drainage hose. The option you have depends on the dehumidifier. Some have two drainage options that include both a water bucket and a drainage hose hookup, while others include a drainage hose, so you don’t have to buy one.
- The water bucket option comes with an auto shutoff feature so that water won’t overflow. It needs emptying once it becomes full.
- The drainage hose inclusion or hookup option needs gravity to work. It needs elevation in its placement.
- The built-in pump option is easy to install. Since it doesn’t require elevation, it can operate anywhere. It is great for draining over long distances or over obstacles.
Dehumidifier operation settings
Each dehumidifier comes with different function settings to choose from. Some have more than others, but the main ones are:
- Fan: Usually 2 or 3 settings, including the fastest, which is turbo
- Relative humidity: Allows you to customize your humidity range
- Continuous: Also called Non-Stop, this mode keeps operating until the water bucket is full.
- Smart or Auto: Adjusts humidity level automatically
- Auto on/off: Turns on and off when necessary
- Sleep: A low-power mode
- Comfort: Has a default humidity range of 45-55%, which is considered comfortable for most people
Dehumidifier humidity and temperature operation
Many dehumidifiers have a humidity range of 35-85% and maintain humidity levels between 45-55% by default. Less than 45% humidity is dry, 55-60% or more is sticky, and 65% or more is very damp. 30-60% humidity is acceptable for homes. A dehumidifier can be most suitable for low (rare), moderate (frequent), or high (everyday) humidity, or damp, very damp, and wet. Very damp rooms will always feel damp, have damp spots on walls, and have a musty odor, whereas wet rooms have wet areas.
Some dehumidifiers are specifically for low-temperature spaces. These spaces are chilly but have enough humidity to cause a decrease in air quality and even create a wet feeling on the skin.
How much water does a dehumidifier remove?
The capacity of a dehumidifier is the amount of water it can remove in 24 hours. The 2012 standard capacities for what is currently 20, 30, and 50-pint dehumidifiers were 30, 50, and 70 pints. That’s because were tested at 80 degrees Fahrenheit and 60%. Instead, they are now tested at 65 degrees and at 60% humidity.
This change makes for a much more realistic testing condition that is similar to the temperature of a basement. It does not mean that it removes less water, is smaller, or has different parts, but gives you a better baseline for understanding how much water it can remove with a typical temperature rather than a hot one. Hence, although a 30-pint dehumidifier could still remove 50 pints of water from an area that is 80 degrees Fahrenheit and has 60% humidity, it is more realistic to say it can remove 30 pints of water from an area that is 80 degrees and 60% humidity.
Have you noticed that when the air is dry, you are more comfortable with higher temperatures? It’s the reason behind the saying, “It’s not the heat, it’s the humidity!” Your skin evaporates sweat more efficiently under dry air than under humid air. That is why low-temperature dehumidifiers were made. Areas such as basements and crawlspaces often have a “cold wet” damp feeling to them and have less airflow. Low-temperature dehumidifiers are great for people who live in cold or chilly, rainy areas.
Why airflow matters
A dehumidifier needs to replace the air enough times in a certain amount of floor area to work efficiently. Airflow volume is in cubic feet per minute (CFM), such as 118 (Normal) and 135 (High). Another way to gauge the efficiency of the dehumidifier is to find out the number of air changes per hour it has.
To calculate it, multiply the CFM by 60 to find out the CFM per hour. Divide it by the area’s volume in cubic feet. A good number is 5. Lower than that, the air cannot properly dehumidify. Higher, and the dehumidifier is whiny and loud.
How much energy does a dehumidifier use?
The manufacturer sometimes lists the amps and wattage a specific dehumidifier uses. Many dehumidifiers on the market are Energy Star certified. Some are also UL Energy Verified, which means a third party tested their energy rating. At the same time, those that are not Energy Star certified and have a lower moisture removal capacity draw less power.
On average, a portable dehumidifier uses 160-kilowatt hours in a month (kWh). It uses more than a refrigerator (41kWh) and less than the average air conditioner (300kWh). On the other hand, if you have excessive humidity and only use air conditioning, you will save on overall energy use.
Common wattage for the 3 main capacities of dehumidifiers are:
- 20-pint: 300W
- 30-pint: 300W
- 50-pint: Up to 800W
Dehumidifier vs. air conditoning
Air conditioning can indeed reduce the humidity in your home, but it can’t dry up very damp or wet areas. It’s also not cost-effective in the place of a dehumidifier. The AC has a condensation coil that causes water to drip onto a drainage area below, but it has nowhere near the capacity of a dehumidifier. It has to work harder and longer than it would normally, using more power. Its performance is based on assuming the accumulation of a small amount of water in the drip pan, which should not overflow. Both the air conditioner and dehumidifier draw in warm air over cooling coils. Unlike a dehumidifier, an air conditioner does not reheat the air before exhausting it. That’s part of how it cools the air. The AC also does not have a humidistat as it only senses temperature. Using the AC as a dehumidifier can make you feel a little cooler for a few minutes but will stop and the humidity will increase again.
If you use AC as a dehumidifier, your skin will feel sticky. While you would be able to cool down somewhat, the dampness will not evaporate quickly. A dehumidifier alleviates your discomfort by removing the water from the air. It gives you better and fresher air to breathe by not allowing allergens to grow. It also allows you to dry off from sweating, instead of feeling heavy and tired from dampness weighing you down. A dehumidifier is the only device that can make a big difference and quickly.
When there is high or constant humidity or wetness in an area, it is common to have water damage. A dehumidifier is an essential tool for water damage restoration, removing water from the air to allow the water to evaporate from surfaces.
Dehumidifier vs. silica
We’ve all seen silica gels to keep shoes and other items free from moisture. They’re available at pet stores and home improvement stores and will change color to let you know when to heat them up again. You can reheat them using the oven or sunlight, and they’re useful for small spaces such as a crawlspace or closet.
It can be an alternative to using a dehumidifier. However, silica gel is dangerous to consume. Not only is it a choking hazard, but it does not break down in the body and can cause dehydration. Some packets are coated with cobalt chloride, which is toxic. Silica gel should only be used in areas that are unoccupied or away from children and animals.
Dehumidifier vs. air purifier
Both dehumidifiers and air purifiers can help people with allergies or respiratory issues. The difference is that air purifiers remove pollutants and allergens from the air to improve air quality, while dehumidifiers only remove moisture. Using an air purifier in an area with excessive humidity would make the air cleaner but not fresher or dryer than before.
Dehumidifier vs. fan
A fan works well for drying out damp tile floors or drywall by circulating a lot of air at a time. It can do so quickly. For soaked carpets and floorboards, though, you need a dehumidifier to truly dry out the room. It dries out both the air and underneath surfaces.
On the other hand, bathrooms do well with an exhaust fan. It removes the moist air quickly so you don’t have to keep it on after you leave. But if your bathroom is still humid even after using the exhaust fan, a dehumidifier is best.
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Last updated on Nov 03, 2022
