what is the best whole home dehumidifier - LavaLove (2023)

Does your home have that warm, clammy feeling? Especially when the weather turns muggy, humidity can soar indoors. Besides making your home uncomfortable, the condition creates a breeding ground for black mold, mildew and other allergens. And that’s something to sneeze at: A top-performing dehumidifier will quickly drop your home’s relative humidity below 60%, the threshold at which bacteria, microbial agents and bad odors thrive. Unlike humidifiers, which add moisture to the air, most what is the best whole home dehumidifier work by drawing humid air over refrigerated coils, which pull out the excess moisture and condense it into a reservoir.
But with so many types of dehumidifier on the market, it can be tricky to know which one is right for your needs. First, you need to consider coverage as well as overall performance. If you have multiple spaces which require the appliance, it may be better to get a smaller, more portable unit. Those with particularly large or humid rooms, however, may be better off buying a machine with a higher capacity and a pump, to make disposing of the water easier. Other handy features include smart connectivity, which lets you monitor and control the device from your phone. We compare and list the what is the best whole home dehumidifier to help you beat the humidity in Hong Kong. When relative humidity is high, it can damage the property due to mould and Bacteria. You will feel tired and even increase the risk of asthma and eczema.
Spring has arrived! And as the temperature rises, so does the humidity. Walls are covered in condensation and drying clothes never seem to dry. This means the wet season is upon us and this can be a nightmare for many people. When the humidity is really high, it¡¯s not good for your health either. You¡¯ll find yourself feeling tired, more prone to headaches and if you are in a damp and mouldy room, it could even increase the risk of asthma and eczema. To prevent this, you need a what is the best whole home dehumidifier at home! With so many to choose from, you probably can¡¯t decide which model to buy as many have similar features. So, let me show you how to pick the right one. Just look out for these three factors (1) dehumidifying capacity (2) water tank capacity and (3) extra features. It¡¯s that simple!
If you want to reduce moisture in your home, and prevent mold and mildew, you’ll need one of the what is the best whole home dehumidifier. Dehumidifiers can also be handy at eliminating lingering odors as well as reducing dust and allergens in the air.
what is the best whole home dehumidifier

How to choose the best dehumidifier for you
There are a huge range of dehumidifiers on the market. Before choosing your favorite, here are a few factors you should consider:
Regulations
In 2019, the U.S. Department of Energy instituted new dehumidifier testing standards(opens in new tab). Nowadays, dehumidifiers are assessed at lower temperatures to better simulate being placed in a real-life environment, such as the basement.
As a consequence, the biggest dehumidifiers, which originally offered 70-pint capacities, have now been reduced to capacities of 45-50 pints. This is because warm air can hold more water than cool air, so the dehumidifier will naturally absorb less in lower temperatures.
Medium-sized models, on the other hand, have been reduced from 50 pints to 30 pints capacities. Whereas small dehumidifiers have moved from 30 pints to roughly 20 pints.
Because of this recent change, many models are being discontinued and replaced with updated designs to suit the new procedure.
Type
There are different types of dehumidifiers on the market. The most common type is a condensing dehumidifier, which pulls the absorbed air over refrigerated coils, which cools it enough the condense and separate the moisture.
Other types include desiccant dehumidifiers, which will use a water-absorbing material, and thermoelectric dehumidifiers, which operate with charged plates. Generally speaking, neither of these latter two types are as effective as condenser models, which is why we only recommend this type in our list.
Capacity
Dehumidifiers generally come in three sizes: large (45-50-pint capacity), medium (30-pint capacity) and small (20-22-pint capacity).
Under the old regulations, these sizes were 70, 50 and 30 pints, respectively, and you’ll see such numbers with three older models above.
Features to look out for
Pint capacity
The capacity in pints relates to how much moisture the dehumidifier claims to absorb per day. The bigger the capacity, the larger and damper space it can handle.
Bucket size
Pint capacity shouldn¡¯t be confused with bucket size however. This specification indicates how much the internal bucket can actually hold before it will need to be emptied. The larger the bucket, the less often you will need to empty it.
Drainage type
On this list you will find passive and pump drainage types. Passive types let you passively drain the water through a hose, or alternatively you can manually carry and empty the bucket yourself. Whereas pump drainage types will automatically pump the water out. Pumps are preferred as the water doesn¡¯t need to rely on gravity alone to drain, so you can direct the hose into a sink or out of the window. However, these models do cost more than without.
Energy Star Certification
It¡¯s always useful to look out for Energy Star Certification as this guarantees savings in terms of energy and money.
Humidity sensor
With a humidity sensor, your dehumidifier will detect relevant changes in the atmosphere and can automatically switch on and, in some cases, set its power accordingly. Those without a sensor will just be manually controlled.
Frost sensor
A frost sensor will detect the formation of ice on the condenser coils. The dehumidifier will then shut off the compressor to give the ice a chance to melt. If it continues to run with frost on the coils, this can damage the parts and make the appliance work much harder to absorb any moisture.
Auto restart
If the dehumidifier suddenly loses power, auto restart means it will automatically switch back on to its previous settings once power is restored.
Number of speeds
This relates to how many speeds the fan has on the dehumidifier. The more speeds there are, the better as it gives you greater control and means excess energy isn¡¯t wasted.
How we test dehumidifiers
Products experts and analysts at the LavaLove continuously survey the marketplace and manufacturers to identify the models that consumers nationwide are most likely to find in stores and online. From there, we identify models for testing across different size categories to cover every need and budget. Note: We only test condensing models, since they capture more moisture than desiccant models (which use a water-absorbing material) or thermoelectric dehumidifiers (which use an electric charge to “attract” humidity).
Hands-on testing begins in our Lab under controlled humidity and temperature conditions. The key performance-based test measures how much water each dehumidifier collects in a 48-hour time period. Our engineers also use a decibel meter to assess how loud each machine is when running on its highest fan speed.
Usability is another important part of our evaluation; it happens in the Lab, as well as in the homes of consumer testers, allowing us to test the dehumidifiers under real-world conditions. We look at such factors as portability, how intuitive the display and controls are and ease of cleaning, including how easy it is to wash the filter and empty the water reservoir. Finally, we evaluate each brand’s customer service by contacting their help lines with a pretend problem and seeing how quickly it is remedied by the representative.
How to clean a dehumidifier
When you consider that bacteria and mold is being sucked into your humidifier, it¡¯s no wonder that it needs an occasional clean. This isn¡¯t as difficult as you might think, simply follow these steps if none are given in your manual:
1. Unplug the humidifier from the wall. You don¡¯t want to risk an electric shock!
2. Remove the water reservoir bucket and tip out any residual water. Clean this with warm soapy water and a microfiber cloth.
3. While that¡¯s drying, wash the filters. The filters collect any impurities so it¡¯s essential that these get an occasional clean. You should have a main filter and potentially a much smaller bucket filter. If you¡¯re not sure where to find these you can refer to your manual. Both need to be washed in warm soapy water, rinsed and then left to dry.
4. If you notice a lot of dust inside your machine, you can also use a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment to pick up any remaining fluff.
5. Lastly, give the outside a once over with a microfiber cloth for finishing touches.
Pros And Cons Of Using a Dehumidifier
The following are a list of pros and cons of using a dehumidifier¡ªafter reading these, you should be able to have a more concise idea as to whether or not using one will really benefit the health of your home and your personal health.
Dehumidifier Pros
Dust Mites, mold, mildew, and certain allergens cannot thrive in a dry climate; therefore, taking the humidity out of the air will help in lessening these problems.
Running a dehumidifier will help reduce dust in the air.
If your home (or any room specifically) has a musty or mildew-like smell, a dehumidifier can get rid of that odor, as those are caused by dampness.
Having a dehumidifier run frequently will ensure that mold spores will not grow on your furniture, clothing, bedding, etc.
Certain small insects are attracted to moisture, so having a dehumidifier will deter those little pests.
If you, your family members, or even your pets are prone to allergic reactions to moisture, mildew, or mold, keeping a dehumidifier running will help keep everyone happy and healthy.
Dehumidifier use will help your A/C run more efficiently, as it helps get all of the humidity out of the air and your A/C won¡¯t have to work double time.
Dehumidifier Cons
Dehumidifiers can be loud and sometimes warm¡ªin the summer, this could be annoying.
Dehumidifiers are work¡ªyou must dump, clean, and refill the water-collection tank and also (some models) clean the air filter regularly. To prevent yourself from running down the hallway toward the bathroom, spilling dirty water, you can reduce your maintenance requirements by installing a drain hose that empties collected water into a floor-level drain.
Constantly running a dehumidifier will increase your energy bill.
A good humidifier (you need to get the size that is required for the room it is in) can be pricey. If you are actually wanting to reap the benefits of owning one, you need to splurge on a trusted and quality brand.
FAQ
How to use a dehumidifier
Most dehumidifiers are very easy to use. Essentially, it¡¯s just a matter of setting the required moisture level and the unit will do the rest. All you will need to do is empty the water tank.
For a bathroom, you should position the dehumidifier just outside the bathroom door and ensure the door is left open so the unit can draw the moist air towards it. If you¡¯re drying clothes, just place the dehumidifier in the room, making sure the door and windows are all closed.
How much does a dehumidifier cost to run?
Dehumidifiers are generally cheap to run. Look for one which draws less than 330 Watts and you will never spend more than 12p per hour. It’s often much less on lower power settings.
What size dehumidifier do I need?
Domestic dehumidifiers can extract up to 25 litres of water per day, though some as little as 250ml. We have largely focused on 20l models since these are the most popular for domestic use. For larger spaces, damper environments or colder temperatures, choose something more powerful. (Or vice versa for smaller spaces.)
What works better than a dehumidifier?
If your home is above 50% humidity then a dehumidifier is needed. However, if humidity levels are below 30%, a humidifier is needed. To determine the humidity level in your home pick up a hygrometer for less than $20 at a home improvement store.
Is it bad to have a dehumidifier on all day?
An average unit in your space, if it was operating correctly, should extract the moisture to around 50 to 55% Relative Humidity. With this assumption, you can safely run your dehumidifier for about 12 hours a day.
Where is the best place to put dehumidifier?
The best place to put a dehumidifier is in the location closest to the source of the moisture. In multi-level homes, this means that dehumidifiers should most often be placed in basements or upstairs close to the stairs to your basement. This is because the basement is the most humid place in your home.
Does a dehumidifier use a lot of electricity?
The simple answer is yes, even though dehumidifier wattage or energy consumption of many models is low (Average being 483 watts), they stay on for at least 12 hours a day and in most cases, 24 hours. The average cost is about $1.95 daily, meaning it could cost up to (if not more than) $58.42 a month.
How do you know if you need a dehumidifier?
We suggest that the ideal is 50% relative humidity (Rh). If it’s above 60%, a dehumidifier is usually necessary. Try to avoid letting Rh drop to below 40% as this may make the air too dry, exacerbating respiratory symptoms.