Top 8 Dehumidifiers For Homes - Voted Best Of 2023

If you want to use a dehumidifier, buy a unit that allows you to connect it to a drain so you don't need to worry about filling up its internal tank.

- All that moisture that’s been taken out of the atmosphere has to be stored somewhere — and that somewhere ends up being a tank inside the device.

- Each unit has its own rating based on the size of the unit. The larger the unit, the greater the overall output.

- Tanks vary in size from around 10 gallons to 75 gallons and must be emptied when full.

- The bigger the container, the less often you’ll need to refill it, but the heavier the container will be when filled up with water.

- Most dehumidifiers have a timer function, allowing you to schedule when they turn themselves on.

- If you need the appliance to be switched on automatically, set up an automatic timer so it turns on when you leave for work, or if you're just likely to forgot to turn it on.

There are two main reasons why we use a dehumidifier:

During the sticky summers, a basement is best for storing things. During winter, when there’s less humidity, an attic is better.

Because heat rises, dehumidifiers perform better when the temperature is higher. Most dehumidifiers we reviewed can operate between 30°F and 50°F (although some top out at 60°F). This range covers most common basement conditions, but if your home is cooler than this during the winter months, you may not get good results from a dehumidifier. In those cases, consider installing a larger capacity system that runs continuously throughout the year.

Dehumidifier units are the best choices for cold rooms because they're not temperature limited.

- They're not the quietest appliances.

- Medium- and larger-sized boilers typically produce between 55 and 67 dBs when operating at full capacity.

- A small capacity dehumidifier might be quiet, but they're not completely silent.

- Look for low noise models if you plan to use them in your bedrooms at nighttime.

- Most dehumidifiers have either a simple control or a digital display.

- You can usually adjust the temperature by choosing from among several preset settings, including normal, dry, and very dry.

- Those with digital control systems allow for much greater precision than those without them.

You should think about how much moisture you’ll be able to remove from your house by using a dehumidifier. Caroline suggests purchasing a dehumidifier for your home and area, as well as considering the climate (the dewy point is a better indicator of humidity levels than the air’s actual relative humidity level).

- Dehumidifiers remove up to 12 to 25 pounds of water from the air each day. While they aren't designed for whole rooms, they can help keep smaller rooms drier by removing excess moisture.

A small capacity dehumidifier removes between 20 and 30 pints of water per day, so they’re best for smaller rooms that aren't too humid.

- A medium-size dehumidifier removes between 40 and 50 pints of water each day. It's best used for medium-sized spaces where there's just a slight hint of humidity.

- Dehumidifier models with larger capacities remove up to 70 pints of moisture per day, which means they can tackle large, damp rooms.

Noise can be a problem in any type of space. We measure noise levels at three feet away ranging from 58 decibals to 67 decibals for the dehumidifier units we currently rate.

A normal conversation is around 60 dBs, and a clothes washing machine is around 70 dBs. According to the CDC, these numbers represent an average sound level.

The amount of water that a dehumidifier can remove from the air in one 24-hr period is usually expressed in pints per 24 hours (or sometimes referred to as gallons per 24 hours). However, you may also see the measurement expressed as pounds per square foot per 24 hours. A typical value for this metric would be 10–15 pints per square foot per 24 hrs.

Small capacity dehumidifiers are those that take out between 10 and 25 pint of water each hour. They're ideal for small rooms such as kitchens and living areas. Mid-sized dehumidifiers can handle 30 to 50 pint of moisture each hour, so they work great for larger spaces such as basements and laundry rooms. The most powerful portable dehumidifier can suck up to 70 pint of water each hours, so they're perfect for large areas like garages and sheds.

Except for mini dehumidifiers (which usually come in two sizes), there isn't really much of a size difference among units that remove more gallons per day versus units with less capacity.

Condensing dehumidifiers use refrigerated coil systems to absorb heat from the surrounding environment so they can remove water vapor from the room.

Condensers are by far the most common option for dehumidifying basements. However, none of them are as efficient as evaporative dehumidifiers.