Standard Dehumidifiers

Best basement dehumidifiers

When there's too much moisture in the air, it can create an environment that promotes the growth of mold and mildew. This is especially true in basements, where the room is continually exposed to moisture in the surrounding earth and there may not be an adequate moisture barrier in the exterior walls. Musty basements attract insects and can trigger allergy symptoms. To combat this problem, consumers use dehumidifiers.

Dehumidifiers have a humidistat that you set to the desired humidity level, and a built-in fan blows the humid air over a refrigeration system with cold and warm coils. Drier, warmer air is then released back into the room, decreasing the space's level of moisture. The resulting condensed water drips into the dehumidifier's collection container, which needs to be emptied when full. A popular option in basements is to connect a hose, so the water flows to a floor drain (a few models have a pump that allows you to run the hose to an elevated sink or out a window), eliminating the need to manually empty the water. Once the target humidity level is reached, the compressor automatically shuts off. Routine maintenance on most dehumidifiers is simple and straightforward -- wash the air filter every 250 hours of operation.

To dehumidify a large basement (up to 1,200 square feet), you'll need a dehumidifier that removes 70 pints of water a day and operate in temperatures as low as 41 degrees Fahrenheit. In addition, it is important to consider efficient water removal and automatic defrost at cooler temperatures, especially in an unfinished basement. These considerations are more important than the unit's operating noise level, though dehumidifiers have at least one lower fan setting which can reduce the decibel output.

AllergyBuyersClub.com recommends the feature-rich, 70-pint Danby DDR7009REE (*Est. $250) that operates in basements as cold as 41 degrees Fahrenheit, keeps the coils defrosted and restarts after a power outage. Editors at Good Housekeeping like the Danby's digital controls, which allow the desired humidity level to be set at a wide range, from 30 to 90 percent. Danby is the only brand of dehumidifier we found that comes with the added convenience of a remote control. Although the 14.2-pint collection container is smaller than some, Good Housekeeping notes it's particularly simple to remove and empty.

The Danby DDR7009REE dehumidifier is Energy Star-rated, but Good Housekeeping found "its energy consumption is higher than most." This is most likely due to the fact that the fan continues to run even after the desired humidity level is reached and the compressor turns off. This is the reason another consumer products testing organization doesn't recommend Danby models, even though the EPA's testing shows that the 60-pint Danby DDR6009REE (*Est. $225) has a better efficiency rating than 70-pint models (including the Danby) in our report. On the other hand, the staff at AllergyBuyersClub.com says the continually running fan is actually a good thing, because it helps keep the humidity even throughout the room and prevents mold from developing inside the unit.

The Danby DDR7009REE receives mostly positive reviews from about 150 owners posting to several websites that sell it. Most owners use it in a basement and say it quickly eliminates humidity and mildew. Owners also like the digital display that gives the current humidity as well as the room's temperature. The main complaint is that the dehumidifier's fan doesn't automatically shut off, so it creates continual background noise. Danby covers its dehumidifiers with a two-year warranty, which is double the typical one-year industry standard.

There are many other options for dehumidifying a large basement. One professional review names the 70-pint Kenmore Elite 90701 (*Est. $300) and 65-pint GE ADER65LN -- now the GE ADER65LP (*Est. $250) -- as standouts for energy efficiency. However, all tested Kenmore dehumidifiers had a below-average performance score in water removal and efficiency during testing in a 50-degree room. Additionally, dismal reviews by owners about the durability of the Kenmore dehumidifiers at Sears.com highlight numerous mechanical problems occurring after a season or two of use.

The GE dehumidifier, on the other hand, receives favorable reviews from more than 100 owners at ABT.com. Reviewers say it's more effective than other models, and only a few complain that it's noisy or had mechanical problems. Good Housekeeping praises the GE dehumidifier's easy-to-use interface with three fan speeds (two speeds is typical), and a filter-clean indicator that lights up after 250 hours of operation. The noise was a drawback, and it wasn't one of the most efficient among the 50- to 70-pint dehumidifiers tested.

The Comfort-Aire BHD-651-G is another 65-pint dehumidifier that's as energy efficient as 70-pint models and recommended by Good Housekeeping. It removes moisture well and is easy to use; however, like the GE, editors say it's "somewhat noisy." Conversely, the 30 owners at Sylvane.com, where it earns an impressive 5-star rating, say it's quiet. They also like the design of the controls, and many say this is the best dehumidifier they have owned. Only one owner mentions that the humidistat didn't work properly.

The Danby DD50P (*Est. $260) has just a 50-pint capacity (suitable for up to 800 square feet), but this pricier dehumidifier has an internal pump that allows you to run a drain hose up to a sink or out through a basement window that's up to 13 feet higher than the dehumidifier. Downsides are it won't automatically restart after a power outage and, like the Danby dehumidifiers, the fan runs continuously. Although 30 user reviews at Amazon.com and Sylvane.com are largely positive, this is a fairly new dehumidifier model, so the jury is still out on long-term reliability. The warranty period is for one year.

The Santa Fe Classic (*Est. $1,450) is in a class all its own. This high-end dehumidifier is capable of extracting an impressive 110 pints of water from the air in a 24-hour period, which the manufacturer says will cover a 2,500-square-foot basement. It operates with a blower, rather than a fan, and the Energy Star efficiency rating on this dehumidifier is double that of any other model covered in this report. Another feature that helps it earn a perfect 5-star rating at AllergyBuyersClub.com is a dual-filter that's more effective at removing mold spores. Both the foam filter and pleated fabric filter should be vacuumed every six months, and the fabric filter will need replacing about once a year. Editors note that the Santa Fe Classic dehumidifier is not particularly quiet, but it can be placed in a utility room and ducted to dehumidify an adjacent room. (Professional help is recommended to install the humidistat in the remote location.)

The Santa Fe Classic dehumidifier doesn't have digital controls or the option to collect condensed water in a container. It comes with an 8-foot hose that must be run to a floor drain. This dehumidifier is quite large – standing 3 feet tall, it is 20 inches wide and 17 inches deep. Getting this 110-pound unit down to the basement might be a challenge for some. It operates in temperatures as low as 45 degrees Fahrenheit and has an automatic defrost feature. The comprehensive warranty is for one year, while the refrigeration system is covered for five years.

Owner reviews for the Santa Fe Classic dehumidifier are quite exuberant. More than 100 owners posting at DehumifierExperts.com (a retail site) give it a perfect rating, because it works better than other dehumidifiers and completely eliminated the mustiness. Noise is an issue for some, but you can purchase a muffler kit to cut down on the noise. At Sylvane.com, more than 50 owners give it a high average rating of 4.5 stars out of 5. They say it's easy to set up and made a dramatic difference in the basement after just a few hours.

Quiet dehumidifiers for living areas

If you need to place a dehumidifier in a room where there is a lot of activity, background noise is going to be a more crucial buying consideration. The size of the collection container that the condensed water drips into is also important since it's not likely you'll want to hook up an unsightly drainage hose. A dehumidifier with a large water collection container will need less frequent emptying than a smaller one. A timer may also be important, if you want to delay the start time or set a specific stop time.

Editors at AllergyBuyersClub.com say the Frigidaire FAD704TDP (*Est. $230) is a standout for minimal noise, and it can effectively dehumidify up to 1,400 square feet. In fact, testers at Good Housekeeping were impressed that the Frigidaire actually exceeded 70 pints a day in tests, They also praise the design of the 17-pint collection container (which is almost three pints larger than the Danby dehumidifier) with a slide-out handle and side handles that made it easy to remove and carry. If you do plan to hook up a hose to continually drain the condensed water, this unit offers an optional pump for about $75, so you can run a hose to an elevated sink or out of a window. The Frigidaire dehumidifier has a light that conveniently indicates when the filter needs cleaning, but it lacks an automatic defrost and restart, which makes it better suited for living spaces than basements.

Consumers also like the Frigidaire FAD704TDP. It is the top dehumidifier at Amazon.com with an average of 4.4 stars out of 5 from 350 owners. Reviewers praise its low noise level and digital display showing the room's current humidity level. The only negative comments come from several owners who were using the unit in their basements. They report mechanical problems occurring with less than a year of operation and problems with the coils icing up. It receives a similar overall rating from about 60 owners at ABT.com who agree it's effective and quiet. The 50-pint Frigidaire FAD504TDD (*Est. $200) has the same features as the 70-pint Frigidaire and receives mostly positive reviews at Amazon.com from 270 owners. Both are covered by a one-year warranty.

Frigidaire has several models of 70-pint dehumidifiers that seem to be identical in features, but oddly get divergent reviews by owners. The Frigidaire LAD704TDL (*Est. $250) gets numerous complaints from owners at Lowes.com, where this dehumidifier is an exclusive. It's included in one professional review that rates it better than most other dehumidifiers for noise and humidistat accuracy. It receives a lower performance rating in a 50-degree room, but if you are choosing this quiet unit for a living area, that shouldn't be a drawback to buying it.

The 50-pint Danby DDR5009REE (*Est. $225) isn't covered in any professional reviews and costs about the same as its 60-pint counterpart; however, if you want a 50-pint unit that easy to move from room to room, this one weighs approximately 36 pounds. By comparison the 50-pint Delonghi DD50P dehumidifier weighs 41 pounds and the Frigidaire FAD504TDD weighs 39 pounds. Because the fan runs continuously on the Danby dehumidifier, though, the background noise might be bothersome. Also the 14.2-pint collection container is smaller than the Frigidaire.

Royal Sovereign BDH-550 (*Est. $240) is recommended by Good Housekeeping for its compact size. It's not really smaller than other 50-pint dehumidifiers, but it has a more horizontal profile (with a height of just 15 inches and a length of 24 inches). Testers say it's easy to use and offers the flexibility of three fan speeds. Yet editors say it "was not that efficient and removed less moisture than other dehumidifiers." Of greater concern is the low rating it receives in about half of the two dozen owner-written reviews at Amazon.com. This dehumidifier doesn't have a water collection container, but does have an internal pump to expel the water through a hose that can empty to a sink or out of a window up to 10 feet above the unit. Users say that the pump died after the one-year warranty period ran out.

Horizontal dehumidifiers for crawlspaces

Because air rises, crawlspaces under a home greatly affect the air quality in the home. Mold and mildew can grow in a crawlspace with too much moisture and release spores into the air that lead to allergies. Over time, the excess moisture can also cause wooden structural supports to rot. The upright design of typical home dehumidifiers usually cannot fit into a crawlspace with a low clearance. Consequently, Santa Fe brand of dehumidifiers (made by Therma-Stor) offers several options for this specific need, but they cost more than other dehumidifiers covered in this report. For the money, though, you get a metal dehumidifier that's more solidly constructed.

The Santa Fe Compact Dehumidifier (*Est. $1,110) has a low profile of just a foot tall, so it's well designed to fit in tight crawlspaces. The horizontal design of this dehumidifier allows the air to flow in one end and out the other, for efficient removal of moisture in a crawlspace that's up to 1,600 square feet. Rather than setting a specific target relative humidity (RH), it has three settings -- dry (35 to 45 percent RH), normal (45 to 55 percent RH) or humid (55 to 65 percent RH) – and the fan can be set to run continuously or only when it's dehumidifying. Editors at AllergyBuyersClub.com give it an excellent rating for a dual-filtration system and automatic controls that keep the coils defrosted and restart it after a power outage. Although the unit is capable of operating in temperatures as low as 40 degrees Fahrenheit, it's most efficient at 56 degrees or higher. Owner reviews agree this unit is built to last and really solves extreme humidity problems in crawlspaces or basements.

Another option for a crawlspace is the larger 90-pint Santa Fe Advance (*Est. $1,450). The manufacturer says this 20-inch-tall unit can effectively dehumidify a crawlspace that's up to 2,200 square feet. On this unit, the air intake is at one end, and the exhaust is out the top. The 20 or so reviews at Sylvane.com all give this Santa Fe dehumidifier a perfect 5-star rating, while about twice as many reviews at DehumidifierExperts.com give it an average rating of 4.5 stars out of 5. Here, owners say it's extremely effective and quiet.

To ensure that you get the same results that users and reviewers and work effectively, you need to seal vents leading to the crawlspace and install vapor barriers over exposed earth. These units include a drain hose that must be hooked up for continuous removal of the condensed water (there's no internal collection container). A pump is available as an option if you need to run the drainage hose vertically. Other options allow you to install a remote humidistat, hang the dehumidifier, add caster wheels or attach ductwork to the intake and exhaust. Installing these options may require the help of a professional. The manufacturer offers a comprehensive one-year warranty, but the compressor, condenser and evaporator are covered for five years.

Mini dehumidifiers for storage areas

If you need a dehumidifier for a small, enclosed space like a closet or cabinet, we found good reviews from owners for a couple of mini dehumidifiers. The Eva-Dry Renewable Mini Dehumidifier E-333 (*Est. $25) and Eva-Dry Renewable Mini Dehumidifier E-500 (*Est. $35) operate without batteries or electricity. Instead, these appliances use silica gel crystals that naturally absorb moisture. When the crystals have absorbed all the moisture they can, their color changes from blue to pink, indicating it's time for the unit to be plugged into an electrical outlet so that the crystals can be dried and reused. During recharging, the unit should be placed in a bathroom with the vent fan on, so that the moisture isn't released back into the space. Once the crystals are dry, which takes up to 14 hours, they turn blue again.

The Eva-Dry dehumidifiers aren't covered in any professional reviews, but they receive many positive reviews from about 200 owners at Amazon.com. Owners say the Eva-Dry got rid of mustiness in closed spaces as well as mold and mildew in a small bathroom. Owners like that it's completely silent and easy to use. About 10 percent of owners complain that it just didn't work at reducing humidity, but the manufacturer offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. The Eva-Dry E-333 dehumidifies an area of up to 333 cubic feet, making it more appropriate for closets, cabinets and safes; the larger Eva-Dry E-500 dehumidifies up to 500 cubic feet, a good size for boats and RVs. The manufacturer says the E-333 needs recharging after 20 to 30 days, and that the E-500 is likely to need recharging after 30 to 60 days. Both units can last up to 10 years and come with a five-year warranty.