People invest in dehumidifiers because every homeowner hates excessive dampness and mold inside the house, even when it’s in the basement away from view. Not many people realize this but mold can still hurt you from a distance, causing a great deal of harm if left undealt with. Then again, it isn’t just mold that should concern you in regards to interior humidity but a host of all sorts of humidity-related issues that spawn from humid air.
A great dehumidifier should not only deal with mold but bacteria, dust, and mildew as well. As such, a decent machine should remove them relatively quickly without posing any additional health risks for yourself or your family in the process. Preferably, it can do so without rising your household costs too much long-term, because some household appliances can be quite expensive to run. Not just that but good dehumidifier should also be fairly easy to maintain and even easier to store.
It should be said that despite the constant advent of new technologies, dehumidifiers can be expected to reach specific standards of efficiency and functionality regardless of their price tag or brand. Then again, you expect this from most modern devices, be they dehumidifiers or toasters. Even so, you want to do as much research as possible before committing to a purchase because of the sheer diversity of available options. To ensure that you’re getting the right quality, we put together a list of the ten best dehumidifiers for basements that money can buy.
Dehumidifiers for Basements, Reviews
#10 Ivation 70 Pint Energy Star Dehumidifier
This ingenious dehumidifier from Ivation can be used to remove up to 70 pints of moisture every single day. It does so in rooms up to 4,500 sq ft in size with the help of a potent dehumidifying system that employs a built-in compressor of the highest standard.
At the same time, it uses a 16W pump to deliver continuous water drainage out of the basement, either via water pipes or out the window if need be. Not just that but the machine also comes with a bright LED display that indicates the humidistat and setting, the fan speed, the timer, filter alerts, and a lot more.
#9 AlorAir Basement/Crawlspace 198PPD Dehumidifier
Designed to not only remove humidity but to serve a wide range of other functions, this is without a doubt one of the most technologically advanced dehumidifiers money can buy. Among its many features, we find internal corrosion protection intended to minimize the corrosion and Freon leakage during the dehumidification process.
Intended for the modern household, this machine incorporates an HGV defrosting system, a remote control interface, an Epoxy coating, a G3 filter, C-ETC capabilities, and a low-temperature operation system.
#8 TOSOT 3,000 Sq. Ft. 50-Pint Dehumidifier
Capable of removing up to 50 pints of humidity from rooms up to 3,00 square feet, this dehumidifier stands out as one of the most efficient such machines in this price range. With it, you can create a more comfortable environment in your basement and safeguard the walls against humidity and mold.
What’s interesting about this specific machine is that it operates a highly potent dehumidifying system while reaching a peak sound level of around 48 decibels.
#7 Ivation 50-Pint Energy Star Dehumidifier
With this particular machine, you get some of the best performance you can get in this price range, a performance only matched by much pricier devices. Performance-wise, this dehumidifier can prevent mold, mildew, dust, allergens, and odors of a wide variety. At the same time, it benefits from low maintenance costs and a fairly user-friendly operation.
It should also be said that the machine comes with a bright LED display that indicates the humidistat and settings, the fan speed, the timer options, the filter alert, and a few other useful pieces of information.
#6 FRIGIDAIRE High-Efficiency 70-Pint Dehumidifier
Equipped with a powerful built-in pump, this dehumidifier can pump out no less than 70 pints per day. Thanks to this pump, the machine can continuously discharge water in an upward direction be it into a sink or out a window without too much hassle.
It also helps eliminate bacteria in the air via its strong, high-end filter while saving an awful lot on operational costs and maintenance requirements. Furthermore, the machine comes with ready-select electronic controls and a digital humidity readout for good measure.
#5 Ivation 70 Pint Energy Star Large-Capacity Dehumidifier
This powerful dehumidifier from Ivation uses a series of ingenious systems and technologies to deliver the highest possible standard of dehumidification in the industry. It does so with the help of adjustable fan speed, a powerful yet convenient filter, a 1.3-gallon reservoir, and a few other equally interesting features.
At the same time, the device can accommodate spaces up to 4,500 square feet in size, which makes it perfect for basements and large hallways.
#4 Gurin Thermo Electric Mini Dehumidifier
Designed to work in spaces of up to 1,100 cubic feet or more, this compact yet capable dehumidifier from Gurin is definitely one of the good ones. Small and compact, this thermoelectric dehumidifier works reasonably well in areas with a particularly high humidity.
The device does that without using up too much energy and without making too much noise in the process. What’s more, it also stands out as one of the most inexpensive and convenient dehumidifiers the market has to offer at this point in time.
#3 Friedrich D70BP 70 Pint Dehumidifier
Packing a built-in drain pump of a very high standard, this dehumidifier is perfect for larger basements on account of its increased efficiency. At the same time, it benefits greatly from a 70-pint reservoir and a built-in drain pump that can pump condensation both horizontally and vertically up to 15 feet.
Interestingly enough, the device also employs a modern display that shows room temperature and humidity levels along with a few other interesting stats. Also worth mentioning is the fact that it incorporates a 24-hour timer and that it uses Energy star qualified components.
#2 Keystone High-Efficiency 50-Pint Dehumidifier
If you’re looking for a dehumidifier that removes up to 50 pints of moisture from the air inside a regularly sized room or basement, then look no farther than Keystone’s High-Efficiency 50-Pint Dehumidifier.
This device can handle a room as large as 3,000 square feet and it can do so at different speeds depending on your particular needs. As such, the device can be set to normal speed, turbo, and auto-defrost so as to accommodate your every need. Not just that but it also uses a continuous draining option with a hose for a more traditional input.
#1 Frigidaire FFAD7033R1 70-Pint Dehumidifier
This particular dehumidifier stands out as the very best in the industry and it’s easy to see why considering how well-built and remarkably durable it is. For starters, it comes with a clever design that incorporates a 13-pint tank with a handle, a splash guard, and a handful of other useful features.
User-friendly and very easy to use, this dehumidifier can clear off about 70 pints of humidity on a daily basis provided that you set it up properly. Not just that but it can also run continuously if it’s placed near a suitable drain, making it a must-have for anyone with a particularly damp basement.
What To Look For In A Dehumidifier
While most dehumidifiers are built to meet the most basic standards at the very least, some of the better ones stand out not only through their dehumidifying capabilities but also to fight mold and a variety of other humidity-related issues. the best thing about it – modern dehumidifiers neither have high operational costs nor are they difficult to look after maintenance-wise.
Even so, you are advised to take the time and figure out precisely what your needs are and what exactly you expect a dehumidifier to do for you. To give you some pointers, we put together a short guide that deals with the pros and cons of modern dehumidifiers in order to provide you with a clear perspective on what’s out there.
Features To Look For
Despite the fact that most dehumidifiers meet specific standards towards the high-end part of the price spectrum, some definitely stand out more than others performance-wise. Some even incorporate complex features that may or may not be related to most people’s dehumidifying requirements. If you know what’s good for you, you will emphasize performance over virtually any other feature, function, or capability. Then again, people tend to have a very subjective view of what constitutes a good performance.
LED Indicators – In this day and age, you definitely want household appliances to boast some sort of display or user-friendly interface. It just so happens that decent dehumidifiers commonly incorporate LED/LCD displays that showcase all the functioning tasks and parameters of the device at any given time. While LCD displays are more compact and easy to access, LED displays are usually more visible in low-light conditions. It should also be said that with a wall mounted dehumidifier or similar, you rarely have full access to the device, thus the need for perfect visibility via its display.
Auto Shut-Off – This feature is more and more prevalent in household appliances nowadays and understandably so. Not only are devices that come equipped with auto shut-off functions more efficient overall, but they also provide a higher security standard. With dehumidifiers, you have to understand that sometimes the weather outside makes it so that the humidity levels inside the house are quite tame. When that happens, you don’t really want your dehumidifiers operating at full capacity, not if you want to avoid a large electric bill.
Defrosting – It needs to be said that some dehumidifiers underperform in cold weather conditions or refuse to function altogether. A decent dehumidifier, however, should incorporate an auto defrost module to prevent the machine from freezing up if left unattended. This is especially useful for people who rely on an under house dehumidifier to rid them of mold and mildew. So if your basement gets a little too cold during the winter, then perhaps you should consider investing in a dehumidifier with a defrosting capacity if you haven’t already.
Types Of Dehumidifiers
Heat Pump Dehumidifiers – These types of dehumidifiers make use of fans, heat pumps, and heat exchange coils to remove moisture from the air. As such, they are usually inflexible and require that you set them up in a deliberate way and never move them around. Performance-wise, these dehumidifiers can be expected to perform reasonably well in medium to small rooms on account of their practical design. It should be said that garage dehumidifiers fall into this category along with crawl space dehumidifiers and any limited-range dehumidifier out there.
Chemical Absorbent Dehumidifiers – Sometimes referred to as ‘desiccant dehumidifiers’, these devices consist of hydrophilic materials like silica gel. When operational, they employ single-use desiccant cartridges, gel, or powder to remove the humidity from the air around them. Needless to say, these humidifiers are quite intricate in their design, which also means that they come with a price tag to match. Not just that but they are also quite rare considering how peculiar they are not just in terms of performance but through their aesthetics as well. You will find that car dehumidifiers are sometimes built according to chemical absorbent principles and that they behave in a very practical way.
Whole-House Dehumidifiers – These practical systems act by monitoring the house according to a preset level of acceptable humidity. For this reason, these dehumidifiers are usually set up to turn themselves on whenever certain parameters have been met in order to not only protect your health and that of your family members but also to protect the furniture and any electric/electronic devices you might own. It should also be said that this type of dehumidifier also requires regular maintenance and end up costing more than basic models in the long run.
Homemade Dehumidifiers – There are indeed people out there who prefer to build their very own dehumidifiers. Although we strongly advise against such practices, you need to be made aware of their existence at the very least. Now, we do not recommend these dehumidifiers as a permanent solution for your humidity problems but it’s certainly something to consider if you possess the technical know-how and you have the will and ambition to actually build up such a system.
Conclusion
Whatever your perspective on dehumidifiers, you need to take your time deciding which unit to buy and where exactly to set it up inside the house. You need, for instance, to get yourself a quiet dehumidifier for your bedroom or the children’s room, whereas garage and basement dehumidifiers are allowed a little bit of extra noise. In the end, it usually comes down to personal choice more than anything, especially in this day and age in which most modern devices share a wide range of functional parameters they all try to adhere to.
