Is your house a moist haven for icky mold and bacteria? Are you sick of the stuffy air and musty smell in your house? If so, then you would probably need the best whole house dehumidifiers, and this article can help you buy just that.
A dehumidifier can help you achieve a healthy level of moisture in the air, which will prevent bacteria and mold growth in your house. A dehumidifier is also, of course, a must if you or someone else in your house has respiratory issues.
If you’re looking for some nice and reliable whole-house dehumidifiers, look no more. In this article, we will discuss and review in detail the best whole house dehumidifiers that we chose, and also help you make the right choice with our buying guide and FAQs. Read on!
Handpicked List of the Best Whole House Dehumidifiers
Here’s our list of some of the best whole house dehumidifiers that you can get your hands on:
1.Aprilaire 1870 Basement Pro Dehumidifier
Aprilaire is a renowned company that specializes in appliances that improve the air quality in your home. One of these products is this large dehumidifier built especially for the basement and crawlspace inside your house, but you can use it as a whole-house humidifier as well.
So, what’s special about this particular dehumidifier unit? Firstly, it’s a large dehumidifier, built to work in spaces as large as 3900 square feet. The 1870F can remove a whopping amount of 130 pints of water a day!
If you have a huge basement or crawlspace, this may be the best whole house Dehumidifiers for you. Although, because of its large size, it is a bit heavier than other models. However, this model comes with 4 castors, one on each corner, which makes it super easy for you to move it around.
What’s more? This whole house dehumidifier has corrosion-resistant aluminum coils, which means it will probably be a long time before you have to worry about corrosion. It also has a digital display with pretty easy and simple controls.
Apart from these specs, the 1870F from Aprilaire is easy to set up. All you have to do is insert the drainage hose, plug in the cable, set the desired humidity, and you’re good to go.
Another thing worth mentioning is that the drainage system is pretty simple and clean. You’d just have to place the hose over a drain, and that’s it. The rest, the unit will take care of.
2.Aprilaire 1850 Pro Whole House Dehumidifier
This is another dehumidifier from Aprilaire, the 1850 Pro. This particular model is a whole-house dehumidifier that can remove around 95 pints of water a day. If you live in a big house, then this could be the best whole house dehumidifier for you, as it covers areas up to 5200 square feet! Now that’s a huge area to cover!
It does its job pretty well, and effectively removes moisture from your house. Moreover, you can fit this model into your HVAC system for circulation throughout the house. Or, you can use it as a stand-alone home dehumidifier as well.
In either of the cases, it works relatively quietly, which is a bonus, of course. Apart from this, the whole thing weighs relatively less, around 70 pounds. However, it’s not easy to move it around as it does not have any wheels or rollers attached.
The 1850 Pro has a simple drainage system as well. All you’d have to do is place the hose over a drain. If you’re setting it up in your HVAC system, though, you may need to have it installed professionally.
It also has filters, that you will need to replace once a year, so maintenance is pretty low. As far as controls and set up is concerned, this too, is relatively simple. It has a digital display with a few simple interactive controls for you to set the humidity level, and the rest it will handle.
With corrosion-resistant coils and a 5-year long warranty, this powerful whole-house dehumidifier may serve you for quite a long time.
3.Honeywell DR90A2000 Truedry DR90 Whole House Dehumidifier
Honeywell has products that are Energy Star rated, and this whole house dehumidifier is an Energy Star rated model. The Truedry DR90 won’t only remove moisture from your air, but it will save energy along with doing its job.
Is it any good, though? This model can remove up to 90 pints of water a day from your house. It can work effectively for houses as big as 3000 square feet. You may install it in your HVAC system or use it as a stand-alone home dehumidifier.
Furthermore, the DR90 weighs around 90 pounds, which is pretty average. It isn’t too big, which means you can use it in a crawlspace. The downside, though, is that it doesn’t come with wheels, so it can’t be moved around easily.
The DR90 is a good option for HVAC installation as it has an integrated venting control as an added function. This means that it will bring clean air from outside into your house, alongside removing moisture from the air inside. Bear in mind, though, that this unit is pretty noisy when it works!
The coils in this unit are covered with anti-corrosion products, so it will last you longer. As far as controls are concerned, you will have to buy control units separately, which are digital and available in different types with different functions.
Also, you will need to change the filters once a year with the DR90, so maintenance is low and easy.
4.Ivation 70 Pint Dehumidifier (IVALDH70PWWP)
Ivation is a company based in New Jersey, USA, producing household appliances, including some of the best whole house dehumidifiers. The 70-pint dehumidifier from Ivation is an energy-efficient and feature-packed model, which can help you achieve your desired humidity level with ease.
This little guy is very lightweight and relatively small in size, making it a very portable home dehumidifier. It also has castors that help with mobility. The unit can remove 70 pints of water a day from your entire house – even if it’s up to 4500 square feet!
The built-in condensation pump can be useful if you want to pump the water upwards into a sink, or for up to 16 feet vertically. If you don’t want this type of drainage, you can collect the water in the unit’s reservoir.
Ivation has also added an automatic shut-off feature, which is useful when the reservoir gets full. There is also an auto-restart feature, where the machine turns on itself as soon as the power is back, so you won’t have to manually do it each time.
Equipped with smart features that include a humidistat, temperature, and water level sensors, this unit is suitable for people who want easy and smart controls. The LCD is also very user-friendly, displaying all relevant information and alerts.
An auto-defrost feature helps with the longevity of the product and also aids in working in low temperatures. Ivation also provides a long power cord and drainage hose for maximum portability and ease.
Keep in mind, though, that it only has a year-long warranty.
5.Honeywell 70 Pint Dehumidifier
This particular dehumidifier from Honeywell is capable of removing 70 pints of water (50 Pint 2019 DOE Standard) a day while being portable and lightweight. With the help of 4 wheels, you can easily move it from room to room. Also, this dehumidifier can cover areas as large as 4000 square feet.
One of its good aspects is that its energy-efficient as well as feature-packed. It has an automatic-restart as well as an automatic on and off feature that maintains humidity levels on preset room conditions. Honeywell also claims that it is built to cope with low temperatures as well.
The drainage method? A condensation pump will enable you to pump water vertically for as long as 15 feet. You can also opt for the storage tank method, which is protected with an anti-spill feature. Do note, though, that the storage tank in this unit is relatively small, and you may have to empty it frequently.
Apart from this, the unit also comes with an automatic defrost feature, so operation under low temperature can be pretty smooth.
Another thing that we liked about this model is that it comes with a clean filter alert. This way, you will know exactly when you should wash the filters for optimum operation. There is also an alert when the tank becomes full.
The washable air filter also helps remove dirt and dust from the air. Along with all of this, Honeywell offers a 5-year warranty on this model as well.
6.AlorAir Sentinel HDi120 Whole House Dehumidifier
Based in California, USA, AlorAir is proud to provide people with leading “performance, value and outstanding customer support”. True to their word, this dehumidifier comes with several features that can help you achieve your ideal humidity easily.
The HDi120 can remove 120 pints per day, over an area of 3000 square feet. So those of you who live in very humid climates can benefit from this heavy-duty whole-house dehumidifier.
This unit is equipped with features like automatic restart and automatic on and off, which can control humidity as it changes. It also saves energy this way. However, it is not Energy-Star certified. It does have a microchannel condenser technology, though, which helps increase efficiency.
One of the good features includes its ability to be remote-controlled. This will help you control the unit even more easily, although you will have to buy this separately.
It also has a condensate pump, which allows it to pump water as high as about 15 feet. The drainage hose is also about 19 feet long, enabling you to place the unit just about anywhere. The power cord is also around 19 feet, giving you further flexibility in its placement.
The unit can operate in temperatures as low as 33-degree Fahrenheit, and it also has hydrophilic coils to prevent any rusting and malfunctioning. Maintaining the unit is easy as well, as you can easily slide out the MERV-1 and 10 filters to clean them.
7.Ivation 70 Pint Dehumidifier (IVALDH70PWWP)
This is yet another 70-pint home dehumidifier from Ivation, dehumidifying areas up to 4500 square feet and offering several different features, including a couple of new ones.
The unit features a condensation pump, pumping water vertically up to about 16 feet high. You can also use its storage tank to collect water in case you don’t have a proper location for water drainage.
It has an added feature of a transparent water indicator so that you can tell from across the room that the reservoir should be emptied. If it is full, the unit can shut off automatically.
Also, this model has a more stylish and modern shape and is equipped with smart features. It has a humidistat, a 24-hour timer, 2 fan speeds, auto-defrost, and an LCD that displays all notifications about filter alerts, humidity, and temperature.
This unit has all the features of the previous model we reviewed, the IVADH70PWP2, but it differs in a few ways. This one has a 1.6-gallon tank instead of 1.3, as was in the previous model. It also varies with additional features like having a transparent water level indicator and a more stylish shape.
The warranty is the same – 1-year long, as in the previous model.
8.Colzer 70 Pint Dehumidifier
Colzer, a US-based company that was established in 2009 by Mr. Ye, also produces some of the best whole house dehumidifiers. This house dehumidifier can remove 70 pints of water a day, in spaces as big as 4000 square feet.
You can use this in your basement, or your living space. But with a special laundry-dry mode, you can use it near clothes that need hang-drying, like towels.
The unit has all the smart, computerized features like automatic adjustment of humidity level, temperature and humidity sensors, a 24-hour timer, and auto-defrost. Two fan speeds are also available so you may achieve maximum comfort.
As far as the drainage options are concerned, Colzer offers two of them with this model. First, you can opt for gravity draining, using the 6 feet long drainage hose. If that’s not feasible for you, you can use the unit’s storage tank that has a capacity of around 9.5 pints.
The machine will alert you when the tank is full. Colzer provides an interactive digital display, that shows the humidity level on the top and the front as well, so you can observe the humidity level from far across the room as well.
Apart from the smart features which offer ease of use, this unit is also built to last. It has a sturdy plastic exterior that can survive everyday bumps. Also, it is pretty lightweight, which will help you move it from room to room easily.
Not only this, but it has hidden wheels that help with portability as well. Last but not the least, it gives you a 2-year long warranty on the unit.
9.AlorAir LGR 85 Pint Dehumidifier with Pump
Another dehumidifier from AlorAir is a heavy-duty and robust model, the Storm LGR Extreme. It can remove around 85 pints of moisture in a day, and is ideal for crawl spaces and basements. It is only suitable for 2300 square feet of area, though.
The unit has a condensate pump that can pump water upwards for as far as 20 feet! This can help you with pumping moisture out of basements, or windows.
Another feature that we liked about this model is its water-proof design. The circuit boards are sealed with rubber, so even if flooding happens, your dehumidifier can stay safe from water damage.
And while we’re on the topic of design, the Storm LGR Extreme has a compact and stackable design, so you can place one unit on top of another if needed. Do keep in mind, though, that the unit is pretty heavy, so it’s not the most portable design.
This dehumidifier also has a built-in humidistat, and it can automatically adjust the humidity levels in the room. Also, it can start and stop automatically as well, and can restart by itself after a power outage.
The coils in this unit are covered in epoxy powder, which protects it against heat damage and extends the unit’s life. Furthermore, for easy maintenance, you can slide the MERV-8 filter in and out easily and wash it.
Apart from this, you get a touch button control panel with easy to use controls and a digital display. AllerAir also offers a 5-year long warranty on the unit.
Buying Guide For Whole House Dehumidifiers
If you’ve decided that you MUST buy a dehumidifier, let us help you make the right investment! It’s important to do your research and know everything about the types and functions of a dehumidifier before buying it.
Here are some things you should consider that will help you buy the best whole house dehumidifier:
Whole House or Small Dehumidifier?
Consider your situation. Do you live in a multiple-story house that needs dehumidifying? Or do you just need a dehumidifier for a single area or room, like your bedroom? If you need to get rid of moisture in only one room, a portable and small unit will work well for you. You can easily move it from room to room this way.
This doesn’t always apply to basements, though. Basements are often more moist and troublesome than other areas, and you will probably need a whole-house dehumidifier for it. Also, if you live in a huge house that needs dehumidifying, invest in the best whole house dehumidifier that fits into your HVAC system.
The capacity of the Dehumidifier
This is one of the most important aspects to consider. The capacity determines the amount of moisture your unit can remove in a day. There are two things you need to consider here.
First off, you need to determine if your house or the space you want to place your dehumidifier in is damp, very damp, wet, or extremely. Wet refers to places where there is seepage in the walls or water on the floor.
After this, you should check your dehumidifier’s capacity. A capacity of 70 pints is most popular for average-sized homes. You can check out a table for this here.
For houses that are over 3000 square feet, go for the largest dehumidifier available! Why so? Well, the larger your dehumidifier, the faster it will remove moisture. Also, this way, your unit will be more energy efficient as it will consume less energy if it can do its work faster.
In fact, we recommend purchasing a large whole house dehumidifier with lots of capacity even if you don’t own a huge house. It will prove far more effective and energy-efficient than a dehumidifier with a low capacity.
Drainage System
This is probably one thing that annoys people the most about dehumidifiers because in some cases, you will have to be the one emptying the storage tank every now and then.
For this reason, you need to look at the different drainage options available with different brands and units and choose the best whole house dehumidifier for your home.
The first kind of drainage option is where the unit collects all the water in a storage tank or reservoir inside of itself. You will have to empty this reservoir from time to time. This option is common amongst portable and small dehumidifiers, so bear this in mind while choosing one!
The second drainage option involves a pump. These units pump out water using this condensation pump, which is built into the system. So if you’re looking to drain water upwards somewhere, let’s say, outside a window, then this option may suit you the best. You won’t have to worry about gravity with this one- just let the pump do the work!
The last drainage option is the gravity drain, which is also the most common one amongst many brands. With this method, you place the drainage hose downwards onto a drain or into a bucket, and that’s all you’ll need to worry about. No pump malfunctioning, no reservoir emptying – the water simply drips down into the drain continuously.
Gravity drain is probably one of the simplest and hassle-free methods, so we recommend looking for this type of drainage.
Portability and Weight
Almost all whole-house dehumidifiers weigh considerably heavy. However, if your dehumidifier weighs quite a bit, there are two things you should keep in mind before purchasing it.
First, you need to check if it has casters that allow the unit to roll around easily from one place to another. This way, the heavyweight won’t matter, and you will be able to move the heavy machine quite easily.
Secondly, see if the power cord and drainage hose are long enough. Often, dehumidifiers have very short cables, which forces you to keep it near the power socket even if you don’t want it there.
You can always use an extension, although we don’t recommend it. So this a point to keep in mind before making your purchase.
Humidistat and Other Controls
If your house dehumidifier doesn’t have a built-in humidistat, it’ll make things difficult for you. With a built-in humidistat, you’ll be able to set your target humidity and check humidity levels very easily. Buying a separate humidistat also adds to the costs of buying a dehumidifier, of course.
Also, look for an automatic switch, which turns the compressor off as soon as target humidity is reached. This saves energy and your dehumidifier won’t have to run continuously. If it doesn’t have this feature, it should at least have a timer to switch the unit off whenever you set it to.
Also, as far as controls are concerned, they should be easy to interact with. You shouldn’t have to call a technician every time you want to change the settings! Most units have digital controls these days, so look for this.
Noise
Many dehumidifiers make quite a bit of noise when in operation. This may bother you if you’re going to place your dehumidifier in your living space – a constant loud buzzing sound in your ears!
But if you’re planning on keeping your dehumidifier in your crawlspace or your HVAC system, this won’t be too much of a problem. Bear in mind, though, that some dehumidifiers are so loud, you can hear them through your basement!
This is why we recommend looking for quiet operation of the unit in the specs. Dehumidifiers often work non-stop – the noise can become pretty bothersome at times!
Energy Efficiency
Another thing to look for is the dehumidifier’s rating by Energy Star. Dehumidifiers work almost constantly, and tend to consume quite a bit of energy, because of the strenuous function of removing water from the air. For this reason, look for energy-efficient models of dehumidifiers.
Energy star rated 3 and above are the best whole house dehumidifiers for energy efficiency.
Storage Tank Size
A good home dehumidifier should have a large tank capacity so that you don’t have to empty it too often. So, be sure to check this.
MERV Filters
Look for higher MERV ratings, because the higher the number, the more your air filter can capture dust and dirt from the air. MERV 8 to 12 are good enough filters for your residential dehumidifier.
Cold Temperature Operation
People often overlook this aspect of a dehumidifier, which causes problems later on. Your dehumidifier must be able to work under cold conditions, otherwise, the coils might freeze up and it might stop working altogether.
Hence, look for this particular spec on the list when you’re buying a dehumidifier. Also, a good dehumidifier will have an auto-defrost feature. This will prevent ice from forming on the coils, and your dehumidifier will continue working even in cold environments.
So for those of you planning who live in a colder climate, or want to keep their dehumidifiers in a cold place like a basement, look for an auto-defrost feature.
Washable Air Filter
Your dehumidifier has an air filter that removes dirt particles from the air. This not only keeps the air clean and healthy but also prevents the unit from getting all clogged up. Hence, you need to clean or replace your air filter every now and then.
This is why you should look for a dehumidifier that has a washable air filter that can be easily slid in and out of the unit for cleaning.
Warranty
This may seem like an obvious thing to look for, but a long warranty is always a big plus with dehumidifiers. They are pretty expensive things!
FAQs
You probably have more questions before you spend a whole lot of bucks on a dehumidifier. Don’t worry, we got you. Here are some FAQs answered to clear your doubts!
Does a Humidifier Make a Room Warmer?
Yes, the room with the dehumidifier in it will be warmer. This is mainly because the unit throws out warm air as a result of sucking moisture out of the air. Also, the compressor uses a lot of energy to operate, which also adds quite a bit of heat into the room.
You may notice a five to ten-degree change in the temperature of the room where you placed your dehumidifier. So, don’t worry, this is normal.
However, if you fit your whole house dehumidifier in your HVAC system, then no, you won’t feel a change in temperature in ALL the rooms of your house. This is because the warm air your dehumidifier throws out is mixed with the air in the rooms, resulting in a negligible temperature change.
What is the Ideal Indoor Humidity Level?
For summer months, set the target humidity level anywhere between 45 to 50 percentage, depending on what makes you feel comfortable. This will prevent the air in your house from feeling ‘sticky’ and stuffy, and also cool down the temperature.
For winter months, keep it between 30 to 40 percent. We cannot give an exact number because the ideal humidity level depends on your surroundings. You can read more about this concept of relative humidity here.
How Much Maintenance Does a Dehumidifier Need?
Not a lot. You may need to clean the filter once every month, but this depends on how much dust and dirt accumulate in your dehumidifier. If you don’t clean it, your dehumidifier may not work properly.
Also, you will have to change this filter once every year, or as instructed in the manual.
What is a MERV Filter?
MERV means minimum efficiency reporting value, and it is used to rate air filters in terms of its ability to capture dust and other air particles. The scale is designed by ASHRAE, and whole-house dehumidifiers should have a MERV rated filter in them. The higher the MERV rating, the better your air filter is.
How Do I Know When to Wash the Filters?
The instruction manual will tell you how often you should clean the filter. Generally, though, you should clean the filters once every month, depending on how dusty your environment is.
How Do I Clean My Dehumidifier’s filter?
It’s simple. Just remove the filter and run it under water to wash off all the dirt and dust. You can also vacuum the dust off the filter.
How Long Does It Take to Alter Humidity?
This depends a lot on the size of your room and the level of dampness. For instance, if you’re looking to dry up your very damp basement that has seepage, it may take weeks for this process! This also depends on your dehumidifier’s capacity, so it’s impossible to provide an exact value.
Generally speaking, though, if you want to alter the humidity of your overall living space, it may take you anywhere between 2 to 24 hours to do this, depending on the relative humidity and the capacity of your dehumidifier.
Is it a Goof Idea to Run My Dehumidifier Continuously?
If your unit has a built-in humidistat and an automatic switch, you won’t have to worry about this. Your unit will detect for itself when its compressor should stop and when the target humidity is achieved (which is why we recommend looking for this feature!)
So, it won’t matter if your dehumidifier runs continuously because it can switch on and off itself. However, if your dehumidifier does not have this feature, you may want to purchase a humidistat separately, check when the target humidity is achieved, and then turn off your dehumidifier, or use the timer function for this.
This is because dehumidifiers use a lot of energy when they work, so running it continuously will only waste power!
Where Should I Place My Dehumidifier?
If you’re not fitting your dehumidifier in your HVAC system and keeping it in a room, here are a few tips. To start with, place the dehumidifier right in the middle of the space you are using it in. Good air circulation is very important, so make sure there are no obstructions near it. Any object or furniture should be several feet away from the dehumidifier.
For portable dehumidifiers in bedrooms and bathrooms, though, you can keep it near the corner against the wall, or wherever your power socket is.
Secondly, keep your dehumidifier at a higher level if it functions using gravity drain. So, make sure you have a long enough drain hose, so you can place your dehumidifier in the center of the room.
Another thing to consider when placing a large whole-house dehumidifier is that they should be kept somewhere where you won’t be able to hear it much! For instance, basements and crawl spaces are good places to keep them.
What Should I Do with the Condensate?
The water emptied from the reservoir should not be used for drinking! Even though technically, it’s clean, but it could still have impurities from the coils and bacteria due to resting in the reservoir for too long.
But this doesn’t mean you can’t use the water for other things. You can use it for gardening, steam ironing, washing clothes, and much more.
Wrap Up
Whole-house dehumidifiers can make a big difference in how comfortable you feel in your home, especially during summer in humid climates. Often, they are necessary because of family members who suffer from respiratory issues. Hence, it is important that you buy an effective dehumidifier.
Now that you know almost everything about a good residential dehumidifier, you can make the right choice and make sure that you get what you pay for. Whether you need a small or large unit, you can find the best whole house dehumidifier for yourself from our list.
