10 Tips for Buying a Dehumidifier: Style, Function, and Savings

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency the ideal relative humidity level of the indoor air should be maintained between 30% to 50%. If the relative humidity of your surrounding air reaches above 50% then it is considered as high humidity.

High moisture in the air leads to mold and mildew growth which causes damage to expensive properties in your home. The dust mites and other allergens in the air cause respiratory problems and increase the severity of asthma and allergic infections.

A dehumidifier removes excess moisture from the air and maintains the humidity at the optimal level. The addition of a dehumidifier in your home creates a healthy and comfortable environment for everyone in your family. Before buying a dehumidifier, you must check these 10 important points.

Read the full article to learn the 10 tips for buying a dehumidifier.

1. Do You Really Need a Dehumidifier?

The signs which tell you to buy a dehumidifier for your home are listed below.

Consistently unpleasant odors in your home:

If there is an unpleasant musty smell in your basement, bathroom, living room, or, in the whole house then it is because of mold growth. The excess moisture in the air often causes mold and mildew that traps the unpleasant smell inside the house. In this case, a dehumidifier helps you make your home feel fresh, comfortable, and healthy.

Frequent respiratory problems or, allergic reactions:

If you have persistent symptoms of respiratory problems like asthma, or allergic reactions then it may be due to the dust mites present in the highly humid air. A dehumidifier improves the air quality and also helps to decrease the severity of these respiratory problems.

Damp basement:

The basement in the house suffers a lot due to high humidity. If there is no air conditioning system in your basement or, if the air in your basement is not properly ventilated then extra moisture builds up in the air. A dehumidifier removes the excess moisture and makes the basement’s air fresh and drier.

Condensation on walls and windows:

The condensation occurs when the warm humid air gets in contact with cold window glass. This looks like fog on or, inside the windows. This shows that the humidity level is high inside the house and you need a dehumidifier for your home.

Water stains on the walls or ceiling points:

When there is excess moisture inside the house it may leave water stains on the cooler spots of the house. This may also damage the paints, wallpapers, and photo frames of the house. In this case, you need a dehumidifier to protect your house from getting damaged.

2. If yes, what is the perfect size of a Dehumidifier for your home?

So, here the size of the dehumidifier is not actually about the physical size of the device but the perfect size defines the three main things such as capacity, moisture level, and size of the room.

Capacity:

The capacity of a dehumidifier refers to the amount of moisture the device can remove from the air within 24 hrs.

Moisture level of the room:

It refers to the amount of moisture inside the room or, the home. It is usually measured by checking the relative humidity of the room. The size of the dehumidifier is based on whether the room is mildly damped, moderately damped, or, severely damped.

Size of the room:

To know the size of the room, measure the length, width, and ceiling height of the room.

While purchasing a dehumidifier you need to consider the pint capacity, the size (square feet) of your space, and the dampness of the space. For a large home, you must consider buying a whole-house dehumidifier. The size chart of a dehumidifier based on the moisture level of the room is represented below.

Room Size/ Relative Humidity	1500 sq ft	3200 sq ft	4500 sq ft	5000 sq ft	5300 sq ft
50% to 60% (Mild damped)	22 pints	36 pints	52 pints	60 pints	70 pints
60% to 70% (Moderately damped)	26 pints	40 pints	56 pints	64 pints	74 pints
70% to 80% (Severely damped)	30 pints	44 pints	60 pints	68 pints	78 pints
80% to 90% (Drenched)	34 pints	48 pints	64 pints	72 pints	82 pints

3. Which Type of Dehumidifier do you need?

There are mainly 3 types of dehumidifiers available in the market i.e., refrigerant dehumidifiers, desiccant dehumidifiers, and hybrid dehumidifiers.

Refrigerant dehumidifiers:

In refrigerant dehumidifiers, the humid air first passes through the cold coils where the condensation process takes place. The air is then passed through a heater to bring it to the normal room temperature and then the drier air is circulated in the room.

These types of dehumidifiers work best in warm and humid conditions. They are ideal for dehumidifying areas at room temperature or in an environment that is not too cold. To work effectively the room’s temperature must be greater than the temperature of the coils inside the device.

Desiccant dehumidifiers:

Desiccant dehumidifiers absorb moisture from the air using a desiccant material. They work best in colder environments like garages, basements, conservatories, etc. These devices are lighter in weight and they are easily movable from one place to another.

Hybrid dehumidifier:

A hybrid dehumidifier combines the principle of both refrigerant and desiccant dehumidifiers. Based on the user’s requirement they switched from one mode to another.

4. Tank Capacity, Auto Drainage, Internal Pump

While buying a dehumidifier it is also important to check its tank capacity. It shows how quickly it fills up and how regularly you have to clean it. A dehumidifier with a large tank capacity should be preferred so that you don’t have to be around much to empty it.

The dehumidifiers that have auto drainage features drain the water automatically. You just have to give the direction for drainage.

The dehumidifiers with an internal pump allow you to drain the water to the sink, outside the home, wherever you want.

It is recommended to buy a dehumidifier with an internal pump so that you don’t have to empty the tank frequently by yourself.

5. Energy efficiency

While buying a dehumidifier check if it is Energy Star certified or not. An Energy Star-certified device consumes less electricity to operate and thus reduces the electricity bill.

A dehumidifier with inverter technology automatically adjusts the air’s humidity level and stops operating when the humidity reaches the optimal level. This saves energy and also helps in reducing electricity bills.

So, always prefer to buy an energy-efficient dehumidifier for your home.

6. Smart Features you should look for in a dehumidifier

Smart dehumidifiers:

Smart dehumidifiers can be connected to smartphone apps, smart panels, Alexa, etc. Smart features on a dehumidifier allow users to control the unit’s settings remotely.

Built-in Hygrometer:

A hygrometer measures the humidity level of the air. While selecting a dehumidifier consider one with a built-in hygrometer that measures the humidity level and allows the controller to control the humidity level according to the user’s requirement.

Adjustable humidistat:

A humidistat automatically adjusts the amount of moisture in the air to keep the humidity at the recommended level. A dehumidifier must have this feature so that you can control the humidity level of the room according to your requirements.

Air purification:

The advanced dehumidifiers are available with air purification functions to provide fresh surrounding air with a balanced humidity level.

Sterilization:

The sterilization function of a dehumidifier uses UV radiation to kill bacteria and other harmful germs in the air.

7. Noise Level

If you are buying a dehumidifier for your bedroom or, for your kid’s bedroom you must check the noise level produced by the device. It may affect your sleep at night and also hinder productivity during the day. The sound level of the dehumidifier should not be more than 40 to 45 decibels.

8. Maintenance

If you are buying a dehumidifier, just ensure that the device does not need frequent cleaning. For proper maintenance, if you have to clean the water tank and filter, then you can easily assemble and disassemble it.

9. Ease of Use

If you are buying a dehumidifier to use in multiple rooms then make sure the device is lightweight and comes with wheels.
Make sure that the dehumidifier must have an auto shutoff feature. With this feature, the device will automatically shut down when the humidity of the room reaches the recommended level. To avoid over-spillage, the device stops operating when the water tank reaches the maximum capacity.
The device should have a smart memory that saves the settings for easy operation. You don’t have to change the settings every time you turn it on.

10. Budget

Based on your requirements you should buy the right size of dehumidifier. This will make the most of your budget. There are a variety of dehumidifiers available in the market such as mini dehumidifiers, large dehumidifiers, and whole-house dehumidifiers. Choosing the right dehumidifier will not only save energy but also lighten the load on your wallet.

If you require a dehumidifier for a small room, then you should buy a mini dehumidifier. You don’t have to pay for a large one.

If you are staying in a highly humid area then a mini dehumidifier will not work for you, and you are wasting your money. In this case, you have to buy a whole-house dehumidifier for optimal use.

Conclusion

This article gives you proper guidance on selecting the right dehumidifier for your home. Before buying a dehumidifier, you must measure the size of your home, the relative humidity of the surrounding air, and the capacity of the dehumidifier.

Nowadays various types of dehumidifiers are available in the market such as refrigerants, desiccants, whole-house dehumidifiers, etc. If you need a dehumidifier for your smart home, then you must check the smart features provided with that model. So, choose wisely according to your requirements and budget.