A Consumer Reports dehumidifier will help reduce the moisture in your home. A dehumidifier can be useful if your basement is damp or you are experiencing seasonal moisture problems. Dehumidifiers are also useful for keeping humidity between 30-50 percent. This level is ideal for people suffering from allergies and asthma. They are also good for controlling mildew and mold.
There are many styles and sizes of dehumidifiers. They come in stand-alone, whole-home, and portable models. They are classified by the capacity (or amount of water that the unit can remove). Larger capacity units require less energy and are therefore more cost-effective. Also, large-capacity units usually cost less per pint. Consumer Reports suggests that dehumidifiers with smaller capacities may be more expensive, and therefore less efficient.
Energy Star certification has existed for several years. Dehumidifier manufacturers have been testing their products under different conditions since then. There are however differences between the DOE's energy efficiency requirements and the Energy Star requirements.
For example, the Energy Star program requires testing at different temperatures. Energy Star version 5.0 requires testing at 60°F and 60% RH. However, the Department of Energy (DOE), requires testing at 80degF/60 RH. The difference in test conditions means that manufacturers have to make adjustments to their recommendations.
The Consumer Reports dehumidifiers they tested produced many impressive performance measures. The most impressive was a unit that could remove 70 pints of water within 24 hours. The unit's programmable humidity control allows you to set the desired humidity level for your home. It also features a digital indicator that displays the device's performance.
A majority of dehumidifiers also have a programmable humidistat. An air filter filters out large particles in air. Some models also include a pump which moves water to a disposal. A dehumidifier equipped with caster wheels makes it easy to move around the house.
Large capacity dehumidifiers, like a 70-pint, are the best. They are also more efficient and energy efficient. If you don't have moisture problems, a smaller dehumidifier could be more efficient. You might consider buying a dehumidifier equipped with hose connections that can drain the water to a sink or floor drain.
Some of the most popular consumer-recommended dehumidifiers have some neat features. An example of this is the auto-restart function, which allows you to restart the unit if it has been off-line for too long. A dehumidifier which uses ultra-quiet compressor tech to produce low dB noise levels is another noteworthy feature. It's a good idea also to buy a dehumidifier with a remote control as it's easy for people to forget to turn the device off while they're away.
In addition to the dehumidifier's most impressive features, a few other items to look for are a unit's energy efficiency and fan speed. A high CFM fan is a key feature of the best dehumidifiers. This allows for more air to be pulled from a greater area. However, high CFM fans can create noise and make it difficult to find a better model.