Nobody likes dry, chapped skin, as well as nobody likes soggy, too moist air. While it’s impossible to control the weather conditions outside your home, you do have the ability to control what happens inside of it. The search for the best whole house dehumidifier usually begins with a need to control the amount of moisture in the home as these practical devices allow you to set your preference and not need to worry anymore. Instead of smaller dehumidifiers, which only work in one room or one small space, a whole home dehumidifier works throughout the home, leaving you with a lot less worry.
In this review, we look at six of the best whole home humidifiers to help with your new purchase. We look at the dimensions of the devices, the amount of coverage area they have, and their overall performance. We highlight which are best if you are on a budget, and which are suitable if you want a few bonus features.
Through our research, which includes manufacturer information, personal observations, and online reviews, we have created this in-depth article. There is an overview chart which explains the products we will discuss. Following this are reviews of each whole house dehumidifier and their pros and cons. At the end is a buying guide and FAQ, which hopes to give you even more insight into these products. A whole house dehumidifier can be a bit of an investment, and we hope that this article will make the purchasing decision easier.
More features: quiet, operates at 52 dB; LED display controls; three fan speeds; internal pump removes water in any direction up to 15 feet away
For larger homes with an excess of moisture, look no further than the Tosot 70 Pints dehumidifier with pump. While some dehumidifiers require you to manually remove the water, this device has a handy internal pump which allows you to easily remove the moisture in a continuous automated way. In fact, even if the pump needs to move water up, it will still work, up to a distance of 15 feet. If you plan on placing the dehumidifier in a basement, then this is the product for you.
In addition to the internal pump, another great feature is the noise level, or rather, the lack of noise it produces. Measuring at only 52 decibels, maximum, the Tosot 70 pint dehumidifier is whisper-quiet. So if you need to place it in a family room or bedroom, no worries as you can still carry on a conversation or sleep easily. Previous users reported that they often forget that the machine is even on because it is so quiet.
As for the controls, the LED display is easy and convenient to use. There are no reports of user frustration, which is essential when dealing with mechanical devices. There are three fan speeds to choose from which gives you nice variability for those more humid summer months.
More features: includes washable filter, built-in handles and wheels, drain hose outlet
Amazon’s top rated dehumidifier is also extremely affordable. The hOmeLabs 4000 Sq Ft Dehumidifier is our best budget pick, but even though it has an inexpensive price tag, it still works well. This Energy Star certified appliance has a coverage area of up to 4000 square feet, which is perfect for even larger homes. It can process 70 pints of water per day which means that even if you live in more humid climates, this dehumidifier will still meet your needs.
The hOmeLabs 4000 Sq Ft Dehumidifier is very simple to use, with many homeowners raving about how you can set your ideal moisture settings and not have to worry anymore. The dehumidifier will run for a continuous 24-hour cycle and has an automatic shut-off once the tank is full. If, however, you don’t want the hassle of manually draining the reservoir, no worry as you can also hook up a drain hose for continuous draining. The drain hose is not included, but again, users report that it is very easy to hook one up and usually a standard garden hose will suffice.
Because the hOmeLabs 4000 Sq Ft Dehumidifier is a portable machine, it is meant to be in a room and not in a basement. Don’t worry, though, as its modern white design can easily blend in with most aesthetics. It’s also slim enough to fit between furniture so it doesn’t have the be the focal point of a room.
More features: corrosion-resistant aluminum coils; engineered and manufactured in the USA
Some whole house dehumidifiers are meant to be seen inside a room. Others, like the Aprilaire 1820 are best kept behind the scenes, such as a basement, crawlspace, or other ducted area.
This heavy-duty dehumidifier works to keep humidity levels stable in traditionally moist areas, allowing you to be at peace with the knowledge that both valuables and home structure are being kept safe.
With a coverage area of 2,800 square feet and the ability to remove 70 pints of water per day, you won’t have to worry if the Aprilaire 1820 is up to the challenge. As one previous user noted, ‘this thing is amazing.” Simply set the controls to the desired humidity level, and you won’t have to worry, even if a tropical storm moves through. As for draining, you can simply place the dehumidifier over a drain or set up the hose to the drain. The filter only needs to be cleaned once a year. It is incredibly low maintenance, and while it does come with an impressive five-year warranty, chances are that you won’t need to actually use it.
While so many products are now being manufactured overseas, one final feature of the Aprilaire 1820 is the fact that it is designed and built in the USA: it’s always nice to support local economies.
More features: built-in automatic pump-out; real-time inlet and outlet temperature and relative humidity display
The Dri-Eaz F413 Revolution is a serious business. This is not a dehumidifier that is meant simply for a bedroom or a small apartment. Rather, it is a machine that resembles a commercial dehumidifier, and it is built to help with your whole house. In fact, it has a coverage area of up to 7000 square feet, which is a lot more than the average home. If you have a basement leak or burst pipes, then the Dri-Eaz F413 Revolution can quickly eliminate any residual moisture in the air thanks to its high-powered fan. It can process a whopping 17 liters of water per day which will bring a lot of peace of mind if disaster would be unfortunate to happen.
Despite its strength, this whole house dehumidifier is actually rather compact. Its length is well under two feet, which means that it can easily fit in compact spaces such as under the stairs and in bathroom. For storage purposes, you can stack it and store it wherever is most convenient. As well, it is actually quite easy to transport. There are two handles at the top to help carry it.
The settings are easy to understand, and you can even set the Dri-Eaz F413 Revolution to come on at a certain humidity level and shut off when it reaches the desired setting. This means you don’t have to constantly worry about your air quality. The settings are reliable and won’t unexpectedly alter.
More features: comes with a condensate pump; remote controls available (controller bought separately); works at low temperatures
Basements can be tricky rooms of the house. They offer bonus space but have the unfortunate side effect of easily becoming too damp. As a result, wood furniture and even wood structures can become damaged over time. To protect your possessions and the house itself, it’s important to invest in a dehumidifier such as the AlorAir HDi90 Basement/Crawlspace Dehumidifier.
This unit has a coverage area of 2200 square feet, which is perfect for the basement of an average-sized home. It can remove up to 90 pints of water per day. This water is easily passed through the machine and emptied via a hose or the dehumidifier itself. Simply place the device or the hose over a drain pipe. Then you won’t have to worry about full reservoirs.
The settings are easy to manage, in large part thanks to the optional remote control that you can purchase. So, if you want to place the dehumidifier in a hard-to-reach area and are worried about adjusting the settings in the future, no worries.
What is most impressive about the AlorAir HDi90 is that it comes with a five-year warranty. Not only does this give you peace of mind, but it speaks volumes to the manufacturer’s belief in their product. Almost all of the online reviews mention that the customer service is friendly, responsive, and prompt.
More features: one mesh air filter included; carry handles; digital control panel
For those looking for a high-powered dehumidifier, but one not quite as expensive as the Dri-Eaz F413 Revolution, then check out the Drieaz F515. It can still cover an area of up to 7000 square feet and is perfect for both ongoing maintenance as well as mopping up any unexpected leaks. If you have a crawlspace of basement, you’ll want to invest in the Drieaz F515 as it discreetly removes any extra moisture in the air, up to 75 pints per day. And, if you want it out of the way, then there is an optional suspension kit that can be purchased so that it can be placed in the ceiling, freeing up valuable surface space.
You can select your preferred humidity levels from the digital control panel, which is easy to set up. Then, go about your daily life with the confidence that any valuables will be protected.
You can opt for manually removing the water tank once it has been filled or there is an option to connect an external hose for continual draining. Note that the external hose is not included in the purchase.
Because the Drieaz F515 is so quiet, many customers reported having to actually check the water tank at first, just to make sure it was really working. But no worries, as this is a durable machine.
The biggest issue with the Drieaz F515 is that unfortunately, some products were delivered not working from the beginning. However, the customer support and the warranties will cover you in any case.
Before taking the plunge and purchasing your new whole house dehumidifier, it’s important to understand as much information as possible. Read on through this buying guide to help you reach your decision.
A whole house dehumidifier is perfect if you want your entire family to benefit from it. While many homes will have a humidifier in a room, this will only benefit those who use the room. Therefore, especially if you want everyone to have the benefits of a dehumidifier at night, then a whole house product is a great investment. By controlling the humidity in your house, no matter what time of day, you can ensure that the air is as dry or moist as you want it. Better air flow, cleaner air, and less bacteria are all benefits of a whole house dehumidifier.
Whole house dehumidifiers are often placed in the basement or crawlspaces, areas that are generally moister than others. When you stop moist air from forming, you can stop mold and wood rot from occurring, thus ensuring the structural integrity of your home.
The following are important features to consider before you purchase a whole house dehumidifier.
The performance of a dehumidifier is measured in just how much water is extracted from the air each day. Most products have a dehumidification performance of between 70 and 90 pints. If you live in a particularly humid climate, this performance should be at the higher end so that you can regular the air to a lower humidity level more quickly.
While the name might suggest that a dehumidifier can cover the whole house, there are different sizes of houses that each product is meant for. The AlorAir HDi90 Basement/Crawlspace Dehumidifier and the Aprilaire 1820, for example have coverage areas of 2200 square feet, and are therefore best for apartments or townhouses. The Dri-Eaz F413 Revolution and the Drieaz F515, however, have coverage areas of 7000 square feet, and are perfect for larger homes.
Usually, the larger the coverage area, the more expensive the model is, so be sure to only purchase a dehumidifier for the area that you need, in order to save a few dollars.
CFM stands for cubic feet per minute and refers to the amount of air that a dehumidifier can cycle through at one time. For example, the Aprilaire 1820 has an airflow capacity of 160 CFM and is best for smaller areas, or places that aren’t too humid to begin with. Heavier duty machines, like the AlorAir HDi90 Basement/Crawlspace Dehumidifier can extract a lot more humidity and are meant for very humid climates.
Despite their power, whole house dehumidifiers are actually quite compact in size. Most are rectangular in shape with the largest size usually less than two feet long. It’s always a good idea to measure the space where you want to install your humidifier to make sure that it will fit. Some dehumidifiers that are meant for basements and crawlspaces will have suspension kits available. This way you can attach the device to the wall or ceiling to keep them out of the way but still functioning.
Just be sure that the hose is long enough to attach from the dehumidifier to the drain pipe. This way you won’t have to empty the water reservoir on a daily basis.
The warranty on a whole house dehumidifier can range from one year to five years. Especially if you purchase a dehumidifier with a shorter warranty period, be sure to maintain your product for a large life span. Regular cleaning and replacing of air filters will help give you as much life as possible from your whole house dehumidifier.
Beyond the initial performance of a dehumidifier, extra features can really make a product stand out. If you want to set your dehumidifier and not have to worry about it, then choose one that has an easy-to-read LED or LCD control panel. Some dehumidifiers also come with smart technology so that you can monitor the device from a smart phone and make any adjustments while you are away from the house.
All of the products on our list are here for a reason, but if you are looking for something specific, these are our top three suggestions. The best whole house dehumidifier on our list is the Tosot 70 Pints Dehumidifier with Internal Pump. Its internal pump and large, 4500 square foot coverage makes it really stand out. It has a lot of great accessories, making it a whole house dehumidifier system that is well worth the investment.
If you need a dehumidifier but are on a budget, you can’t go wrong with the hOmeLabs 4000 Sq Ft Dehumidifier. This portable machine offers 4000 square foot coverage and can remove 70 pints of water, making it both user-friendly and powerful, which is a winning combination.
The final recommendation if you are looking for the best whole house dehumidifier is the Aprilaire 1820. This is perfect if you want an inconspicuous device for your basement or crawlspace. It is powerful enough for the average-sized home and really works to eliminate mold, bacteria, and general rot.
