Home and Basement Dehumidifier Reviews

Hi there, my name is Mark and I would like to take the opportunity to give you a “dry and airy” welcome to my website. I’m guessing you’ve found my site because you have a humidity problem that needs immediate treatment, and believe me I know how distressing this can be. I also understand what a real job it can be to find the right dehumidifier, so let’s get to the point.

In the following pages, you will see that my reviews are objective and not very analytical or full of numbers. Instead of just listing the specs, I try to focus more on user experience and what it’s like to actually own and run a particular dehumidifier. Basically, my goal is to help you find the right dehumidifier for your home and get rid of that annoying excess moisture once and for all.

Dehumidifier Comparison

Dehumidifier Selection Shortcuts

While my articles are short and sweet, I get that it still may not be concise enough for those of you who are really busy. Instead, you can take a look at my comparison table which provides some quick access to the most basic features and specs of each unit, along with links to my reviews and Amazon for buying the unit (if you so wish).

My selection of best picks is another source you could use, especially if you’re looking for a dehumidifier with a specific task or for a specific area. Just jump to my top picks or click on one of the links below to be taken to the review.

The Ins and Outs of Dehumidifiers

I would invite you to check out the dehumidifier reviews I’ve posted, but before you do there are things you need to know in order to understand them better (if you don’t already).
Below is a list of the additional informational articles I’ve added with quick links to each so you don’t have to spend time navigating around my website.

Buying Guide

Although the articles on my site aren’t listed in any particular order, I recommend you start with this one first because it explains what the most important features are, and how they work. Once you’ve read my comprehensive buying guide, you can go on to read other informational articles which are a bit more detail oriented.

What Size Dehumidifier Do You Need?

Dehumidifier capacity is one of the two most important characteristics to look out for. Capacity is the dehumidifier’s ability to collect moisture from the air, and it’s expressed in pints per day. Small room dehumidifiers have the ability to remove up to 30 pints of water a day, larger whole-house models can collect 70 pints or more.

Also, you need to be on the lookout for its coverage area, which is measured in square feet. These two factors tell you what size dehumidifier you really need. To make life easier, I’ve also prepared a table to illustrates this. It’s all included here.

Useful and Less Useful Dehumidifier Options

While the buying guide provides you with basic information on dehumidifiers, things such as a humidistat, auto-defrost feature, timer, auto-shutdown, LCD panels and electronic controls are all explained in this article.

After you have read these three articles, you’re ready to start reading the reviews. However, if you want to know more about humidity, maintenance, or the additional features some of the more expensive dehumidifiers have, I’ve written a second batch of these articles which are listed right after my top dehumidifier picks.

So, without further ado…

My Best Picks

The Dehumidifier Academy Award is brought to you by… Let’s get right to the point shall we?

Frigidaire FFAD7033R1 dehumidifier

Best Dehumidifier Overall
Frigidaire FFAD7033R1

The Frigidaire FFAD7033R1 has received very little comparable competition from other dehumidifiers on today’s market. You simply cannot beat its features (basic and advanced) for its price. Even if it wasn’t fairly priced, I probably would have given the top spot to this 70-pint dehumidifier. Its low price only serves to make it more impressive.

SEE ON AMAZONFULL REVIEW

Friedrich D70BPA 70-pint

Best Dehumidifier for Basements
Friedrich D70BPA

The Friedrich D70BPA is perfect for the cool, moist environment of any unfinished basement or under-the-house crawlspace. It features a strong drainage pump which will pump water up to 15 feet away, vertically or horizontally, outside or to the nearest plumbing connection. It also features an automatic defrost setting, a necessity for colder basements.

SEE ON AMAZONFULL REVIEW

Ivation DH70PW

Best Whole House Dehumidifier
Ivation DH70PW

This incredibly strong dehumidifier is no larger than any of the smaller, less powerful options. It boasts a 70-pint capacity, an easy to use control panel, a direct drainage system, caster wheels for easy transportation and a whole slew of other impressive qualities I quite simply do not have the space to even list here.

SEE ON AMAZONFULL REVIEW

Whynter RPD-421EW 40-pint

Best Mid-Size Dehumidifier
Whynter RPD-421EW

The Whynter RPD-421EW 40-pint dehumidifier was an easy selection for this title. It features an automatic shutoff system, a system settings restore point, and a soft touch digital panel. It can also be hooked directly into your home or office plumbing system so you will never have to empty it again.

SEE ON AMAZONFULL REVIEW

Pure Enrichment PEDEHUM

Best Small Room Dehumidifier
Pure Enrichment PEDEHUM

The Pure Enrichment PEDEHUM is a virtually noiseless piece of machinery. This unit will remove excess moisture from your small space without keeping you up all night. It also boasts an auto shutoff function which will keep it from overflowing or overheating. Its small, easy-to-carry water bucket will allow you to empty it with ease.

SEE ON AMAZONFULL REVIEW

Honeywell DH70W 70-pint dehumidifier

Best to Place Against a Wall
Honeywell DH70W

Many dehumidifiers bring air in through the back and vent it out through the top or the front (or vice versa), and some of them even use side vents. This one however, brings air in through the front and vents it out through the top, allowing you to place it flush against the wall.

SEE ON AMAZONFULL REVIEW

Santa Fe Compact 2

Best (Semi) Commercial Dehumidifier
Santa Fe Compact 2

This one goes out to the Santa Fe Compact 2. It is capable of removing up to 70 pints of water in spaces of up to 1,600 square feet. Its horizontal design makes it ideal for crawl spaces, so it’s also a good choice for a basement or crawl space.

SEE ON AMAZONFULL REVIEW

Eva-dry E-333

Best Desiccant Mini Dehumidifier
Eva-dry E-333

The Eva-dry Renewable E-333 Wireless Mini is the best mini dehumidifier on my website. Sometimes you just need to treat localized humidity issues and you don’t need a large or expensive unit, which is where this little guy comes in. It’s silent since it’s a desiccant dehumidifier, and it has a life span of no less than 10 years.

SEE ON AMAZONFULL REVIEW

I hope you notice that I take pride in being objective, and I’ve tried to infuse that into my reviews. I just believe it’s time people should be able to find out what they need to know without being pushed into buying something that might not meet their expectations.

Additional Information

Here are the additional articles I promised you earlier which provide you with an in-depth look in the world of dehumidifiers.

How much is a Pint?

This one is pretty self-explanatory, but it is important to know the exact numbers so you can choose the right size dehumidifier. You’ll find some interesting trivia as well.

How Does a Dehumidifier Work?

As opposed to some other domestic appliances, dehumidifiers are fairly simple in their construction because they’re made up of only a few basic parts such as the fan, compressor, coils, and the water tank. Some have an added air filter, but you can find out more about that by reading the article.

Basement and Crawl Space Dehumidifier Requirements

These two are interchangeable, and while they’re largely similar to normal household dehumidifiers, there are still some features that set them apart.

Mold, Mildew and Other Negative Effects of Humidity

Excess moisture doesn’t just make you sweaty and uncomfortable. It can have a whole bunch of adverse effects on your health, the structure of your home as well as your wallet!

A Word About my Background

A while back, I had a problem with my own home. Every time I entered the house the air felt stale and musty even though I kept my windows open when I was there. It also felt incredibly hot inside each of the rooms which had me sweating like crazy, but I pinned that one on my poor physical shape (going to the gym is something I gave up a while back). My allergies were worse than ever and I was getting sick more often. I didn’t realize the humidity levels were out of control until mold developed inside my bathroom and paint started peeling off the walls in my living room.

Naturally, I went online and started looking for a solution to my predicament and found it in the shape of a dehumidifier. At first, I thought I was just going to order “a dehumidifier” as if there wasn’t anything to it. Boy was I wrong! It turned out I had to dig through a whole minefield of useless information, fake reviews and flashy ads to get to where I am today.

Using the knowledge I have acquired during my extensive research I managed to narrow down my choice, and finally settle on one model in particular. However, along the way I had collected a whole ton of information I didn’t really need anymore and then it struck me, why not share it with you?

I’m hoping you find my website helpful, but more importantly that you will find the right dehumidifier for you, and solve the problem of excess humidity inside your home and/or basement. This is real advice coming from a real person, and that’s about as honest as it gets.

Enjoy, your “anti-humidity” activist
Mark