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Best Dehumidifiers to Defy Dampness

During the season when humidity is high, a dehumidifier in a damp basement can be running almost all the time. So it’s good to know that tougher energy standards enacted in recent years have made them cheaper to operate. In fact, dehumidifiers that qualify for the Energy Star are 15 percent more efficient than those that don’t and can save you $100 in energy costs over the life of the unit. And no matter the size, every dehumidifier in Consumer Reports’ latest tests scored a Very Good or Excellent for energy efficiency.

We test dehumidifiers with small (25 to 40 pints of moisture per day); medium (45 to 50 pints per day); and large (75 pints per day) capacities. The size you buy depends on the area of the space that needs to be dehumidified and how damp or wet it is. You might also want to opt for a model with a large-capacity tank so you don’t have to empty it as often.

All but two of the dehumidifiers in our tests excelled at combating dampness. Where they differed was in the accuracy of their humidistat, their performance in a cool room, and their noise level.

Dehumidifiers to Consider

Here are the top models in the three sizes we test:

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Find the Moisture Culprit

If you have chronic dampness issues in an area of your house, you might have to do more than buy a dehumidifier. If a space has standing water or a musty smell, even the best dehumidifier won’t fix the dampness issue on its own.

You also need to address the source of the moisture. That might involve patching foundation walls, installing a sump pump, adding bathroom exhaust fans, venting a dryer outside, or regrading soil near the foundation, and maintaining gutters and downspouts to shunt rainwater away from your home. Those steps will help a dehumidifier keep humidity indoors under 50 percent, the level at which mold and dust mites start to thrive.

Check for recalls. Three years ago, the Consumer Product Safety Commission recalled 2.5 million dehumidi€fiers from 13 brands including Frigidaire, GE, Gree, Kenmore, and Soleus Air because they had a defect that could cause them to overheat and catch fire. Those products are no longer on the market or in our dehumidifier Ratings. But if you bought your dehumidifier before August 2013, check the recall notice to make sure your model isn’t on it. (Gree recently agreed to pay a $15.45 million civil penalty for failing to report the defect to the CPSC in a timely manner.)



More from Consumer Reports:
The best matching washers and dryers
Generator Buying Guide
8 ways to boost your home value

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