Best Whole House Dehumidifier
[amazon table=”3192″]While most people won’t give the humidity level of their home much thought, it’s actually a very important thing to consider for a number of reasons.
Not only will regulating the humidity level of your home make the air easier to breathe if you live in a humid climate, but it can also tackle issues such as damp and mold which can affect your health.
Having excessive moisture in your home is also a recipe for disaster when it comes to materials such as wood which can rot, as well as upholstery and furniture which can deteriorate.
Addressing this issue is as easy as a single purchase which, significant as it may be, can make a world of difference in your home.
Here are our top picks…
👑 Our Pick for Best Overall
[amazon box=”B07FJHZ58L” title=”TOSOT 50 Pint with Internal Pump” description=”The TOSOT 50 pint internal pump dehumidifier is both highly efficient, yet also energy-conserving so it shouldn’t rack up a huge bill. It has an array of useful features and also requires very little maintenance due to the inclusion of an internal pump.”]⭐ Our Other Top Picks for Whole House Dehumidifier
- Best of the Best: TOSOT 50 Pint with Internal Pump
- Runner Up: Ivation Dehumidifier
- Best For Smaller Homes: Waykar Dehumidifier
- Best Premium: Aprilaire 1850 Whole House Pro
Best Whole House Dehumidifier Reviews
TOSOT 50 Pint with Internal Pump (👑 Best of the Best)
We believe that the best whole house dehumidifier is the TOSOT 50 pint device with an internal pump.
This hefty dehumidifier can cover a large space of up to 4,500 square feet, which considering the average American home size is around 3,000 square feet, is not too bad at all. It features a nonstop mode pump, which can drain continuously, and can remove a staggering 50 pints of water every 24 hours. If you picture what a pint of liquid looks like, and imagine 50 of them placed together, then you can get an idea of the efficiency of this device. Imagine how much easier the air will be to breathe, and how effectively you can counter mold when you remove anywhere up to this vast quantity of water from the air in your house each day. Needless to say, this device should clear up humidity-related problems in no time at all, and keep on top of the moisture level in the air.
This dehumidifier from TOSOT works with an internal pump that automatically removes water that has been collected by the device. What this means for you is a hands-free approach to regulating the moisture in the air of your home, since you won’t have to constantly empty out the tank. This is ideal if you don’t want to have to worry about maintaining the device, since you can just leave it to do its thing. The water can be pumped up to a distance of 12 feet away either vertically or horizontally into whatever drainage system that you have set up.
In case you want to check in on how the dehumidifier is doing though, you can. This device has real-time monitoring, which means you first select the desired humidity level for your home, and then you can keep tabs on what the current humidity level is by looking at the display. Once the device reaches the desired humidity level you set, it will then automatically power down, in order to conserve power. However, you can also set it to run continuously if you want regardless of the current humidity level, which is great for dealing with long term mold problems. Plus, this device is Energy-Star rated so not only is it highly efficient at extracting moisture from the air, but it does so without leading to a ludicrously high utility bill.
Surprisingly for such an effective whole house dehumidifier, this model from TOSOT also runs quietly, with a peak sound level of just 51 decibels on the high speed setting. This reduces the noise output to a murmur, so you don’t have to put up with an irritatingly loud humming sound while you’re trying to relax at home.
Other features worthy of mention include power outage restart, which has the device resume normal operation once power comes back to your home following an outage, as well as the inclusion of a washable air filter which a filter light on the device will tell you when to replace.
- Removes 50 pints a day
- Covers up to 4,500 square feet
- Energy Star certified
- Includes internal pump for less maintenance
- Real time monitoring with current humidity level display
- Operates at low noise level of 51 decibels on highest setting
- Includes washable filter and filter light
- Power outage restart function
Ivation Dehumidifier (🥈 Runner Up)
Our runner up pick for the best whole house dehumidifier is the Ivation large-capacity dehumidifier.
This device has extensive coverage of up to 4,500 square feet, and also comes in devices covering up to 3,000 and 1,500 square feet, so you can pick the best option for your home. As a compressor dehumidifier, this device from Ivation will ensure your house stays cool and comfortable throughout the day. It does this by removing up to 50 pints of moisture from the air, although under older Department of Energy standards it did even better at 70 pints per 24 hours. The reservoir for collecting excess water in the air has an impressive 1.3 gallon capacity, and features both a level indicator to let you know when to empty it and handles to allow for easy transport and emptying.
This device is more compact than many whole house dehumidifiers, which makes it easy to accommodate in any space. So if you need to take it from one room of the house to another, you can do so with no problems at all. It even has 4 caster wheels, so provided you don’t need to take it up and down stairs you can easily wheel it around without having to lift it and risk putting your back out. It is connected easily with a 6 foot, three-prong power cord which removes the need for extension cords. You can use the hose connection to allow for continuous draining, which is especially useful for rooms especially susceptible to high levels of humidity like the basement and garage.
With regards to functionality and features, there’s a lot to talk about with this dehumidifier from Ivation. To power the device on, there is a simple on/off switch, and when it’s on you can program the 24-hour timer to suit your preferences and save energy if necessary. Once the dehumidifier is up and running, you’ll be able to see filter and reservoir alerts on the LCD interface, as well as the current humidity level in the room so you can make adjustments if you need to. There are 2 fan speeds, normal, and turbo, which allow for different noise levels and levels of efficiency. Finally, there’s auto restart and auto shut off, which let you know when the reservoir is filled to capacity, and resumes normal operation after a power outage.
Features:
- Covers up to 4,500 square feet
- Energy Star certified
- Removes up to 50 pints per 24 hours
- LCD display
- 2 fan speeds
- 6 foot cord, and hose hookup
- Portable design with 4 wheels
- Auto shutoff and restart
- Washable air filter
- Frost sensor
- Programmable 24 hour timer
Waykar Dehumidifier (🏠 Best For Smaller Homes)
The average American home is around 3,000 square feet in size, but if you’re living in a smaller space than this, a dehumidifier like this one from Waykar could be the perfect fit for you.
The Waykwar dehumidifier covers up to 2,000 square feet, which, although is a much smaller area than many of the other whole house devices, is still plenty for a lot of homes. It just means you will have to double check the square footage of your home before you go ahead and check this one out. If you do have a home that’s 2,000 square feet or less, then this device is an excellent choice.
The Waykar model removes up to 25 pints per 24 hours, which was counted as 40 pints under the old DOE standard. 25 pints is still a large quantity of moisture to remove from the air, especially for a smaller area. This device will maintain a humidity level of anywhere in the region of 30 and 85%, so you can adjust it to the level that best suits your needs. The design is modern, and features 360 degree rotatable wheels and ergonomic lift up handles, which makes transporting it around the house very straightforward.
There is auto drain functionality with this device, which comes with a 6.56 feet drain hose which allows for continuous draining. Or, if you decide to go the manual draining route, then you can expect a capacity of 0.66 gallons, and you’ll know when it’s finished because a light will turn on when it becomes full.
Perhaps the most attractive feature of this dehumidifier is the intelligent control panel which facilitates optimal user experience. This control panel features an intuitive 24-hour timer setting which you can use to set your preferred run time and conserve energy. Then there’s the humidity auto control function which will allow you to adjust the device to provide the ideal humidity level in your home. The last main feature of this panel is the automatic shut off, which will turn the device off once the water bucket is full.
Features:
- Covers up to 2,000 square feet
- Removes up to 25 pints a day
- 360 degree rotatable wheels
- Intelligent control panel
- Auto drain or manual drain
- 30 day money back guaranteed
- 1 year warranty
Aprilaire 1850 Whole House Pro (💎 Best Premium)
If you have a significant budget for a whole house dehumidifier and you want to make sure any humidity-related issues like mold are dealt with for good, then the Aprilaire 1850 is the perfect option for you.
This big unit covers a substantial area of 5,200 square feet, which makes it suitable for the majority of homes, although there are other options which range from 2,800 -7,200 square feet so you can find the model which has the best coverage for your home. This particular device extracts up to 95 pints of water from the air in a 24 hour period, although again there are several options which include a 70 pint and 130 pint device depending on how efficient you want the device to be and how much you’re willing to spend.
This dehumidifier features a continuous pump, and is built to last, with corrosion-resistant aluminium coils. You know the build quality is up to scratch too since Aprilaire is a reliable, established indoor air quality manufacturer based in the States. There are the options of top or front-mounting for this unit, and there are levelling feet too which lends stability to the device.
The charm of this dehumidifier is that it will sit in your home and keep the moisture level under 60%, which is what many people believe is the level at which you’ll start to notice humidity-related issues such as mold. What’s more, it will do so without requiring much maintenance at all. You only have to replace or clean the filter once a year, and there are no messy trays to empty out. This means you can sit back safe in the knowledge that the humidity level of your home is at the exact level it needs to be at all times, significantly reducing the risk of any mold or damp developing. The only thing you’ll need to do is hook the dehumidifier up to a drainage system with the drain connection and you’re good to go.
Features:
- Removes up to 95 pints a day
- Covers up to 5,200 square feet
- Continuous pump which connects to external drainage system
- Durable corrosion-resistant build
- Top of front-mount options
- Includes leveling feet
Ultimate Guide
There are several things you’ll need to know before you make the big decision to invest in what could be a costly whole house dehumidifier and/or installation process.
First it’s important to ask yourself whether you actually need one, based on telltale signs of a humidity problem in your home. Then there are important factors to do with the dehumidifier itself such as the coverage it offers, the convenience of the design, and the functions and extra features.
Do You Need a Whole House Dehumidifier?
In order to determine whether or not you need a whole house dehumidifier, you should evaluate the humidity level in your home and look for telltale signs of excessive moisture.
Here are some of the most common indications that you could benefit from having a dehumidifier in the house.
Allergies
If you suffer from allergies, and they always seem to be much worse at home, then you should look into buying a dehumidifier.
This is because a high level of humidity attracts common airborne pollutants like dust which are known for triggering allergic reactions.
Mold
Mold is the most obvious sign that there’s excessive moisture in your home, since the growth of this bacteria depends upon high levels of humidity.
Installing a dehumidifier can keep mold at bay and prevent it from growing in the first place.
High temperatures
If you find it very difficult to cool down in your home and you live in a humid environment, it could be that your house has a high level of humidity.
When there’s more moisture in the air, the sweat we emit evaporates at a slower rate, and can lead to overheating.
Coverage
Ok, so now you know you want to invest in a whole house dehumidifier, the first thing to consider is the coverage it offers.
The best way to judge this accurately is to find out the square footage of your home.
When you have this figure, you can find the best dehumidifier to cover the area. Even if you have a smaller home, there are models like the one from Waykar which cover smaller spaces, so you don’t need to invest in a bulky unit.
Design
The design of a whole house dehumidifier is important for several reasons.
First, you want to make sure you find one that works with your preferences. If a device seems too heavy, or too bulky to put it where you want to, then maybe you should disregard it as an option.
The other main factor is the portability.
If you plan on taking the device from one room to another, then you will want some wheels and a handle, and a lightweight or compact design. A good example of this is the Waykar 2,000 square feet device.
Alternatively, if you want a device that once in place stays put forever, then you could consider a heavy-duty option like the Aprilaire 1850.
Features
Another factor to consider for any whole house dehumidifier you are looking at is the features it has.
Here are some of the most useful features you will find in a whole home device, which will make your life easier.
Auto Shutoff
Auto shutoff is hands-down one of the most important features for a dehumidifier, as it ensures that once the reservoir is full of water, the device shuts down.
This both conserves energy and saves you the task of manually checking in on the device every so often.
Auto Restart
Many devices will also have an auto restart function, which will allow the dehumidifier to resume its normal cycle after a power outage.
This is great for ensuring the humidity level is kept constant, even in the wake of the power going off suddenly.
Built-in Humidistat
A humidistat is something which will allow you to track the current humidity level at all times.
This will inform your decision as to when to adjust the settings of the device, and when everything is where you want it to be.
Programmable Timer
A programmable timer can be useful if you want the device to run for a set period of time, before shutting off.
This is especially helpful when the device produces a lot of noise and you don’t want it to disrupt your morning or evening.
Auto drainage
The option to have the water drained automatically, as opposed to having to manually empty out the reservoir, is a useful one.
Provided you have the necessary drainage system in place, you can use a hose connector to extract the collected water without needing to keep coming back to the device.
Frequently Asked Questions About Whole House Dehumidifiers
Do whole house dehumidifiers work?
Yes, whole house dehumidifiers can be surprisingly effective at pulling moisture from the air around your home.
The way they work is by fitting into the central air system and extracting the water from the air so that you don’t have to deal with humidity-related issues such as damp and mold growth.
While an investment in a whole house dehumidifier is often a significant one, it can be well worth the money for keeping your home comfortable to live in.
How do I know if I need a whole house dehumidifier?
There are a few telltale signs which will indicate that you should look into buying a whole house dehumidifier.
The first is the most obvious – you feel uncomfortable breathing in the air in your own home. Think about humid climates, and how they can stifle you and make you feel hot and sticky.
Then, you should pay attention to signs of humidity inside the house. This could be condensation on the inside of a window, water stains on the walls, or worse case scenario the growth of mold.
How much does it cost to install a whole house dehumidifier?
The cost of most whole house dehumidifiers will be somewhere in the region of $200-$1000, but that’s just for the device.
The cost of installation is often quite expensive, and can set you back anywhere between $1,500-$2,800.
As a result, it’s important that you make the right decision when it comes to picking out the dehumidifier since the installation will be a significant investment.
Are whole house dehumidifiers noisy?
In general, yes, whole house dehumidifiers can be quite noisy.
This depends largely on the location of the dehumidifier as well as the particular device you are using, since some will claim to have quiet operation.
Dehumidifiers that have 2 speed fans will offer quiet operation if that’s what you’re looking for, as well as being more energy efficient.
A Final Word From Wellness Nova
Investing in a whole house dehumidifier can be a big decision, due to the significant cost of the device and the installation, but it can dramatically increase the comfort you feel in your own home.
The last thing you want to do is rush into a decision and end up with a dearly expensive unit that is too noisy for you, ineffectual, or simply not what you were hoping for.