Our table compares the best 10 models of 2021. Models are sorted by our score that represents our opinion on the product. BEWARE: price score varies based on the current price (updated multiple times everyday), so the standings are variable. For every model, you can read the complete review, or click and see the Amazon offer.
: comparison table
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The portable dehumidifier is a small home appliance very useful for making indoor air healthier. Surely, you too will have had to deal with mold on the ceiling or northern walls of your home, or you will have had the feeling of being cold in winter or hot in summer, despite your thermostat indicating a temperature that is not too low or high. All of this happens because your home is too humid.
The dehumidifier can be used not only in the home but also in damp cellars, or in offices, to make the environment more comfortable. There are various models and brands that compete for the market, and in this section we want to offer the best models and guide you in your choice, so that your purchase is aware. The first thing to do is to choose a dehumidifier with an adequate power for the environment whose air you want to treat. After that, we must consider the additional functions that the various types of dehumidifier offer, the size, portability and, last but not least, the price. let’s see together everything you need to know before purchasing.
Our evaluation criteria
We have evaluated the various models of portable dehumidifier based on four criteria, as we do for each product category. One is obviously the price, which in the case of dehumidifiers is between 100 and 500 pounds, and then we assessed three other criteria that represent the quality of the product, reaching an average rating for each model that represents, in essence, the value for money. So let’s see what are the criteria we have chosen.
Efficiency
We evaluated the efficiency of the dehumidifier considering the moisture absorption capacity compared to the power absorbed. Since it is an appliance that must be in operation for hours, it did not seem useful to give a rating to the nominal performances, as regards the performances related to energy consumption. It is clear that a dehumidifier that removes 10 liters of humidity per day with 150 Watts is more efficient than one that removes 20 but needs 400 Watts. The dehumidifier will weigh on your energy bill, and therefore choosing a more efficient model can save a lot of money in the long run.
Silent
Another criterion that we considered important is the silence of the portable dehumidifier. It goes without saying that the more powerful ones will also be louder, however we have found significant differences between the models of the same range, which should be highlighted. In fact, if possible, the dehumidifier should also be usable at night, in the room, without disturbing too much. The noise, expressed in decibels at 3 feet away, can range from 36 dB of the quietest models to 50 of the noisiest ones, with a substantial difference. Some models have a “night function” which is particularly suitable for those who want to use them in the room.
Versatility
This criterion collects various items that we have analyzed for each individual model. It concerns, first of all, any additional functions that may be air purification, heating, the function for drying laundry, the switch-off timer (or, sometimes, also the switch-on timer). The capacity of the tank, which must be regularly emptied, is another factor that weighs on this evaluation. Also included in this evaluation is the size, a very important factor, and the weight, given that it is intended as a portable appliance. Finally, some models had a higher rating because they were equipped with wall brackets for wall mounting.
How does a dehumidifier work?
The dehumidifier sucks the air which is filtered and which passes through a radiator filled with refrigerant gas. The low temperature condenses the humidity present in the air, which is collected by a special tank. To date, all models also have the option for continuous drainage through a small pipe (not always supplied as standard) which pours water into a floor drain, provided that you have one available in the place to be dehumidified. The filtered and moisture-free air is then recirculated by a fan.
What is a dehumidifier used for?
If your home has the correct degree of humidity in all seasons, you will not need this appliance. However, there are few such cases. A high degree of humidity is always present in newly built houses, where the seemingly dry walls release humidity for a few months. The same goes for a newly renovated home where the plaster has been renovated.
In addition to this, humidity normally develops in every home, even only thanks to the respiratory activity of its inhabitants, to the culinary activities (think of the pot of water that boils every day on your kitchen), and to what happens in the bathroom, when you open the shower or fill the tub with hot water. Add to this the humidity produced by household appliances such as the washing machine and the dishwasher, and if you do not have the opportunity to hang clothes outside, also the humidity that comes from drying the laundry.
In fact, this is an excellent indicator of the humidity present in your home: if the clothes hanging inside do not dry quickly enough, it means that you have a problem of excess humidity, which a portable dehumidifier can solve.
Today’s homes tend to retain more moisture than they did in the past. With the new energy saving criteria, in fact, the insulating materials inserted in the external walls and the energy-saving fixtures mean that today houses are practically airtight. The only way to remove humidity from the home, assuming that the climate in your area is not already excessively humid in itself, is to stay with the windows open for prolonged periods, which is not easy, especially on colder days, and more less in the warmer ones.
Types of dehumidifier
There are basically two types of dehumidifiers: the electric dehumidifier, the one we are dealing with, which is very efficient and fast, and the chemical dehumidifiers, which use substances capable of capturing the humidity of the air. The latter work with a moisture absorbing pad, which must be changed from time to time (depends on how humid the environment is). These types of dehumidifiers, which cost a few pounds and do not consume electricity, are suitable for wardrobes or small closets. Obviously, moisture is captured by contact, and if there isn’t adequate air circulation, there won’t be a good result. For this reason, electric dehumidifiers are much more efficient, using a fan that on the one hand sucks in humid air and on the other releases filtered and dry air. Do not underestimate the cost of the pads absorbing moisture, which must be changed frequently and are not cheap.
Having said that, speaking of electric dehumidifiers, it is possible to make a further distinction. In this section, in fact, we deal with portable dehumidifiers, but there are also fixed, wall-mounted ones, very similar in shape and size to air conditioners. they can be the right choice if you have little space in the home but, obviously, they lose the advantage of being able to be moved from room to room.
Alternatives to the dehumidifier
The dehumidifier can be confused with other similar types of appliances, which perform other functions.
Dehumidifier and conditioner
The dehumidifier removes excess moisture from the home, while the air conditioner cools the air. Many air conditioners, which it is no coincidence that they are rightly called “air conditioners” today, also have the specific function for dehumidifying, and therefore completely replace the appliance we are dealing with. If you have an air conditioning system, most likely you are already in place because it will also have the special function for removing moisture.
If, however, you do not yet have an air conditioner, and you are evaluating the purchase, especially of a portable one such as the De Longhi Penguin, you could consider purchasing a dehumidifier instead. If the air conditioning is not the best for health, the dehumidifier is instead useful for the health of the air, not only in summer but also in winter, and can guarantee your comfort on hot days, within certain limits, with a significantly lower cost. In fact, if the dehumidifier has no effect on the ambient temperature, it has many effects on the perceived temperature. Just to give an example, if the temperature is 30 degrees and the humidity is 50%, you will perceive a heat equal to 31 degrees. However, if the humidity is 80%, the perceived heat will be 38 degrees. Definitely, a noticeable difference!
Dehumidifier and purifier
Here the difference is substantial: a purifier in fact serves as a filter to remove the particulates present in cities and polluted areas from the air of your rooms, making the air cleaner for the benefit of your health. However, it has no effect on humidity.
Dehumidifier and humidifier
I hope you have not taken whistles for flasks: the humidifier is in fact the exact opposite of the dehumidifier and is used to enrich the air with humidity, in case it is too dry. This happens, especially in winter, in very cold areas where radiators are on all day making the air too dry and difficult to breathe.
How much? The price of a dehumidifier
As already mentioned above, the price of a portable dehumidifier varies from about 100 pounds for the less powerful models to 4-500 of the more powerful and / or multi-function models. The volume of the room to be dehumidified will determine the choice of the price range: it is useless to buy an appliance that does not have the necessary power to treat the air present in a large room, just as it is useless to buy one that is too powerful if one has to dehumidify a small room. Some additional functions can weigh on the price: for example the purification, ionization and heating function, which are sometimes coupled to the main one. Materials can also affect the price, although most home dehumidifiers have a plastic body.
How to choose the right dehumidifier
First of all, as mentioned several times, focus on the power band that interests you. Then consider the portability, given by the weight of the appliance, the presence or absence of a carrying handle and the quality of the wheels (or rollers) that are present in almost all models. Then consider the size of the appliance: in our opinion the biggest problem is the space it occupies on the floor, and not so much the height.
Noise should be an important factor, whether you use it at home or buy it for an office, while if it is intended for a closet, a laundry room or a cellar, it is a less important factor. Finally, consider the capacity of the condensate collection tank in relation to the power: you certainly don’t want to spend the day emptying the tank. Finally, look at the offers and find the best price in the power category you need, but also consider the brand of the dehumidifier.
The dehumidifiers we have reviewed belong to market leading brands, and offer quality assurance and excellent customer service. De’Longhi dehumidifiers are among the most popular, then there are brands specializing in air conditioning such as Olimpia Splendid and Argo, while Ariston is a multinational corporation of small appliances. From what appears from our analyzes, the Trotec brand, which also specializes in air conditioning, offers very efficient models and at a more than reasonable price.
Where to find the best deals? Of course on Amazon, where you will have free home delivery and the right of withdrawal in the following thirty days.
In conclusion
We hope we have given you good indications for choosing a portable dehumidifier. Following the instructions of this article you should make a conscious purchase and avoid the unpleasant inconveniences due to an error of evaluation.
