The last few weeks have left the Midwest feeling a bit waterlogged. Many are doing their best to literally keep their heads above water. Those of us who aren't quite so soggy are doing their best to keep their basements and homes dry and moisture free (thank you humidity). With little time in between massive downpours and adverse weather to recuperate, many people have been turning to some technological help.
Click through the jump for our roundup of dehumidifiers that can not only help in those wet basements and bathrooms, but aide in lowering your bills and improving your health.
1) Amcor 65 Pint Dehumidifier- This unit comes with a drain hose so you don't have to worry about emptying a heavy bucket of water everyday. In addition it's large capacity makes it ideal for spaces that have constant moisture problems.
2) Danby 3-in-1 Home Comfort Unit -
We blogged about it back in January over here. It has a dehumidifier as well as a humidifier and a HEPA system built into one unit, eliminating the need to store big chunky units year round.
3) Sunpentown Mini Dehumidifier from Target- This mini humidifier can make a big impact in a little space. Keep your towels fresh and your moisture level down with this compact version. You will be amazed at how much water you empty from this unit daily!
4) LG Electronics 65 Pint Dehumidifier- This model comes with a washable filter to keep costs down and the Energy Star rating doesn't hurt!
5) Eva-Dry Dehumidifier (EDV300)- This small compact unit is great to put near books or electronics, in closets or even under your kitchen sink. Keep the dampness at bay without any wires or batteries.
6) DampRid Hi-Capacity Moisture Absorber 4lb Bucket- Damp Rid High Capacity can be found at most hardware stores across the country and does a bang up job. Just open the bucket and peel back the protective seal and it takes care of humidity and dampness in a jiffy. Make sure to keep out of reach of children or pets.
7) Damprid Hanging Moisture Absorber- This product hangs in your closet and literally pulls moisture out of the air and stores it in a pouch to be emptied.
Top Photo from simplebitsdan via Flickr
I would strongly suggest that you don't even buy a dehumidifier unless it has a drain hose. The rate at which it fills and the chore in emptying the bucket will soon result in an ineffective dehumidifier befause it has sat there for the past week in auto shut-off mode. With the drain hose, it can run continually and start to be truly effective.
view tallguylehigh's profile
drain hose, drain hose, drain hose. it is truly worth the money and time spent yelling at your significant other because you are the only one who remembers to empty the bucket.
view MsAmanda's profile
I find that a drain hose is not essential, though people who disagree should take comfort that almost any decent unit either comes with a hose or has an adapter for one. We bought this model from Abt on good recommendations, and it's been dynamite in the basement of our 80 year old house. Nice features include Energy Star certification, and an automatic sensor that turns itself on only when the air is a certain humidity level.
http://www.abt.com/product/18712.html
view Jim G's profile
I live in a basement apartment and the landlord requires us to constantly run the dehumidifier. We've never had a drain hose, nor would we have anywhere to drain it anyways. The bucket gets emptied once a day, and I use the water to refresh the potted plants just outside our front door. It's a smidgen more work, but I don't find it unbearable
view Molly Margarita's profile
I have a silver LG that looks quite similar to #4 and like it. It's been running almost full-time in my basement for almost three years now with no issues. I do shut it off during the super cold months. It's starting to get louder now, so I fear for it's life expectancy, but it's served me well. The washable filter IS nice, although I probably don't wash it enough. And luckily I have a drain to run it into, because I would rarely remember to dump it.
view Candice's profile
Just wanted to say thanks for this post, I'd been thinking about getting one for my basement but had no idea there were such affordable options. Thanks!
view blvdblonde's profile
If you have a yard or garden, you can run the drain hose outside or empty the bucket into the garden and thus reduce water use.
view CJL's profile
blvdblonde, if you're installing a dehumidifier in an area that's below grade, you'll probably need to get a pump as well to remove the water.
view garntls's profile