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Cheap Dehumidifer, Best Cheap Dehumidifer
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Cheap Dehumidifiers Buying Guide
When there's too much humidity in your home, the air feels heavy, things wilt, and mold, mildew, and dust mites have a party. Getting a cheap dehumidifier to solve these problems can cost anywhere from $50 to $200, and in that Cheapism range you can get a model that efficiently draws moisture from the air.
Dehumidifiers come in several configurations. Portable dehumidifiers can be moved from room to room. Basement dehumidifiers are heavy duty and stationary, and come with a drain attachment. A small-space dehumidifier is designed for closets and small bathrooms. We found that most portable dehumidifiers also come with a drain attachment option so they can be used in the basement -- but if that's where you plan to place it, make sure to buy a model with enough capacity to handle the larger (and probably damper) area.
Reviews of cheap dehumidifiers are scarce and are posted on just a few sites. Additionally, stores such as Sears, Home Depot, Lowe's, and Target only sell two or three models and they tend to sell only certain brands; Sears, for example, sells only Kenmore. The following guide should help you wade through the cheap dehumidifiers market as you shop for the model that suits your needs and your budget.
Dehumidifiers Features
Cheap Dehumidifiers Size.
The size, or capacity, of a dehumidifier explains how much moisture it can pull from the air in a 24-hour period. Allergy Consumer Review suggests a 25-30 pint dehumidifier for a 400 square foot area, a 40-pint dehumidifier for 800 square feet, a 50-pint dehumidifier for 1,000 square feet, and a 65-pint dehumidifier for 1,300 square feet. If in doubt, buy a larger model than you think you need. A model that's too small will run continuously and still not lower the humidity sufficiently to reduce mold, mildew, and dust mites.Cheap dehumidifiers range in size from eight ounces up to 50 pints. The Frigidaire FAD504TDD 50-Pint Dehumidifier (starting at $166, Amazon
Cheap Dehumidifiers Maintenance.
Dehumidifiers are relatively easy to maintain. According to HowStuffWorks, dehumidifiers pull in air via a fan, which pushes the air over cooled coils and uses condensation to remove the moisture, which in turn drips into a container or hose; the air is then reheated and sent back into the room as dry air. Budget dehumidifiers with a container collect the water condensation in a bucket that must be manually emptied. If you choose a dehumidifier with a container, make sure it has an automatic shutoff (a sensor that turns off the unit when the container is full to prevent overflow), as do the Soleus Air CFM-40E, Frigidaire FAD504TDD, and Kenmore 54351.RepairClinic.com recommends cleaning the container at least every couple of months, which helps keep the unit running smoothly and prevents scummy build-up. A cheap dehumidifier that hooks into a drain via a hose may take a little longer to set up, but doesn't require any emptying or cleaning after that. RepairClinic.com also recommends that you replace or clean the air filter once a year. Most cheap dehumidifiers these days include a washable air filter, which eliminates replacement costs.
Among the cheap dehumidifiers we researched, the Soleus Air CFM-40E, the Frigidaire FAD504TDD, the NewAir AD-250, and the Kenmore 54351 all feature a container and drain attachment, as well as a washable air filter. Because of its higher capacity, the Santa Fe Rx Dehumidifier doesn't have a container but must be attached to a drain; the included 20-foot hose makes this easy.
One cheap dehumidifier we found that's very different is the EvaDry EDV-500. This low-cost dehumidifier is literally a mini-model and holds only 8 to 10 ounces of water. Designed to hang in small spaces, like a closet or bathroom, it contains crystals that absorb moisture from the air. You can see the crystals through a window on the front; when the crystals turn from blue to pink it means the unit is full and needs to be "renewed." To do that, just plug it into an outlet in a well-ventilated area (like a garage or an outdoor porch); as the crystals heat up, water vapor is released back into the air. The EvaDry EDV-500 runs about six to eight weeks before needing renewal, which takes about 12 to 14 hours. Marketing material for the EvaDry EDV-500 says it lasts up to 10 years.
Cheap Dehumidifiers Electronic Control.
One way to control the humidity levels in your home is to purchase a cheap dehumidifier with an adjustable humidistat. This little device reads the moisture levels in the air and regulates itself to whatever level you choose, so the length of time the dehumidifier runs continuously depends on the setting and the humidity. Several cheap dehumidifiers, including the Soleus Air CFM-40E, the Frigidaire FAD504TDD, and the Kenmore 54351, feature an adjustable humidistat. The EvaDry EDV-500, on the other hand, is always on the go, as is the NewAir AD-250 25 unless you turn it off.Fan control is another desirable feature. The fan, which sucks in air and disperses it, can be noisy. Being able to set the fan on high, medium, or low is a definite plus. Some dehumidifiers come with a promise of quiet/silent operation and some come with both the promise and multiple fan settings. Among low-cost dehumidifiers, the Soleus Air CFM-40E (on our list) and the 30-pint Sunpentown SD-30E Dehumidifier (starting at $180, Amazon
Cheap Dehumidifiers Energy Efficiency.
Experts at HowStuffWorks note that dehumidifiers can eat up lots of energy -- as much, if not more than, your refrigerator. So look for models that are energy efficient; many now are Energy Star certified, meaning they've been tested and meet Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards for performance and energy use. Among cheap dehumidifiers we researched, the Frigidaire FAD504TDD, Sunpentown SD-30E, and Kenmore 54351 boast Energy Star Certification. The EvaDry EDV-500 mini dehumidifier does not hold Energy Star certification but it runs on 100 percent renewable energy and only uses electricity when going through the renewal process. The Soleus Air CFM-40E also lacks certification, but it's advertised as energy efficient and eco-friendly because the coils are cooled with R-410A refrigerant, which doesn't deplete ozone from the atmosphere and meets Clean Air Act requirements.Cheap Dehumidifiers Extras.
Dehumidifiers frills include things like wheels and handles, which make them easy to transport from room to room and easy to empty when the container fills up. Most cheap dehumidifiers have these extras and some models are even advertised as lightweight, including the Soleus Air CFM-40E and the NewAir AD-250. The EvaDry EDV-500 Renewable Wireless Mini Dehumidifier is extremely lightweight and safely hangs from a rack. The Kenmore 54351 is the only model we researched that doesn't have wheels or a handle. The whole-house Santa Fe Rx Dehumidifier rolls on wheels but with its drain attachment, you probably won't need to move it far. Moreover, this cheap whole-house dehumidifier is attractive enough to fit into many design schemes; it looks almost like a tall table. And finally, most cheap dehumidifiers are designed to work indoors where the temperature is at least 65 degrees; the NewAir AD-250 25, on the other hand, has an automatic defrost function and can operate in temperatures as low as 41 degrees.
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Best Cheap Dehumidifier
Soleus Air CFM-40E
This 40-pint capacity dehumidifier is a hit among users for its quiet and effective operation and eco-friendly technology, although some complain about reliability. The Soleus Air CFM-40E features a container and an optional drain port, washable air filter, automatic shutoff, adjustable humidistat, and three fan settings, along with wheels and a handle for portability. Read more »Dehumidifiers Deals
Good Cheap Dehumidifier
Frigidaire FAD504TDD
A large 50-pint dehumidifier, the Frigidaire FAD504TDD works well in basements and other rooms of the house. It has the option of either a container or a drain attachment, and features adjustable humidistat, automatic shutoff, washable air filter, two fan settings, and Energy Star Certification. This model is new to the market and short on reviews, but early reports indicate users are satisfied and like the low noise level. Read more »Dehumidifiers Deals
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Products Mentioned in This Review
EvaDry EDV-E-500 Renewable Wireless Mini Dehumidifier NewAir AD-250 25 Pint Portable Room Dehumidifier
Sunpentown SD-30E Dehumidifier
Frigidaire FAD504TDD
Soleus Air CFM-40E
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