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Cheap Dehumidifers

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In this review:
  1. Cheap Dehumidifers
  2. Dehumidifier Reviews
  3. Portable Dehumidifiers, Dehumidifier Size
  4. Energy Star Dehumidifiers, Quiet Dehumidifiers
  5. Discount Dehumidifiers Features Comparison Table
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Cheap Dehumidifiers Buying Guide

When there's too much humidity in your home, the air feels heavy; people and plants wilt; and mold, mildew, and dust mites have a party. The ideal humidity level in a house is 50 percent.

At this level, mold will not grow and you and your family will be the most comfortable. Higher humidity levels are bad for paint and wallpaper, bad for pipes, and bad for your sinuses. A cheap dehumidifier can help solve those problems for anywhere from $50 to $200.

While there are many cheap dehumidifiers that consumers deem satisfactory, we found some that are notable for how effectively they draw moisture from the air. The Soleus Air DP1-70-03 (starting at $179, Amazon) has a huge 70-pint capacity, which makes it ideal for basements. The Frigidaire FAD504DUD (starting at $189, Amazon) has a 50-pint capacity, so it can handle smaller basements, and users say it's quiet as well as efficient. The Eva-Dry 2200 (starting at $79, Amazon) is also very quiet and much cheaper, but it's much smaller, and too many reviewers have found it ineffective.

At the high end of the dehumidifier market, prices start at $500 and range upward of $5,000. Some of these pricier units are built into the heating and cooling system in a house and must be professionally installed, while others are portable but remove moisture from the whole house. The differences between cheap dehumidifiers and mid-price or high-end models have to do with size and durability. Expensive dehumidifiers tend to hold a lot of water and tackle multiple rooms (or the whole house), work at low temperatures, and often last for years. They often have pumps that will keep them running continuously into a drain without having to be elevated. Cheap dehumidifiers are fine for smaller areas. They generally remove up to 50 pints of water a day and come with buckets that need to be emptied often. Their life expectancy is relatively short.

Review continues below

Don't base your choice of humidifier solely on price. If you live in a tropical or humid area, there may be more moisture in the air than a small, cheap dehumidifier can handle. If the machine is going to be situated in a room you use often, noise will play a role as well -- smaller units tend to be quieter. Using a cheap dehumidifier in a cold basement presents another issue: Most cheap dehumidifiers will freeze at lower temperatures.

Dehumidifiers come in several types. Portable units can be moved from room to room. Basement dehumidifiers are heavy-duty and stationary and come with a drain attachment. There are also dehumidifiers made especially for crawlspaces, to combat humidity lurking there that can damage the wooden supports of a house. Mini dehumidifiers are 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. If that's where you plan to place your dehumidifier, make sure to buy a model with enough capacity to handle the larger (and probably damper) area.

by Elizabeth Sheer (Google+ Profile)

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Best Cheap Dehumidifier

Soleus Air DP1-70-03
Gold Medal

Soleus Air DP1-70-03

 This highly rated, 70-pint dehumidifier removes a great deal of moisture from damp basements, even large ones, according to reviews. It can run at fairly low temperatures and automatically shuts off if frost builds up. Read more »
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Good Cheap Dehumidifier

Frigidaire FAD504DUD
Gold Medal

Frigidaire FAD504DUD

 With built-in casters, this 50-pint dehumidifier is truly portable and also relatively quiet. A built-in air filter helps remove odors as well as moisture. Reviewers say it's easy to use, and both consumers and experts have found it effective. Read more »
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Don't Bother Cheap Dehumidifier

Eva-Dry 2200

Before you jump at the dehumidifier with the lowest price tag, pay close attention to the capacity. This unit won't clear the moisture out of a large area. It doesn't have a compressor, so it's quiet, but it's also not very effective, some consumers say. Reports of the power adapter overheating also raise red flags. Read more »

 
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