Compare Our Picks
Honorable Mention
Photograph: Matthew Korfhage
Aeocky Rhea-001 for $300: This Aeocky dehumidifier has a lot going for it. It’s relatively compact, unobtrusively designed, conveniently designed for portability with wheels and hidden handles, and energy-efficient. But at its price, it feels a little underpowered. It’s also a little loud, at 64 decibels. This said, there have been unusually good online reports on reliability and durability—often a sticking point for dehumidifiers, even the best ones. I’ve tested this one for a month in the summer, and will continue to test through a humid Pacific Northwest winter to see if it warrants higher recommendation.
Things to Know Before Buying
The first thing to think about is how you’re going to drain the water from the dehumidifier. In the basement, the best thing you can do is to use the dehumidifier’s continuous water drain tube to either the sump pump or a drain. If those options are not available, you might be emptying the tank multiple times a day. The first time I put a dehumidifier in the basement, the tank was filled in three hours’ time. It’s all about the drainage. Also, knowing how to read a label. If you have a 50-pint humidifier, that means the appliance can remove 50 pints of moisture from the air in a 24-hour period; it’s not the internal tank capacity. Also, look for the maximum area coverage. For example, the Honeywell Smart 50 pint can remove 50 pints of water from 4,000 sq ft—the size of a whole house—in 24 hours.
If you, like me, also need a dehumidifier in your city apartment, then consider buying one that’s easy to move around with wheels and a handle. Some of these machines are heavy. Also, a small dehumidifier in the bathroom is a good idea to keep the dampness at bay, especially if you have mold growing on your grout.
Lastly, do not drink the water collected in your dehumidifier tank. That water is not potable. Pour it down the drain. A dehumidifier is not creating distilled water; that’s a different process and appliance.
Dehumidifying your home is one of the nine foundations for a healthy home, according to Harvard’s TH Chan School for Public Health’s Healthy Buildings for Health initiative. Moisture can cause mold to grow. And most air quality monitors, like the Awair Element and QP Pro, have a moisture or humidity reading. For those with a mold allergy like WIRED reviewer Lisa Wood Shapiro, a dehumidifier is a necessity. And while dry air can be a culprit for itchy eyes and respiratory issues, according to several studies, there are many benefits for lower humidity in the home. The EPA recommends keeping humidity below 60 percent and ideally between 30 and 50 percent.
It’s worth noting that there are many studies about how low humidity—or low RH (relative humidity), the amount of water vapor in the air—affects the viability of certain viruses. One example was the SARS coronavirus (not Covid-19), which had stability in low-temperature and low-humidity environments that facilitated transmission, while high-temperature and high-humidity such as tropical locales did not. In more temperate climes, the deleterious effects of mold growth are often a higher concern, and this includes the mold you can’t see. While it has the worst rep, black mold isn’t necessarily worse or better than the other kinds. Mold in general is just kinda awful for you.
Can a Dehumidifier Prevent Mold?
Mold prospers in damp environments. And for this reason the Environmental Protection Agency recommends keeping relative humidity below 60 percent in indoor environments, and ideally between 30 and 50 percent. In the winter, your heating system or space heater will likely do some of the work. During a humid summer, a dehumidifier may be a first line of defense in preventing a damp environment that allows mold to prosper—whether in a dank basement, a humid climate, or just an ill-ventilated bathroom after a shower.
It’s important to note that while a dehumidifier can prevent some mold by removing the moisture from the air that mold needs to grow and thrive, it cannot kill or remove existing mold, especially if it’s due to an ongoing issue such as a water leak. (Mold can grow in as little as 24 to 48 hours after water exposure, according to FEMA.) If your home has a significant mold problem, a dehumidifier is not the answer—you’ll need to investigate the source, and possibly look into a professional assessment and remediation.
How Do I Know if I Need a Dehumidifier?
According to the EPA, the ideal indoor humidity is between 30 and 50 percent. The best way to tell if you’re within this range is by using a hygrometer—many smart thermostats have them, but you can also buy one on Amazon for under $10. Other than physically seeing mold, other signs of excess moisture or humidity in your home could include condensation on windows, a musty mildew smell, or an increase in allergy or asthma symptoms.
Also Tested
Photograph: Matthew Korfhage
Midea 50-Pint Cube for $300: While we had great results with the 20-pint Midea cube, our top pick dehumidifier, the most recent iteration of the 50-pint version seems to have a quite frequent sensor problem. After brief testing, mine began to show readings considerably below the actual humidity, as measured by multiple hygrometers—which means the device won’t kick on when needed. Based on online reports, I’m not alone. Sensor issues seem to be a very common source of complaint for the 50-pint Midea.
Tabyik 35-Ounce Dehumidifier for $47: At just over 2 pounds and 10 inches tall, the Tabyik Peltier Dehumidifier had the potential to be the right fit. While it’s slightly cheaper than the Breezome’s 60-ounce dehumidifier, that lower cost comes with half the Breezome’s tank size. If you’re looking for a small dehumidifier for your windowless bathroom or mud room, then this tiny, toy-sized version of a dehumidifier might be for you. One issue was the Tabyik’s 4-foot electrical cord, which made placing it on the floor from a high-up electrical outlet, like those in a bathroom, somewhat restricting. And small doesn’t mean quieter. The Tabyik churns along at close to 30 decibels—louder than the full-size Midea Cube 20-pint at low or medium fan speeds.
Note that while the Honeywell Energy Star 50-Pint Dehumidifier was a previous top pick for basements, Honeywell licensee Honeywell Air Comfort has gone out of business and is no longer servicing its products. While you may still find the device, I can no longer recommend a product whose company isn’t there to stand behind it.
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