Frigidaire FAD504TDD 50-Pint Dehumidifier

Ever experience a summer day that was so humid that it felt like you were walking through a rain cloud? Dehumidifiers keep the house free of unwanted moisture in the air and solve problems such as stickiness and window condensation associated with high relative humidity. They are also frequently used in damp basements or laundry rooms to prevent mold and rot from eating up the furniture, books, and boxes. Dehumidifiers can be expensive to purchase and operate, and must be maintained to prevent other problems from developing, it’s therefore essential that you are properly informed before purchasing one. We’ve put together this guide to teach you everything you need to know to choose the right dehumidifier for you.

Why Get a Dehumidifier?
The first step is to decide if a dehumidifier is necessary for your home at all. Anyone who usually leaves their window open throughout the spring and summer will find that their house accumulates with moisture during the summer months. This moisture gets trapped in when windows are closed up in the fall, which could result in damaging humidity. Similarly, houses without central air conditioning that reaches to the basement, may find dampness in the walls and air that will eventually condense and cause irreparable damage to furniture, books, and storage and will also foster the growth of mold. In both these cases, a dehumidifier may be the perfect solution. Nonetheless, sealing up any internal or external leaks is the first priority.

There are a number of different types of dehumidifiers on the market. Here are some of the pros and cons of each of them:

Heat-pump Dehumidifiers
Heat-pump dehumidifiers are the most common type of unit. They work by chilling the incoming air so that massive condensation occurs. This dries out the air that passes through the system and is eventually returned to the atmosphere of the house. This dehumidified air is slightly warmer than the rest of the air, which also has a drying effect on the rest of the house. The resulting condensation from the dehumidifying process is either collected in a bucket that must be emptied on a regular basis or is automatically drained into a sink, or out of the house.

Heat pump dehumidifiers can be relatively expensive to buy and utilize a substantial amount of electricity to run. They can also be pretty noisy, which isn’t a problem if the unit is placed in the basement. Nonetheless, heat-pump dehumidifiers are the preferred way to go in most circumstances.

Chemical Adsorbent Dehumidifiers
Chemical adsorbent dehumidifiers are designed for hot, humid climates and absorb moisture from the air by using a drying agent. The hot, humid air is then expelled from the house through an exhaust pipe.

Dehumidifying Ventilators
Dehumidifying ventilators work by bringing fresh air from the outside in through a vent. The fresh air is filtered and dehumidified before it is introduced into the house. When only filtration is desired, some units possess dampers that can be set to seal off the fresh air duct and simply re-circulate and filter the indoor air. Many units have a built-in sensor to start the motor when humidity rises above the programmed level. Dehumidifying ventilators use less electricity than a heat pump dehumidifier, but are not effective in hot, muggy weather since they work by bringing fresh air in from the outside but they are good in cold weather. Dehumidifying ventilators can cause depressurization to occur in the basement, causing combustion gas from fuel-fired furnaces and domestic hot water tanks to be sucked back into the house. It’s important to ensure that all of your combustion appliances are properly vented before buying a dehumidifying ventilator and it is also recommended to purchase a CO detector as well. In case of doubt, a professional contractor should be hired.

Some other factors to consider when purchasing a new dehumidifier:

Size
Although buying a good humidifier is an expensive purchase, the costs of home damage and adverse health effects that could result if excessive moisture goes untreated, are much higher. Dehumidifier size is determined by floor area and the level of dampness of your home. A 500 square foot home (length x width) will need a dehumidifier with 12 to 14 pints capacity per day depending on the degree of moisture. Similarly a room of 1,500 square feet requires between 21 to 25 pints per day, and a room of 2,500 square feet needs a capacity of between 31-38 pints. It never hurts to round up, since the more powerful the unit, the more efficiently it will be able to address the problem.

Efficiency
Energy Star provides all dehumidifiers with an EF number, an energy factor. The higher the number, the more efficient the unit, removing more water and generating less heat for cheaper. It’s important to choose a model with a built-in humidistat that measures the humidity of the air inside the house. The optimal relative humidity should be between 40% and 60% in summer and 30% and 50% in winter. With an adjustable meter, you can set the machine to automatically shut off when the desired humidity is reached, saving you money by cutting down on overuse. Make sure that filters are washable. A dirty air filter can dramatically increase operating costs and reduce optimal functioning so the filter should ideally be cleaned once or twice a month.

Drainage
An automatic shutoff mechanism is a valuable feature that prevents the unit from overflowing once the buckets have filled up to maximum capacity. Dehumidifiers with larger buckets need to be emptied less frequently, making them easier to maintain. Front-loading buckets also make it easier to empty manually. Most dehumidifiers also come equipped with self draining outlets and hose connections that can be let out into a basement floor drain or a laundry room sink.

Low Temperatures
Unless you live in a climate that is warm year-round, it’s important to buy a dehumidifier with an automatic defrost feature that can function at temperatures as low as 41 degrees F (5 degrees C).

Mobility
It’s important to make sure that your dehumidifier comes with casters so it can be easily rolled from room to room. A long power cord will enable you to put the unit anywhere you want and easy to remove, light weight buckets will make emptying them regularly easier.

In Summary:
If humidity is a problem, affecting you, your home, or your possessions, a dehumidifier is for you! We hope that this will make your dehumidifier shopping experience easier, so that you can find the right model for your home without breaking a sweat!

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