Dehumidifiers are measured in the amount of water they can remove in a day. Larger capacity means that the unit is capable of removing more water from the air and can control the humidity in a larger area as well. You will need to match the capacity to your needs because an undersized unit will not be able to control the humidity properly if the area is too large. While it is possible to use a large unit in a small area, you are going to be overspending for capacity that you do not need.

Large capacity units are defined as units that remove over 75 pints of moisture in a day. These units are best used in large spaces or spaces that are wet. If you find that the space is extra large or extremely wet, then you should get the largest capacity that you can manage and you may need to get more than one unit.

A medium capacity unit is a unit that removes between 45 to 50 pints of water in a day. These are well suited to use in medium-sized spaces or in large spaces that are only slightly damp. Most of the time, these units will cost less than a large capacity unit but this isn't always the case. Finally, there are the small units pull under 40 pints of moisture in a day. While they cost the least out of all of the models, they only are suitable for small areas that are damp. Most people tend to use these for a single room or a bathroom since they have a small capacity. When you are picking out a dehumidifier, you will need to make sure that it is properly sized for your needs.

Almost all, but not quite all, dehumidifiers need a source of energy in order to operate so you are going to need to look at the power requirements in order to get something that will work properly for your needs. The last thing that you want to experience is a huge spike in your electric bill because you decided to put a new dehumidifier in the basement. Some units are better on electricity than others so it is worth your time to see what the power requirements are prior to purchasing a dehumidifier.

First, there are dehumidifiers that do not require electricity. These units instead use silica gel to absorb moisture from the air. They will continue to pull moisture from the air until the silica gel is fully saturated at which point you either need to replace the silica gel or dry it out to recharge it. Although recharging the silica gel requires some electricity, it only needs to be done once in a while so these units really don't need any measurable amount of electricity.

Large units require compressors and fans and therefore require electricity. The first thing you should look for is to make sure that the unit is Energy Star certified as this means it uses electricity efficiently. The other important consideration is to make sure that it has the proper capacity for the space you are using it in. If the unit is undersized, it will run in a continuous fashion and waste electricity. Finally, it's best that you purchase a unit that has a humidistat so that it only runs when the humidity is above a certain threshold. This will help to reduce its energy usage and save you money.

Dehumidifiers work by condensing vaporized moisture into water which reduces the overall humidity in the air. As this process unfolds, you are going to need a place for the water to go. The most common design is to have a water tank where the water can be drained and have a design that will turn off the dehumidifier when the tank is full.

This means that the larger the tank, the longer the dehumidifier can run before you have to empty the tank. While a large tank may sound useful at first, you have to keep in mind that a larger tank is going to weigh more than it is full. That means you are going to have to work harder to pick up and carry the tank to a location where the water can be drained. In other words, you should select a tank size based on what you can comfortably carry so that you can empty your dehumidifier.

Additionally, your dehumidifier should have a hose hookup. This will let you bypass the tank and let the water drain into the hose. The hose can then be directed to a drain in the building. The advantage of using a hose is that you will never need to worry about having to empty the tank since it will always be empty. It is the perfect solution for when you plan on using a dehumidifier in a single location for a long period of time such as a garage or a basement. This will let you set up the dehumidifier and forget about it so that you can worry about other things in your life while keeping your building dry.

There is a lot of debris that circulates throughout the air in your home. Some of this includes but is not limited to bacteria, dust, allergins, and dander. While a dehumidifier is not a total solution to removing such contaminants from the air, it will certainly help reduce them as air is pulled through it in order to remove moisture. Furthermore, as the filter starts to get dirty, the motor on the dehumidifier will need to work harder in order to operate. This means that you will want to look for a unit that has an air filter that can be replaced or even better, washed as needed.

An air filter that can be washed is best because it will reduce the maintenance cost of your dehumidifier. In most cases, the filter will be a screen that you just need to remove on a regular basis and then rinse it off in the sink. Once it is fully dry, you just need to put it back into the dehumidifier. There should be no need for any additional work.

It's possible that the filter is disposable or that there isn't even a filter. It's best that you avoid such designs whenever possible. No filter will mean that the dehumidifier doesn't remove any contaminants and this should only be acceptable on small room-sized units. Otherwise, you should expect your dehumidifier to contribute to the quality of the air in the building. A unit that has a disposable filter will contribute to air quality, but you need to go through the hassle of replacing the filter. That means you are going to have to find a retailer that sells the filters and make sure that the filters continue to be available.

Poor quality tends to be the source of many poor reviews so you are going to want to think about the quality when you are purchasing a dehumidifier. Three of the most common complaints tend to revolve around the unit leaking water, noise, and lack of humidity control. When you are looking for a dehumidifier, you should be on the lookout for a unit that performs well in all three areas. Otherwise, you are less likely to be satisfied with your purchase.

Almost all dehumidifiers use fans and compressors to operate so noise tends to be an issue. Generally speaking, you are going to want to look for a unit that doesn't make a lot of noise. While it may be too much to expect that a unit runs silently, you most certainly do not want it to make a bunch of noise pollution either. If you find that a unit is loud or vibrates a lot, then you may want to look for a different model or brand.

Leaks are the other problem area that many people have issues with. They can happen when the tank leaks water itself. You can also get leaks if the unit doesn't turn off when the tank is full. Another source of leaks comes from when it is awkward to remove the tank causing you to spill. Finally, if the hose hookups do not seal properly you will have leaks.

The final issue has to do with the amount that the unit actually reduces humidity. Sometimes a unit will only reduce the humidity by a few percentage points. If this is the case, then you aren't getting what you are paying for. A good unit will create a noticeable difference in the relative humidity.