Checklist when buying a dehumidifier
You want to buy a dehumidifier but have no idea which device is right for you? Then you are like most people, because after all, you don't buy a dehumidifier every day. It is definitely worth getting a brief consultation, as not all dehumidifiers are the same and there are important differences. Therefore, we have compiled a list of points below that are worth considering when choosing the right dehumidifier:
dehumidification performance
"Check the performance data of the dehumidifier and ensure that it is suitable for the desired room size. Some providers specify the maximum room size in square meters (m²) based on a normal room height of about 2.50 m. Others, on the other hand, declare the room size in cubic meters (m³), taking into account both the floor area AND the height."
With a device that is too weak, it will not be possible for you to reach the desired target humidity. A device that is too powerful is less problematic, as long as you set the desired target humidity correctly on the built-in hygrostat (humidity controller). With the hygrostat, the dehumidifier recognizes when the room humidity is acceptable and pauses until it becomes humid again. A powerful dryer does consume more electricity at the moment than a weaker one, but it operates for a shorter time because it reaches the humidity target faster. In the end, this results in similar consumption values for stronger and weaker devices, with slight advantages ultimately in favor of the more powerful models.
Most providers declare the dehumidification performance at a constant humidity of 80% and a constant temperature of 30°C, which corresponds to tropical conditions. This is far from a Swiss cellar environment, but it still allows for a comparison regarding the performance of a dehumidifier. Typically, dehumidification devices with condensation technology are offered in the market. The devices are economical, handy, and comparatively inexpensive. With this technology, the efficiency decreases in cooler environments, and in dry air, less water is extracted than in high humidity. The same applies to power consumption, by the way. The cooler and drier the air, the lower the power consumption of the dryers. This can mean a reduction of 20-30% in consumption in a typical cellar environment with 15°C/60% humidity compared to the declared maximum power consumption. Therefore, the consumption values are only meaningful if one knows a) the dehumidification performance in liters and b) the corresponding environmental values of temperature and humidity.
As a rough estimate, one can assume that a device rated for 10L per day can stabilize a room of 25m² at 15°C to a reasonable value of just under 60% r.H. (= threshold for mold and odor formation) without any issues. A 20L device corresponds to 50m², etc. At temperatures above 20°C, one can certainly add another 20% in room volume, as the performance of the dehumidifiers increases the warmer a room is. Be critical if the ratio of room size to dehumidification performance is declared significantly differently. By the way: Constant use in too warm an environment (warmer than about 32-35°C) drastically shortens the lifespan of the compressors.
placement
Pay attention to the correct placement of the device in the room. In principle, a dehumidifier can best perform its full function when placed in the center of the room and completely surrounded by humid air. Unfavorable locations are next to the heater, under tables, and any areas with the risk of splashing water. The dry air emitted by the dehumidifier should be able to circulate throughout the room. The larger the room, the more important a central placement becomes (especially in overlaid or divided zones). If a good spot on the floor is not possible, there are also optional wall mounts available as accessories, which allow the devices to be fixed slightly elevated on the wall.
condensation
When choosing a condensation dryer, you must regularly empty the container with the collected condensate. Alternatively, all our devices also have a direct hose connection, which allows the water to be drained into a lower outlet. If no outlet is available, a dehumidifier with a larger tank is advantageous, as it needs to be emptied less frequently. Furthermore, we offer various condensate pumps, which can also transport the extracted water upwards and away, e.g., into a sink, etc.
Automatic Self-Defrosting
All condensation dryers must occasionally defrost themselves to free themselves from the ice that automatically forms during the dehumidification process. In cooler environments, it is advisable to choose a model with hot gas defrosting. In these devices, the cooling element is actively defrosted with heat, which is very quick and also works in cold environments near freezing point. In temperate rooms, the so-called "electronic defrost" method is also acceptable. Here, only the compressor interrupts the cooling operation, and temperate room air is drawn through the dehumidifier until its cooling element (evaporator) is defrosted again.
Design / Operating Noise
Especially in work and living spaces, it is important that the dehumidifier is quiet and handy. There are also stylish designs and those that appear more industrial. For a noise level to be meaningful, it must be declared at what distance from the device it was measured. At a distance of one meter, a dehumidifier for living areas should not be louder than 48 dB(A), and in bedrooms, it should not be louder than 42 dB(A). At a distance of 2.5m, this is still about 45 dB(A) and 39 dB(A) respectively. These values correspond to an average noise perception and are of course individually different. If you are unsure about the noise, you are welcome to listen to all devices at our AirCenter.
design
Dehumidifiers for household use are generally lightweight and compact, designed for low to moderate dust exposure. In harsher environments such as construction sites or industrial settings, industrial dehumidifiers are more suitable. These are built to be more robust in terms of casing and internal components and are less susceptible to contamination from construction dust, gypsum, or wood dust. Technologically, dehumidifiers for home use differ only slightly from industrial dehumidifiers.
Stop-and-Go Operation / Efficiency
The performance and efficiency of various dehumidifiers is usually (and incorrectly) determined only in continuous operation. That is, when the dryer runs continuously regardless of the room humidity. In practice, however, the stop-and-go operation is relevant. For example, when a basement needs to be stabilized to a desired target humidity to prevent mold and odors. In mechanically controlled devices (identified by the rotary switch for setting the target humidity), the stop-and-go operation is significantly more accurate and thus more economical than in electronically controlled models (identified by the display and buttons). This is due to the design and placement of the sensors or the hygrometer. Our digital "Dryfix" dehumidifiers are equipped with special software that compensates for this inaccuracy.
Furthermore, a good dehumidifier should not only turn off the compressor when the desired room humidity is reached, but also the ventilation. Otherwise, the electricity bill will be higher than necessary, and the residual moisture from the previous drying operation will be blown back into the room (= humidifier...). All our dehumidifiers comply with this requirement except where explicitly mentioned in the specifications.
Good dehumidifiers can also be operated with a timer, so that the dehumidification can be scheduled, for example, during the cheaper off-peak tariff. Many of the digitally controlled dryers available on the market switch to standby mode after a power interruption and must be manually restarted afterwards. All our dehumidifiers resume operation after a power interruption with unchanged settings, making them suitable for operation with a timer.
"Certain providers assign their dehumidifiers self-invented energy labels. From our perspective, these are worthless for various reasons, one of which is that the dryers have only been measured in continuous operation."
refrigerant
In order for our planet to meet the CO2 targets, dehumidifiers must also be switched to practically emission-free refrigerants (e.g. R290, R32), similar to the technically related refrigerators or air conditioning units. Devices with older refrigerants (e.g. R134a, R410) are likely only allowed to be introduced and sold for a short time and have a limited period during which they can still be repaired. Therefore, they are likely to lose their resale value faster than devices with new refrigerants.
... and finally:
What good is an efficient operation if a device gives up the ghost after a short time... We have also taken this important aspect of durability into account when selecting our devices, as well as the availability of any necessary spare parts for as long as possible.
dehumidification performance
"Check the performance data of the dehumidifier and ensure that it is suitable for the desired room size. Some providers specify the maximum room size in square meters (m²) based on a normal room height of about 2.50 m. Others, on the other hand, declare the room size in cubic meters (m³), taking into account both the floor area AND the height."
With a device that is too weak, it will not be possible for you to reach the desired target humidity. A device that is too powerful is less problematic, as long as you set the desired target humidity correctly on the built-in hygrostat (humidity controller). With the hygrostat, the dehumidifier recognizes when the room humidity is acceptable and pauses until it becomes humid again. A powerful dryer does consume more electricity at the moment than a weaker one, but it operates for a shorter time because it reaches the humidity target faster. In the end, this results in similar consumption values for stronger and weaker devices, with slight advantages ultimately in favor of the more powerful models.
Most providers declare the dehumidification performance at a constant humidity of 80% and a constant temperature of 30°C, which corresponds to tropical conditions. This is far from a Swiss cellar environment, but it still allows for a comparison regarding the performance of a dehumidifier. Typically, dehumidification devices with condensation technology are offered in the market. The devices are economical, handy, and comparatively inexpensive. With this technology, the efficiency decreases in cooler environments, and in dry air, less water is extracted than in high humidity. The same applies to power consumption, by the way. The cooler and drier the air, the lower the power consumption of the dryers. This can mean a reduction of 20-30% in consumption in a typical cellar environment with 15°C/60% humidity compared to the declared maximum power consumption. Therefore, the consumption values are only meaningful if one knows a) the dehumidification performance in liters and b) the corresponding environmental values of temperature and humidity.
As a rough estimate, one can assume that a device rated for 10L per day can stabilize a room of 25m² at 15°C to a reasonable value of just under 60% r.H. (= threshold for mold and odor formation) without any issues. A 20L device corresponds to 50m², etc. At temperatures above 20°C, one can certainly add another 20% in room volume, as the performance of the dehumidifiers increases the warmer a room is. Be critical if the ratio of room size to dehumidification performance is declared significantly differently. By the way: Constant use in too warm an environment (warmer than about 32-35°C) drastically shortens the lifespan of the compressors.
placement
Pay attention to the correct placement of the device in the room. In principle, a dehumidifier can best perform its full function when placed in the center of the room and completely surrounded by humid air. Unfavorable locations are next to the heater, under tables, and any areas with the risk of splashing water. The dry air emitted by the dehumidifier should be able to circulate throughout the room. The larger the room, the more important a central placement becomes (especially in overlaid or divided zones). If a good spot on the floor is not possible, there are also optional wall mounts available as accessories, which allow the devices to be fixed slightly elevated on the wall.
condensation
When choosing a condensation dryer, you must regularly empty the container with the collected condensate. Alternatively, all our devices also have a direct hose connection, which allows the water to be drained into a lower outlet. If no outlet is available, a dehumidifier with a larger tank is advantageous, as it needs to be emptied less frequently. Furthermore, we offer various condensate pumps, which can also transport the extracted water upwards and away, e.g., into a sink, etc.
Automatic Self-Defrosting
All condensation dryers must occasionally defrost themselves to free themselves from the ice that automatically forms during the dehumidification process. In cooler environments, it is advisable to choose a model with hot gas defrosting. In these devices, the cooling element is actively defrosted with heat, which is very quick and also works in cold environments near freezing point. In temperate rooms, the so-called "electronic defrost" method is also acceptable. Here, only the compressor interrupts the cooling operation, and temperate room air is drawn through the dehumidifier until its cooling element (evaporator) is defrosted again.
Design / Operating Noise
Especially in work and living spaces, it is important that the dehumidifier is quiet and handy. There are also stylish designs and those that appear more industrial. For a noise level to be meaningful, it must be declared at what distance from the device it was measured. At a distance of one meter, a dehumidifier for living areas should not be louder than 48 dB(A), and in bedrooms, it should not be louder than 42 dB(A). At a distance of 2.5m, this is still about 45 dB(A) and 39 dB(A) respectively. These values correspond to an average noise perception and are of course individually different. If you are unsure about the noise, you are welcome to listen to all devices at our AirCenter.
design
Dehumidifiers for household use are generally lightweight and compact, designed for low to moderate dust exposure. In harsher environments such as construction sites or industrial settings, industrial dehumidifiers are more suitable. These are built to be more robust in terms of casing and internal components and are less susceptible to contamination from construction dust, gypsum, or wood dust. Technologically, dehumidifiers for home use differ only slightly from industrial dehumidifiers.
Stop-and-Go Operation / Efficiency
The performance and efficiency of various dehumidifiers is usually (and incorrectly) determined only in continuous operation. That is, when the dryer runs continuously regardless of the room humidity. In practice, however, the stop-and-go operation is relevant. For example, when a basement needs to be stabilized to a desired target humidity to prevent mold and odors. In mechanically controlled devices (identified by the rotary switch for setting the target humidity), the stop-and-go operation is significantly more accurate and thus more economical than in electronically controlled models (identified by the display and buttons). This is due to the design and placement of the sensors or the hygrometer. Our digital "Dryfix" dehumidifiers are equipped with special software that compensates for this inaccuracy.
Furthermore, a good dehumidifier should not only turn off the compressor when the desired room humidity is reached, but also the ventilation. Otherwise, the electricity bill will be higher than necessary, and the residual moisture from the previous drying operation will be blown back into the room (= humidifier...). All our dehumidifiers comply with this requirement except where explicitly mentioned in the specifications.
Good dehumidifiers can also be operated with a timer, so that the dehumidification can be scheduled, for example, during the cheaper off-peak tariff. Many of the digitally controlled dryers available on the market switch to standby mode after a power interruption and must be manually restarted afterwards. All our dehumidifiers resume operation after a power interruption with unchanged settings, making them suitable for operation with a timer.
"Certain providers assign their dehumidifiers self-invented energy labels. From our perspective, these are worthless for various reasons, one of which is that the dryers have only been measured in continuous operation."
refrigerant
In order for our planet to meet the CO2 targets, dehumidifiers must also be switched to practically emission-free refrigerants (e.g. R290, R32), similar to the technically related refrigerators or air conditioning units. Devices with older refrigerants (e.g. R134a, R410) are likely only allowed to be introduced and sold for a short time and have a limited period during which they can still be repaired. Therefore, they are likely to lose their resale value faster than devices with new refrigerants.
... and finally:
What good is an efficient operation if a device gives up the ghost after a short time... We have also taken this important aspect of durability into account when selecting our devices, as well as the availability of any necessary spare parts for as long as possible.