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All Southerners knowits not the heat, its the humidity.
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Dehumidifiers are great for warm months, and both small and large spaces that you gotta dehumidify.
Various models across the market work for compact and sprawling spaces, with various smart features and modes.
Weve tested 24 dehumidifiers to date and found the best ones for both small and large spaces.
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Here, the best dehumidifiers to beat the Southern humidity this year.
How do you know if you need a dehumidifier?
We liked the simple setup here and clear instructions.
Credit: Southern Living
Plus the unit has a long runtime before you have to empty the tank (about 8-9 hours).
This dehumidifier works in rooms up to 4,500 square feet, which is great for larger spaces and basements.
Lastly, the unit does blow out some hot air, which raises room temps slightly.
It will easily fit into an RV space as well, and its lightweight enough to move around.
The water tank is removable and easy to clean, with a clear indicator to show you water levels.
It was easy to set up and put out minimal noise.
It was also super lightweight and easy to move, and easy to clean as well.
Theres also no smart technology that you could input from a phone or app.
The dehumidifiers readings of the humidity were also accurate when compared to our external reader.
The Keystone alerts you when the water bucket is full, and automatically shuts itself off to avoid spills.
We found that setup was easy with the drain hose option.
The unit has low noise levels, even without sleep mode activated.
Theres also auto mode, which maintains a constant humidity level.
On the LED panel, three color-indicating lights show you the current humidity.
Lastly, the filter is removable, making it easier to clean.
The only con we found was that its difficult to see the water level without removing the tank.
It also has a long run time before you have to empty the tank.
Our Testing Process
Weve tested 24 dehumidifiers to date.
Most recently, we brought the dehumidifiers home and had our Southern-based staff test them for a two-week period.
Testers were based in Alabama, Florida, and South Carolina.
We began by setting up each one according to the manufacturers instructions.
Units that can dehumidify larger rooms will be able to dehumidify a larger number of pints per day.
An often overlooked space that critically needs a dehumidifier is the attic, says Radocaj.
Encapsulated or spray-foam attics create a new inside space.
He also notes its not uncommon in areas with crawl spaces or basements to have dehumidifiers.
Questions And Answers
How do dehumidifiers work?
The dehumidified air is heated and released into the room.
Do dehumidifiers remove mold?
No, dehumidifiers dont remove mold.
Radocaj says that dehumidifiers do prevent mold in the home and in duct systems though.
When relative humidity reaches 65%, things can grow.
A dehumidifier will keep your living space far from that range, making it almost mold-proof, he says.
Additionally, a lot of what we deal with as an HVAC company is growth inside of the ducts.
How long should you run a dehumidifier?
Radocaj says that dehumidifiers in warm, humid climates should run all year long.
Moisture management is a full-time job in the South, he notes.
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Why Trust Southern Living?
Amanda also consultedMarco Radocaj, owner of Balance HVAC in Vero Beach, Florida.
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