Fighting Excessive Humidity: 5 Home Dehumidifiers

The compact white-green body of the dehumidifier Ballu BDH-20L hides good performance — for a day of continuous operation, the device generates up to 20 liters of condensate extracted from humid air masses in the room.

Both old and young will be able to understand the principles of controlling the device: of the two buttons on the dehumidifier case, one performs the function of turning it on and off, and the second allows you to select the desired humidity level by successively pressing it. Humidity is selectable between 40%, 50% and 60% and is determined by the built-in hygrometer.

The liquid collection tank of the model is not very capacious (2.3 L), so if it is necessary to remove large volumes of moisture, it is better to organize a condensate drain through the drain hole. To do this, you will need to separately purchase a hose and connect it to the sewer. In parallel, you need to take care of the availability of the outlet, since the power cord of the dehumidifier cannot boast of a long length.

During operation, the device “rumbles” measuredly, making noise at a level of about 41 dB — approximately like the compressor of an average refrigerator. This noise can slightly disturb the sensitive sleep of the household, so leaving the dehumidifier on at night is not always justified. But in non-residential premises or, for example, in a bathroom, the device is able to function around the clock, effectively coping with excessive humidity in an area of up to 20-25 m².

Climatic equipment from the Cooper & Hunter brand is in deserved demand among many segments of the population. In particular, the Cooper&Hunter CH-D008WDP6 household dehumidifier is on the crest of popularity, which fights excess moisture in the room and helps maintain it at the required level.

The model extracts about 0.83 liters of moisture from the air in 1 hour of operation. Translated into a more familiar manner for this class of devices, the performance of the dryer is 20 L/day. The collected condensate settles in a tank with a capacity of 4 liters, when filled, the device gives an audible alert and automatically stops further work. However, the hassle of periodically emptying the container can be easily eliminated by connecting a drain hose to the dehumidifier.

The assets of the Cooper & Hunter CH-D008WDP6 — 4 operating modes, a shutdown timer (from 1 to 24 hours) and support for adjusting the direction of the air flow. To control the operation of the device, a touch panel with a small digital display is used, made to match the general style of the dehumidifier in snow-white tones. The user can choose between the automatic programme "Smart", continuous dehumidification mode, quiet programme (the noise level will not exceed 37 dB) and the "Dry" mode. It is also possible to set the fan speed: high, medium or low.

The best mobility of the device is facilitated by small wheels for moving the dehumidifier around the perimeter of the home. Thanks to its modern design, it fits perfectly into any interior, whether it is a room, kitchen or balcony. But it still could not do without a “fly in the ointment” — the model is more “gluttonous” in terms of power consumption than the vast majority of “classmates” (385 W versus 250-280 W for analogues). However, the indicated minus is insignificant and it is certainly not worth using it as an argument “against” when choosing a dehumidifier.

The dehumidifier with German roots in its pedigree is designed for small premises (up to 20 m²) and handles with 10 liters of moisture daily — this is the maximum performance of the device in continuous operation mode.

Due to the use of a built-in filter in the design, additional air purification is carried out when it passes through the dehumidifier. Equally useful is the support for adjusting the direction of the airflow, which is especially useful when drying things after washing them. The device takes excess moisture from the air and allows the laundry to dry much faster. The extracted moisture settles in a special tank with a capacity of 2 liters, which must be emptied manually as it fills up.

The device is controlled by an unpretentious rotary knob for selecting the required humidity level (from 30 to 90%). But the manufacturer decided to make life difficult for users and marked these values with numbers from 1 to 7, where the smallest number corresponds to the maximum humidity (90%), and the largest to the minimum (30%). Some users may find this markup confusing.

The dehumidifier does not require any manipulations for installation, but is put into operation straight out of the box. However before turning on the device for the first time, it is advisable to stand for 12 hours, which is indicated in the instructions. Indoors, the device takes up a minimum of space and decorates any interior with its presence, whether it is a home, a bathroom or a warm basement.

The capabilities of the Master DH 716 are enough to deal with excess moisture at home and in small utility rooms (garage, wardrobe, pantry, etc.). The device is able to extract about 16 liters of moisture from the air per day.

Perhaps the main difference between the model and most analogues is the increased capacity of the condensate collection tank — the volume of the water collector is as much as 5.5 liters. In addition, the walls of the container are transparent, which allows you to visually control the level of its filling. When the tank is filled to the brim, the device stops its work and gives a signal about the need to empty the container with water.

The operating range of dehumidification ranges from 35 to 90% Rh. And the desired level of humidity in the room is set using mechanical control keys and a small display with blue backlight for better visibility of readings in the dark. A separate button performs the function of a timer, and another key is responsible for selecting the fan speed — in the living room, the minimum speed will be enough, and in rooms with excessive humidity (for example, in the bathroom), it is better to let the fan accelerate more. During operation at maximum speed, the device is noisy (46 dB).

A story about the model would be incomplete without mentioning the active carbon filter in its design, which is designed to fight unpleasant odours. Forgotten only about the handle for carrying the device, which is why the dehumidifier is not very convenient to transport. However, for short distances (from one room to another), the device can be moved without much difficulty, which is facilitated by a relatively small weight (12 kg) and the presence of recesses in the case.

Expensive, but no less attractive, the dehumidifier from the Japanese brand Mitsubishi Electric is the flagship model for household use.

During the day, the device pumps out of the air in the room up to 20 liters of moisture, which is collected in a separate capacious tank (4.5 liters) or can be drained straight into the sewer. But dehumidification is not the only function of the Mitsubishi Electric MA-E20BG-R1 — the device also acts as an air purifier, driving it through a pre-filter and a silver ion filter.

In the arsenal of the model, there are a great many modes of operation: from automatically maintaining a predetermined humidity level to more specific modes of protection against mold and efficient drying of clothes. In the latter case, the dehumidifier independently regulates the intensity and direction of the air flow depending on the level of humidity in the room. The built-in hygrometer is responsible for the correct determination of the current humidity value.

The advantages of the Mitsubishi Electric MA-E20BG-R1 include the equipment with a retractable handle and wheels for transportation, a large informative display for visual display of information and a timer function. At the same time, the model simply has no significant disadvantages, except for the high cost. But with a detailed study of a wide range of functions on board the dehumidifier, the price tag ceases to seem overpriced, because a product of such a high class a priori cannot cost little money.