Buying and Operating Tips: Dehumidifiers

• Moisture: A major problem
• Buying tips
• ENERGY STAR^®
• List of models: Dehumidifiers
• Dehumidifier distributors by brand name
• Operating tips to save energy and money

Moisture: A Major Problem

It's important to find the source of any moisture problem in your home because the resulting mould and mildew buildup may pose health risks. A wet basement, for instance, may be evidence of foundation cracks or substandard drainage. Windows that have excessive condensation may indicate poor home ventilation. Renovated and new homes may suffer high-humidity problems due to moisture in the building materials.

In fact, moisture problems are not uncommon in today's well-insulated homes, which not only keep in heat, but also trap moisture. Remember that cooking, laundry, showers and dishwashing by a family of four can release as much as 80 litres of water into a home's air each week.

Portable dehumidifiers are an ideal choice to address minor moisture problems, but they are no alternative to proper ventilation. Air-to-air heat exchangers and heat- and energy-recovery ventilators are common in modern homes and are standard new-home equipment in some jurisdictions. Talk to an HVAC (heating, ventilating and air-conditioning) specialist to determine theoption that's best for your home.

Tips on Buying a Dehumidifier

Dehumidifiers remove excess moisture from the air in your home. They can be especially handy in basements, which are often uncomfortable due to dampness.

Choose the right size. Use the following table when selecting a standard-capacity dehumidifier for residential use.

* If dehumidifier capacity is not measured in metric units, remember that two pints are equivalent to approximately one litre.
¹ Space feels damp and has a musty odour, especially in humid weather. Damp spots may appear on walls and floor.
² Space feels and smells wet. Walls or floor sweat, or seepage is present.
³ Walls sweat and floor is almost always wet.
 

A Higher Standard: ENERGY STAR^®

High-efficiency, portable residential dehumidifiers now qualify for the ENERGY STAR symbol. Depending on the model and capacity, ENERGY STAR qualified dehumidifiers use 10 to 23 percent less energy to remove the same amount of moisture as similar-sized standard units.

The energy efficiency of ENERGY STAR qualified dehumidifiers is measured by their Energy Factor (EF), or the amount of water they remove per kilowatt hour of energy used.

As of June 1, 2008, to qualify for the ENERGY STAR symbol, standard-capacity dehumidifiers (i.e., that have a water removal capacity up to or equal 35.5 litres per day) must have an energy factor of at least 1.20, 1.40, 1.50, 1.60 and 1.80 based on water removal capacity. High-capacity dehumidifiers (i.e., that have a water removal capacity greater than 35.5 to 87.5 litres per day) must have an energy factor of 2.50 or higher. Normally, the higher the capacity of the dehumidifier, the more energy efficient it is.

The dehumidifiers found on the Web site include only ENERGY STAR qualified portable plug-in models for residential use.

List of models: Dehumidifiers

ENERGY STAR technical specifications for dehumidifiers

Dehumidifier Distributors by Brand Name

Operating Tips to Save Energy and Money

• Choose the right size for the space you need to dehumidify. Bigger is not necessarily better - an oversized dehumidifier may simply consume more energy to remove the same amount of moisture as a smaller unit.
• Clean your unit regularly, especially its filter. Bacteria can build up quickly because of the amount of air and moisture that flows through your dehumidifier.
• Clean the coils by brushing the filter with a mixture of water and bleach.