Best Whole House Dehumidifier: Expert Guide

Humid environments can cause skin irritation, allergies, bad smells, cough, and asthma. To tackle these issues, you will need a good-quality dehumidifier to maintain the humidity levels in your home. These devices remove any excess amount of moisture in the air to keep it comfortable for you. 

When looking for the best whole house dehumidifier, you will notice that the options available are endless. 

Choosing the best one can be pretty tricky, but our guide will help you through the process, so keep reading. 

What Features to Look for When Buying a Whole House Dehumidifier 

Energy efficiency

Consider a humidifier that comes with DOE or EPA issued certification (Energy-Star). This is to make sure that a third party has tested the unit for its energy efficiency.   

Overall capacity

Go for a device rated for dehumidifying the entire house and not just the room. Due to their high capacity, these units are bigger and cost more than smaller dehumidifiers. 

Modes

Consider different features and modes available in different brands. Smart features are always handy, and automatic shut-off will also help in reducing costs. Automatic timers are a pretty continent too. Different energy saving and power modes are available too. 

Types of Whole House Dehumidifiers

Compressor-based units

These units have compressors in them, and they work like an air conditioner. They come with a refrigerant and cool down the warm air they suck in. The moisture within the air turns into liquid and drips into a tank. The cool air is free from any moisture and passes through a heating element, which warms the air back to its original temperature. 

Chemical absorbent-based units

These humidifiers remove moisture by absorbing the damp air into a drying material. These desiccant dehumidifiers are fixed units, and you can connect them to your HVAC system. However, these units consume a lot of energy and are not very economical. 

Dehumidifying ventilators

These are mostly present in basements, but they are not very popular. They come with an exhaust fan and a sensor. The sensor works just like a thermostat and triggers the system when the set humidity level is reached. These are a bit less effective as compared to the other two types. 

Are whole house dehumidifiers noisy? 

Whole house units are bigger, so they might be slightly noisy. But they are not going to be anything that irritates your ears. It is best to check the reviews to buy a unit.

Do these units come with washable filters?

You can choose between washable filters and replaceable filters. It is always a good idea to go for a washable filter because you can repeatedly use them instead of buying new filters every time. 

Where does the water go in a dehumidifier? 

Whole-house dehumidifiers can drain plenty of water throughout the day during wet weather. Therefore, a continuous drain is mandatory. But the good thing is that these units can automatically drain themselves. Some humidifiers have an inbuilt pump, while others need gravity for regular drainage.

Top 5 Best Whole House Dehumidifiers Reviews

1. Aprilaire Whole-House Dehumidifier – Best Overall

The Aprilaire whole house dehumidifier can easily cover around 5200 square feet, and it is a top choice for whole-house use. It can easily extract 95 pints of water in a day, and it will keep your house climate under control no matter how humid it gets.

It is available in other capacities as well. You can pick the right one according to your needs. For example, if you think you will need your unit in different rooms throughout your house, go for the models that come with casters. Otherwise, you can choose the one that has leveling feet under it. 

This unit only comes with a single operational mode. So, there is no way you can increase the speed of dehumidification. Aprilaire has used aluminum coils in the construction that makes it corrosion resistant. Therefore, it will last for a very long time to come. Moreover, you can use it as a furnace humidifier. 

You also won’t have to deal with any messy water trays when emptying the unit. It can automatically drain, and you will only have to place it in the right spot to drain the water. Of course, you can also use the hose. But that is not included in your purchase. 

✅ Pros	❌ Cons
Effortless to install and use.	Doesn’t come with a drain tube.
Features automatic timer.
Automatically drains.
Can remove up to 95 pints of moisture from the air a day.

2. Vacplus Whole House Dehumidifier – Best for Price

Vacplus is designed to cover up to 3000 square feet and has a pretty compact design. It will not take up much space with a vertical construction, and you can plug it in one corner of your house. 

This whole-home humidifier will continue to perform its duty like a true workhorse. Plus, it comes with wifi capabilities. So, you don’t even have to be right in front of it to alter its controls. You don’t even have to be in your house to control it.

Setting up the wifi controls is a slightly tedious task, but this unit will work like a charm once you are done with that. However, it is made of plastic materials, so it will not last for very long if you are not careful when using it. 

However, the good thing is that it comes with two different operational modes. So, you can either go for standard operation or continuous operation according to your requirements. 

✅ Pros	❌ Cons
It can cover up to 3000 square feet.	The wifi set-up is time-consuming.
Two different operational modes.
Lightweight and vertical construction.
Wifi capabilities.

3. AlorAir Whole House Dehumidifier – Best Value for Money

AlorAir consumes very little power. It can extract up to 55 pints of water throughout the day, with a 5-year warranty. Therefore, you can rely on your unit with peace of mind.

It also comes with Energy-Star certification, and it can cover up to 1300 square feet. So, you might have to move it around a little bit from one room to another to make it work. 

AlorAir features an automatic defrost function. This will allow the unit to work at lower temperatures pretty well to prevent that first build-up. Moreover, this humidifier comes with internal corrosion resistance to avoid the development of rust and leakage. 

✅ Pros	❌ Cons
Quality construction.	Not for large homes.
Works in low temperatures as well.
It comes with an automatic defrost function.
Can extract up to 55 pints of water in a day.

4. hOmeLabs Whole House Dehumidifier – Best Inbuilt Pump Dehumidifier

Looking for the best whole house dehumidifier with an inbuilt pump, then consider the one by hOmeLabs. It is rated for extracting up to 140 pints of water throughout the day. Plus, it comes with a drain hose as well. 

Furthermore, it comes with washable filters. It means you won’t have to deal with the headache of finding and buying new ones later on. Instead, take its filters out, wash them, and put them back in. 

This unit can comfortably cover up to 4000 square feet of area. Furthermore, it also comes with water and corrosion-resistant features in its design.

✅ Pros	❌ Cons
Comes with a hose tube.	Not for smaller homes.
Resistant to corrosion and rust.
Easily mobile with casters and wheels.
Automatic timer function.

5. Honeywell Whole House Dehumidifier – Best Premium Quality

The Honeywell whole-house dehumidifier is all about quality, and hence it comes with a price tag. However, it is a top choice for larger areas as it comes with continuous operation.

This house dehumidifier system can comfortably handle an area of up to 3000 square feet. You will have to place it near the drain to take out all the water. However, you might notice that it is relatively slower than other devices as it can extract up to 65 pints in a day. 

It might seem that this dehumidifier’s cost is high, but it will last for a long time due to its solid construction. 

✅ Pros	❌ Cons
Extracts up to 65 pints a day.	Comparatively slower than others.
Solid construction and looks pretty nice.
Can cover up to 300 square feet.
The whole house dehumidifier installation and use are simple.

Conclusion:

In our opinion, the winner of this best whole house dehumidifier roundup is the one by Aprilaire. It is straightforward to install and operate, and it covers a lot of area too. Moreover, features like corrosion resistivity, lightweight design, and automation make it the ultimate whole house dehumidifier unit for your home.