Decent dehumidifier for a small apartment?

Silpat
Sun, 22 Jan 2012 14:59:39 +0000

We live in a humid climate where the temperature often fails to trigger either A/C or the furnace. The only way to keep the RH <45%, which we must due to allergies, is to use dehumidifiers. Had I realized how long we’d be here, I would have invested in some whole-house models. Instead, we run at least three or four portable dehus most of the year. The average life span seems to be 2 - 3 yrs., regardless of the size, brand or ratings. If you can find a good one at Costco, that might be your best bet due to their return/replacement policy. Sometimes you can find a terrific clearance sale at Lowe’s or Home Depot. Otherwise, Amazon has pretty good prices.

I’ve been pleased with the efficiency of Frigidaire’s 65 pint model, but it’s too noisy to run in the master suite. For a combination of quietness and effectiveness, the Soleus 40 pt. dehu is my favorite. The only downside of the Soleus is that it lacks casters, so it’s not as easy to move.

As long as you’ll be around to empty the bucket morning and night you won’t need a dehu with a pump, which will keep the cost down. The Soleus is usually priced <$200 on Amazon. I haven’t found any <$150 that do a good job. At that price, they’re typically 25 pt., or even smaller, and seem to be good for only a large closet.