In many cases, controlling your indoor humidity is all that is needed to fix a mold problem. However, it can be confusing to buy a dehumidifier with the countless options out there. So how do you choose the best system for your needs? In this article, we will review the Friedrich D70BPA, Santa Fe Compact 2, Ivation DH70PW, and Whynter RPD-421EW dehumidifier systems along with things to consider when choosing one.
Topics Covered
- Will a dehumidifier get rid of mold?
- What is the ideal humidity in a home?
- Features to look for in a mold dehumidifier
- The Friedrich D70BPA dehumidifier
- The Santa Fe Compact 2 dehumidifier
- The Ivation DH70PW dehumidifier
- The Whynter RPD-421EW dehumidifier
- Dehumidifier comparison table
Will a dehumidifier get rid of mold?
A dehumidifier will not get rid of mold. However, it will prevent or at the least, hinder further mold growth by removing excessive moisture from the air. Whatever mold you already have in your home still has to be removed.
What is the ideal humidity in a home?
The ideal indoor humidity levels for preventing mold can be anything from 30% to 55%, whatever is most comfortable for you. Anything above 60% is considered to be high humidity and is suitable for mold growth.
Six features to look for in a mold dehumidifier
Below we have listed various things you should consider when choosing a dehumidifier.
Pint capacity
Pint capacity is only important if you’re not planning on connecting your dehumidifier to indoor plumbing. But if emptying moisture manually, then pint capacity should be of concern. Most medium-sized dehumidifiers have a 70-pint capacity, which fulls up in a day, so it only needs to be emptied once daily. Smaller dehumidifiers have around 30-pint capacity, which means the bucket is emptied multiple times a day. On the plus side, a small dehumidifier has a smaller bucket, which means it won’t be as strenuous on your back. There is no right or wrong answer here. It comes down to personal preference, but it’s something one should keep in mind when choosing a dehumidifier.
Drainage method
If you don’t like the idea of regularly emptying buckets of water, then the system you choose must support a connector hose. Luckily, most modern systems can, and many do come with at least one included. Fortunately, a good quality reinforced hose connector is cheap.
Noise output
Dehumidifier noise levels are essential, especially if you intend to sleep in the same room while it’s running. The speed setting on the system will make a difference in the number of decibels it puts out; the slower the fan speed, the more silent it will be. Most mid-sized systems will put out 40 to 50 decibels on low fan speed from 10 feet away, which should be perfectly fine for sleeping.
Coverage area
The size of the dehumidifier will generally determine the size of the area it can cover. A good small-sized system is perfectly capable of handling anything between 1500 to an impressive 3000 square feet, while some mid-sized systems can cover up to 4500 square feet. Most mid-sized dehumidifiers have caster wheels that allow you to move it around from place to place if needed.
Control
Modern dehumidifiers have LCD screens from where you can monitor and control various functions. These include everything from monitoring the current humidity levels, setting the desired humidity levels, timer controls, and lots more. A good system should also be able to notify you whenever nearing its pint capacity.
Internal component defrosting
A dehumidifier capable of internal defrosting is something worth considering if you are planning on using it in freezing temperatures. It’s a fairly standard feature in many modern systems, and what it does is automatically shut off once it detects ice formation on its internal components. The system will then automatically defrost itself and resume operations once done.
Dehumidifier reviews
Below we will review four of the highest quality and best value for money dehumidifiers – the Friedrich D70BPA, Santa Fe Compact 2, Whynter RPD-421EW, and Ivation DH70PW.
The Friedrich D70BPA dehumidifier
The Friedrich D70BPA is the ideal dehumidifier for attics and basements.
The small, yet powerful 70-pint system (also available in 50 pints), is perfect for small spaces as well as medium to large rooms. Additionally, the roller wheels help make it quick and easy to transport around.
The system comes with a host of built-in features such as 2-speed settings, the ability to precisely adjust between 30% to 90% humidity, a digital display that shows you the current room temperature along with current moisture levels, and a whole lot more. Removing the actual condensation that the Friedrich D70BPA collects couldn’t be easier as the system has an easy to remove condensation bucket with handle. Alternatively and much more conveniently, one could hook the Friedrich D70BPA up to the home or office plumbing system.
Get the latest price from amazon.com.
The Santa Fe Compact 2 dehumidifier
The small, yet powerful Santa Fe Compact 2 Dehumidifier has been specifically designed and engineered for tiny crawl spaces and basements. The system can dehumidify a maximum area of 3000 square feet and extract around 70 pints of moisture per day.
The controls are simple to use, and the system itself can regulate and keep humidity levels anywhere between 20% to 80%. The Santa Fe Compact 2 also has a range of impressive features. There’s the auto defrost function, which automatically defrosts the internal components should you use it in temperatures as low as 49 degrees Fahrenheit. Also, there is a 2 stage air filtration system that not only dehumidifies the air but also purifies it from allergens.
Get the latest price from amazon.com.
The Ivation DH70PW dehumidifier
The Ivation DH70PW dehumidifier is almost the same size as the Friedrich D70BPA and can extract 70 pints of moisture per day. It’s also whisper-quiet so you can run it at night in the very same room you are sleeping in and barely even hear it.
Impressively, the system can dehumidify an area of 4500 square feet with ease. This means the Ivation DH70PW can be utilized to dehumidify your whole house – as long as your house/apartment is medium-sized and you keep all the inside doors open. If your home is larger than 4500 square foot then no problem; the roller wheels make it effortless to move around. The built-in air filtration system also helps purify the air, although it’s not effective against mold spores since it doesn’t support HEPA filters. Nevertheless, the integrated LCD interface gives you control over a range of features.
Some of these features include a 24- hour timer you can easily program, a humidistat, multiple fan speeds, and the system will automatically let you know whenever water levels are too high (if you haven’t connected the system to your plumbing).
Get the latest price from amazon.com.
The Whynter RPD-421EW dehumidifier
The Whynter RPD-421EW dehumidifier is small, compact, and powerful enough to dehumidify a 2500 square foot area. The caster wheels make moving it around a breeze, and it works smoothly in temperatures as cold as 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
You can connect the system to a drain hose or use the easy to remove built-in bucket. It has numerous features such as internal component defrost, automatic restart, and automatic shut off.
The Whynter RPD-421EW can dehumidify between 35% to 85% humidity levels and has a built-in air filter to help keep the air free from most allergens. It’s also capable of removing 40 pints of moisture per day. There is a slightly smaller model that can remove 30 pints per day and a larger model capable of handling 60 pints. Overall, it’s an excellent mid-sized system available at an affordable price.
Get the latest price from amazon.com.
Dehumidifier comparison table
| Dehumidifier | Size | Weight | Coverage Area | Pint |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friedrich D70BPA | 23.25″H x 15″W x 11.5″D | 144 lbs | 1400 sq ft | 70 Pints |
| Santa Fe Compact 2 | 12″H x 12″W x 21″D | 65 lbs | 3000 sq ft | 70 Pints |
| Ivation DH70PW | 23.5″H x 15.3″W x 11.1″D | 45.4 lbs | 4500 sq ft | 70 Pints |
| Whynter RPD-421EW | 20.1″H x 14.2″W x 10.2″D | 29.8 lbs | 2500 sq ft | 40 Pints |
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