Comparing Dehumidifier Ratings
for Energy Efficiency
If you live in a climate that tends to be damp, like Florida, Georgia and the southeast, or Washington state in the northwest, then you are likely to want a dehumidifier to remove the moisture from the air in your basement or crawl space. Basement dehumidifiers range from small portable units to larger ones that are built in and do not have to be emptied when the container bucket gets full. If you are looking at a small, portable dehumidifier, make sure there is an automatic shut off that prevents the extracted water from spilling out onto your floor.
 Some of the most popular brand names are LG, DeLonghi, Kenmore, Danby and Frigidaire, and these manufacturers tend to deliver reliable performance for a reasonable price.
One of the scales used to compare various models of dehumidifier are SEER ratings, which stands for seasonal energy efficiency ratio. These SEER ratings are defined by the Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute. The higher the rating number, the more energy efficient the unit has been tested to be.
The second mark of an energy efficient dehumidifier is the Energy Star label. Rather like a pass-fail system, appliances either qualify to carry an Energy Star listing or not. When you buy, for example, a 40-pint dehumidifier that qualifies for Energy Star, it will save you approximately $20 per year over a less efficient model, resulting in a lifetime savings average of $250.
Another rating is how much water the model removes from the air in one day, or dehumidifying capacity per 24-hours. A smaller, less expensive unit could be a 25-pint model while if you have a greater need then you would have to pay more for a 50-pint or a 70-pint dehumidifier.
Besides protecting your home and furniture from dampness that leads to decay, having a good dehumidifier is also important if anybody in your household suffers from allergies due to dust mites and mold spores that can grow in damp basements and crawl spaces. Even if you do not have allergy problems nobody likes the musty smell of a damp basement.
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