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" Although many think of spring as the wet season, excessive humidity often persists throughout summer and fall as well. Most sources recommend indoor relative humidity levels of about 40%. Levels higher than this can be a breeding ground for mold and mildew, and can accelerate aging of exposed wood foundations in older homes. In addition to being poor for the overall health of your home, high relative humidity is also uncomfortable. High humidity makes occupants feel sweatier and warmer than they would at the same temperature, with lower humidity. We tested 11 humidifiers to help reduce excess humidity in your home. What GHRI Looked For in Dehumidifiers  How easy they were to set up How much they weighed, the space they occupied, and their height How easy it was to remove and wash the air filter How easy it was to access the tank and remove the water How easy it was to move and handle the dehumidifier The quality of the instruction manual Quality of customer service How quickly dehumidifiers removed moisture from the air Reservoir fill time Energy Consumption Operating noise   How GHRI Tested Dehumidifiers  Dehumidifiers were placed in a temperature and humidity controlled room and were set to the lowest humidity setting and under the highest load/fan speed available. Moisture removal rate was measured and compared to its rated capacity. Total energy consumption was measured in kilowatt hours. This was then divided by the quantity of water removed from the air for each dehumidifier to get the energy consumption per moisture removed for each dehumidifier. Values were normalized using energy star guidelines.  Decibel levels were measured in our sound chamber Engineers and consumers rated how easy the dehumidifiers were to use which included turning the dehumidifier on and off, humidity, and fan speed The air filters were removed, cleaned, and then re-installed them back into the dehumidifier The reservoir fill time was calculated The size and weight was measured on a scientific scale Each manufacturer&amp;#039;s toll-free customer service number was called with a troubleshooting question. We timed how long we waited before speaking with a representative and evaluated how helpful the response was.   . What to Consider Before Buying Dehumidifiers  Determine what size dehumidifier is appropriate for your space, location in the home, and its humidity level. If humidity is consistently a problem throughout the house, an integrated system may be the way to go. If humidity problems are seasonal, and confined to some areas of a home, a portable unit is the easiest solution. Smaller dehumidifiers are cheaper, and easier to move, but they are also less efficient when running at a constant rate, and if they are not adequate to dehumidify a particular location buying an additional dehumidifier to run simultaneously will end up being less cost-effective. Therefore, err on the side of caution by buying a larger unit than a smaller one. A larger dehumidifier will simply run less frequently than a smaller one.  All units come with a drain which is an important feature as most dehumidifiers will fill their internal reservoir within about 6 hours under some conditions. If a floor or other drain is located lower than the height of the dehumidifier, no pump is necessary. In scenarios where the dehumidifier drain is higher than the dehumidifier, a unit with a built in pump is necessary.   To keep the dehumidifier clean follow the manufacturer&amp;#039;s instructions for cleaning the filter. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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