Consumer Reports Dehumidifier Ratings ($10/month digital)

Dehumidifiers essentially work like air conditioners. Many A/C units work without actually cooling. You might look into A/C units instead.

Sigrid, if you're referring to window units or mini-split units, that's not true. Dehumidifiers are constructed physically differently from air conditioners, such that the cooled air (to remove moisture) is rewarmed before it's circulated back into the room. Air conditioners with a dehumidify setting don't do that. The dehumidify setting just runs the circulation fan at the lowest speed in an attempt to reduce the rate of cooling but they absolutely still cool the room.

I’ve bought a few and it’s a crapshoot no matter how favorable the reviews. I bought two of the same model and one crapped out at just over a year. The other one is going strong a few years later. The last one I got at Costco and it’s lasted a few years. I have an older Whirlpool that’s been going strong for years. My neighbor says dehumidifiers are the only thing he gets an extended warranty for and its paid off more than once.

I've bought three 70 pint dehumidifiers from Home Depot and Lowes in the last 4 years (they all look the same - cheap Chinese junk, but that's all you can get). They last one, maybe two years if I'm lucky. I bought a Bosch one last year (looked to be the same cheap Chinese junk) - it lasted 1 year!

Like you, I tossed my 30 year old Kenmore dehumidifier out to get one with a built-in condensate pump........ Bad move!!!

I bought one ten years ago from a little local appliance shop and it worked like a dream in our damp basement. We left it when we sold the house. I think it was Honeywell or Frigidaire. We had no floor or sink drain in our basement. I put it up on a shelf and connected a hose from the back of the unit into our condensate drain pipe from our furnace. It was quiet and powerful drying out our basement and the rest of the first floor. So sorry I don't remember the exact make and model. Good ones are out there.

You could buy a compact Santa Fe dehumdifier for $1,361. It comes with a 6-year warranty. This type is supposed to be more efficient so you may save some money on operating costs. Here is a dealer who sells them Call and get information:

Santa Fe dehumidifer

Did you ever decide on one? I'm in the same predicament.

Lori, I bought a Toshiba and it didn't work. I then bought an Amazon brand and it's lasted so far.

Oh, thanks so much. I will have a look at an Amazon brand. I don't trust the reviews at the big box stores. I'm considering a Honeywell but will also look at Amazon. That hadn't occurred to me. I honestly don't ever remember my parents replacing our dehumidifier growing up though they must have at least once. Those days are gone I guess. Well fingers crossed for both of us. I just hope to get a few years at this point.

If you are looking for a whole house dehumidifier, the AprilAire is a good one. I've had one in the last four houses. I live in the Deep South and a dehumidifier is a necessity.

I like the whole house solution because I don't have to fool with it. It gets serviced when the HVAC gets serviced.