The Best Whole-House Dehumidifiers of 2024 for Ideal Humidity Levels
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When clammy indoor air and high energy bills are problematic, a whole-house dehumidifier could be the solution.
Whole-house dehumidifiers remove humidity from indoor air, reducing uncomfortable stickiness and mitigating the growth of mold that may trigger certain illness and cause damage to a home. If you live in a naturally humid region or are simply a fan of extra-long steamy showers, you may benefit from a dehumidifier.
The nice thing about whole-house dehumidifiers—also called “ducted” or “inline” dehumidifiers—is that they connect to the home’s HVAC system to remove moisture throughout every room in the house, not just one. They’re pricier than other types of dehumidifiers, and in many communities, local codes will require professional installation. But they’re usually pretty quiet and can help reduce cooling costs in warm weather seasons.
Our pick for best whole-house dehumidifier is the AprilAire E100C Pro 100-Pint Whole-House Dehumidifier, effective for spaces up to 5,500 square feet. It removes 100 pints of moisture daily and maintains humidity levels automatically, requiring little maintenance.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, optimal indoor humidity levels are between 30 and 50 percent. Ahead, learn what to look for when shopping for a ducted dehumidifier and find out why the following models are among the best whole-house dehumidifiers for today’s shoppers. We even tested a handful of these products to ensure they were up to snuff.
- BEST OVERALL: AprilAire E100C Pro 100-Pint Whole-House Dehumidifier
↓ Jump to Review - RUNNER-UP: Ivation 70-Pint Large-Capacity Dehumidifier With Pump
↓ Jump to Review - BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: AprilAire E080 Pro 80-Pint Whole-House Dehumidifier
↓ Jump to Review - BEST SMALL-HOUSE: Honeywell Ducted 65-Pint Whole-House Dehumidifier
↓ Jump to Review - BEST AIR QUALITY: Santa Fe Ultra98 98-Pint Whole-Home Dehumidifier
↓ Jump to Review - BEST FOR CRAWL SPACES: AprilAire E070 Pro 70-Pint Crawl Space Dehumidifier
↓ Jump to Review - ALSO CONSIDER: Honeywell Ducted 88-Pint Whole-House Dehumidifier
↓ Jump to Review
Our Top Picks
For those looking to reduce the level of humidity in their entire home, odds are that one of the whole-house dehumidifier systems in this lineup will fit the bill. While the following models vary in price and the amount of living space they will effectively treat, each one is designed to reduce moisture in the air so the home’s occupants are more comfortable.
Best Overall
AprilAire E100C Pro 100-Pint Whole-House Dehumidifier
Photo: Amazon
Product Specs
- Dehumidification capacity: 100 pints per day (ppd)
- Coverage: Up to 5,500 square feet
- Weight: 64 pounds
What We Like
- Automatically turns on and off to maintain desired humidity
- Constructed from durable, corrosion-resistant materials
- Condensation is directed via a hose or pipe
What We Don’t Like
- Professional installation is recommended
- A separate condensate pump is required if there’s no available drain
The E100C Pro ducted dehumidifier from AprilAire tops our lineup of whole-house dehumidifiers for quality, efficiency, and convenience. The E100C removes up to 100 pints of water from the air in a 24-hour period and is suitable for use in homes with up to 5,500 square feet of living space. The AprilAire E100 series has been tested and certified by Energy Star as being “most efficient,” meaning it’s among the best models for conserving energy while still providing high levels of indoor comfort and performance.
This dehumidifier installs on a home’s HVAC duct system, and professional installation is recommended. It features a single on/off switch, and the desired relative humidity (RH) level is programmed during installation, so there’s nothing for residents to adjust once installation is complete. Once set, the dehumidifier will sense and maintain the desired RH independently. Alternatively, a wired wall-mount controller (sold separately) can be connected to adjust the dehumidifier from a central location.
This AprilAire dehumidifier comes with caster wheels that are designed to make it easier to roll the unit into place on a hard surface, such as a concrete basement floor. There’s no water tank to monitor or dump—optimally, condensation is routed through a pipe or tube into the same drain the HVAC uses. However, if the unit is located in a spot with no drain, such as a crawl space, a separate condensate pump will be necessary to remove the collected water to a suitable drain.
Get the AprilAire E100C whole-house dehumidifier at Amazon or SupplyHouse.
Runner-up
Ivation 70-Pint Large-Capacity Dehumidifier With Pump
Photo: Amazon
Product Specs
- Dehumidification capacity: 2.25 gallons
- Coverage: 4,500 square feet
- Weight: 45.42 pounds
What We Like
- Comes with a 2.25-gallon tank for spaces of 4,500 square feet
- Has an auto shutoff, a frost sensor, and a pump for continuous use
- Easy to install and use right out of the box
What We Don’t Like
- Does not have wheels; may be hard to maneuver
- Operates at a louder volume than other models
For an easy-to-install and effective option, consider the Ivation 70-pint large-capacity dehumidifier. It has a 2.25-gallon tank and is capable of dehumidifying spaces of up to 4,500 square feet. This whole-house dehumidifier also comes with an auto shutoff, a frost sensor, and a pump for continuous use.
The LCD touch interface also allows the user to switch between modes easily. Plus this small dehumidifier comes with a 16-foot hose for placing the unit where it is needed. This portable dehumidifier does not require a professional for installation.
What our tester says: Glenda Taylor, a Bob Vila staff writer and product tester, notes in the Best Dehumidifier for Basements that “the Ivation dehumidifier provided similar moisture removal results to the other 50-pint models in our test group, but it stood out for its versatility. Thanks to its large 2.25-gallon bucket, it was capable of providing the longest operational time before needing to be emptied—a little more than 8.5 hours. The onboard condensate pump allowed us to pump the water to a sink drain for effortless disposal. We also liked that it came with an auto-restart feature in case of power failure and a defrost feature for use in cool-weather operation.”
Get the Ivation whole-house dehumidifier at Amazon.
Best Bang For The Buck
AprilAire E080 Pro 80-Pint Whole-House Dehumidifier
Photo: Amazon
Product Specs
- Dehumidification capacity: 80 ppd
- Coverage: Up to 4,400 square feet
- Weight: 63.0 pounds
What We Like
- Desired RH can be set directly on the unit
- Manufactured from rust- and corrosion-resistant materials
- Can be located directly over a floor drain for easy water removal
What We Don’t Like
- Professional installation is recommended
There’s no question that ducted dehumidifiers are a costly investment, but those with a smaller living space can spend a little less and still get a high-quality whole-house dehumidifier. Our budget pick is from the same manufacturer as our top pick; it simply has a slightly smaller capacity. The AprilAire E080 is the least expensive model on our lineup, yet it still treats homes up to 4,400 square feet and, like its more powerful cousin, it’s also certified by Energy Star for further savings.
The E080 should be installed by an HVAC professional for best results. It’s designed to be connected to the home’s return-air ducting, removing humidity before the drier air is directed back into the house. The desired relative humidity can be set on the unit during installation, or an alternative controller ( sold separately) can be installed in a more convenient spot.
The dehumidifier can be positioned over a floor drain if one is convenient, or a hose can be run from the unit to a floor drain. If no drain is available, a separate condensate pump will be required to pump the collected water to a suitable drain. The E080 offers a high level of climate control for a fairly affordable price.
Get the AprilAire E080 whole-house dehumidifier at Amazon or SupplyHouse.
Honeywell Ducted 65-Pint Whole-House Dehumidifier
Photo: Amazon
Product Specs
- Dehumidification capacity: 65 ppd
- Coverage: Up to 1,800 square feet
- Weight: 60 pounds
What We Like
- Can be programmed or will work with several Honeywell controllers
- No water reservoir to dump—unit empties into floor drain
- Maintains optimal level of humidity without frequent adjusting
What We Don’t Like
- Professional installation is recommended
From an industry leader in heating, cooling, and air purification comes our top pick for a whole-house dehumidifier for smaller homes. This Honeywell model dehumidifies living spaces up to 1,800 square feet and has a 65 ppd removal rate.
Like the other ducted dehumidifiers in the lineup, the Honeywell installs on the home’s HVAC system. It features a built-in humidistat that can be programmed to the occupants’ desired level of humidity—the unit will then automatically turn on and off to maintain that level. Alternatively, this dehumidifier can be used in conjunction with several types of Honeywell digital controllers, such as the HumidiPRO Digital Controller (sold separately).
The Honeywell dehumidifier can be positioned over a floor drain or used with a hose to drain collected water to a nearby drain. If no drain is available, you’ll want to purchase and install a separate condensate pump to remove the collected water to a suitable drain.
Get the Honeywell ducted 65-pint whole-house dehumidifier at Amazon or Standard Supply.
Santa Fe Ultra98 98-Pint Whole-Home Dehumidifier
Photo: Amazon
Product Specs
- Dehumidification capacity: 98 ppd
- Coverage: Up to 2,300 square feet
- Weight: 81 pounds
What We Like
- Dehumidifier features a high-efficiency filter
- The unit can be adapted to bring fresh outdoor air into the home
- Well suited for use in midsize homes of up to 2,300 square feet
What We Don’t Like
- Professional installation is strongly recommended
- No built-in controller—a separate controller must be ordered
For midsize homes up to 2,300 square feet, the Santa Fe Ultra98 offers a whole lot of humidity reduction. It can remove as many as 98 pints of water in 24 hours when operating at full capacity, and water drains via a hose into a nearby drain—no tank to dump.
While all dehumidifiers have filters of some sort, the Santa Fe Ultra98 boasts a high-efficiency MERV 13 filter that can trap 90 percent or more of airborne particulates and dust mites that measure up to 3 microns in size. As a comparison, an average human hair is about between 75 and 100 microns thick. Not only does the Ultra98 remove unwanted humidity, it also banishes airborne pollutants.
The Ultra98 installs to the home’s HVAC ducting, and an optional outdoor air intake can be added to introduce fresh air to the home if desired. A separate controller is required for use with the Santa Fe Ultra98—the manufacturer suggests the Ultra-Aire DEH 3000/3000R (sold separately). Other controllers may be compatible, so check with an HVAC technician to be sure. The Ultra98 quiet dehumidifier installs on the home’s HVAC ducting system, and like all whole-house dehumidifiers, professional installation is highly recommended.
What our tester says: Mark Wolfe, a Bob Vila product tester and staff writer, notes in the Best Crawl Space Dehumidifiers that “we liked that this unit treats a large volume of air, operates quietly, and helps the home HVAC perform better. We also liked that it has a secondary adjustable fresh air intake that can infuse filtered, oxygen-rich outdoor air into the home. In our tests, this model did an outstanding job of maintaining the target humidity, and it freshened the air at the same time. The build quality was extremely sturdy, and the unit operated at a very low noise level.”
Get the Santa Fe whole-house dehumidifier at Sylvane or SupplyHouse.
Best For Crawl Spaces
AprilAire E070 Pro 70-Pint Crawl Space Dehumidifier
Photo: Amazon
Product Specs
- Dehumidification capacity: 70 ppd
- Coverage: 2,200 square feet
- Weight: 56 pounds
What We Like
- Removes 70 pints (9 gallons) of moisture per day
- Emits a 200 cubic feet per minute (CFM) airflow for 2,200 square feet
- Automatic operation keeps the humidity level ideal
- Gravity drain system allows for easy emptying
What We Don’t Like
- Does not work with an elevated drain
- Larger and heavier than other options available
The AprilAire Pro 70-pint crawl space dehumidifier offers the best functionality for a crawl space. This model features corrosion-resistant aluminum coils, a 200 CFM airflow, and automatic operation depending on the moisture levels.
This large dehumidifier also comes with a gravity drain system that can be manually emptied once the tank is filled. Though it requires a professional for proper installation, it can run continuously without much maintenance and remove over 70 pints per day.
What our tester says: Mark Wolfe notes in our tested guide that