"The first thing we did was get the dehumidifier in so that way we would have a dry basement and it would be inviting to come down here," says Joseph.
Jim Nanni, Consumer Reports, says "Dehumidifiers are your best choice when temperatures are cool and humidity is high."
Consumer Reports tested 17 dehumidifiers in three different sizes including large-capacity. These are good for larger, very wet spaces like a basement.
To assess a dehumidifier's ability to remove water, testers place it in this humidity-controlled chamber. After four hours, testers remove the bucket and weigh how much water has been pulled from the air.
"All the dehumidifiers scored well in our testing, but some didn't remove as much moisture as they claim," says Nanni.
Testers also measure noise levels. This dehumidifier was the noisiest. But plenty were pretty quiet. Another plus, all the dehumidifiers shut off automatically when the tank is full.
For a large-capacity dehumidifier, Consumer Reports recommends the Danby, model DDR-606. It did an excellent job removing water from the air, is energy efficient, and pretty quiet, too. And at $250 it's also a Consumer Reports best buy.
It's essential you buy a dehumidifier based on how much moisture is in the air. For rooms that are not very wet, Consumer Reports recommends a medium-capacity dehumidifier from LG, model LHD45EDL. At $200 dollars, it's also a best buy.
