Any good dehumidifier brands (for cellar)?

[RallyJon]

After seven years of good, quiet service, my old Sears dehumidifier died last month, so I went and bought a new one. The compressor groaned and moaned like it was dying, so I took it back and exchanged it. The 2nd one sounds exactly the same. I guess it's just a piece of crap--by design. So much for Sears.

Anyway, does anyone have good experience with a small-medium-sized dehumidifier? Needs to be QUIET, since it sits right under the living room.

[RallyJon]

Been reading reviews on Amazon. Maybe Maytag? Maytag's a good household appliance brand, right?

[tabs]

In my last house I built a walk in vault, apx 100 sq ft of 8 inch concrete block grouted solid...a 6 inch concrete roof with rebar 4 inchs on center....and a Diebold Vault door...4 inchs thick....

Only one problem kept me from using it for it's intended purpose...HUMIDITY....I had a couple of guns rust in there....so I never got around to finishing the project off...I did store papers, wine and silver in their...so it wasn't a complete waste....

Anyway I digress...eventually I got around to looking at Dehumidifiiers....there are basically two types

1. Is where the air being drawn form the vault is run over refergration coils and as air cools the moisture is drawn out...thats why AC units drip water....however these are only good to about 50* or so and then they lose effectiveness. these units can get you down to about 30 to 40 % humidity....these type of units would cost about 2 to 3K....and are what is used in basements.

2. Where the air being drawn out is run over a Desicant material, the material is then heated to remove the water content....these types of units are primarily used in Clean Rooms....where humidity control is aq must....with this type of unit you can precisily control humidity levels, down to about 15%. This type of unit I thought would be what I would use for my application, even though it would be over kill. It's cost is somewhat more to install around 3500 to 5K....However I just never got around to doing it....

[tswaney]

I've got a Maytag running in the basment. It's not excessively loud. Of course it has the pan and hose out options for draining. I'd buy another if I had to!

[NeedSpace]

I know this is an old post but thought I would resurrect it. I have a very old whirlpool dehumidifier. It is the rolling portable type. It came with the house I purchased about 8 years ago. It was old at that point, I am guessing early 90s. It is loud and constantly needs to be drained (like everyday).

I have been reading up on dehumidifiers and note that everything is about $200 and last 2 to 3 years max. That means if I had replaced the one I have I would be probably on my 3rd unit.

I want to get a stronger dehumidifier, perhaps professional grade. Hoping to install something more permanent that doesn't need to be replaced every few years...think about $1000. Anyone have any recommendations? My basement is VERY damp (ok most of the leaks have been fixed but I do get the occasional pool during heavy rain).


I was thinking of this
http://www.compactappliance.com/1710A-Aprilaire-Basement-And-Crawlspace-Dehumidifier/1710A,default,pd.html?cgid=Air_Quality-Dehumidifiers-Industrial_Dehumidifiers

or this
http://www.compactappliance.com/CD30-Ebac-Heavy-Duty-Dehumidifier/CD30,default,pd.html?cgid=Air_Quality-Dehumidifiers-Industrial_Dehumidifiers

[john70t]

A big expensive machine would be like a bandaid on cancer.

I'd suggest outside grading of suface water away from the foundation first.
There also may be a clay base a few feet below the lawn surface, which doesn't allow absorbsion. Trenching around the house might work.

Painting the walls and floor will help prevent moisture transfer through porous concrete.

Then dehumidify.

[Miguel Antonett]

I believe some people go overboard with dehumidifiers. It is not big science...
Things I recommend: get a digital humidity/temp gauge first to really know what you're facing, depending on the magnitude of the issue get one or two units and set them opposite in the room/garage, the units should be self-draining via hose to a floor drain or outside (if not they become a hazzle pretty quick emptying the pan daily). Most of them are relatively noisy and the size of a carry-on suitcase but I would not spend more than $150 a piece regardless - they really last - but if you have to replace them every few years, who cares... home depot, lowes have them but you have to order them and they will deliver to your house. If you need the thousand $s units, you have bigger problems. I actually have a unit in the basement TV room and another one in the basement garage with the gauges set at 50% and work like a charm. If you need details on the units I can get them for you, but if I recall they were around $150 each from Depot.

[Rot 911]

I'm with Miguel on this. Why spend $1000 when $150 will get the job done. I live in an old house in an area that gets quite humid in the summer. I bought whatever Lowes was carrying at the time back in 2006 and it is still working fine down in the basement.

[pete3799]

I've got a General Electric (went down cellar to check) that has to be 20+ years old.
Runs constantly during the summer. Granted summers don't last long here.
I tore it apart about 3 years ago just to clean it. Never had a problem with it.