5 Best Low Watt Dehumidifiers For Your Home
AT A GLANCE
A dehumidifier is an appliance that removes moisture from the air, generally to improve the indoor air quality.
Dehumidifiers work by sucking in warm currents in the air, cooling them until they condensate, then collecting the moisture that results. This moisture can either be collected in a receptacle (bucket) or removed from the room through a drain.
An extreme excess of moisture can cause mold, mildew and promote the growth of certain bacteria, which can trigger respiratory problems or irritate allergies for some people. That’s why it’s always a good idea to have a dehumidifier.
How many watts does a dehumidifier use?
Most regular-sized dehumidifiers use between 500W – 800W. This is, however, dependent on their size and how many liters of water they can draw.
Smaller dehumidifiers will, naturally, accumulate less water, and can run on lower wattage – anywhere from 150W – 300W.
Does a dehumidifier use a lot of electricity?
In general, dehumidifiers aren’t very high energy consuming appliances… if used for a couple of hours a day, that is.
And although the fan part does produce heat – a major contributing factor in why devices require higher wattage – it doesn’t produce lots, and so can run on a few hundred watts per hour.
How much does it cost to run a dehumidifier 24/7?
The issue is that, in most cases, a dehumidifier will need to stay running for several hours a day (or possible the full day) in order to be effective at removing moisture from the air. Those watts start to add up.
How much electricity does a dehumidifier use?
Let’s say that you’re using a 500W dehumidifier all day, every day, that works out at 12kWh per day, or 360kWh per month.
A kilowatt costs roughly $0.20 (though this number varies depending on where you live in the world). So that’s $2.40 per day, and $72 per month. A hefty sum, huh?
Choosing a dehumidifier
As the above example has shown, it can get pretty expensive to run a dehumidifier if you plan to use it for several hours a day. That’s why it’s important to choose a dehumidifier with low wattage, ideally something below 350W.
We’ve selected a handful that meet this requirement yet still perform well even while consuming less power than their high-powered counterparts.
The 5 Most Energy-efficient Dehumidifiers
Waykar PD160B Dehumidifier for Home and Basements
$161.42
WATTAGE: 350W
CAPACITY: 2.5 liters
WEIGHT: 36lbs
SIZE: 12.2 x 9 x 19.7 inches
MAX AREA: 2000sq.ft
The Waykar PD160B is the perfect dehumidifier for your home. It can remove up to 34 pints of moisture per day, making it ideal for rooms and basements that are prone to high levels of humidity.
It has a large tank capacity (2500ml), which means you won't have to empty it as often as other dehumidifiers.
Operation-wise, it features a one-touch power button, an adjustable speed button, and a timer, giving you an auto stop/start option.
The automatic shut-off function stops the device when the tank is full, ensuring there's no water overflow. A light will come on to indicate a full tank.
But if you don't want to keep emptying the tank, there's also a 6.65-foot draining hose for non-stop water removal.
This dehumidifier was designed to be portable: there are 360-degree rotating wheels and a carry handle.
The filter is removable and reusable.
Pro: The continuous drain hose is ideal for those who don't want the hassle of emptying water several times a day.
Con: Despite being quite a heavy unit, the tank is pretty small. Also, it might not cover as many square feet as advertised.
WATTAGE: 60W
CAPACITY: 1.5 liters
WEIGHT: 4.1lbs
SIZE: 7.1 x 5.1 x 11.2 inches
MAX AREA: 269sq.ft
As the smallest, most energy-efficient dehumidifier on our list, the SEAVON Dehumidifier is a small and lightweight device would make a great addition to your bedroom or office.
With a large tank for its size, this appliance removes 500ml of water per day.
It's quiet, below 40 decibels, making it perfect for running at night while you sleep.
The SEAVON Dehumidifier features an indicator light and auto shut-off function which activate when the tank is full.
It is easy to use with one-press operation, and the tank removal and water dispatch system are seamless.
The humidity sensor starts working once humidity goes over 45%. The fresh air dispenser fills your room with clean air for easy breathing.
Pro: Works quickly – you can notice the difference in the air in a short space of time.
Con: Can only be used in small rooms as it isn't very effective in larger rooms.
WATTAGE: 260W
CAPACITY: 4 liters
WEIGHT: 29.7lbs
SIZE: 13.5 x 9.4 x 20.1 inches
MAX AREA: 1500sq.ft
This Shinco dehumidifier with adjustable fan speed is a two-in-one solution that not only removes humidity from the air, but is great for removing moisture from clothes.
With the large tank capacity and the ability to remove up to 30 pints of water per day, this is perfect for use in larger rooms with high humidity, like basements.
This unit has an auto start/stop feature, a timer, and an auto shutdown and indicator light activates once the tank is full.
It also has a humidity target setting, allowing you to choose at what level of humidity you would like the device to start working.
There's an option for continuous draining using a hose, meaning no constant changing of the tank.
The digital display shows humidity levels so you will always know how much moisture is in your room.
There's a removable, easy to clean filter, and a child lock.
Pro: Transparent tank so you can see the water level.
Con: It's louder than most on the list.
Yaufey PD161D Dehumidifier for Home and Basements
WATTAGE: 260W
CAPACITY: 1.8 liters
WEIGHT: 23.8lbs
SIZE: 12.2 x 8.2 x 18.9
MAX AREA: 1750sq.ft
The Yaufey PD161D dehumidifier is a portable unit that works well in your home or office.
This dehumidifier removes up to 32 pints of water in 24 hours, and comes with humidity control, letting you set at which moisture level you want the device to come on.
It is easy to operate and features an auto shutdown function that prevents water overflow when the tank reaches maximum capacity.
There's also a continuous drainage option through the 2 meter hose, which allows you to run the dehumidifier all day, every day without constantly emptying the water bucket.
You can control the fan speed, and set a timer, giving you the option to run the unit for 24 hours at a reduced electricity output.
The device will restart automatically in case of power outages. The filter is removable and easy to wash.
With the rotating wheels and carry groove at the top of the appliance, you can move easily from room to room.
Pro: Very accurate digital humidity checker, and an easy to remove tank.
Con: You'll have to empty the bucket several times a day due to the small capacity and amount of water the device collects.
WATTAGE: 192W
CAPACITY: 1.35 liters
WEIGHT: 23.1lbs
SIZE: 11.2 x 6.6 x 19.6 inches
MAX AREA: 500sq.ft
The AIRPLUS AP10-2011EE Dehumidifier is a great option for smaller rooms, such as bedrooms and offices, as it's lightweight and removes up to 30 pints of water per day with relative ease.
The digital display shows the humidity level so you can see how much moisture is being removed from the air.
With the full tank detection feature the device will automatically shut off once the tank reaches full capacity.
The timer gives you a 24hr operation option, meaning you can set it to run while you're away from home.
What's more, there are four modes to choose from – standard, drying, sleeping and raining, and these cover the different humidity levels you're likely to experience.
With the built-in humidity detection function, you can set the device to start once it detects that a particular humidity level has been reached.
The digital display lets you keep track of humidity levels in the room, and the silicone hose at the back of the unit gives you the option for continuous draining – no emptying the tank.
Pro: The sleep mode setting means that the noise is reduced considerably.
Con: Instructions aren't very good, and this device will struggle in larger rooms.
What dehumidifier uses the least electricity?
Running at just 60W, the Seavon Small Dehumidifier uses the least amount of electricity of all the dehumidifiers on our list. That’s because it’s so small and doesn’t cover a lot of space.
If you’re looking for a larger model that is still energy-efficient, the Yaufey PD161D Dehumidifier would be right up your alley, as it manages to cover a space of 1750 square feet.
