Whole Home Vs. Portable Dehumidifiers

Deciding Between a Whole House or a Portable Room Dehumidifier

To determine if you need a Whole Home Dehumidifier or a Single Room Dehumidifier, you first need to do a proper assessment of humidity levels with a Wireless Digital Humidity Gauge in your home. This step is essential because the only way to control indoor mold growth is to control humidity levels. Furthermore, consistent humidity levels above 70% can also lead to corrosion, decay, dust mites, termites, insect infestations, and other moisture-related deterioration making humidity control crucial, even for general homeowners. This is also especially concerning for allergy and asthma sufferers because excess humidity levels can encourage mildew growth and dust mites in carpets, fabrics, and upholstery. For these reasons, an Air Purifier or dehumidifier could make the perfect addition to your home. When deciding between a whole-home dehumidifier or a more portable single-room dehumidifier, you should consider the following:

Whole House vs Portable Dehumidifiers

Advantages of Whole House Dehumidifiers:

  • Ability to automatically control humidity throughout your entire home
  • Located out of sight and has a lower sound level
  • Up to 4 times more energy efficient than room dehumidifiers
  • Hassle-free maintenance
  • Most have better air filters than room dehumidifiers
  • They are often steel units (more durable) with better warranties than room dehumidifiers

Disadvantages of Whole House Dehumidifiers:

  • More expensive on initial purchase versus a room dehumidifier
  • Can be more complicated to setup and install, often requiring professional installation
  • More difficult to take with you if you move
  • Larger and heavier than a room dehumidifier

Advantages of Single Room Dehumidifiers:

  • Less expensive initially versus a whole house dehumidifier system
  • You have the ability to control the humidity in one large, continuous area
  • They are portable and easy to move around
  • Easier and faster to install and operate versus a whole house dehumidifier
  • Most come with digital controls for easy-to-use operation

Disadvantages of Single Room Dehumidifiers:

  • They have a shorter lifespan than a whole house dehumidifier
  • They are louder during operation than a whole house dehumidifier
  • They sit openly in your room and run in plain sight
  • You have to empty the condensate that the dehumidifier collects
  • They are often less energy efficient than whole home dehumidifiers

One of our staff members says that tackling a large home humidity problem with a portable room dehumidifier is about the same as boxing with one arm tied behind your back. You may be putting yourself at a disadvantage in your battle against moisture in your home. Proponents of dehumidifiers for the whole house argue that the only way to control the humidity in your entire home effectively is to use a whole-house dehumidifier. They argue that portable dehumidifiers only offer temporary relief and only help with humidity issues in one area of your home.

Today, we are seeing a shift in the purchasing trends of our customers. Many of our customers are tired of buying a new portable dehumidifier each year or every few years. Instead, they are opting to purchase a larger dehumidifier better suited to their humidity needs. If this situation sounds familiar, the Fral FDK54 Dehumidifier may be a good choice for you! Fral FDK54 is a commercial-grade large-space or whole-home dehumidifier. It’s perfect for homeowners or businesses who want a continually powerful and effective solution for moisture control in large areas. Despite its powerful nature, its compact size makes it perfect for basements, garages, cellars, crawlspaces, warehouses, and workshops up to 2,500 square feet in size. Fral’s FDK54 is a fixed dehumidifier that can be used as both a ducted and standalone unit. It boasts continuous drainage, a digital humidistat and display, low-temperature operation down to 33°F, and an automatic hot gas defrosting system.

In summary, when choosing the best Dehumidifier for your needs, you first need to determine the area in which you need to control the humidity. For example, Basement Dehumidifiers are ideal for basements thanks to their strong moisture removal performance and wide range of options. Our Crawlspace Dehumidifiers are perfectly suited for those hard-to-reach, hard-to-deal with areas that are often dark and prone to excess moisture. In addition to Single Room Dehumidifiers, we also offer a selection of Restoration Dehumidifiers ideal for flooding, burst pipes, backed up drains, and many other forms of water damage. If your moisture problems are located in a larger area, cover multiple floors, or extend throughout your entire home, a whole-house dehumidifier may better suit your needs.

Portable Dehumidifiers Portable Dehumidifiers:

Danby
Frigidaire
Comfort-Aire

Aprilaire 1850F Dehumidifier Whole Home Dehumidifiers:

Aprilaire 1830 Whole House
Aprilaire 1850 Whole House
Santa Fe Dehumidifiers
(All Can Be Ducted)

Shop all Dehumidifiers.