Dehumidifiers

Dehumidifiers are rated by capacity (pints of moisture removed per day) and energy factor (litres per kilowatt-hour). A higher energy factor means less electricity per pint of water extracted. The most efficient models remove the same moisture with half the energy of the least efficient.

Capacity should match the space: an undersized unit runs continuously and never reaches the target humidity, while an oversized unit short-cycles and wastes energy. A 50-pint unit suits a 2,000 sq ft basement; a 30-pint unit handles a single damp room.