Best Desiccant Dehumidifier [2023 Reviews]

Top Rated Desiccant Dehumidifier -EcoSeb DD122EA SIMPLE

Before deciding on what the best desiccant dehumidifier is it’s important to understand if a desiccant, also known as absorption type, dehumidifier really is your best option.

The two main types of dehumidifiers are the desiccant type and the compressor type.

While both are effective at regulating humidity under normal conditions, there are a few reasons why you would choose the one over the other.

The main factors to consider are the temperature of the space, how loud the unit is, portability and cost. Of these, temperature is probably the biggest factor.

Before we discuss the pros and cons of each type have a look at these reviews of our choices for the best desiccant dehumidifiers.

Desiccant Dehumidifier Comparison Table

Image

Model

Capacity

(Pints/Day)

Size

(Inches)

Price

Rating

Desiccant Dehumidifier - EcoSeb DD122EA-SIMPLE

15

6.9 x 11.4 x 19.1

$$$

Dehumidifier - Keystone KSTAD50B

21

7.3 x 16.4 x 20.5

$$$$$

Desiccant Dehumidifier - EcoSeb DD322EA-Simple 21-Pint 120V

21

7.3 x 16.4 x 21.7

$$$$

Dehumidifier - Eva-Dry EDV-4000

15

13 x 9 x 22

$$$$

Desiccant Dehumidifier - Eva-dry Edv-1100 Electric Petite

1

8.7 x 11.8 x 6.1

$

Top Rated Desiccant Dehumidifier -EcoSeb DD122EA SIMPLE

EcoSeb are pretty much the goto guys for desiccant dehumidifiers. This product is our top choice because it is super quiet and very effective at a great price. It’s the ideal unit for your bedroom or study.

It’s really light and portable so you can easily move it from room to room. Instead of an electronic interface that you get on some of the more expensive units the humidity setting is adjusted by means of a rotary dial.

It is an extremely energy efficient dehumidifier and will automatically switch between full, economy and standby modes as it regulates the room humidity.

The auto restart function enables it to come back on by itself after a power outage. It also has a built-in air ionizer which is a great feature.

Although these are very portable devices you can set them up in one spot and leave them there. It comes supplied with a hose that allows for optional continuous drain function for true set and forget operation.

Desiccant Dehumidifier - EcoSeb DD322EA-Classic 21-Pint 120V

While the smaller units from EcoSeb are great products some applications need a little more extraction capacity.

Where our top choice product extracts 15 Pints per day this unit will extract 21 Pints even in cold conditions.

Although it has a larger extraction capability it remains a light and portable unit that can easily be moved from room to room.

The water tank is easy to remove but only holds just over 7 pints so you may need to empty it regularly.

We recommend connecting a hose to the outlet so that you can use it in continuous drainage mode instead of emptying the water tank every few hours. The unit comes supplied with a one meter hose.

Desiccant Dehumidifier - EcoSeb DD322EA-Simple 21-Pint 120V

The “Simple” version is essentially the same as the “Classic” with the exception that they removed some of the clever electronics to bring the cost down.

While we like the electronic controls on the Classic model the price difference really makes this a worthwhile consideration.

You get the same great performance and quiet dehumidifier operation. Instead of an electronic interface the humidity setting is adjusted by means of a rotary dial.

Like it’s fancier counterpart above, it also comes with auto restart and tilt over protection.

Despite the bigger capacity these units are still very portable so it's easy to move around the house. It comes supplied with a hose that allows for optional continuous drain function.

If you don't intend moving it from room to room then this allows for true set and forget operation.

Dehumidifier - Eva-Dry EDV-4000

If you're looking for a really quiet but effective dehumidifier then the EDV-4000 is a great choice.

It has a fan speed control so you can get it really quiet by setting the fan speed to low.

This unit comes with a filter that has a special silver coating which kills bacteria on contact. In addition to this it also has a built-in ionizer.

While it is fairly portable, if you did want to set it up somewhere more permanently it does support continuous drain operation. Just connect a hose (not supplied) to the outlet and then you never have to worry about emptying the reservoir.

Desiccant Dehumidifier - Eva-dry Edv-1100 Electric Petite

If you don’t need to dehumidify a large room and only need a dehumidifier for bathroom applications then this product from Eva-Dry is perfect.

The "1100" in the model name refers to it being effective in a space up to 1,100 square feet.

It isn’t a desiccant dehumidifier but it also doesn't use a compressor. Rather this unit uses Peltier technology and is otherwise known as a thermoelectric dehumidifier.

Because it doesn’t use a compressor it’s whisper quiet and easily portable. This makes it perfect to use in the bathroom, wardrobe or your RV.

The clear reservoir and indicator light make it easy to see when it needs to be emptied. It will automatically switch off when the reservoir is full so you won’t have any spills.

Should I Get A Desiccant Dehumidifier or Compressor Dehumidifier?

This is an important question because the desiccant type units can get pretty pricey. Here are the main reasons why you would choose a desiccant type dehumidifier over a compressor type.

Temperature

Compressor type dehumidifiers don’t work well at air temperatures below about 59 degrees. As the temperature gets below this it becomes less and less effective. At really low temperatures the compressor’s coils get frost on them and then it won’t turn on at all.

If you’re expecting temperatures in the space to regularly get down below 59 degrees then you need a desiccant dehumidifier. These don’t have a compressor and so they aren’t affected as much by colder temperatures.

Desiccant dehumidifiers rely on an internal heater to function. This makes the air coming out of it around 40 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than the air going into it. This is great if you don’t mind the space getting a little warmer.

It’s not ideal for applications like a wine cellar where you want to keep temperatures lower.

Noise

The newer compressor type dehumidifiers aren’t very noisy but you wouldn’t want to have a quiet dinner or try to sleep while one of them is running nearby. '

The desiccant type dehumidifiers don’t have a compressor in them so if you’re looking for a really silent dehumidifier this is the way to go.

Capacity

If you have a large space that needs dehumidifying or if the environment is really damp then you’re going to need a compressor type unit. You can get larger capacity industrial desiccant dehumidifiers but they get really pricey. Choosing the right size dehumidifier is critical.

Portability

If you are looking for a product that you set up in a corner somewhere and never move it then it’s fine to get a larger unit.

If you want a portable dehumidifier that you can easily move from room to room then you’re going to need something light and compact. 

A dehumidifier that uses desiccant technology is a lot lighter and easier to move because it doesn’t have a compressor inside to weigh it down.

If money's no object and you just have to have a quiet dehumidifier for indoor use then the desiccant type is great. If you are looking for a good product at a lower price then you need to be looking at the compressor types.

There are some top rated dehumidifiers available but it’s important to understand this important fact. No matter how much you spend on a compressor type dehumidifier it’s not going to perform very well at low temperatures.

Simply comparing the Pints per day figure between these different types of dehumidifiers is not going be a good comparison of their effectiveness.

Make sure that you have a good idea of the minimum temperatures your space will be experiencing and if silent operation is really so important before buying a desiccant dehumidifier.

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    David Miller

    David is a health conscious and houseproud family guy. When he's not being used as a jungle gym by his kids you can find him working on his latest DIY project in the garage.