This is our buying guide on the best dehumidifiers for living rooms in 2023. Below is a quick summary of our top recommendations. Scroll further down to read our in depth, hands on reviews, for each humidifier.
TOSOT 20 Pint 1,500 Sq Ft Dehumidifier
- Up to 1500 square foot coverage
- Removes 20 pints of moisture in 24 hours
- Auto drain
- Real-time monitoring
- Auto switch off
- Auto humidity
- Easy control panel
- Fast moisture removal
- Energy Star Rated
hOmeLabs Energy Star Dehumidifier
- 1.6-gallon water tank
- Removes up to 50 pints per day
- Built-in wheels and handles
- Quiet fan
- Easy To use
- Intuitive control panel
- Best-written manual EVER
- Continuous draining
- Built-in pump compressor
- Turbo mode
- 24-hour cycle until the tank is full
Tenergy Sorbi 1000ml Air Dehumidifier
- Dehumidifier and air cleaner in one
- Peltier technology and HEPA filtration
- 1-liter water tank
- 24-hour runtime
- Weighs only 6 pounds
- Auto shut off
- Water level sensor
- Plug and play design
- Captures 99.99% of particulates in the air
- Low noise levels (35-42db)
Over the past few weeks, I’ve been immersed in the world of dehumidifiers, testing a variety of models to find the best one for your living room. Considering that the average American living room is around 350 square feet, the task wasn’t small.
I had several dehumidifiers sent over and I got to work, setting them up, checking out their effectiveness, delving into their design, and exploring a multitude of other features. All of this happened over a rigorous three-week testing period.
And finally, after all this testing and comparing, the hOmeLabs Energy Star Dehumidifier emerged as my top pick. This unit stood out not just because it’s capable of effectively covering an area up to 2500 square feet, but also due to its 70-pint reservoir and continuous draining option.
Operating the hOmeLabs dehumidifier was a breeze, and it had an impressively low noise level, which makes it even more appealing for living room use.
Not content with just that, I decided to really put the hOmeLabs to the test, placing it in the most challenging environment I could think of – a 110-year-old basement. Yes, it was as musty as you’d expect!
Stay with me to find out how the hOmeLabs dehumidifier handled the basement challenge, and also to learn about my top picks for best budget and premium dehumidifiers for living rooms.
HomeLabs Energy Star Dehumidifier
BEST OVERALL
Right off the bat, I was pleasantly taken aback by the meticulous packaging of the hOmeLabs unit. There was no struggle to hoist the dehumidifier out of its box. Instead, the box simply slid off with ease – a relief considering the awkward packaging I’ve experienced with similar units.
The thoughtful design extended to the dehumidifier itself. It came equipped with handles on both sides and caster wheels at the bottom, making maneuvering around an absolute breeze.
Despite the manual advising to wait a few hours before turning the unit on, I was stumped as to why that was necessary.
Sporting a clean, bright white exterior, the hOmeLabs Energy Star Dehumidifier proved easy to clean. Even the smudges acquired during the unpacking process were easily wiped away.
The user interface, located on the control panel, was refreshingly intuitive and straightforward, making operation a no-brainer. The continuous drainage port, located at the back, posed a minor challenge when trying to route the tubing, but a quick look at the handy manual solved that.
One little detail I truly appreciated was the cap attached to the dehumidifier with a plastic tether. It’s these thoughtful features that make it impossible to lose crucial components. The setup itself was straightforward, though I’d recommend keeping the manual close for helpful tips to optimize your dehumidifier’s performance.
With a 6-liter water reservoir, the hOmeLabs can be set up for manual emptying and will alert you when it’s full. Setting it up for continuous drainage was also a walk in the park, involving simply attaching a ¾-inch garden hose to the threaded outlet at the back.
It’s worth noting that the hOmeLabs 70-Pint Dehumidifier is well-suited for spaces up to 2500 square feet, making it a perfect match for large living rooms or open plan areas.
What’s becoming legendary about the hOmeLabs is its minimal noise output. Its sound is barely above a whisper, with the occasional rattle being the only exception. It’s definitely quieter than its counterparts with larger fans.
Maintenance is pretty simple as well. You’ll need to rinse the water reservoir every couple of weeks and clean the filter every month. A convenient warning light will remind you when the filter needs attention, which typically happens after around 250 hours of continuous use.
The hOmeLabs dehumidifier is impressive in its automatic functionality too. On auto mode, it finds the ideal humidity levels and maintains them around 55% if the room is cooler than 65 degrees Fahrenheit or around 45% if it’s warmer than 77 degrees, all without any input from you.
In short, if you’re seeking a budget-friendly, easy-to-use continuous drainage dehumidifier, you can’t go wrong with the hOmeLabs 70-Pint Dehumidifier. It’s a game-changer.
Pros
- 1.6-gallon water tank
- Removes up to 50 pints per day
- Built-in wheels and handles
- Quiet fan
- Easy To use
- Intuitive control panel
- Best-written manual EVER
- Continuous draining
- Built-in pump compressor
- Turbo mode
- 24-hour cycle until the tank is full
Cons
- Leaky if not assembled correctly
TOSOT 20 Pint 1,500 Sq Ft Dehumidifier Energy Star
BEST BUDGET
Upon first glance, this unit gave me vibes of something pulled straight from behind the iron curtain. Bulky, with an industrial aura about it, the dehumidifier couldn’t be called pretty.
But, let me tell you, it’s a performer, falling neatly into the budget dehumidifiers category and punching well above its weight.
Let me share an anecdote. During our testing phase, a teammate had a water heater go rogue in his garage. Without missing a beat, we whisked the TOSOT over to the scene. Of course, we mopped up the standing water, but the dehumidifier heroically took care of the rest within 24 hours. Astonishingly, it brought down the ambient humidity from a swampy 75% to a comfortable sub-50%.
Now, to its design. The display of the TOSOT sits atop the unit, illuminating its surroundings, and, annoyingly, there’s no way to switch it off without turning off the unit. I found myself resorting to a good ol’ strip of masking tape during the night tests. Yet, it was the only downside I could find during our rigorous testing.
Simply put, for unusually humid conditions or quick drying of a flooded room, the TOSOT is your go-to dehumidifier.
Talking about water tank capacity, TOSOT proudly claims that this dehumidifier can suck 20 pints of water from the atmosphere in a day, equating to the tank’s full capacity. Our aforementioned water-heater-fiasco test proved this claim to be accurate. But keep in mind, these figures can vary based on your location. For example, if you’re near the ocean or in a tropical climate, you’ll likely have to empty the tank sooner than the 24-hour mark. In such cases, a continuous drain setup with a standard 3.75 garden hose might be your best bet.
Coverage-wise, the TOSOT works best in spaces up to 1500 square feet, dehumidifying at a rate of 20 pints every 24 hours. This makes it a perfect companion for living rooms or large open-plan areas. Just remember, proper placement with ample airflow around the unit is critical for optimal performance.
The silence of the TOSOT left me in awe. Compared to the air-conditioning system in our office, my home’s washing machine, or the dishwasher, this dehumidifier was a whisper in the wind. Even at full tilt, it only peaked at a mere 38 decibels.
One of the special features I particularly appreciate is the power outage restart. If the unit loses power during, say, a storm, it automatically springs back to life once the power is restored, returning to its pre-outage humidity level or mode. And the filter? It’s washable and only requires attention after about 250 hours of use, which is roughly every fortnight.
In short, if you’re on a budget and need an easy-to-clean, simple-to-operate, reliable dehumidifier, the TOSOT 20 Pint Dehumidifier won’t let you down. It’s an underdog that works like a workhorse.
Pros
- Up to 1500 square foot coverage
- Removes 20 pints of moisture in 24 hours
- Auto drain
- Real-time monitoring
- Auto switch off
- Auto humidity
- Easy control panel
- Fast moisture removal
- Energy Star Rated
Cons
- Not good-looking
Tenergy Sorbi 1000ml Air Dehumidifier and Air Purifier
BEST PREMIUM
Right off the bat, I felt this unit was an ideal fit for the size of an average U.S.A living room, approximately 350 square feet. But this little gadget feels right at home in modern small-scale living spaces, like apartments. It’s a 2-in-1 powerhouse, serving as both a dehumidifier and purifier. The bathroom, a typically damp space with compromised air quality, is another perfect spot for it.
Setting up the Sorbi was a breeze. All I had to do was unbox it, unwrap the HEPA filter, slide it into place, plug the unit in, and voila, we were good to go.
What really stands out in this unit is the HEPA purifier. It’s an air-cleaning beast that eliminates up to 99% of atmospheric particles. This feature alone justifies the price tag. Interestingly, the Tenergy unit needs the air purifier to be on, which passively purifies while the unit is busy dehumidifying.
The Sorbi is a compact package, standing at just 8 inches tall and weighing a mere 6 pounds. It’s amazing how much tech they’ve packed into this petite form. The design is clean and sleek, with only three buttons running the whole show from atop the dehumidifier.
One of the buttons powers the purifier on and off. It lights up green when active, shifting to yellow when it’s time to change the filter. Another button takes care of fan speed.
The control panel sports just two LED lights – one indicating the unit is on and the other serving as a heads-up that the water tank needs emptying. The HEPA air filter sits snugly at the unit’s back and slides out from behind a hidden panel.
Emptying the water tank without a spill did take some getting used to. It has a plastic cover, but you’ll need to finesse your movements when sliding it from the base. This minor design flaw is the only gripe I have with the Sorbi.
The unit’s white exterior makes cleaning a cinch; a quick wipe-down is all it takes.
When it comes to water tank capacity, it tends to fill up in 24 hours, depending on humidity levels. Cleaning the tank is a standard procedure – fill it with a vinegar and water mix, let it sit for five minutes, and rinse it out.
The Sorbi claims to cover around 350 square feet, but my test in a larger 650 square feet space had it performing flawlessly. This shows that manufacturers often underspec their humidifiers and dehumidifiers.
In terms of noise, the Sorbi emits a low hum with the fan on, somewhat like white noise. Imagine the operational noise of an air purifier – that’s about what you can expect from the Sorbi. Although it might be slightly distracting in a bedroom or home office.
One special feature I love is the orange warning light that notifies you when it’s time to change the three-stage HEPA filter, which happens around every six months. The simplicity in operation and maintenance of this unit is another huge plus. You only need to set it on or off and choose between high or low fan options. The rest happens autonomously.
So, who would benefit from the Tenergy Sorbi 1000ml Air Dehumidifier and Air Purifier? I’d say it’s perfect for anyone seeking a premium dehumidifier for an apartment or small living space, designed to meet the demands of 21st-century living.
Pros
- Dehumidifier and air cleaner in one
- Peltier technology and HEPA filtration
- 1-liter water tank
- 24-hour runtime
- Weighs only 6 pounds
- Auto shut off
- Water level sensor
- Plug and play design
- Captures 99.99% of particulates in the air
- Low noise levels (35-42db)
Cons
- Not suitable for large living areas
