This is our buying guide on the best low temperature dehumidifiers 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.
hOmeLabs Energy Star
- 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
Frigidaire Dehumudifier
- It works fast
- Quiet
- Happy with spaces from 500 square feet upwards
- Build quality is magnificent
- Design is ultimately user friendly
- Easy to clean
- Easy to maintain
- Exceptional runtime
- Superior water reservoir capacity
- Continual drainage option
- Consistent humidity levels, even under extreme conditions
- Does exceptionally well in temps below 50 degrees
Black + Decker BDT50WTB
- Covers up to 4500 square feet
- Removes up to 50 pints of moisture per day
- 14.3-pint tank
- Washable mesh filter
- Environmentally friendly with an Energy Star rating
- Water level indicator
- 3.28-foot drain hose
- Audible alert when the water reservoir is full
- Top mounted control panel
- Adjustable humidistat
- 4 casters for easy moving
In this piece, I dive deep into the world of low-temperature dehumidifiers.
Designed to work effortlessly even when the mercury dips below 65 degrees Fahrenheit, these dehumidifiers have their work cut out for them.
You see, once temperatures reach these lows, water tends to freeze on the dehumidifier’s evaporator coils. This ice buildup messes with the airflow and can potentially burn out the fan motor.
With that challenge in mind, my team and I created an artificial environment where the ambient temperature dropped to 50 degrees and below. We put several dehumidifiers to the test under these chilly conditions.
Not stopping there, we also created a 70-degree temperature environment to juxtapose the performance in both warm and cold atmospheres.
Among the bunch, one unit stood out – the Frigidaire. It won us over with its superior build quality and design. It’s a breeze to clean and maintain, has a generous runtime, and most impressively, the drop in temperature didn’t faze it one bit.
Stay with me as I unfold the findings of our rigorous tests and reveal the champions in our best budget dehumidifier and best premium dehumidifier categories.
Frigidaire Dehumidifier
BEST OVERALL
Let me give you the lowdown.
The Frigidaire’s design and manufacturing standards are nothing short of impressive. I put it to the test in a freezing environment and it performed flawlessly, not missing a beat.
First, we ran it under normal conditions (above 70 degrees), and then moved it into our custom-made chill zone. The result? There wasn’t even a smidgen of difference between its dehumidifying speed in the cold and in the warmer conditions.
As for its design, it’s the resilience of this dehumidifier that really catches the eye. The high-quality materials and thoughtful features included in its design truly speak volumes about its durability.
Maintaining this unit is a breeze, it boasts an exceptional runtime, and the water tank capacity is a major plus.
When it comes to water tank capacity, most dehumidifiers in this class offer 14-pint reservoirs. But not this Frigidaire. It comes with a whopping 16.9-liter water tank, putting it well ahead of the pack in terms of runtime between refills. And, icing on the cake, whether in warm or cold tests, the water never froze up, and the runtime remained unchanged.
It clocked in its usual 36 hours between refills under both below-50 and above-70 temperatures. Interestingly, the dehumidifier seemed to perform even better in colder temperatures. We did face one hiccup when running it in the cold with continuous drainage – the drainage hose kept freezing. However, the dehumidifier itself never skipped a beat.
Now, if you’re dealing with areas of 750 square feet or more, the Frigidaire is your go-to. We simulated cold weather conditions in a slightly smaller area – around 500 square feet.
Whether in the 50-degree, 500 square feet space, or the 70-degree, 750 square feet area, the Frigidaire brought moisture levels down to around 43% in just 10 minutes. And it maintained these levels with virtually no fluctuation.
As for noise, the Frigidaire FFAD5033W1 was as quiet as a whisper. It remained consistently quiet in both warm and cold conditions. Unlike other units in the test that used downward exhaust technology, the Frigidaire directs its exhaust upwards, a feature the company claims contributes to its remarkably low noise levels.
This unit also boasts an easy-to-clean, washable filter that nabs dust from the air, ensuring the dehumidifier works at its best. It features custom humidity control – a handy feature as we moved it between the warm and icy conditions. The unit did most of the work on its own in the automatic setting, but we were able to make minor adjustments to suit the conditions.
The Frigidaire comes standard with a continuous drain option. Once you set the dehumidifier to this mode, you won’t need to worry about refilling the water tank. It’ll run for as long as there’s power.
It’s smart too. When the water tank is full, the unit turns itself off to avoid any damage.
The water tank is front-loading, complete with a handle and splash guard. I must say, we haven’t come across a more hassle-free refilling system on any other unit we’ve tested.
Plus, the unit has caster wheels – moving it from one area to another is a cakewalk and spill-free.
The manufacturer claims that the Frigidaire can handle temperatures as low as 40 degrees. After our extensive testing in around 50 degrees, we absolutely believe them!
In essence, the Frigidaire FFAD5033W1 outperforms its competition in just about every aspect. Its dehumidifying speed is top-tier, it boasts a larger water collection reservoir, a continuous drainage option, lower noise levels, and the build quality is just outstanding.
Pros
- It works fast
- Quiet
- Happy with spaces from 500 square feet upwards
- Build quality is magnificent
- Design is ultimately user friendly
- Easy to clean
- Easy to maintain
- Exceptional runtime
- Superior water reservoir capacity
- Continual drainage option
- Consistent humidity levels, even under extreme conditions
- Does exceptionally well in temps below 50 degrees
Cons
- The unit is big and somewhat bulky
hOmeLabs Energy Star Dehumidifier
BEST BUDGET
First off, let me tell you, the packaging of this unit was a stroke of genius. No more struggling to lift the dehumidifier out – the box just slides right open.
This hOmeLabs model comes with handy handles and caster wheels, making moving it from room to room a breeze.
When it comes to design, the hOmeLabs Energy Star Dehumidifier sports a sleek, clean white finish that’s easy to clean. Sure, it picked up a few smudges during the unpacking process and when we moved it into the cold room, condensation formed and mixed with dust to create smears. But a simple wipe-down was all it took to get it looking brand new again.
Its control panel features a user-friendly interface, with the electronics seemingly unaffected by the cold during the sub-50-degree testing conditions.
Operating this dehumidifier? As simple as pie.
Much like the Frigidaire, the hOmeLabs also offers a continuous drainage option. This one is located on the back, and running the tubing was a bit trickier than anticipated – until we referred to the manual, that is. In the colder conditions, we noticed some ice crystals forming where the pipe connects to the unit, but it wasn’t serious enough to hinder the dehumidifier’s operations.
In a moment of design brilliance, hOmeLabs chose to tether the cap to the dehumidifier with a plastic rope, eliminating the possibility of losing or misplacing it. Believe me, there were a few among us in the testing team who were incredibly grateful for this small yet practical feature.
Setting up the unit was straightforward, but don’t misplace that manual. It’s filled with handy tips that’ll help your dehumidifier perform even better.
Speaking of performance, the water tank on this hOmeLabs model can hold up to 6 liters. Just place it, forget it, and it’ll let you know when the tank is full.
If you prefer the continual drainage option, setting it up is a cinch. The drainage port is conveniently located at the back, all you need is a ¾-inch garden hose.
This hOmeLabs 70-pint dehumidifier can effectively dehumidify spaces up to 2500 square feet, making it the perfect choice for large living rooms or open-plan areas.
When it comes to noise levels, the hOmeLabs dehumidifier is a legend in its own right. All it produces is a barely noticeable hum. Without a doubt, it was the quietest unit in its class.
To keep it in top shape, rinse the water reservoir every couple of weeks and clean the filter monthly. A warning light will let you know when the filter needs your attention, which is usually after about 250 hours of continuous use.
This dehumidifier, with its sleek look, built-in caster wheels and handles, and an ultra-quiet fan, is right at home in spaces up to 2500 square feet. Its impressive dehumidifying capability makes it a great fit for large open-plan areas, living rooms, or even unheated basements in cold weather.
Operating this unit couldn’t be simpler. Adjust it to your preferred moisture setting, and let it run its continuous 24-hour cycle until the tank is full, at which point it will automatically shut off. It also comes with a drain hose outlet for continuous draining.
This hOmeLabs dehumidifier works by reducing moisture through its built-in pump compressor. It also features a Turbo mode that cranks up the fan speed from Normal Air to High Air for maximum moisture removal. This feature was a standout performer in both the cold and warm test conditions.
In Auto mode, the hOmeLabs automatically finds the ideal humidity levels and maintains it at around 55% if the room temperature is cooler than 65 degrees Fahrenheit. If the room is warmer than 77 degrees, it adjusts the humidity level to 45%, maintaining that level without any help from you.
In summary, the hOmeLabs 70-Pint Dehumidifier is a budget-friendly choice if you’re in the market for a user-friendly, continuous drainage dehumidifier.
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
Black + Decker BDT50WTB
BEST PREMIUM
The Black + Decker is a workhorse, covering spaces up to 4500 square feet, and removing up to 50 pints of moisture per day. It even has an extended runtime thanks to its 14.3-pint tank. Bonus – it filters out dust from the air too!
You’ll know when it’s time to empty the water tank, thanks to a handy warning light and an audible alarm.
In a world where we’re more conscious of our impact on the environment, it’s nice to see that this unit uses environmentally friendly R4110a refrigerant.
The Black + Decker BD50WTB is all about control. It comes with a timer you can set in 30-minute increments up to ten hours, and then in one-hour intervals up to 24 hours.
And when it comes to humidity levels, you have the power to adjust them in 5% increments.
The BDT50WTB’s water tank can hold a hefty 14.3 pints. This larger-than-average size means fewer trips to empty it, giving you extended runtimes. And the best part? Even when we tested it in cold conditions below the 50-degree mark, the water tank performed flawlessly.
Depending on your room’s humidity levels and your unit setup, you can expect the Black + Decker to run for 36 hours or even more.
The folks at Black + Decker recommend this unit for spaces up to 4500 square feet, essentially making it a whole-house dehumidifier. Whether we tested it in a warm or cold environment, this thing didn’t skip a beat – it performed equally well in both conditions.
Impressively, the Black + Decker was able to bring down the humidity from a staggering 90% to optimal levels in under ten minutes in both the cold room and the warmer test environment.
While it’s not the quietest unit we’ve tested, remember that the Black + Decker is a more powerful dehumidifier. The only time we noticed the noise level was when we ran the fan at higher speeds.
The Black + Decker has an automatic defrost feature for the coils when the temperature gets too low (though, we were never able to determine the exact temperature at which this happens).
To make life easier, it also comes with a check-filter indicator, taking the guesswork out of maintenance. Add in a washable mesh filter and an Energy Star rating for its eco-friendly operation, and you’ve got a dehumidifier that’s both user-friendly and kind to the planet.
Pros
- Covers up to 4500 square feet
- Removes up to 50 pints of moisture per day
- 14.3-pint tank
- Washable mesh filter
- Environmentally friendly with an Energy Star rating
- Water level indicator
- 3.28-foot drain hose
- Audible alert when the water reservoir is full
- Top mounted control panel
- Adjustable humidistat
- 4 casters for easy moving
Cons
- Noisier than other units
