Dehumidifiers & Air Purifiers
ENERGY STAR® certified air purifiers and dehumidifiers boost your comfort and safety by improving air quality.
Dehumidifiers combat mold and rot by removing moisture from indoor air, making it fresher and your space more comfortable. Air purifiers (also called room air cleaners) improve air quality by filtering out smoke, dust, dander, and pollen. If you’re shopping for one of these technologies, look for ENERGY STAR certified models—at least 15% more efficient for dehumidifiers, about 25% more efficient for purifiers, and just as effective as standard models.
Dehumidifiers
When humidity levels top 70%, most people begin to feel uncomfortable. That’s when a dehumidifier can help. It works by drawing air over cold coils, condensing out moisture, then passing the air over warm coils and back into the room. Water drips into a reservoir that must be either periodically emptied or connected to a drain. In addition to making your home or business more habitable, removing moisture helps prevent rot, mold, and bacteria.
- Save about $100 in energy costs over the life of an ENERGY STAR certified dehumidifier
- Combat mold and rot, for a safer and more durable building
- Reduced moisture and bacteria create a fresher environment
Air Purifiers
Air purifiers reduce smoke, dust, dander, and pollen. With many different types on the market, the most important feature to look for is a HEPA filter to trap very fine particles. It’s important to know that some purifiers produce ozone, a pollutant that aggravates asthma (although ENERGY STAR certified models have a low ozone output). Regardless of type, most air purifiers require frequent filter changing—so remember to factor in this cost when comparing models.
- Remove smoke, allergens, gases, and dust from the air
- Purifiers with carbon filters can also remove odors
- Models with HEPA filters work best to trap fine particles
Choosing the Right Size Dehumidifier
Dehumidifiers are rated by the amount of water they remove from the air over 24 hours—anywhere from 10 to 70 pints. Use this chart from ENERGY STAR to select the right size dehumidifier based on the square footage and humidity of your space. A larger tank may make sense if you’re unable to empty it frequently and can’t connect it to a drain. But keep in mind that mold can grow in any water basin that’s not regularly emptied and cleaned out.
- Choose the correct size based on your square footage and current humidity level
- A dehumidifier’s energy factor (EF) measures overall efficiency: look for a minimum 1.85 EF
- Some ENERGY STAR certified models are rated for use in colder temperatures, as low as 42 degrees
