# How We Review Dehumidifiers

Canonical: https://www.enthusiastreview.com/how-we-review/
Last updated: 2026-11-05


No lab coats, no fake test scores — just the data that actually separates a good dehumidifier from a bad one.

## 1. We start with comparable numbers

Manufacturers love big pint numbers. We compare models on their capacity under the **2019 DOE test procedure** (65°F, 60% relative humidity), which is the only rating that lines up across brands. Where a listing quotes the older 2012 rating (80°F), we convert or flag it.

## 2. We check efficiency and safety records
- **ENERGY STAR:** we look up each model's Integrated Energy Factor (liters removed per kWh) — the clearest guide to running cost.
- **CPSC recalls:** we search the Consumer Product Safety Commission database for every brand and model family and say so on the page when there's history.
- **Manuals:** minimum operating temperature, defrost behavior, drain options, pump lift height and filter care come straight from manufacturer documentation.

## 3. We read owner reviews in bulk

A dehumidifier's real weaknesses — a pump that dies after one season, a humidistat that reads ten points off, a compressor that rattles — show up in patterns across hundreds of reviews. We look for those patterns, not star averages.

## 4. We match the machine to the job

The best basement dehumidifier is a bad pick for a nursery. Every guide is written around one space or problem, and the picks are chosen for that job: capacity, noise, cold tolerance, drainage and footprint.

## 5. We keep guides current

Models get discontinued, renamed and recalled constantly. We revisit guides regularly and show the last-updated date at the top of every page.

## What we don't do

We don't run a test lab, and we don't claim to. We don't accept payment for placement or let manufacturers review guides before publishing. Affiliate links help fund the site — see our [disclosure](https://www.enthusiastreview.com/disclosure/).