21 out of 21 people found this review helpful.
In my view, the best dehumidifier for the money out there
Date of Review: Apr 8, 2005
The Bottom Line: Skip over most of the lower priced whirlpools, kenmores, and other big store "bargains". Go for the Soleus if you want quiet, efficient dehumidification.
We spent a long time researching dehumidifiers knowing that its size and noise would be very apparent in our relatively small living space. A dehumidifier is vital to us here in Western Oregon, where the humidity outside rarely goes below 90% in the rainy season. I'm very happy with what we finally ended up with, the Soleus CFM40 (40 pints per day model).
It's relatively lightweight (32pds) and compact and does a great job at removing moisture. It rated for a space much larger that our own, but this just means that it runs for a shorter period of time. Best of all it's almost silent, and uses only approx 260 watts while running (from my own tests with a P3 energy usage meter).
This is not the case with many of the other dehumidifiers out there. We first had a 40 pint Whirlpool and the difference is incredible. When the whirlpool was running it was difficult to hear much with all the hum and vibration. It also used about 420-440 watts while running (while being rated for the same moisture removal as the Soleus).
Keep in mind that removing moisture is more than just an aesthetic concern. Where you see moisture collecting is NOT the only place it's hiding out. It is also condensing within the walls etc and may eventually lead to dry-rot, not to mention mold/mildew. I wouldn't bother with the little less-than-a-pint-per-day things. They're relatively inefficient and run all the time (and freeze up in cool temps) and will just put a small dent in the moisture . Running vents when cooking and showering is a still a good idea too.
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