Do small dehumidifiers really work?
3 Key Takeaways:
🚀 Small dehumidifiers are effective in removing excess moisture and controlling humidity levels in small spaces such as bedrooms, bathrooms, and closets.
🚀 Mini dehumidifiers work similarly to larger units, with the main difference being their size and capacity.
🚀 Investing in a small dehumidifier can help prevent mold and mildew growth, dampness, musty smells, dust mites, and other allergens in small spaces.
Small spaces are also prone to high humidity levels and excess moisture build-up. It is a struggle for homeowners to track down high moisture levels and remove moisture from the air and keep humidity levels under control. Maintaining the ideal humidity levels in a small room or large room can be done with ease using dehumidifiers.
Solving the struggle to keep small rooms free from high humidity levels and carry out excess moisture removal from the surrounding can be done with small dehumidifiers. Finding the best small dehumidifier is the best solution to keeping small bedrooms, small bathrooms, or any other small room. Even a tiny unit can be the best mini dehumidifier with perfection in removing moisture from the air and keeping tight spaces safe. In this article, we will discuss in detail small dehumidifiers, how they work, and the benefits of installing mini dehumidifiers in small spaces to remove moisture effectively.
What is a mini dehumidifier used for?
A mini dehumidifier is an ideal choice to sort out high humidity levels and their resulting troubles in small spaces. Moisture removal even from a small room is necessary and is not as easy as it seems. It requires a sturdy system. The compact unit of mini dehumidifiers is built with the same functioning and strikingly similar features as large units.
The major difference between a large dehumidifier and a small dehumidifier is its size and capacity. The full capacity of mini dehumidifiers with their water collection tank will be limited in compassion to larger dehumidifiers. However, the water tank will be adequate to meet the needs of the small space where the mini dehumidifier is placed.
The square feet area covered by a compact dehumidifier is certainly lesser than a regular dehumidifier. Although theoretically mini dehumidifiers claim to cover an area of up to 1400 square feet, most small dehumidifiers are found to carry out moisture removal seamlessly for an area of 400 square feet. To carry out everyday moisture removal from the damp room, a 22-pint small dehumidifier will be the right choice.
The full capacity of the water tank in a small dehumidifier will vary based on the model and brand. Small dehumidifiers usually come with a minimum water tank capacity of 0.5 gallons. You can always invest in a mini dehumidifier that has a higher water tank capacity based on the requirement of your home. Small dehumidifiers made with silica gel do not have a water tank but are rechargeable and perform efficiently.
Any damp room is prone to mold and mildew growth. Tight spaces like bathrooms, store rooms, closets, gym bags, cabinets, etc., are also damp environments that need attention. Investing in the best small dehumidifier can help you to keep small rooms and any small area free from mold and mildew growth, dampness and musty smell, dust mites, and other allergens. Mini dehumidifiers are designed to absorb the excess moisture from the air to give the air that is dry and free from moisture and also from allergens like dust mites.
Another welcoming aspect of the mini models that are available in the market is the smart features they come with. Compact dehumidifiers are energy efficient. You can be assured of the energy efficiency that comes with using a small dehumidifier. The best small dehumidifiers are the ideal working models of a portable dehumidifier due to their small and compact size, even the smallest dehumidifier can be sneaked into any place that needs dehumidification, rechargeable materials like silica gel, charcoal, DampRid, etc., also act a good dehumidifier for a small space.
All of the above examples are cost-effective and energy efficient. Right from carrying out moisture removal, storing the absorbed moisture in the water tank, removable water tank, LED light for full tank reminder, a similar adaptation to thermo-electric cooling technology, functioning like an air purifier by removing dust mites, mildew growth, and other common allergy triggers; the best small dehumidifiers are exactly what a small bedroom or bathroom, or even a small room requires to keep humidity levels under check.
How long does it take for a small dehumidifier to work?
The time taken for a mini dehumidifier to work on excess humidity levels in a small square feet area will depend on various factors. The amount of already existing water content in the environment that the small dehumidifier must work on, the cubic feet area to be covered, and the model of the compact unit.
On average, it is recommended to wait up to 12 hours for a dehumidifier to start working. Whether it is a large unit with a well-installed drain hose, a compact dehumidifier, or a smaller portable dehumidifier that is rechargeable; you must wait for a suggested time when the unit starts working initially. Later with regular usage, it can take up to 20 minutes for that unit to start extracting moisture from the air. This can depend on the square feet area of the room and the existing humidity levels of the area.
What should I look for in a small dehumidifier?
With advances in technology, we now have several features added to enhance the performance of dehumidifiers. Some of the popular features that make dehumidifiers highly functional include the ability to work with ease at lower temperatures, low-speed mode, quiet operation with Peltier technology, thermo-electric cooling technology, and multiple water tank draining options with the drain hose, and more. Although these exact features cannot be found in the best mini dehumidifier, one can certainly keep an eye on some aspects to remember while purchasing the best small dehumidifier.
1. Energy efficiency
Finding the right energy-efficient smallest dehumidifier is possible. When you buy a small compact dehumidifier be sure to check its energy consumption. The greater the energy efficiency, the lower will be your electric bill and energy costs.
2. Compact size
An essential factor to look for in a mini dehumidifier is its compact design that can fit anywhere where much space is unavailable. This design of a portable dehumidifier makes it convenient to be used in small cabinets, RVs, and even in gym bags where you can make use of dehumidifier pockets.
3. Capacity
Carefully check the full capacity of the water tank and the level of moisture absorption from the small dehumidifier. It must be sufficient to cover the given cubic feet area.
4. Water tank
Although the best small dehumidifiers might not come with a drain hose model to have continuous drainage or floor drain hose, a portable dehumidifier can have an LED light indicator when the water tank reaches its full capacity. An LED light feature is important to remind the user when the tank needs to be emptied.
5. Performance
Most importantly you must thoroughly review the operational efficiency of the best small dehumidifier that you purchase. It must be able to effectively keep away dust mites and other common allergy triggers like an air purifier while keeping the air and space dry and free from moisture build-up.
How do you figure out what size dehumidifier you need?
Arriving at the final decision of which of the smallest dehumidifiers will suit your need, you must first estimate how much space or cubic feet or square feet area the small dehumidifier is expected to cover.
A small dehumidifier with 22 pints capacity is usually of sufficient capacity for any small bedroom, kitchen, closet, or even a hot shower. Small dehumidifiers are also designed with the facility to carry out a quiet operation. This might suit a bedroom or office space where silence is preferred.
Are mini dehumidifiers expensive to run?
It does not cost much to run compact dehumidifiers. According to facts, a small dehumidifier will consume up to 22 watts, whereas a larger dehumidifier can consume up to 500 watts. Small dehumidifiers are the cheaper option if the square feet of the space are very small and the performance from a small unit will be sufficient. There are also plentiful rechargeable dehumidifiers that can work for a small area.
If the area in need of dehumidification is a large square feet area then you will benefit from a larger unit that will be cost-effective.
FAQ Section
1. What happens if your dehumidifier is too small?
If the unit is too small for the area then the moisture from the air can be extracted. Having a very small unit for a medium to large square feet area will not function as required. Therefore it is crucial to have the right unit size for successful moisture removal and regulation of humidity levels. The water tank capacity will also be very limited in a small unit when working in a large space.
2. Where is the best place to put a small dehumidifier?
For both large and small units, the best place to place the dehumidifier is close to the source of moisture. To achieve effective moisture removal and maintenance of the existing humidity levels, the small dehumidifier can be placed in close proximity to the moisture source, however, it must be also where the air circulation can be carried out freely and at a minimum distance of 6 inches away from the wall.
A convenient spot to empty the water-filled water tank, a facility to drain the water through a drain hose, etc., are other aspects to bear in mind while handling larger dehumidifiers.
3. Are portable dehumidifiers effective?
Yes. Portable dehumidifiers are indeed a wise and convenient choice for spaces where moisture removal is necessary but access to a power supply at all times might not be feasible. Cars, RVs, gym bags, cabinets, closets, boats, etc., are the most common examples of places where the square feet unit is small and frequently use portable dehumidification to keep humidity levels under control.
4. How do you dehumidify a small space?
Dehumidifying a small space can be done effectively by following a few practical methods. You can consider improving the air circulation of the area by opening out windows and ventilators (if possible), removing sources of dampness like wet clothes or materials, exhaust fans, and making use of houseplants such as ferns, lilies, and ivy which are popular for helping with relative humidity level control, etc.
5. Which are the best small dehumidifiers?
To find the best small dehumidifier for your home you are advised to do a thorough study of the reviews available on the small dehumidifiers available. A few of the popular small dehumidifier models include Eva Dry dehumidifiers and the Seavon portable dehumidifier.
Wrapping Up
That’s a wrap-up on the article. We trust the article cleared your doubts and questions on small dehumidifiers, how they function, and the benefits of using them. Share with us, if you have used a small dehumidifier and how beneficial its dehumidification process is within the area it was placed.
About The Author
Olivia — a self-confessed air quality addict — is a home climate enthusiast, fresh air advocate, and someone with deep personal experience and knowledge about mold extermination. Her work was mentioned in countless notable humidity publications. Previously she was an editor at Mold Remediation.