Excess humidity can be the root of many problems in your home. Because of this, dehumidifiers are a helpful supplement to HVAC systems in areas with high humidity year round. Advanced technologies have made our home living extra comfortable with various home appliances and air quality products. This includes dehumidifiers equipped with inverter technology for higher efficiency, lower operating costs, and better overall performance.
At the time of writing, there is currently one inverter dehumidifier model readily available in US retail stores online. This unit is from home appliance brand Hisense, which also offers many other high capacity dehumidifiers with unique features. Keep reading if you want to learn more about this model, and how an inverter dehumidifier compares to a traditional unit.
Update as of Summer 2023: There are still relatively few inverter dehumidifiers on the market, including the Hisense model below. While some users really like it, we have noticed some reliability issues from several users. So unless you’re really set on an inverter dehumidifier specifically, you may want to check out our overall best 50-pint dehumidifier recommendations or high-capacity commercial dehumidifier recommendations here with similar capacities and many more product options with more time on market and more user reviews.
Inverter Dehumidifiers Comparison
IMAGE | PRODUCT | |
---|---|---|
Editor's Choice |
| View On Amazon →Read Our Review |
| View On Amazon →Read Our Review | |
| View On Amazon →Read Our Review |
Hisense DH10019TP1WG
The Hisense DH10019TP1WG Inverter Dehumidifier is available in one online store we found, among the portable dehumidifiers from Hisense. This unit can remove an impressive amount of 60 pints of moisture per day (100 pints under the 2012 DOE standards) from small to medium size spaces up to 1,500 square feet. Like most other Hisense dehumidifiers, it is Energy Star certified to ensure efficiency with greater savings.
This inverter dehumidifier can operate efficiently in low temperatures down to 38°F in three modes: Auto Dry, Continuous/Super Dry, or Manual Set, with three fan speeds (High, Mid, Low). In Auto Dry operation, the relative humidity will be automatically set to 50% while the fan speed can be adjusted manually. In Continuous mode, the relative humidity will be set to 30%.
If you want to set your desired humidity level, choose Manual Set mode. Once you set your target humidity between 30% to 80%, the dehumidifier will operate at the selected fan speed to achieve the set humidity. If the humidity rises at least 5% above your setting, the compressor will turn on, and stop if the room humidity is lower than your setting. To select the operation mode, press the Mode button until the indicator light for your chosen mode illuminates. The digital display on the control panel shows the current humidity from 30% to 90% while operating. You can also set the timer to automatically turn off or turn on the unit after a specified period, from 30 minutes to 24 hours. When the timer is selected, the digital display will show the remaining time.
This high capacity Hisense dehumidifier includes a drain hose for continuous drainage, as well as a built-in pump. If you opt to use the water bucket for manual drainage, it also features the standard automatic shutoff and full tank alert to prevent water overflow. To enable continuous drainage via gravity, attach the drain hose to the outlet port on the side of the unit. Alternatively, you can use the internal condensate pump to direct the water vertically up to 16 feet above the unit. Simply attach the hose to the drainage port and press the Pump button to activate this function. Although, most of the early reviews have complaints about the quality and durability of the pump in Hisense dehumidifiers.
Additionally, the featured inverter technology enables the compressor to vary its speed instead of cycle on and off like other dehumidifiers. In turn, this uses less energy while working more effectively. It is also a silent dehumidifier significantly quieter than traditional compressor dehumidifiers, with an average noise level of 36 decibels on low settings. It also comes with a washable air filter and a Clean Filter indicator. The unit is guaranteed by a two-year warranty on parts and labor, as opposed to the standard one year for most other brands. One thing to note is that any inverter type appliance comes at a much higher price than a similar non-inverter unit.
PROS
- Energy Star certification
- Inverter technology
- High moisture removal rate
- With built-in pump
- Quiet operation
CONS
- Low quality pump
- Higher price
Benefits of Inverter Technology
Inverter technology is now commonly used in air conditioners and refrigerators to save energy by up to 50% compared to non-inverter units. Today, dehumidifier brands are starting to equip their products with this technology. Although it’s much more expensive than a traditional dehumidifier, here are some advantages to using an inverter dehumidifier for your home.
Higher Energy Efficiency
Appliances that use compressors, such as air conditioners, refrigerators, and dehumidifiers, waste a lot of energy while turning on and off periodically in order to release pressure. The start up for every cycle consumes the most energy, and thus, shorter cycles are less efficient. On the contrary, an inverter compressor does not turn on or turn off completely, but instead works at a variable speed.
For example, an inverter air conditioner does not cycle on and off to maintain the temperature. Once the required temperature is achieved, the compressor will constantly run at slow speed depending on the set temperature and the size of the room. This conserves energy since the compressor will not have to work at its full capacity for longer periods. The same applies for an inverter dehumidifier.
Stronger Performance
Since an inverter dehumidifier regulates the compressor speed according to room conditions, it can operate at a higher speed to achieve your desired humidity level faster than a regular unit, which only runs at a fixed speed.
Longer Lifespan
Compressors experience a lot of stress during the start up period. Because a regular compressor cycles on and off periodically, this speeds up the natural wear and tear of the machine. One indication of the longer lifespan of an inverter appliance is the longer warranty period, typically around ten years for refrigerators, compared to the five years for a non-inverter.
The standard for compressor-based dehumidifiers is one year, while the Hisense inverter model comes with a longer two-year warranty.
Silent Operation
Lastly, a regular compressor makes the most noise during the start of its cycle. You may notice your air conditioner or dehumidifier go silent for a time, then suddenly come back to life with a loud buzzing noise. This is the main source of noise in compressor based dehumidifiers. Since an inverter appliance maintains operation at low speed, this produces significantly less noise as opposed to traditional units.
Inverter Dehumidifier Alternatives
If you think the inverter dehumidifier above is not right for you, here are some of the most energy efficient and quiet dehumidifiers in the market today. These top dehumidifiers are all Energy Star rated to assure you of high performance at lower costs.
hOmeLabs HME020031N
The hOmeLabs portable dehumidifier features almost everything you would need in a dehumidifier for your home. It’s one of the best quiet dehumidifiers with high energy efficiency that customers are looking for.
This particular model has a dehumidification capacity of 50 pints per day, while there are smaller units with 22-pint and 35-pint capacities. It’s ideal for large rooms up to 4,500 square feet.
Frigidaire FFAD5033W1
Frigidaire dehumidifiers are popular for their exceptional performance even in temperatures as low as 41°F. With high CFM fan speeds and an average noise output of 27 to 51 decibels, Frigidaire is arguably the best quiet dehumidifier today. In terms of energy efficiency and versatility, Frigidaire also rises above most dehumidifiers its size.
This unit removes up to 50 pints of moisture from the air in a day. Frigidaire also offers smaller units in 22-pint and 35-pint.
Honeywell TP70WK
Another energy efficient and quiet dehumidifier we recommend is Honeywell. It has many features similar to the units above, including auto shutoff and restart functions. This model has a moisture removal rate of 50 pints per day.
This quiet dehumidifier by Honeywell operates from 41°F to 90°F with automatic defrost in case of frost buildup in low temperature areas. The drawback is there is no defrost light that indicates when the unit is in auto defrost mode.
Conclusion
During humid summer days, your air conditioner may not be able to control the temperature and humidity effectively. It will have to work really hard, which will subsequently cause your bills to skyrocket. All the while, you’re not achieving the utmost comfort for everyone. While a traditional dehumidifier can accomplish the task well (as long as you get the right type and size for your space), it can be quite heavy on the pocket, especially if it’s particularly humid in your place. So if you have the budget, consider getting an inverter dehumidifier, or one of the best quiet dehumidifiers we listed above.