Whole House vs Portable Dehumidifiers: Which One Should I Get for My Florida Home?

Looking to reduce your indoor humidity levels?

If so, you may be stuck choosing between a whole-house or portable dehumidifier.

Our recommendation?

Although they are more expensive, we generally recommend Florida homeowners go with a whole-house dehumidifier because they are more powerful in terms of dehumidification and require less maintenance.

That said, both types of dehumidifiers have their pros and cons. To give you a better idea of which type of dehumidifier makes sense for you, let’s weigh the good and the bad of each type.

Want a free quote to install a whole-home dehumidifier for your home?

The biggest advantage of a portable dehumidifier is its low upfront cost. So if you’re on a tight budget, and you only need to dehumidify one room, then a portable model might be best for you.

Let’s take a closer look…

Pros:

• Less expensive upfront ($150 to $500)

• Doesn’t require professional installation

Cons:

• Only dehumidifies one room at a time

• Some models are noisy

• You have to manually empty the condensate reservoir

• Not usually as energy-efficient as a whole-home dehumidifier

Where to purchase: You can purchase a portable dehumidifier at any home improvement store.

A whole-house dehumidifier is installed by a professional in your existing HVAC system. The great benefit of a whole-home unit is that it will dehumidify all of the rooms in your home—not just one.

Let’s take a closer look…

Pros:

• Reduces humidity in every room (not just one room)

• Most whole-home dehumidifiers are more energy-efficient

• Easy to control humidity levels via the thermostat

• Runs automatically, so you don’t need to turn it off and on

• Only requires annual maintenance

Cons:

• High upfront cost (price to install a whole-house dehumidifier can range from $1,500 to $2,800+)

• Requires a professional to install

Where to purchase: Contact your HVAC contractor and ask what whole-home dehumidifier options they offer.

To learn more about what to expect when you hire us, visit our air purifier page for more information.