Dehumidifiers help conquer clamminess

Mold can trigger allergic reactions or respiratory ailments in some people, especially those with compromised immune systems or lung infections. To help prevent mold, keep humidity levels in your home between 40 and 60 percent. To that end, consider a dehumidifier. Our latest tests found several new winners—and some high-priced duds.

More reasons to go large

Models that capture 60 to 70 pints of moisture per day usually remove it faster and use less energy than smaller models. The top model, A1 Kenmore, removed water superbly and efficiently, and its pump can send water to a sink or through a window.

The new A2 GE, a CR Best Buy, was a notch above A1 in spaces where the temperature drops to 50º F. It also has a light that tells you when the filter needs washing.

A larger tank on the A3 Soleus Air requires less frequent emptying, though its humidistat was less than stellar at maintaining the humidity levels we set.

A new midsized champ

The B1 GE, a CR Best Buy, was tops among models that remove 45 to 50 pints per day. The B2 Kenmore and B3 Frigidaire trade some efficiency for a more accurate humidistat. Less impressive: the pricier new B4 DeLonghi and B7 Winix. They use more energy and lack auto-start, so they don’t automatically restart after a power outage. The bottom-scoring B9 Haier guzzled even more energy.

Danby falls off our picks list

In previous reports, we recommended the A4 and B6 Danby models. But further tests showed that their fans stay on even when the compressor shuts off, until the tank is full. That results in lower efficiency.