How to Shop for a Dehumidifier?

homebrewer said:

Keep in mind that unless they specify, the pints-per-day rating is usually at saturation (100% RH) and at that level, it's capable of pulling out XX pints per day. My LG was rated at 65 pints per day but in a real world situation running 24/7, it couldn't pull out more than 40 pints per day while heating the shiz out of my rooms.

As someone else already stated, buy the biggest one that you can afford. Worst case, it never runs and easily maintains an ideal humidity level. Mine has probably paid for itself in that I no longer have a bud mold issue in one of my strains and don't have to throw away moldy product.

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Hey home brewer
was thinking about you when I was down in my area. NOt sure if you know/knew that my basement flooded about 6 weeks ago or so. Never could get my hands on a rentable dehumidifier unit, but I did end up getting a 70 pint danby unit. The works fine, but I think you are right that the commercial grade unit is the way to go. RIght now with spring and summer on the rise. My RH is up above 50 now in the basement and my danby unit is running 24/7. Like I said, the think works good, but I have that thing set to 30% and only have seen that level twice. ALthough when I was drying out my grow room after the flood. I did see it get down to this level.
What I think I'm going to ultimately do is go with a larger unit in the basement which supplies my air into the grow room. ANd then just place my danby unit in the grow room.
A couple questions. I'm trying to find that unit you have to look at again. I had it bookmarked but I'm on a new PC build and out of my bookmarks. Also do you run a seperate controller on your unit or does it have one built in? THe reason why I ask, and others can chime in here, is that my danby never shuts off. Like if I set it to 50% It can reach 45% and still keep running. Is this normal?
Thanks

This is the unit I own: http://www.sylvane.com/santa-fe-dehumidifier.html

The desired humidity level can be set from the unit and when it reaches that level, the unit shuts off. The particular unit I own works great for my needs. Shop around that site and make sure you buy one that will meet your needs.

Might want to give the Phoenix line of restoration units a look... rugged & with big wheels to get up/down those stairs. All the varying models are made by Thermastor, so u'r getting very comparable ratings/efficiencies, just in varying configurations/packaging. Recommend the Phoenix for mobility ++ it has a memory recall function, so you can run a controller to it.

I just picked up a Sunpentown (SPT) SD-65E 65 pint dehumidifier, after doing a lot of research. I got a SquareTrade warranty for 3 years on it too. I was using a Haier DM30J 30 pint, but as the weeks went by in flower, the humidity kept creeping up. Now I have both of them running in the room, as I had a flood, my condensate pump is not working for some reason.

Ya thats it baby. Good looking out. Those small units work good at maintaining RH, but from what I am learning so far they can't handle a swing of 15% or greater.

Seems like there is no viable optional for around the 500-750 price range. SO be it, if I need a grand to play ball properly, then so be it. Will have to save up for the big boy bat. Thanks again guys.

flamdrags420 said:

Seems like there is no viable optional for around the 500-750 price range. SO be it, if I need a grand to play ball properly, then so be it. Will have to save up for the big boy bat. Thanks again guys.

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I agree on this. I'm running both a 30pt and a 65pt 24/7 and it keeps the flower tent at 37-42%rh. Without the 30pt it keeps it around 48%rh. This is 8.5 weeks into flower.