Controlling humidity levels is crucial for office environments. Excess moisture in the air can lead to mold growth, promote dust mites and bacteria, cause musty odors, and even damage furniture and electronics over time.
Investing in a quality dehumidifier is the solution to managing humidity and maintaining healthier indoor air quality in your workplace. These appliances work by extracting moisture from the air and collecting it in an internal tank or draining it out through a hose.
But with so many types and models of dehumidifiers on the market, how do you select the right one for your needs? This comprehensive guide covers the key factors to consider and reviews the top 5 dehumidifiers ideal for office spaces.
Key Considerations When Choosing an Office Dehumidifier
Here are the most important things to keep in mind when shopping for an office dehumidifier:
Coverage Capacity: Choose a unit suited for the square footage of your space. For medium to large offices of 1,000+ sq ft, look for 50-70 pint capacity dehumidifiers. For spacious commercial offices, consider commercial-grade dehumidifiers with 80-100+ pint capacities.
Drainage System: Units with a built-in pump for continuous draining into a floor drain are most convenient, avoiding the need to empty water tanks. Or select a model with an attachable drain hose.
Portability: If you want to move the dehumidifier between rooms, select a unit with caster wheels and handles that make transportation easy. Compact size also facilitates portability.
Noise Level: To avoid disrupting workers, look for units with sound levels around 50 decibels or less for quiet operation.
Humidistat and Smart Controls: Models with automatic humidistats, adjustable fans speeds, timers, and advanced features like app control provide convenience and customization.
Energy Efficiency: Choose an ENERGY STAR certified dehumidifier to reduce energy usage and save on operating costs.
With these key factors in mind, here are the top dehumidifiers to consider for your office…
1. hOmeLabs 4,500 Sq. Ft Energy Star Dehumidifier
- Coverage: up to 4,500 sq ft
- Capacity: 70 pint/day
- Great for: open floor plan offices, moisture control for large spaces
- Key features: automatic humidistat, auto restart, drain hose
hOmeLabs 70 pint dehumidifier is our top pick for most offices due to its robust water extraction capacity and coverage area. It can maintain optimal humidity levels between 30-80% RH for spaces up to 4,500 sq ft.
Despite its power, it operates at a quiet 50 dB for undisturbed work conditions. It conveniently drains through the 6-foot removable drain hose into a floor drain so you don‘t have to empty the 2.25 gallon tank.
Set your target humidity level and the unit handles the rest automatically through the intelligent humidistat. Other handy features include a 24-hour timer, defrost mode, and auto restart after power interruptions.
With outstanding performance and convenient automation, this ENERGY STAR certified dehumidifier will keep your medium to large office spaces comfortable while saving energy.
- Price: $
2. Eva-Dry EDV-1100 Electric Petite Dehumidifier
- Coverage: up to 1,100 sq ft
- Capacity: 22 oz/day
- Great for: smaller offices, moisture control for enclosed rooms
- Key features: compact and portable, Peltier technology, continuous operation
For small office spaces like private solo offices or meeting rooms, the highly portable Eva-Dry EDV-1100 efficiently controls excess moisture without taking up valuable floor real estate.
Using advanced Peltier technology, this electric mini-dehumidifier requires no refrigerant chemicals. Despite the compact 6.5 x 5.3 x 7 inch size, its 22-ounce daily moisture removal capacity can cover areas up to 1,100 sq ft.
Position it on a desktop, shelf, or mounted on a wall with the integrated slots. It operates whisper quiet so it won‘t disturb concentration.
No batteries required as it plugs into a standard electrical outlet. The renewable silica gel beads last up to 10 years with proper maintenance. Empty the 16-ounce transparent reservoir as needed.
For office cubicles, private offices, meeting rooms and other enclosed small spaces, Eva-Dry mini dehumidifier offers set-it-and-forget-it moisture control.
- Price: $$
3. Frigidaire FFAD5033W1 Energy Star 50-Pint Dehumidifier
- Coverage: up to medium-sized rooms
- Capacity: 50 pints/day
- Great for: moisture control for enclosed offices, cubicles
- Key features: Effortless humidity control, quiet operation, spacewise design
This mid-size Frigidaire unit strikes the right balance of power, efficiency and convenience. The attractive design with side handles blends seamlessly into office environments for quiet, effective moisture control.
It’s built to capture up to 50 pints of water per day, making it suitable for office spaces around 500 square feet. The 13.5 pint tank allows you to run it for longer periods between emptying. Or take advantage of the top-mounted quick connect drainage port for continuous draining.
The Effortless Humidity Control feature uses a humidistat to maintain preset moisture levels down to 35% RH. It reactivates automatically as needed. The quiet operation around 51 decibels won‘t distract workers.
With its simple controls, humidity sensor, Energy Star rating and 2-year warranty, Frigidaire 50-pint dehumidifier delivers fuss-free moisture removal for mid-sized offices.
- Price: $$$
4. Ivation 70-Pint Energy Star Dehumidifier
- Coverage ability: up to 4,500 Sq ft
- Capacity: 70 pints/day
- Great for: moisture control for open floor plans, commercial spaces
- Key features: High capacity, automatic humidist, drain access
With its advanced design and powerful fan, Ivation GDM35 is a high performer made for spacious offices, warehouses and other commercial spaces up to 4,500 Sq ft.
It extracts up to 70 pints of moisture per day, making it suitable for significantly damp rooms. Fan speeds up to 270 CFM enable rapid moisture decrease. Empty the 1.3-gallon tank less frequently thanks to the large capacity and drainage hose outlet.
This Energy Star 70 pint dehumidifier regulates humidity automatically between 35–80% relative humidity. Save custom settings like fan speed, timers and target humidity level to the unit’s memory.
Additionally, it operates at a quiet 50 decibels so it won‘t reverberate loudly in large open offices. Overall, IVation dehumidifier offers complete humidity control for spacious commercial indoor spaces.
- Price: $$$
5. hOmeLabs Commercial Grade 70-Pint Dehumidifier
- Coverage: up to 4,500 sq ft
- Capacity: 70 pint/day
- Great for: Large open offices, significant moisture issues
- Key features: High power, drain access, integrated caster wheels
In extremely damp office spaces suffering from sweating walls, mold issues or strong musty odors, hOmeLabs Commercial Grade 70-pint dehumidifier provides the extraction power needed.
It’s equipped with a heavy-duty pump to remove up to 70 pints of water daily covering spaces up to 4,500 Sq ft. For convenient mobility, built-in caster wheels enable smooth transportation to different areas of large offices.
The unit operates quietly at 56 decibels for undisturbed working conditions. It‘s designed for simple maintenance with a washable air filter and accessible collected water bucket.
For perpetually wet basements, large warehouses, banquet halls and very damp open office layouts, this rugged commercial-grade option offers the strength required to control excess moisture.
- Price: $$$$
How to Choose Where to Place Your Office Dehumidifier
Proper dehumidifier placement is key to effectively treating all areas of an office space. Here are tips on choosing the best location:
- Place centrally in the most humid areas of the office for maximum impact.
- Give at least 6-12 inches of clearance on all sides for airflow.
- Avoid tight enclosed spaces with poor circulation.
- Set on a level, stable surface.
- Conceal out of the way under desks or shelves if appearance is a concern.
- Adjust location seasonally targeting the dampest areas like exterior walls.
Getting your office dehumidifier positioning right ensures no moisture pockets are left untreated so humidity remains balanced office-wide.
Maintaining Your Office Dehumidifier
Just purchasing a dehumidifier isn‘t the end of the job when it comes to humidity control. You‘ll need to stay on top of maintenance for your appliance to continue effectively regulating moisture over the long-term:
Clean Filters: Every 2-4 weeks, remove and rinse the filter with warm water to remove dust buildup so airflow isn‘t obstructed.
Empty Water Tanks: Monitor fill levels and drain tanks before they reach capacity to prevent overflow issues.
Check Drain Hoses: Ensure drain hoses direct water properly without kinks and clear obstructions as needed. Consider installing a condensate pump if lifting water to drain by gravity is an issue.
Vacuum Unit: Use brush attachment to clear dust/debris around intake/exhaust areas and from cabinet.
Inspect Exterior: Wipe down any grime buildup on controls panels and clean grill covers to maintain appearance.
Following the manufacturer’s guidelines for cleaning and maintenance keeps your dehumidifier running effectively for years.
The Bottom Line
Installing a properly sized dehumidifier offers critical control over humidity levels in office spaces. Lowered moisture prevents costly mold problems, eliminates mustiness and allergens, and protects furnishings and electronics.
Be sure to calculate the correct pint capacity for your office’s square footage. And select a model with convenient automated features, sufficient coverage power, and hardy construction to provide lasting performance. Contact a humidity control specialist for large commercial buildings.
With one of the top 5 high-capacity dehumidifiers above working tirelessly to balance humidity in your workspace, you can look forward to optimized air quality and a healthier indoor environment.
