Best Dehumidifiers in Canada

Our List of the Best Dehumidifiers in Canada (January 2023) 

Best Overall — Editor’s Choice - Frigidaire FFAD2233W1

And the first unit I want to place in my list of the best dehumidifiers in Canada is the Frigidaire. This is a compressor-based dehumidifier that can remove 10 liters of water from the air per day! And this is not the only one incredible feature it possesses. 

The bucket’s capacity is slightly over 4 liters, and when the bucket is full, the unit automatically shuts off. A nice bonus is that you don’t even have to discard the water from the tank thanks to the Continuous Drain feature. 

Now, the unit has a programmable delay mode, so you can postpone its operation up to 24 hours. On a digital panel, you can also choose the humidity level and fan speed. 

The dehumidifier comes with a washable filter that traps dust, which allows for both easy maintenance and efficient work. And it can operate even in lower temperatures, down to 41F (5°C).

With all of that said, the Frigidaire FFAD2233W1 is a great dehumidifier for large spaces with high humidity levels. It can continuously draw the moisture out and requires little maintenance.

Based on Our Tests

I liked how well the Frigidaire drained water from the air in large spaces during my review. The digital LCD panel also worked well during testing and it made it controlling the dehumidifier easier. The compact design also meant I could readily move the dehumidifier and place it in tight spots.

Best for Any Room — Midea Cube 35 Pint Dehumidifier

Best for Small Spaces — Ivation

Main Dehumidifier Types: Pros and Cons of Each Type Explained

When searching for a good dehumidifier in Canada, you’ll come across three major types:

• compressor-based;
• thermo-electric;
• desiccant.

Let’s see what you can expect from each type.

Compressor-Based Dehumidifiers

Also known as refrigerant dehumidifiers, these are equipped with a compressor. As the air passes through the dehumidifier, it first goes into the filter system and then over cold coils (similar to those that can be found in fridges). The moisture present in the air condenses while passing over the coils and then drips into a tank inside the unit. Then the air is reheated to the room temperature and released back into the room.

Compressor-based dehumidifiers are the most common option you can find because of their advantages:

• Extraction of large amounts of water from the air. We’re speaking about a gallon per day here, which is pretty impressive.
• Good effectiveness in warm conditions. Refrigerant dehumidifiers are generally recommended for use in temperatures above 15-20°C.
• Energy-efficiency. Compressor dehumidifiers consume less energy per hour than other types, so they’re cheaper to run.

However, this type of dehumidifier also comes with certain limitations:

• Large weight and bulkiness. Since refrigerant dehumidifiers work with large amounts of moisture, they are heavier and bigger than other types, with a minimum weight being 10 kg. Keep this in mind if you plan to move the unit between rooms.
• High noise levels. A compressor is the loudest part of the unit, and it can produce noise over 40 dB. So, if you’re looking for a dehumidifier for your bedroom, it’s better to choose other types.
• Inability to work in cold climates. The compressor dehumidifier needs to be colder than the surrounding air in order to condense moisture on its coils. So, if you live in a colder climate (with an average temperature below 15°C), the refrigerant type might not be an option, as it will spend half of the time defrosting its coils, which will reduce the overall efficiency.

Thermoelectric Dehumidifiers

These are also known under the name Peltier dehumidifiers because their work is based on the Peltier effect. 

The Peltier effect is when an electric current passes through a circuit of a thermocouple and heat is produced at one junction and absorbed at the other one.

Here’s how this phenomenon is implemented in dehumidifiers:

The electricity runs through a Peltier element (or Peltier module) in a dehumidifier, creating a temperature difference on its ends — one end of the module is cold and the other is hot.

The air is first drawn to the hot end and warmed up. Then, a fan pushes it further to the cold end of the module, thus causing dehumidification. The condensate collects on the cold side of the module and drips into the tank, and the process repeats.

Now, let’s talk about the features of such humidifiers:

• Quiet operation. Since the Peltier dehumidifier doesn’t use any compressors — only a small fan — it’s much quieter than compressor-based dehumidifiers.
• More durable than other types. The only thing that moves, and hence, can possibly break in the Peltier unit is a fan.
• Little maintenance. The only things you need to do is discard the moisture in the tank and change filters from time to time, which takes just a couple of minutes.

Also, thermoelectric dehumidifiers may have a promising potential in situations where both lower power use and more compact design are required. Plus, they can control humidity more precisely due to adjustable input power (1).

However, Peltier units aren’t perfect, and here are some limitations they come with:

• They are useless in extreme temperatures. Too cold or too hot air typically has very high humidity and Peltier units — even modern ones — typically don’t have enough power to deal with humidity levels above 70%.
• They have limited capacity. The most spacious tank you can find in thermoelectric dehumidifiers is about… 1,500 ml. That’s a lot smaller than what other types can offer.

Overall, thermoelectric dehumidifiers typically are most effective in spaces of up to 25 sq.m. In larger rooms, their work may become unnoticeable, so you may want to consider other types for larger rooms and houses.

Also read: Best Portable Air Conditioners in Canada

Desiccant Dehumidifiers

Finally, there are desiccant dehumidifiers.

And in my opinion, they’re the absolute best.

See for yourself:

These units work through the adsorption process, meaning they use a chemical agent (desiccant) to remove the moisture from the air. 

Don’t worry, though!

These chemicals are perfectly safe. They are similar to silica sachets you can find in your shoe boxes.

The unit features a rotating drum made of sheets soaked in the desiccant, and they absorb the water from the air. The water then condenses and drips into the tank, while the heater warms up the air and releases it back into the room.

So, what makes these dehumidifiers good?

• Round-the-year use. Desiccant dehumidifiers don’t need to cool the air before extracting the moisture from it, which makes them good for sub-zero conditions (2).
• No noise. The drum rotates very quietly while working, and the only potential noise you may hear is the hissing of the released air.
• Suitability for chilly rooms. The desiccant dehumidifier can warm the air up to 5 degrees, which makes it a good choice for colder regions.
• Good durability. Desiccant dehumidifiers don’t feature any high-maintenance parts like compressors, which makes their lifespan longer.

So, what could possibly go wrong with these units, you may ask? They’re almost perfect.

Well, almost.

Since these dehumidifiers heat the outlet air significantly, they might be not a good pick for you if your summer temperatures are high. In this case, it’s better to use a compressor-based unit that can maintain the same ambient temperature or even cool the air down a bit.

Also, desiccant dehumidifiers are generally more expensive than other types, so determine your budget first and see if you want to spend extra.

Other Things You Should Consider When Choosing a Dehumidifier

Once you have determined the dehumidifier type you want, let’s make your choice of the top-rated dehumidifier in Canada more refined by considering other essential features:

• Capacity. The capacity of a dehumidifier is basically the amount of water it can collect at the end of the day. This is usually between the range of 20 pints (10 liters) to 70pints (30 liters) for the different kinds of humidifiers. While choosing based on capacity, you may unknowingly be choosing the size of the dehumidifier. So as not to end up with a cumbersome dehumidifier, it is important to be able to strike a balance between the dehumidifier’s capacity and your room size.

As a rule of thumb, to get the right capacity for your space, a 10-pint capacity dehumidifier goes for 500 square feet of space while it is recommended to add an extra 4 pints for clearance. If the space is more humid than average, then a 12-pint capacity for every 500 square feet is recommended while the extra 4 pints is constant. For example, a 2500 square feet space will need a 54-pint capacity dehumidifier. This way, you end up with the right size and capacity for your space.

• Energy efficiency. All types of dehumidifiers are pretty equal in terms of energy efficiency. However, if you need something powerful for an overly humid room, you may choose something less energy-saving, such as a compressor unit. Desiccant dehumidifiers offer a stable performance all year round, but you may need to pair them with an AC unit to cool down the air, which defeats the purpose of energy-saving. Dehumidifiers that are ENERGY STAR Certified will be more energy-efficient on average.
• Auto-defrost feature. If you go with a compressor unit and plan to use it throughout the year, the auto-defrosting feature is a must. It will protect your dehumidifier from damage and help maintain stable efficiency.
• Hose connection. A hose connection can be used to set up a continuous water drain. It could be helpful in extra-humid environments by eliminating the need to empty the water tank multiple times a day.
• Auto-restart. This feature may come in handy in areas with frequent blackouts. In this case, the dehumidifier will turn back on automatically when there’s a power outage to maintain stable results.
• Noise levels.  Most dehumidifiers can go up to 50 dB (most fridges, for example, reach 30-40 dB). It might be enough to annoy some users, especially when trying to sleep or, let’s say, watch TV. That’s why it might be a good idea to read other shoppers’ reviews before placing the order. Checking what others have to say about the potential noise levels can help shoppers decide whether they could accept the noise or not.

Also, you want to look for features that will make your dehumidifier easier to use, such as auto shut-off, light indicators, mobile design, washable filters, easy-to-empty bucket, programmable timer, etc. 

Quick tip:

You can ease your choice of a dehumidifier if you refer to the table provided by Natural Resources Canada (3). It will help you choose the right capacity based on your room area and the level of humidity.

F.A.Q.