Moisture is a great friend and companion to mold and mildew, giving them room to thrive and invite other companions they work in hand with. This whole picture is especially common in large homes, where moisture might not be easy to control, leaving the home badly needing whole-house dehumidification.
The best remedy is to have the best-ducted whole-house dehumidifier running in equivalent proportion to the moisture level to keep it low.
One might wonder why there is a peculiar need for ducted dehumidifiers rather than regular portable unducted ones. Well, it is a choice to be made depending on your home.
I will address this issue later in the article, making a comparison case on whole-house humidifiers and the need for ducting.
For carrying out the best whole-house dehumidification process in your home, choosing the best whole-house dehumidifiers to use is very crucial, as one wrong choice could mean you are back to square one.
Walking through the process of choosing, it is also important to consider qualities that a whole-house dehumidifier possesses to see how befitting it would be for your needs.
I live in an area where moisture is a year-round issue for me. I have had to dehumidify my home several times and have tried out different models and brands of whole-house dehumidifiers; some worked great, while others didn’t quite cut it.
Through these experiences, I have put together certain qualities that the best ducted whole-house dehumidifier must possess.
My Top Pick
In this ducted whole house dehumidifier review, I have taken time to test and review four of the best-ducted dehumidifiers for your home. While each of the models has its pros and cons, the one I can most recommend is the Aprilaire 1970XL pro.
It was a tough challenge to decide on a top pick. All the products I ended up reviewing were Aprilaire whole-house dehumidifiers. Being the best brand on the market for this product type, it wasn’t a surprise.
I finally decided on the 1970XL Pro, which stood out for its raw dehumidification power. Even before I started using it, I understood its ruggedness that would last years and seasons of constant work.
I don’t want to dwell on the Aprilaire 1970XL pro for too long (as awesome as it is!); if you scroll down the page, you’ll find my more in-depth review of this great product. However, if you are in a hurry and just want to know the best-ducted whole-house dehumidifier, I recommend you go with the 1970XL Pro.
But, really, I’d suggest taking a few minutes to read my reviews of all the products before making a decision, as each one has something different to offer.
Keep reading on, and you’ll find my other reviews and expert information I’ve put together on the best whole-house ducted dehumidifiers.
Top 4 best ducted whole house dehumidifiers
With the designing and manufacturing history of Aprilaire since 1954, you can rest assured that the quality offered by their products is top-notch and would meet the users’ needs for the price. Their top-quality whole house dehumidifiers are very durable and built to last, and it can be seen in products like the 1870 XL and 1870F XL.
1) Aprilaire 1870 XL Pro Whole House Dehumidifier
Moisture extraction rate
At 130 pints or 16 gallons per day, this dehumidifier pulled a vast amount of moisture from my home. This ability is greatly helped by its capacity to move a large amount of air per time, even better than other air purifiers I’ve seen whose specialty is to move air.
It is able to move air at an incredible rate of 310 cubic feet per minute, drying off every last bit of moisture in the air in the process. At 16 gallons per day, it can conveniently cover up to 7,200 sqft of houses.
Easy to install with different options
I found that its small and portable nature and other qualities of this product meant that it wasn’t much of a fuss to install.
It can be used as a stand-alone humidifier, placed above a drain or connected to a drainpipe, or simply installed on an HVAC system with ducts connected to it. Whichever suits your needs, this dehumidifier can do.
From my usage and observation, it was much more effective when installed with an HVAC system and ducts.
Easy to clean and maintain
A feature that I loved about this dehumidifier is that it does not use a water tray, saving me hours that would have been spent on weekly cleaning. All I’m required to do is replace the canisters once a year, and I’m good to go. Occasional body cleaning of the dehumidifier is also needed, but this is the same as any other electrical device I own.
Auto dehumidification makes it easy to use
First, I mounted the dehumidifier. This made it easy to use, as its thermostat and controls are within easy reach on the top side.
With the thermostat and digital controls, I could vary the humidity to my taste at 1-degree increments. After choosing my desired level, the dehumidifier automatically works to keep humidity at that point. With the digital controls and a handy LED display to match, it was pretty easy to do from my end.
Rugged build
I am very satisfied with the quality and durability of this product. The steel and corrosion-resistant aluminum coils make it a high-quality product that will last.
That alone should do justice to its quality and level of durability. If this product stopped working in a short period of time, it wouldn’t be due to physical material defects.
Pros
- 130 pints (16 gallons) of moisture removal per day,
- effective against very large houses up to 7,200sqft,
- lesser maintenance and cleaning are required due to the absence of a water tray,
- very easy to set up, automatic dehumidification,
- digital control and display for easy use,
- high airflow rate of 310 cubic feet per minute,
- the rugged build makes it durable and also able to work in harsh environments like basements and crawl spaces,
- can be used as a standalone or installed on an HVAC,
- continuous drain option,
Cons
- professional hire installation is compulsory to not void the product’s warranty,
- it costs quite a lot of money to purchase.
Warranty
- The product comes with a five-year limited warranty. However, to not void the warranty, it must be installed by an HVAC professional only.
2) Aprilaire 1870F XL Basement Pro Dehumidifier
Removes up to 130 pints of moisture in 24 hours
At 130 pints of moisture removed every 24 hours, the quality of this dehumidifier speaks for itself. I was very happy with how much moisture it removed from the air daily. 130 pints is a lot, and it really made a difference in the quality of my home.
It basically did just want I wanted it to and carried out the primary task of reducing moisture, and at levels that high levels, it is arguably one of the best in the business.
The 1870F XL can also dehumidify homes as large as 3900 sqft. Though this puts it far below the 1870 XL pro, it is still very impressive considering the fact that there are few regular houses with far greater sizes today. For most of us, including me, this is more than adequate.
Effective for both whole house and crawlspace use
Due to its moisture extraction capacity and the area it covers, the 1870F XL is effective when used for whole-house purposes and in crawl spaces or basements. As long as such a basement or crawl space has a good drainage system installed, the 1870F XL would drop humidity level in no time, leaving it dry and harmless just as it should be. So the bottom line is I would recommend the 1870F XL for a whole house, basement, or crawl space.
Mobility
I was pleasantly surprised at the inclusion of casters in the design of this product. This is no different from your regular wheels used in numerous products today, except that it is more durable and designed to handle the dehumidifier’s weight.
I’m always wary of products that come with unnecessary add-ons, but in this case, the castors are a definite plus. They make it so much easier to move the dehumidifier around, which is great because it’s quite heavy. I can’t tell you how often I’ve had to lug my old dehumidifier up and down the stairs – with these castors, that’s a thing of the past.
This also means it is best used with a drain pipe attached rather than installed over a drain tray.
Digital controls with automatic dehumidification
Looking closer at the top side, I found a digital control panel installed for easy access. This control allowed me to easily set it for the desired conditions, especially expected humidity levels. Once I had chosen a set humidity, I could allow the device to run uninterruptedly until further use.
Pros
- extracts up to 130 pints of moisture per day,
- very suitable for whole-house uses as well as crawl space dehumidification,
- simple setup and installation,
- presence of castors makes it mobile and movable from one place to another,
- digital control panel for choosing a suitable humidity setpoint,
- designed for continuous draining,
- low maintenance frequency
Cons
- It noticeably increases energy bills,
- the internal drain pipe is prone to cracks as the years go by
Warranty:
- A five-year limited warranty backs the product, which must be installed by an HVAC professional only.
3) Aprilaire 1850 Pro Whole House Dehumidifier
Corrosion-resistant coil
In my opinion, the standout feature of this whole-house product is the presence of a corrosion-resistant coil.
Though I approached the other parts of the dehumidifier itself with trepidation, especially since customer feedback is littered with failing product complaints within the first 2 to 3 years of usage, the condenser coils are definitely of a better grade. The coils are made up of corrosion-resistant material, which means it will be around for a while.
95-pint moisture extraction per day
1850 still averages an impressive amount of moisture removal per day, though not as much as the earlier reviewed 1870 XL and 1870F XL. This rate allows the dehumidifier to draw about 12 gallons of water in 24 hours and in an area of about 5,200 sqft. This capacity allows the product to effectively control humidity, preventing dampness, mold, and mildew problems in the home.
Auto mode with programmable humidistat
This dehumidifier is essentially like the others I have reviewed in the presence of an auto mode feature. It is operated by first inputting a desired humidity level, after which the dehumidifier can automatically toggle between the working and docile state depending on whether humidity is above or below the target set.
Simple installation
Installing this product was a breeze. All I had to do was set it up just over a drain, then level it. I also had the option of attaching a drain hose to the dehumidifier outlet instead. You can choose whichever one works best for you. However, ensure it is leveled. After this, all I was required to do was pick a set humidity level and let it run. How simple is that!
Pros
- corrosion-resistant aluminum coils mean it shouldn’t be giving way anytime soon,
- high moisture extraction rate of 12 gallons (95 pints) per day,
- very easy to set up,
- automatic dehumidification allows the machine to function only when the humidity goes above a set level,
- extensive coverage of up to 5,200sqft area makes it very suited to whole house applications,
- digital humidistat for choosing a set humidity level,
- the absence of a drain tray means it requires yearly maintenance.
I will be completely transparent with you here as I pride myself on honest product reviews. For a short time, I used the 1850 Pro before opting for the 1870 XL Pro, it worked just fine.
But its durability is more of a gamble. While researching this model, I noticed numerous complaints about how it only works for about 2 to 3 years. This life span makes the 1850pro an expensive dehumidifier to purchase. Note that installations need to be carried out by a professional for the warranty not to be voided.
Warranty:
- It comes with a five-year limited warranty with professional installation required not to void the warranty.