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Best Dehumidifier for RV Travel: Keeping the Damp Down

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Editors Choice

Frigidaire 30-Pint Dehumidifier

Frigidaire 30-Pint Dehumidifier, Gray & White

The Frigidaire is excellent for any size of RV, from small teardrop campers up to large Class A motorhomes, this is chosen as our best dehumidifier for RV use. It can clear up to 30 pints of moisture from the air per day. While this is an excellent rate for using in an RV, the reservoir could be bigger. It holds 8 pints of moisture, so you’ll have to empty it out often. However, if you hook the unit up to a drain hose for continuous draining, you don’t need to worry about the water tank size.

For portability, it is a little on the big side. This RV dehumidifier weighs about 31 pounds and measures 10.25 x 13.75 x 20.5 inches. So, it’s definitely not a tabletop model, but it does have features that make it easier to move around. For one, it has a flip-out handle on the top for carrying it. It’s also placed on high-quality caster wheels that will allow you to roll it around your RV with no effort at all.

When you add in additional features such as a cord keeper, a touch display, an automatic timer, and more, you can see why this RV dehumidifier is a total package. It has everything you need to make operating it quick and easy. We recommend this to anyone looking to add a dehumidifier to their RV no matter what size your RV is.

Bottom Line: The Frigidaire is of the best quality and has the most efficient operation for your money.

Maintaining Good Air Quality in Your RV

A dehumidifier is a great tool to have when you’re RV camping in a humid environment. Excess moisture can wreak havoc on your recreational vehicle and your overall RV experience, so a good dehumidifier is a necessity to reduce excessive humidity and improve air quality inside your RV.

Even if you aren’t in a humid area, showers and sinks can raise the humidity levels inside your vehicle.

In this guide, we’ll tell you everything an RV owner needs to know about dehumidifiers. We’ll also give you suggestions for some of the best RV dehumidifiers on the market right now that are perfect for RV camping.

Looking for the Best RV Dehumidifier?

  • How they improve air quality
  • What features are most critical?
  • Reviews of 7 of the best RV dehumidifiers on the market
  • Our unbiased pick for the best dehumidifier for you

Tips for Choosing a Great Motorhome Dehumidifier

While all dehumidifiers basically accomplish the same task, only some are suitable for an RV environment. You’ll need to make decisions on specific criteria for your particular needs. The most important factor for deciding on the best RV dehumidifier for you is its mode of operation. Here is a breakdown for each one.

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Compressor Dehumidifier

The compressor type makes for the best dehumidifiers for RV living. The reason for this will become clear as we go through the three different types of dehumidifiers. A compressor dehumidifier works by using – you guessed it – a compressor. It also has four other important parts. These are the fan, the cooling coils, the re-heater, and the reservoir. Without these, the entire system won’t work.

These parts remove moisture from the atmosphere through the simple process of condensation. Think of a refreshing drink on a hot day – you’ll notice moisture collecting on the outside of the cup, and that moisture runs down the side and pools on the table. RV dehumidifiers use this same process albeit more neatly and efficiently.

First, the fan pulls air into the unit. As this is happening, the compressor compresses refrigerant back and forth, causing the cooling coils to cool down. The cooling coils cause the air to cool off as it’s pulled through the unit by the fan, this then causes moisture to collect onto the cooling coils. As this happens, the condensation drips down into the reservoir where it is collected, and you can later dump it out.

The process isn’t quite finished yet, you don’t want cold air blown back out into your room (this would make the machine an air conditioner, not a dehumidifier). The re-heater then does what the name says – it reheats the air before it’s blown back out. The dehumidifier continues this cycle, and eventually, you’ll have a comfortable, dry atmosphere in your RV.

Thermo-Electric Dehumidifier

The second type of dehumidifier uses the Peltier effect to power an electric dehumidifier for RV use. It’s a relatively new technology that allows them to operate without a compressor. Instead, it has a Peltier module surrounded by a heat sink. The Peltier module is connected to the heat sink at two opposing points (at the front and back of the unit).

When electricity is supplied to the Peltier module this causes thermo-electric heat to be transferred to the back of the heat sink, which causes the front to become cold. As the fan pulls air into the dehumidifier, it flows around the cold part of the heat sink, causing moisture to collect on it. This moisture then drips down into the reservoir. The air is then cycled around to the hot side of the heat sink, which then reheats it, and expels back out of the dehumidifier.

While Peltier technology is suitable for smaller, tabletop RV dehumidifiers, it’s not strong or efficient enough for larger models. Because of this, you won’t often find larger units that use Peltier technology.

Desiccant Dehumidifier

These types of dehumidifiers use absorption to get rid of moisture in the surrounding atmosphere. Air is pulled into the dehumidifier and passed over silica gel technology, which absorbs water moisture. The Silica gel beads do not draw heat from the air, so no heat has to be added back (in theory). Desiccant models have many attractive features:

  • They’re quieter than the other two types.
  • They’re lighter than the other two types.
  • They can be used in cold weather, unlike the other two types.

However, there is one big reason that a desiccant dehumidifier is probably not the best choice for RV use. That reason is efficiency. Desiccant models remove less water vapor from the surrounding atmosphere than compressor or thermo-electric dehumidifiers do, and so have to run longer to achieve the same results. Desiccant dehumidifiers can also be hard on your battery or generator.

What Size of Dehumidifier to Choose for Your RV Space

Dehumidifiers come in many sizes, different power levels, and different technology types. There is not a “chart” approach to choosing what size you need for your RV. However, there are a few generalizations that will help.

One thing you can be sure of is that a tabletop RV dehumidifier is not going to be sufficient for a large RV unless you buy more than one. While buying two or three small ones can be cheaper than buying one large model, you’ll run into the problem of needing extra outlets and experiencing more energy consumption. Your best bet is to get a larger dehumidifier for a larger RV.

Features to Look for in an RV Dehumidifier

Quantity of Water Moisture Removed

As you can imagine, RV dehumidifiers have limitations as to how much moisture can be pulled from the surrounding atmosphere. This limitation is usually given by a measurement of how well it can remove the moisture from air, typically given in pints per d. The exact science behind this is a bit complicated to explain here, so we’ll say that it’s a combination of size, quality of the parts, the ambient humidity levels, and the amount of power the dehumidifier draws. If you’re going to be in an extremely humid area, aim for the highest quantity of moisture removal per day that your budget can handle.

Note: You don’t need to know the water moisture level of the air to choose an RV dehumidifier suitable for you. A lot of models have a humidistat that allows you to set your desired humidity levels. Once it reaches that level, the unit will automatically turn off.

Reservoir Size

The reservoir captures all that water that is removed from the surrounding atmosphere, so eventually, it will get full, and you’ll have to dump it out. This means that the smaller the reservoir, the more often you’ll have to dump it. Most dehumidifiers also have the ability to filter moisture out through a hose, so you don’t have to worry about dumping it, but in an RV, it might be impractical to use this hose unless you filter it to a bucket (which you’ll still have to dump out). You could also run the hose to a sink, which would allow for a dump-free operation.

Noise Level

In general, compressors can be loud. However, generally the compressor in an RV dehumidifier is small so that it won’t be as loud as a refrigerator, for example. Most products have noise levels listed, and it’s given in units of dBA. A whisper is about 25 dBA, while a normal conversation is about 60 dBA. You’ll probably want to aim closer to a whisper if you’ll be running your unit at night.

Other Features

There are a lot of features that are nice to have but not essential for running a dehumidifier. For example, a programmable timer allows the unit to run only when you want it to. A remote control is nice to have so you can control the product from afar. Some units may even have Wi-Fi capabilities so that you can control them from your smart device.

A backlit digital display panel will allow you to see settings easily, without having to guess. Wheels and handles will enable you to easily move a larger dehumidifier, whilst a long power cord gives you flexibility when placing your unit in your RV. Keep in mind that more features will drive up the price of a RV dehumidifier, so if budget is your primary concern, skip the unnecessary elements.

The Best Dehumidifier for RV Owners: Reviews

Now that you know how dehumidifiers work and what criteria to use when shopping for one, we’ve got some great suggestions to get you started. Based on the information listed above we have reviewed what is the best dehumidifier for camper and RV use. Here are our top seven choices.

Pro Breeze Electric Mini Dehumidifier

Best for Noise Level

Pro Breeze Dehumidifiers for Home,215sqft Small Dehumidifiers for Room,16oz Tank Portable Closet Dehumidifier Removes Humidity Mini Small Dehumidifier for Bathroom Dehumidifier for Bedroom RV Basement

The Pro Breeze is a great size for a small RV bathroom or a small RV bedroom up to 215 square feet. Measuring 7 x 6 x 11 inches and weighing only 2.4 pounds, compact and energy-efficient this unit most definitely is making it perfect for RV travel. It uses Peltier technology, and is therefore very quiet with a noise rating of only 33 dBA, making it suitable for use at night.

The Pro Breeze Electric Mini Dehumidifier extracts up to nine ounces of moisture every day and has a 16-ounce reservoir. It shuts off automatically once the water tank is full, so you don’t have to worry about overflow. It also has an indicator light that lets you know when the reservoir is full. The ideal operating temperatures are 59 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit, which is average for small dehumidifiers for RVs. Unfortunately, this isn’t an excellent device for extremely cold weather.

  • PROs

    • Ultra-quiet operation
    • Simple on/off operation
    • Budget-friendly
  • CONs

    • Can’t connect to a hose for drainage
    • No humidistat

Bottom-Line: For smaller RVs the Pro Breeze is an excellent, inexpensive dehumidifier for travel trailer, Class B motorhome or teardrop camper use.

hOmeLabs Small Space

Best Electric Mini Dehumidifier

hOmeLabs Small Space Dehumidifier with Auto Shut Off - Compact and Portable

This mini-unit is almost a replica of the Pro Breeze. It’s shaped the same, with the same configuration in airflow of the vents. The reservoir is the same size and shape, with a 16-ounce water tank, getting rid of about nine ounces of water from the surrounding atmosphere per day. Also running on Peltier technology, the only real noticeable difference is that the logos are different.

There are however three slight differences (emphasis on slight) that we observed. The hOmeLabs dehumidifier is slightly smaller than the Pro Breeze, measuring 6.5 x 5.3 x 8.5 inches. The hOmeLabs unit also comes with a two-year manufacturer’s warranty while the Pro Breeze only has a one-year warranty. On the other hand, the Pro Breeze is slightly quieter than the hOmeLabs, but not enough to make a huge difference. These are the only differences we discerned, so if you must choose between them, go with the one that’s on sale that week (because they’re both about the same price as well).

  • PROs

    • Quiet operation
    • Extra compact size
  • CONs

    • Can’t connect to a drain hose
    • No humidistat to set required level of humidity

Bottom-Line: This is another super compact travel dehumidifier that is great for smaller types of RVs.

InvisiPure Hydrowave

Best Designed Dehumidifier

InvisiPure Hydrowave Dehumidifier - Small Compact Portable Dehumidifier for Home, RV, Bathroom, Closet, Bedroom, Small Room, Basement, Boat, Mold - Continuous Drain Hose Ready - Quiet Electric Peltier

The InvisiPure dehumidifier kicks things up a notch from the last two models. For one, it’s better for larger spaces/RVs up to 300 square feet. It can remove from 16 to 27 ounces of vapor from the surrounding atmosphere and can hold up to 64 ounces (2 liters) in the reservoir. It has Peltier technology, so it also runs with a low noise level.

You can attach a drain hose to this unit, but the hose isn’t included. It has an overheating safety feature and an automatic shut-off if the water tank gets full. It also has a LED light which turns red to indicate that the water tank is full.

The InvisiPure measures 5.5 x 9 x 14 inches and weighs 5.7 pounds. This is still small and lightweight, so it’s easy to move around.

  • PROs

    • Sleek, unnoticeable design
    • Simple one-button operation
    • Built-in carry handle
  • CONs

    • Uses close to 100 watts of power, which is a lot for a small device
    • No way to auto-set humidity level

Bottom-Line: This model has everything you need whilst looking good, it does however use more power than a lot of other options.

Eva-dry Edv-1100 Electric Petite

Best Budget Dehumidifier for RVs

Whisper-quiet Eva-Dry EDV-1100 16 OZ Dehumidifier with Auto Shut Off and Restart for small spaces in your Home, RV, Automobile, and Storage up to 1100 cu. ft. (122 sq. ft)

The Eva-dry EDV-1100 might be a small unit, but it works well. The product measures 8.5 x 5.3 x 6.5 inches and weighs around 2.6 pounds. It’s suitable for very small RVs like teardrop campers or an enclosed space in your RV such as the bathroom. As long as you don’t overextend the area that it is suited for, you’ve got yourself a good, dependable product.

The unit uses Peltier technology. It pulls about eight ounces of water vapor from the surrounding atmosphere and has a 16-ounce reservoir. It’s not able to hook up to a drain hose, so running at max capacity you would have to dump it every other day. It has an automatic shut-off feature when the water tank gets full, so you don’t have to worry about cleaning up any overflow.

  • PROs

    • Simple plug n’ play operation
    • Good quality construction
  • CONs

    • Short power cord (4 feet)
    • It’s loud (50 dBA) for a device using Peltier tech

Bottom-Line: The quality of this unit is impressive, given the low-price range. Ideal as a teardrop camper dehumidifier.

Hysure Portable Mini

Best for Power Consumption

hysure 500ml Electric Dehumidifier, Removes Humidity 250ml per day, 500ml Detachable Water Tank, LED Indicator, Automatic, Efficient, Portable, Quiet, No Need Refill (White 2)

Another small dehumidifier for RV travel that does an excellent job. It removes 8 ounces of water vapor from the surrounding atmosphere per day and has a 17-ounce reservoir, similar to other mini models in the list. What sets this one apart is the design–instead of the usual line openings for the vents, it has a neat geometric triangle design. While this doesn’t change the level of operation, it’s nice to have some variety in design.

The unit is a simple one-button operation machine that uses Peltier technology. Still, we like the fact that out of all the models on the list, it uses the least amount of power. It only uses 21 watts of power, so it’s suitable to use with even the cheapest generators. This is important in an RV, especially if you plan to use a generator. It measures 6.1 x 5.1 x 8.7 inches and only weighs about 2.6 pounds.

  • PROs

    • Uses very little power
    • Interesting vent design
    • Operates quietly at 37 dBA
  • CONs

    • Made from cheap ABS plastic

Bottom-Line: If you want a mini-dehumidifier that’s a little different from the norm, the Hysure is an excellent option due to its unique design and power efficiency.

hOmeLabs 1500 Sq. Ft. Energy Star

Best for Larger RVs

hOmeLabs 1500 Sq. Ft. Energy Star Dehumidifier - Ideal for Home Bedrooms, Bathrooms and Medium Size Rooms - Powerful Moisture Removal and Humidity Control - 22 Pint (Previously 30 Pint)

For those of you who need a product for a fifth-wheel, toy hauler, or a Class A, this hOmeLabs option will do the trick. This dehumidifier is excellent for medium to large-sized RVs because it’s designed to work in spaces up to 1500 square feet and will remove 30 pints of water from the surrounding atmosphere every day. It has a one-gallon reservoir and the ability to hook up to a drain hose.

The unit is a little heavy, weighing 30 pounds, but it comes on caster wheels for easy mobility. Despite the weight, it only measures 15.2 x 10.2 x 19.7 inches, so it’s still a convenient size for an RV.

This compressor refrigerant dehumidifier has some attractive features. A “clean filter” indicator light as well as a water level indicator. It has a timer if you want to limit usage, or you can set it to a continuous run mode. There are even options to set the fan to two different speeds as well as set to your desired humidity level. hOmeLabs has obviously considered personal preference when making this product.

  • PROs

    • Beautiful, modern, sleek design
    • Energy star rated – low energy consumption
    • Has carrying handles
  • CONs

    • Compressor makes it loud
    • No automatic shut off when it reaches desired level of humidity

Bottom-Line: When you need something suitable for dehumidifying your entire RV this unit does that easily and with style.

Frigidaire 30-Pint Dehumidifier

Best RV Dehumidifier Overall

Frigidaire 30-Pint Dehumidifier, Gray & White

The Frigidaire is our pick for the best overall because of the sheer quality of the product. It’s of good quality, has excellent features, and works well. While Frigidaire doesn’t give the exact square footage that this model is good for, we can say that it will be suitable for mid-size to large RVs.

This is a compressor model that will get rid of up to 30 pints of vapor from the surrounding atmosphere in a day, but the reservoir holds a little less than eight pints (one gallon). It measures 10.25 x 13.75 x 20.5 inches and weighs about 31 pounds. It’s a little heavy, but it’s manageable.

The Frigidaire unit has a lot of excellent features such as a digital touch display, three fan speeds, caster wheels, a top carry handle that folds, and a cord keeper so your cord won’t be dragging all over the place. It is energy star certified, so has lower power consumption. The only thing that’s missing is safety features such as overheating protection. We don’t think this is necessary, but it would have made the unit perfect.

  • PROs

    • All parts are high-quality and durable
    • Handle is conveniently located
    • Has a built-in humidistat
  • CONs

    • The caster wheels don’t lock
    • No safety features

Bottom-Line: This is the best dehumidifier on our list due to its high-quality and great features, but it is expensive compared to others.

Last update on 2024-03-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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