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If you’ve used an RV, you would know that the vehicle, being exposed to the outdoor environment for long stretches, is extremely prone to high levels of humidity. If you don’t invest in a dehumidifier, humidity can cause considerable damage to your vehicle, the extent of which would be spread over the entire structure. This article will serve as the ultimate guide for buying a dehumidifier to protect your RV.
At A Glance: Our Top Picks for RV Dehumidifier
Comparison of the Best RV Dehumidifiers
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Best Budget Option  |
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Why Would You Want a New Dehumidifier For Your RV?
We’ve already said that RVs are prone to humidification a lot more than any other vehicle. But how exactly? An RV is basically a second home while you’re on the road. It’s a recreational vehicle where you’ll find yourself performing all of your day-to-day activities from cooking to bathing.
All such activities being performed in a closed vehicle would lead to eventual accumulation of water vapors within the RV. This happens a lot faster than you can imagine, given the smaller size of the vehicle.
All these accumulated vapors not only make breathing uncomfortable but also affect the soft furniture in your RV. Not to mention the problems that may arise with mold around the vehicle!
To avoid these problems, it is best to invest in a good dehumidifier. The device will save you from a number of issues and expenses that you may face later on without a dehumidifier.
Aspects to Consider Before Buying
There are a number of dehumidifiers in the market, and a lot of good ones too. But not every good dehumidifier is going to work for you. There are some aspects that you need to carefully look at before you buy a dehumidifier for your RV.
Space in the RV
The foremost aspect to consider is the space in the RV that needs to be humidified. Once you’ve considered the space in the RV, you’ll have a general idea of what sort of dehumidifier you need to purchase because certain devices are designed to dehumidify smaller spaces while others work just as efficiently in larger areas.
Portability of the Device
It is also important to make sure that the model that you pick for your RV is portable. Since you’re always on the go in the RV, you might need to move around the device with not much energy to spare on such tasks. It is therefore crucial that your picked model is portable and convenient to handle.
Easy to Install & Control
The device that you pick also needs to be easy to install and control. If this aspect is overlooked, you might have a hard time setting it up, and all your dreams of using the device right out of the box will be long gone. You do not want to be stuck reading manuals when you need to be reading maps.
Quick Take: Best RV Dehumidifiers
These are our recommendations for the best RV dehumidifiers:
Review of the Best RV Dehumidifiers
Now that you've an idea of what you need to look at while buying a dehumidifier for your RV, it is time you start considering your options. To get you started right away, without wondering where to look, we’ve reviewed the best dehumidifiers that you could use in your RV.
Best Overall:
Vremi 1 Pint Dehumidifier
PROS
CONS
Our Review
If you need the absolute best for your RV, and nothing less, then this is definitely the right dehumidifier for you. This model is packed with all the features that you would look for in the perfect dehumidifier, and that is exactly why this device tops this list.
What makes this dehumidifier the best for RVs is its ideal compact size. The device is small and capable of holding only 1 pint, and it also has a removable tank with the capacity of 1.5L and a further moisture capacity of 480ml. Its size and efficiency make this model ideal for spaces up to 215 square feet.
Given its compact size coupled with its low weight, this model is as portable as a dehumidifier can get. What’s more is that while it won’t give you any troubles with moving around, it will also stay quiet while it functions with a low noise thermoelectric Peltier module.
Bottom Line
The device comes with a number of features, some as simple as its compact size and others as striking as the automatic shut off function. The overall design of the unit is sure to add a degree of convenience to the functioning. All these features together make this the best choice for your RV.
Runner-up:
hOmelabs 70 Pint Energy Star Dehumidifier
PROS
CONS
Our Review
With its outstanding capacity of 70 pints and its equally amazing function, this dehumidifier by hOmelabs comes to a very close second. So if you’re considering one for your RV, this would definitely make the perfect choice.
The 9-gallon water capacity of this dehumidifier is what absolutely steals the show. With such great capacity, this device is perfect for extra-large sized spaces. This device is further designed to fit right in with the contemporary interior of your RV, or even a household. Everything from the handles to the wheels of this device is designed to look smart and sleek.
With this Energy Star dehumidifier, you will not have to worry about complicated functioning nor will you have to read the manual to figure out its working constantly. All you need to do is adjust the device to your required moisture setting and leave the rest to the device. Nothing gets easier than this!
Bottom Line
hOmelabs is a known brand that has earned itself a name by putting out a number of outstanding units, such as this one. The portability and extra-large water handling capacity of this unit is what makes it ideal for use in an RV.
Second Runner-up:
Vremi 30 Pint Portable Dehumidifier
PROS
CONS
Our Review
Yes, it is a tie for the runner-up position! And that is due to this model by Vremi that absolutely steals the show coming at par with hOmelabs. This 30-pint dehumidifier is your perfect portable solution to your humidity-struck RV, a problem that you can now bid farewell.
Trust this dehumidifier to lower the humidity levels in your RV, removing at least 4 gallons of water vapors from the air every day. And it further makes sure that minimal energy is consumed while it functions. All of its features, from its sleek and stylish design to its convenient operation are designed to put you at comfort.
With this dehumidifier, all you need to do is add your desired level of humidity and let the unit run its cycle for 24 hours. It will do all the work, and you don’t even need to worry about turning it off as it will automatically do that when the tank is full.
Bottom Line
Vremi is one of the brands that are well-known for their dehumidifiers, and there’s a reason it has created competition for our runner up model. With this device, you’ll be choosing nothing less than the absolute best for your RV.
Best Rated On Amazon:
Pro Breeze Electric Mini Dehumidifier
PROS
CONS
Our Review
Amazon is one of the best buyer guides you can find out there, with its reliable tags and trusted reviews. So if an item is rated the best on Amazon, then there has to be something about the product that really does put it above the best! For this dehumidifier, it’s all the features that it offers, and its outstanding efficiency of function.
One of the best features of this unit is its small and compact size that makes it ideal for your RV. It is capable of holding up to 16 ounces of water at once and works efficiently enough to remove about 9 ounces of water from the air every day, which is perfect for a small room, or in this case, an RV.
The device features an automatic shut off feature that will exempt you from the duty of constantly checking the unit for an overflowing tank. This feature allows the unit to work all day long, automatically shutting it off only when the tank is full and must be emptied. So you get efficient working without any extra efforts.
Bottom Line
This device is designed to remove a good amount of moisture from the air, leaving you with a level of humidity that suits your own comfort. It may not be able to work for larger rooms, but since we’re talking about RVs, it is absolutely perfect for the job!
Best Small Dehumidifier:
Ivation 11 Pint Dehumidifier
PROS
CONS
Our Review
Not all devices need to be big and hefty in order to provide good functioning enough to bring it to the list of best humidifiers. This is one of those dehumidifiers, that despite its small size, provides outstanding functionality that is at par with any other dehumidifier.
The Peltier technology that is featured in this device allows the unit to be small sized, but work big on power. It is designed to perform well with minimal energy consumption, going harsh on the moisture, but easy on your pocket. Low levels of humidity and cost-effective functioning; this is what we call a win-win.
Another plus of the technology that this model is geared with is that it features no moving parts. How is that a plus? Most noises that are produced by devices are due to compressors or moving parts, and since this device uses none of those, it produces close to no noise while functioning, making sure your daily activities are not disturbed.
Bottom Line
Good products come in small packages, and so does this humidifier. It further comes with all the features that you would want in a unit to use for your RV. So, if you can wait for the first odor to fade away, this dehumidifier is the best choice for your vehicle on the go.
Best 12 Volt Dehumidifier:
Ivation IVADM35
PROS
CONS
Our Review
One important thing to be considered while looking for a dehumidifier for your RV is energy consumption. 12 volts is the ideal power supply for a dehumidifier being used in a recreational vehicle, and the best dehumidifier with that feature is this Ivation IVADM35.
The ideal energy consumption of this device is not its only plus point. It has a lot more to offer such as its compact size that comes with the striking efficiency that enables it to cover spaces up to 2200 cubic meters. This space coverage makes it more than just capable of dehumidifying the air in an RV.
The device is designed to eliminate up to 20 ounces of moisture from the air in just a day. The water disposal of the device is just as easy as its operation. The 2L water tank will last for a good 3 days, continuously without requiring any emptying. The device automatically shuts off when the tank is full. So bid farewell to your concerns of overflowing water and messes.
Bottom Line
12-volt dehumidifiers allow you a functioning device that uses minimal energy, allowing the unit to be cost-effective. This unit, however, provides you with a lot more than just cost-effective functioning, making it a must-buy. With its features like the automatic shut off and large water tank, this unit will simply never disappoint you.
Best Electric Dehumidifier:
Tosot 70 Pint WIth Internal Pump
PROS
CONS
Our Review
It is no secret that electric dehumidifiers offer incomparable performance. These dehumidifiers come with an internalized pump that works on energy and provide functionality that works better than a number of other devices. This dehumidifier makes it the best of the best, earning it a position in this list.
What we love about this dehumidifier is its power outage restart feature. This allows the device to restore the programmed settings once the device is restarted after a power outage. So no need to worry about programming your device over and over again. This is what we call convenience!
The most striking feature, however, of this device is its internal pump. This allows a hose drainage mode as well as a bucket approach, putting you at the liberty of choosing between the two to suit your needs. So, let it drain through the hose, or let the bucket fill.
Bottom Line
Electric dehumidifiers do have an edge over the other types of dehumidifiers, and this specific model has an edge over all other electric dehumidifiers that you might come across. From its high efficacy to its power outage restart function, everything about this dehumidifier is designed to impress you.
Best Portable Dehumidifier:
hOmeLabs 30 Pint Dehumidifier
PROS
CONS
Our Review
hOmeLabs is one of the known brands when it comes to dehumidifiers, so a model from this brand is expected to feature nothing but the best. And that is exactly what this 30-pint dehumidifier delivers. Don’t let the unit's tiny size fool you as it functions as efficiently as any other larger sized device.
The device comes with wheels, and handle and obviously the compact size. All these features make this unit perfectly portable, and hence ideal for use in your RV. It may not be too big, but it works ideally at eliminating the extra moisture from the air around you; even in large sized rooms!
But that’s not all. Ultimate functionality is not where this unit’s features end. It also provides you with the perfect aesthetics to fit in with the contemporary and modern interiors of your RV. Its easy use and set up will make it the perfect addition to your recreational vehicle.
Bottom Line
When considering a dehumidifier for your RV, one of the most important aspects that need to be considered is the portability of the device. This unit is designed to be the best at that, earning it a rightful place on this list. If portability is your main concern for a dehumidifier, then you need to look no further than this model.
Best RV Desiccant Dehumidifier:
Eva-Dry E-333
PROS
CONS
Our Review
Being a desiccant dehumidifier is what sets this unit apart from all the others in this list right off the bat. But that has no impact on its functioning. This desiccant dehumidifier works just as well at removing moisture from the air.
Silica gel is known to work efficiently at absorbing moisture from the surrounding air, and this device makes good use from this property of silica gel, using it to decrease the level of humidity in the room. The desiccant dehumidifiers are best at working in small and closed spaces about 333 cubic feet, making this the ideal dehumidifier for an RV.
The unit features a crystal indicator instead of actual lights of LEDs which turn from orange to green when the desired level of humidity has been reached. Furthermore, the device is renewable and can be “charged’ to be used over and over without having to replace the silica gel.
Bottom Line
A desiccant dehumidifier is a good choice for all those that look to cut down on their energy consumption. Even though it uses a lesser amount of energy, it provides the same outstanding functioning that will keep your RV at acceptable levels of humidity.
Types of RV Dehumidifiers
Dehumidifiers are mainly of three kinds, but only two of them are suitable for use in RVs. This is because compressor-based dehumidifiers are too big and too noisy to be appropriate for use in an enclosed space like a vehicle. The other two types of dehumidifiers are absolutely perfect for use in an RV.
Thermo-Electric Dehumidifier
As the name suggests, this device uses a thermo-electric system that sucks the excessive moisture out from the air in the room. What really makes this ideal for use in an RV is their smaller size which doesn’t occupy much space and also proves to be easy to move around. The small size has no effect on the efficiency, however, and they are perfectly capable of eliminating just as much moisture from the air as any other device.
Desiccant Dehumidifier
A desiccant dehumidifier is similar to the thermo-electric in terms of its size and efficiency. It is compact and highly functional, putting it on par with all other dehumidifiers. What’s different between these dehumidifiers and the thermo-electric ones is their mode of functioning. These units use a moisture absorbing substance that absorbs the excessive water vapors from the air and decreases the level of humidity.
Conclusion
An RV is a second home that is constantly on the move, and given all the activities that go on inside this closed space makes it extremely prone to excessive humidity. If not dealt with properly with a good dehumidifier, this may affect not only your breathing but also the structure of your vehicle. So save yourself from a number of future expenses and invest in a good RV dehumidifier that'll help you in the longer run.
