Dehumidifiers come in a variety of sizes, for different size rooms or basements, and also for different humidity needs. Smaller units are about 25 pints, larger units up to 75 pints, typical units are 40 or 50 pints. The pint ratings represent how much moisture the unit can remove from the air in a 24 hour period.

• Standard Dehumidifiers
• Frost Guard Dehumidifiers
• Low Temperature Dehumidifiers

Standard humidifiers will frost up in rooms that are below 60 degrees. Basements in New England should have at least a frost guard unit, so that if it does frost up, it will shut it self down and defrost. They will automatically restart once the ice has melted. Some other units are low temp dehumidifiers. The have a system where they will operate properly down to around 40 or 45 degrees. These are recommended for New England basements that require a dehumidifier in the spring or fall.

As for the similarities for dehumidifiers, most have:

• casters,
• removable bucket,
• have up front buckets that are easy to empty,
• drain hose attatchment,
• and humidistat control so it will shut off when the room is relatively dry.