Best-Rated Dehumidifiers

Compare dehumidifiers in New Zealand at Canstar Blue. Panasonic, DeLonghi and Mitsubishi Electric were compared on Overall Satisfaction, Appearance & Design, Effectiveness, Functionality, Performance & Reliability, Quietness and Value for Money.

See our Ratings Methodology.

Most Satisfied Customers | Panasonic

Kiwi consumers rate Panasonic their No.1 choice for dehumidifiers.

panasonic_logo

How we rate dehumidifiers

Our review compares dehumidifiers on customer satisfaction, so you can discover what other Kiwis think about our compared dehumidifiers brands before you go ahead and make a purchase. Think of it like asking hundreds of your closest mates which dehumidifiers they think are best!


Canstar Blue surveyed 253 Kiwis who had bought a dehumidifier over the past two years for their feedback on the dehumidifier they bought.

  • The outcomes reported in these ratings are measured via accredited research panels managed by Qualtrics.

Respondents rate their satisfaction with their dehumidifier brands from zero to ten, where zero is extremely dissatisfied and ten is extremely satisfied. Brand satisfaction was rated by respondents on the following criteria:

  • Overall satisfaction: measures consumer satisfaction with a dehumidifier brand as an individual score NOT a combined total of all criteria.
  • Appearance & design: the dehumidifier has a design that fits in unobtrusively alongside modern decors.
  • Effectiveness: the dehumidifier works quickly and effectively at reducing moisture levels in a room.
  • Functionality: the dehumidifier has additional settings and features that improves its performance and functionality (i.e. automatic settings, an air filter, timer, etc).
  • Quietness: the dehumidifier operates at a volume that isn’t disturbing.
  • Performance & reliability: the unit has not broken and its performance hasn’t reduced considering the frequency of use.
  • Value for money: the cost is low for the quality and performance of the dehumidifier unit.

The winning brand is the one that receives the highest Overall Satisfaction rating once all the scores from the Overall Satisfaction criteria are combined and averaged.

  • Overall Satisfaction is asked as a specific question and represents an individual measure, not a combined total of all criteria.
  • When we cannot determine a clear winner from the criteria for the Overall Satisfaction rating, we will then look at the other criteria measured in the rating.
    • The brand with the highest number of five-star ratings within the supporting criteria will become the five-star recipient in overall satisfaction, and thus win the award. If a clear leader still cannot be determined from the supporting criteria, joint winners will be declared.

Brands must have received at least 30 responses to be included, so not all brands available in the market have been compared in this survey. The brands rated in this survey are listed below in order of best overall satisfaction.

  • Panasonic
  • DeLonghi
  • Mitsubishi Electric


Best dehumidifiers in New Zealand

  1. Panasonic
  2. DeLonghi
  3. Mitsubishi Electric

panasonic_logo

Panasonic

Ratings Results

In this year’s awards research, Panasonic is the only dehumidifier brand to earn a top 5-Star rating for Overall Satisfaction. It scores another 5-Star rating for Quietness, while in all other categories it scores excellent 4-Star ratings.

Editor’s Notes

Panasonic’s range of dehumidifiers has three different models to chose from: 33L, 27L and 17L, priced from around $650.

Its most expensive model has a 5.2L tank capacity and can remove 33L of moisture per day from the atmosphere. It retails for around $1299 and features:

  • Nanoe Air purifying technology
  • Laundry mode utilising Nanoe Air purifier to dry and deodorise laundry
  • Automatically shuts down and restarts to maintain ideal humidity and save money
  • Two-, four- and eight-hour timer

delonghi logo

DeLonghi

Ratings Results

DeLonghi scores a fantastic set of 5-Star ratings from its customers across every category except one, Overall Satisfaction, for which it earns a 4-Star rating. Because our Dehumidifier Award is presented on the basis of Overall Satisfaction, DeLonghi misses out on our top accolade. However, its 5-Star ratings speak for themselves when it comes to how satisfied Kiwi consumers are with the overall performance of DeLonghi brand dehumidifiers.

Editor’s Notes

DeLonghi retails a range of five dehumidifier models here in NZ, ranging from a 14L per day model (approx $450), up to a 30L unit (approx $800).

Its large model features:

  • 30L moisture removal capacity per day
  • Anti-dust filter
  • Display showing room temperature and humidity
  • Water discharge pump

mitsubishi-electric logo

Mitsubishi Electric

Ratings Results

Mitsubishi Electric rounds out our dehumidifier award ratings table with two 5-Star ratings, for Effectiveness and Quietness. Plus it earns two 4-Star ratings for Performance & Reliability and Appearance & Design. However, for Value for Money, Functionality and Overall Satisfaction it earns 3-Star ratings.

Editor’s Notes

Mitsubishi Electric sells three models in its Oasis range. The Oasis Classic is available in two different moisture removal capacity sizes (16L or 22L per day), while the Oasis Pure model can remove 38L per day. Prices range from around $800 to $1500, and features include:

  • Ability to operate in temperatures as low as 1C
  • High humidity indicator
  • Automatic humidity level setting that adjusts operation accordingly
  • Mildew guard mode automatically lowers humidity levels to a low 40-50% once a day for between two to four hours, to halt mildew spore production

Other dehumidifier brands

Not all dehumidifier brands in the market qualify for our ratings (based on minimum survey sample size), but that doesn’t mean they’re not worth considering. Here are more brands to check out before making a purchase decision.

  • Goldair
  • Dimplex
  • Sheffield

GOLDAIR

Editor’s Notes

Offering a huge range of desiccant and regular dehumidifiers, Goldair has something to suit any budget and room size. Its cheapest 10L model has a 2L tank plus a timer and retails for just $380.

Goldair’s two most expensive models ($890) each come with wi-fi – a 40L dehumidifier and 10L desiccant dehumidifier – and can be controlled using your phone, Amazon Alexa or Google Home.


DIMPLEX

Editor’s Notes

Dimplex’s NZ website lists three dehumidifier models: a 12L model featuring an air purifying function and HEPA filter, for around $500, plus two larger models: a 25L capacity unti with 3.4L tank and a 50L machine with a 6.5L tank. Both of these models feature preset modes, continuous drainage and a clean filter reminder.


SHEFFIELD

Editor’s Notes

Sheffield is a Kiwi-owned brand that retails a range of household appliances, including two budget-friendly dehumidifiers:

  • Midi dehumidifier (RRP $109): removes 700ml of moisture per day, 2L tank
  • 12L model (RRP $278): removes 12L of moisture per day, air-purifying filter, 2L tank

Choosing the Right Dehumidifier for You

There are many things to consider when choosing the right dehumidifier to match your needs and budget. However, it’s essential to consider certain key factors when making your purchase.

While Value for Money is always important – it was rated the No.1 concern by the consumers in our survey – when it comes to dehumidifiers, performance is key. There’s no point paying for a budget model if it doesn’t work very well. That’s why alongside Value for Money, Effectiveness and Performance & Reliability are key to consumer satisfaction.

And that quietness isn’t too much of a concern shows that while you don’t want your dehumidifier to make a din, most people run their units in parts of the home, and at times of the day, when noise is less of a concern.

Here’s the full rundown of what the dehumidifier consumers in our survey say are the main things they consider when rating their purchases.

  • Value for Money: 23%
  • Effectiveness: 22%
  • Performance & Reliability: 19%
  • Functionality: 15%
  • Appearance & Design: 13%
  • Quietness: 7%

What a dehumidifier can prevent in your home

A dehumidifier can be an essential appliance in the home, and can help prevent or alleviate:

  • Dampness: a perennial problem in many NZ homes
  • Mould: a damp home creates the perfect conditions for mould and mildew to form, but they struggle to form in less than 50% humidity
  • Dust mites: these are invisible occupants of your bedspreads, mattresses, curtains, carpets, etc. While they can live in dry homes, they prefer damp conditions. And when they multiply, they can trigger allergic reactions
  • Musty smells: these can be caused by the growth of mould and mildew
  • Condensation: foggy windows can damage wooden window frames and lead to damp patches on walls and peeling wallpaper

Types of dehumidifier

Refrigerant dehumidifier

Works by condensing moisture out of the air. Damp air is sucked into the dehumidifier and is cooled to below its dewpoint temperature using the same processes as a fridge. This causes condensation to drip into a water-holding pan, which can either be emptied manually, or automatically through a hose. These are the most common types of dehumidifiers. They work better in higher temperatures and at increased humidity levels, although can be noisier than desiccant dehumidifiers.

Desiccant dehumidifiers

The humid air moves over a rotating wheel made of a water-absorbing material. The dry air is blown back into the room, while the water-absorbing material is heated, causing it to release its water into a collection tray. Absorption models are more complicated in their design and can be less energy efficient. However, absorption dehumidifiers work better at lower temperatures, which make them a good option for use in colder climates.

Tips for buying and using a dehumidifier

Buying a dehumidifier:

  • The best models have a digital humidistat, which his like a thermostat for humidity
  • Check for literage, the amount of water the dehumidifier can remove from the air over 24 hours. The bigger the number, the better the machine
  • Look for a good Star Energy Rating – it will cost you less to run
  • Don’t buy a machine unless you’ve heard it running and are happy with its noise level

   Using a dehumidifier:

  • Wash air filters once a month to help the fan operate efficiently
  • Keep an eye on temperatures. Most dehumidifiers operate less efficiently when the temperature falls below 18C
  • Maintain good air-flow. Keep your dehumidifier away from the wall for good air circulation

About the editor of this page

This report was written by Canstar’s Editor, Bruce Pitchers. Bruce has three decades’ experience as a journalist and has worked for major media companies in the UK and Australasia, including ACP, Bauer Media Group, Fairfax, Pacific Magazines, News Corp and TVNZ. Prior to Canstar, he worked as a freelancer, including for The Australian Financial Review, the NZ Financial Markets Authority, and for real estate companies on both sides of the Tasman.

More Information

Key statistics

Dehumidifier protects from ill health: 53%

A dehumidifier is an essential household item: 51%

Home needs a dehumidifier because it’s damp: 48%

You get what you pay for in terms of a dehumidifier’s efficiency: 41%

Would own more than one dehumidifier if could afford to: 31%

Worry about the cost of dehumidifier’s power consumption: 30%

Bought a dehumidifier based on its energy rating: 24%

Find noise of dehumidifier off-putting: 19%

Canstar Blue surveyed 2517 New Zealand consumers across a range of categories to measure and track customer satisfaction, via ISO 26362 accredited research panels managed by Qualtrics. The outcomes reported are the results from customers who had purchased a dehumidifier in the past two years. In this case, 253 New Zealanders. Brands must have received at least 30 responses to be included. Results are comparative and it should be noted that brands receiving three stars have still achieved a satisfaction measure of at least six out of 10. Not all brands available in the market have been compared in this survey. The ratings table is first sorted by star ratings and then by mean overall satisfaction. A rated brand may receive a ‘N/A’ (Not Applicable) rating if it does not receive the minimum number of responses for that criterion.

The past winners from Canstar Blue’s Dehumidifier ratings:

  • 2022: Mitsubishi Electric
  • 2021: Mitsubishi Electric
  • 2018: Panasonic

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