What Is AHAM? History, Standards and Dehumidifier Ratings

What is AHAM? How the association began

AHAM's history begins with washing machines. In 1915, 60 American manufacturers formed an industry association. Organizations representing other appliance manufacturers followed over the next several decades. These predecessors collected industry statistics and developed common methods for measuring appliance performance. ^[2]

AHAM itself was formed in 1967 by companies from the American Home Laundry Manufacturers Association and the National Electrical Manufacturers Association's Consumer Products Division. Its first headquarters was in Chicago. A Washington office followed to work with federal lawmakers and regulators, and the headquarters moved there in 1999. ^[2]

The Vacuum Cleaner Manufacturers Association joined AHAM in 2003. A Canadian office opened in 2012. Today, AHAM represents manufacturers of major appliances, portable appliances and floor care equipment, along with companies that supply them with parts and materials, in the United States and Canada. ^{[1] [2]}

What the association does

AHAM represents manufacturers in discussions about laws and technical requirements, and conducts industry research. During the revision of the federal dehumidifier test procedure, for example, it recommended that the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) adopt the updated DH-1-2022 standard. ^{[1] [6]}

The association develops test methods that specify the conditions and measurements used to rate appliances. A common method makes performance figures comparable across products. For dehumidifiers, that method is DH-1. ^{[4] [5]}

AHAM also organizes programs in which an independent laboratory checks manufacturers' performance claims. Manufacturers choose whether to participate, and AHAM membership is not required. ^[8]

The standards AHAM publishes

A test standard describes how to measure a product's performance. For a dehumidifier, a measurement is the amount of water removed. For an air cleaner, it can be the clean air delivery rate, or CADR. Each appliance category has its own documents and standard numbers. ^{[4] [9]}

AHAM also publishes methods for assessing appliances' environmental impact. ^[4]

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) accredits AHAM as a standards developer. ANSI reviews the development process, including its openness and the balance of participants' interests. ^[3]

DH-1: the dehumidifier test standard

DH-1 covers dehumidifier testing. The 2022 edition is titled Energy Measurement Test Procedure for Dehumidifiers. AHAM's catalog describes it as a standard for portable dehumidifiers. ^{[5] [6]}

Testing measures water removal and electricity consumption. Capacity is reported in pints of water per day; energy efficiency measures liters removed per kilowatt-hour. The procedure specifies room conditions and measurement requirements so that results can be compared. ^[7]

DH-1-2022 was published in December 2022. DOE incorporated it into the federal procedure in 2023, with exceptions. These include a two-hour rating test period. ^{[6] [7]}

How AHAM's standard connects to DOE rules

DOE sets federal energy-efficiency requirements for dehumidifiers. Its test procedure is Appendix X1 to Subpart B of 10 CFR Part 430, which incorporates specified sections of AHAM DH-1-2022. Where the industry standard and the federal procedure differ, the federal procedure takes precedence. ^[7]

Appendix X1 specifies 65°F and 60% relative humidity for portable dehumidifiers. Whole-home units are tested at 73°F and 60% relative humidity, with ducts connected. The conditions appear in section 4.1.1, Table 1. ^[7]

What AHAM Verifide checks

In AHAM Verifide programs, independent laboratories check manufacturers' stated performance. Manufacturers submit their claimed ratings, and products are randomly selected for verification testing. ^[8]

For dehumidifiers, Intertek verifies water-removal capacity and energy factor. The laboratory also performs AHAM verification testing for room air cleaners and room air conditioners. ^[9]

Participation is voluntary and open to manufacturers that are not AHAM members. ^[8]

AHAM publishes annual lists of dehumidifiers in the program. Its 2026 model list (PDF) gives the brand, model number and associated base model for units in a model family. ^[12]

Archived lists are available for 2020, 2021, 2022, 2024 and 2025 (PDF). The former AHAM links no longer return these files. The copies here are official documents recovered from Common Crawl.

Each list covers models in the program for that year.

This collection does not yet include the full 2023 list.

Reading a dehumidifier's AHAM rating

The Santa Fe Compact70 provides an example of how to read water-removal capacity. Its data sheet reports two results for the same unit at different temperatures. ^[10]

70 pints per day at 80°F and 60% relative humidity. These temperature and humidity conditions match those used in AHAM DH-1-2008. ^{[6] [10]}

43.7 pints per day at 65°F and 60% relative humidity. These conditions match the current DOE Appendix X1 procedure for portable dehumidifiers, which incorporates AHAM DH-1-2022. ^{[7] [10]}

At the lower temperature, the Compact70's stated capacity falls from 70 to 43.7 pints per day. Relative humidity is the same in both tests: 60%. ^[10]

AHAM ratings are also used in professional water-damage drying. In IICRC's published refrigerant-dehumidifier formula, the required capacity is divided by one unit's AHAM rating to calculate the initial number of units. ^[11]

Our guide to dehumidifier pint ratings explains the DOE procedure's history and changes in capacity figures. The Argendon review compares the AHAM, DOE and saturation figures for Sandidry Pro35C. For equipment used after a flood or leak, see the commercial and LGR dehumidifier guide.

Questions about AHAM

Sources and method

I compared AHAM's official materials with DOE's federal test procedure and Intertek's description of verification testing. The DH-1 history uses public DOE records; I did not use the full paid standard.

1. AHAM: about the association. Membership and activities.
2. AHAM: history. Predecessors from 1915, formation in 1967 and later expansion.
3. AHAM: ANSI accreditation. Accreditation of the standards-development process.
4. AHAM: standards list. Performance measurement and environmental assessment standards.
5. AHAM DH-1-2022: catalog entry. The standard's scope; the full text is sold separately.
6. DOE: dehumidifier test procedure, 2023. Federal Register 88 FR 48035, section III.C.2: DH-1 edition history.
7. 10 CFR 430, Appendix X1. Sections 0, 2, 3.1.1.1 and 4.1.1, including Table 1: federal test requirements.
8. AHAM: verification programs. Voluntary participation, independent laboratory testing and random selection.
9. Intertek: AHAM testing. Verification of dehumidifier water-removal capacity and energy factor.
10. Santa Fe Compact70: data sheet (PDF). TS-2108 Rev. B 01/26, model 4044110. Ratings at 80°F and 65°F, both at 60% relative humidity.
11. IICRC: initial dehumidification factors and formulas (PDF). Use of the AHAM rating in initial refrigerant-dehumidifier sizing.
12. AHAM: 2026 dehumidifier model list (PDF). Program models planned for production from January through December 2026.
13. AHAM: 2020 dehumidifier model list (archived PDF). Official annual AHAM document recovered from Common Crawl.
14. AHAM: 2021 dehumidifier model list (archived PDF). Official annual AHAM document recovered from Common Crawl.
15. AHAM: 2022 dehumidifier model list (archived PDF). Official annual AHAM document recovered from Common Crawl.
16. AHAM: 2024 dehumidifier model list (archived PDF). Official annual AHAM document recovered from Common Crawl.
17. AHAM: 2025 dehumidifier model list (archived PDF). Official annual AHAM document recovered from Common Crawl.