Before comparing pint ratings, write the test temperature and relative humidity beside each number. Without those conditions, a larger number may describe a different test rather than a stronger machine.
Read one label all the way through
Argendon’s Shield 35M specification gives 35 pints/day at 80°F and 60% RH, alongside 70 pints/day at saturation. Those are two descriptions of one model, not two competing products. The sheet does not establish that your home will collect either quantity every day. Read the specification sheet.
| Worksheet entry | Shield 35M example |
|---|---|
| Exact model | Shield 35M |
| Removal rate and conditions | 35 pints/day at 80°F/60% RH |
| Separate saturation claim | 70 pints/day; keep out of the ordinary-condition column |
| What remains unknown | Daily collection in your own space |
ENERGY STAR explains that the newer portable test uses 65°F rather than 80°F, and that IEF includes energy used while the machine has cycled off. A change in testing can therefore reduce the stated capacity without making the hardware worse. Do not apply a portable-rating conversion to every crawl-space machine.
Which comparisons are valid?
- 35 pints/day versus 70 pints/day on the same 35M sheet: two conditions, not two competing machines.
- Two models rated at the same temperature and RH: a usable capacity comparison, although not a home-specific prediction.
- An older 80°F portable label versus a newer 65°F label: check the test change before judging the hardware.
- Pints/day versus IEF: different measurements; IEF describes water removal per unit of energy and includes off-cycle energy in the test.
An unknown test basis stays unknown
Keep an unresolved test basis marked “unknown.” Do not invent a conversion or treat a saturation claim as a substitute.
Once the labels are comparable, use the crawl-space assessment or the basement replacement diagnosis to decide what the capacity needs to accomplish.
