LGR Dehumidifiers: Low-Grain Refrigerant Capacity & Selection
LGR means low-grain refrigerant. The term matters in restoration because drying conditions change as a job progresses: air that starts warm and very wet can become much drier, and a useful restoration dehumidifier needs to keep removing moisture as the vapor load falls. This page owns the LGR technology/product-class intent rather than the broader commercial-dehumidifier shopping intent.
What “low grain” means in practical restoration terms
As moisture is removed from the air, the humidity ratio—or grains of moisture per pound of dry air—falls. A low-grain refrigerant dehumidifier is engineered to maintain useful refrigerant drying performance deeper into those drier conditions than a conventional refrigerant unit typically would.
Manufacturers implement that goal differently. Dri-Eaz describes technologies such as Extreme Dewpoint Technology and Advanced Crossflow Technology on current LGR lines. Phoenix traces its LGR line back to the Phoenix 200 and emphasizes low-grain operation across several current models. The site therefore treats “LGR” as a documented product class rather than inventing one universal internal design formula.
AHAM and saturation ratings still need to stay separate
LGR does not make test conditions irrelevant. A current Dri-Eaz LGR 7000XLi publishes 130 PPD at AHAM conditions and 235 PPD at saturation. AlorAir Storm LGR 850X publishes 85 PPD AHAM and 180 PPD saturation. Those figures describe different environmental conditions.
A buyer comparing LGR models should use the AHAM field when a common-condition comparison is needed, then use saturation and other published low-grain information as separate context.
Current LGR comparison points
| Current model | AHAM | Saturation | Process air | Amps | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dri-Eaz Revolution LGR | 80 PPD | 144 PPD | 180 CFM | 5.5 A | 63 lb |
| Dri-Eaz LGR 5000Li | 80 PPD | 164 PPD | 215 CFM | 5.1 A | 69 lb |
| AlorAir Storm LGR 850X | 85 PPD | 180 PPD | 210 CFM | 5.9 A | 63 lb |
| Dri-Eaz LGR 6000Li | 100 PPD | 219 PPD | 320 CFM | 6.5 A | 99 lb |
| AlorAir Storm LGR 1250X | 125 PPD | 264 PPD | 300 CFM | 8.1 A | 79.2 lb |
| Dri-Eaz LGR 7000XLi | 130 PPD | 235 PPD | 280 CFM | 8.8 A | 106 lb |
| Phoenix DryMAX XL Pro | 135 PPD | N/A in current normalized record | 300 CFM | 6.7 A | 85 lb |
| Phoenix 250 MAX | 145 PPD | N/A in current normalized record | 365 CFM | 8.2 A | 119 lb |
Compact LGR and high-capacity LGR solve different fleet problems
Dri-Eaz Revolution LGR and AlorAir Storm LGR 850X are roughly 63 lb in the current catalog, while larger machines such as LGR 7000XLi and Phoenix 250 MAX exceed 100 lb. A compact machine can be much easier to move up stairs and distribute across several areas. A larger machine can reduce the number of units needed for a high moisture load.
That is why Restoration Select will not create a single “best LGR dehumidifier” ranking based on AHAM alone.
Process air is not the same as moisture-removal capacity
Dri-Eaz LGR 6000Li publishes 320 CFM and 100 AHAM PPD, while LGR 7000XLi publishes 280 CFM and 130 AHAM PPD. The lower process-air figure does not prevent the 7000XLi from publishing higher AHAM moisture removal.
Process airflow can matter for ducting and distribution, but LGR capacity must be evaluated as its own field.
Why LGR performance becomes more important later in a drying cycle
Early in a very wet loss, the air can contain a large amount of moisture and many refrigerant dehumidifiers can remove water rapidly. As the environment dries, the remaining moisture is harder to remove from the air and materials. LGR equipment is designed for that lower-grain part of the process, where maintaining useful vapor-pressure reduction becomes more important than simply posting a large saturation number.
This is also why one headline PPD figure cannot describe an entire drying curve. A machine may perform very strongly at saturation yet differ from another unit as temperature and humidity fall. Restoration Select therefore keeps the product class, AHAM capacity, saturation capacity, process air and manufacturer-specific low-grain technology claims as separate evidence rather than calculating an undocumented “late-stage drying score.”
Compare the whole LGR platform, not only the refrigeration label
Two LGR models can share the same basic technology category and still have very different field workflows. Compact machines may fit bathrooms, kitchens and stairs more easily; larger units can reduce equipment quantity on open losses; high-temperature models can remain usable in hotter structures; connected models can support remote condition tracking.
For a contractor standardizing a fleet, filter availability, pump service access, hose/cord storage, stacking, ducting and control familiarity can matter as much as a small capacity difference. Those factors belong in future Finder and Compare logic only when the exact manufacturer evidence is available.
Energy efficiency deserves its own field
Some manufacturers publish COP in liters per kilowatt-hour. Current AlorAir records include 2.44 L/kWh for Storm LGR Extreme, 2.5 for Storm LGR 850X and 2.66 for Storm LGR 1250X. Phoenix also markets energy efficiency as a major design goal on its LGR line.
COP should be compared only when the manufacturer publishes the metric on a sufficiently compatible basis. Restoration Select does not calculate missing COP values from incomplete marketing data.
Operating temperature can separate otherwise similar LGR units
Current Phoenix 250 MAX documentation publishes operation from 33°F to 125°F, which is notably broader at the hot end than many compact LGR units. AlorAir Storm LGR 850X publishes 33.8°F–110°F, while Storm LGR Extreme publishes 33.8°F–104°F.
Those limits can matter on hot restoration jobs, unconditioned structures and cool basements. They should be taken from the exact current model, not borrowed from a related series.
Pump drainage and monitoring are workflow features
Many LGR machines are intended to run for long periods. Built-in pumps reduce the need for manual water collection. Connected platforms from Dri-Eaz, AlorAir and Phoenix can add remote visibility or asset tracking. Those features can change labor and jobsite workflow even when the moisture-removal capacity is similar.
LGR does not determine how many units a water loss needs
A technology label cannot replace a drying plan. The number of LGR dehumidifiers needed depends on the affected materials, moisture load, environmental conditions and professional procedure. Restoration Select keeps the future water-damage sizing tool evidence-gated for that reason.
For the restoration-workflow intent, use Water Damage Dehumidifier.
Current LGR shopping paths
The strongest current Amazon-verified LGR routes in the normalized catalog are selected AlorAir models. They do not define the editorial universe; Dri-Eaz and Phoenix models remain central comparison points even when no safe exact Amazon route is active.
Related dehumidifier decisions
Use the page that matches the decision you are actually making. These pages intentionally separate broad commercial selection, restoration drying, LGR technology, heavy-duty industrial use and basement moisture control.
- Commercial Dehumidifier
- Water Damage Dehumidifier
- LGR Dehumidifier — current page
- Industrial Dehumidifier
- Commercial Dehumidifier for Basement
- Recommended Restoration Equipment
Primary references for this page
- Dri-Eaz LGR 6000Li ↗Current LGR restoration product source for AHAM/saturation, process air, amps, weight, ducting and connected monitoring.
- Dri-Eaz LGR 7000XLi ↗Current high-capacity LGR source for 130 PPD AHAM, 235 PPD saturation, process air and electrical load.
- Dri-Eaz Revolution LGR ↗Current compact LGR source for 80 PPD AHAM, 144 PPD saturation, 180 CFM, 5.5A and 63 lb.
- Phoenix 250 MAX LGR ↗Current Phoenix LGR source for 145 PPD AHAM, 365 CFM, 8.2A and 33°F–125°F operating range.
- AlorAir Storm LGR 850X ↗Current compact LGR source for AHAM/saturation capacity, COP, pump, process air and operating range.
Use the live dehumidifier tools
Dehumidifier Finder Compare Dehumidifiers Water Damage Capacity Planner
Compare current Dri-Eaz LGR models
See AHAM, saturation, process-air, amp, weight and filter differences across the Dri-Eaz models currently normalized by Restoration Select.
Compare AlorAir Storm LGR models
See the normalized AlorAir LGR capacity, process-air, amp, weight and operating-range differences.
Frequently asked questions
What does LGR mean on a dehumidifier?
LGR means low-grain refrigerant. In restoration equipment, the term is used for refrigerant dehumidifiers engineered to continue removing moisture efficiently as air becomes drier and vapor pressure falls.
Is every commercial dehumidifier an LGR dehumidifier?
No. Commercial describes intended duty/use; LGR describes a particular refrigerant drying approach or product class. Many restoration dehumidifiers are LGR, but the terms are not interchangeable.
Is saturation PPD the best way to compare LGR dehumidifiers?
No. Keep saturation and AHAM ratings separate. For cross-model comparison, AHAM capacity at a common test condition is often more useful when available.
Does higher process airflow mean better low-grain performance?
Not by itself. Process air and moisture-removal capacity are separate fields. Low-grain performance depends on the refrigeration system and operating conditions, not just fan CFM.
Why do LGR dehumidifiers have pumps?
Many restoration LGR units are designed to run continuously, so a condensate pump makes drainage practical when gravity drainage is not available.
Are LGR dehumidifiers useful outside water damage restoration?
Yes. Manufacturers also position them for construction drying, humidity control, basements, crawlspaces and other commercial applications, but the exact fit depends on operating range, drainage, sound and installation needs.