Dehumidifier Recommendations?

[zaqxsw]

I bought a "GE® ENERGY STAR® 50 Pint Portable Dehumidifier with Built-in Pump and Smart Dry for Wet Spaces" dehumidifier two years ago. The internal pump failed in three months. The big box store replaced the unit under warranty. Six months later the internal pump failed again. In reading reviews none of these pumps last very long. So, I connected a garden hose to the provided hose fitting and just gravity drain to a floor drain. Fine until this month.

The humidity sensor is now faulty. When set at 50% and humidity at 55% it will run until it shuts off. Then the humidity sensor continues down to eventually 35% and the unit never runs again. I power it off/on and it starts back up showing 55% humidity and whole failure cycle repeats.

My previous Sears dehumidifier was "dumb" and lasted around 25 years...

I'm looking for about a 50-pint dehumidifier to run in the basement using a garden hose to run to drain. I don't want a unit with a custom hose as they are always too short. Don't want an internal pump.

Appreciate any replies!

 

[GalaxyBoy]

I bought a Frigidaire unit from Amazon a couple of years ago that’s been fine and meets your specs, but I see that exact model is “currently unavailable” on the Amazon site. The current models (very similar) are here on amazon. I don’t think it’s nearly as quiet as they claim, but I use it in the basement so I don’t mind.

https://www.amazon.com/Frigidaire-FFAD5034W1-50-Pint-Dehumidifier/dp/B0DG131XB7?ref_=ast_sto_dp&th=1

 

[YB88]

Somewhat off-topic but related --- I find that the hygrometers built into consumer dehumidifiers are not very accurate. Hard to tell, though: if I buy three separate standalone hygrometers (which btw, measure relative humidity % ...), how do I know which one (if any) is right? Similar problem with a thermometer for that matter, but I find that hygrometers seem to vary more.

I moved to a new house recently and my garage floor has no drain. Emptying the pan all the time is a real PITA, so I bought a short section of PVC plumbing pipe sized to fit the drain hose that came with the dehumidifer and drilled a somewhat down-slanted hole through the side of my house, elevated the dehumdifier somewhat to aid in draining. Seems to be working fine. My garage doesn't get all that very humid, but we can go through extended rainy periods and every time the car enters the garage there's suddenly a lot of water inside --- same place I have all of my shop tools.

W.r.t. the original question, I had a dehumidifier in my old house that worked well for years; it failed when I tried it in the new house, just stopped working, no amount of fiddling with it helped. I speculate it was bumped around in the move, but who knows. I have a dehumidifier in the otherwise sealed crawlspace of a mountain cabin and have never had trouble with that and it runs a lot more than my unit at home.

 

[RetiredAt55.5]

I bought a "GE® ENERGY STAR® 50 Pint Portable Dehumidifier with Built-in Pump and Smart Dry for Wet Spaces" dehumidifier two years ago. The internal pump failed in three months. The big box store replaced the unit under warranty. Six months later the internal pump failed again. In reading reviews none of these pumps last very long. So, I connected a garden hose to the provided hose fitting and just gravity drain to a floor drain. Fine until this month.

The humidity sensor is now faulty. When set at 50% and humidity at 55% it will run until it shuts off. Then the humidity sensor continues down to eventually 35% and the unit never runs again. I power it off/on and it starts back up showing 55% humidity and whole failure cycle repeats.

My previous Sears dehumidifier was "dumb" and lasted around 25 years...

I'm looking for about a 50-pint dehumidifier to run in the basement using a garden hose to run to drain. I don't want a unit with a custom hose as they are always too short. Don't want an internal pump.

Appreciate any replies!

They're just like refrigerators these days - it's really hard to find a good one that lasts. I don't have a good recommendation.

I did use to drain mine into my sump pump pit, which has a stone base, but I figured that was probably leaving some moisture in the room. I raised my unit onto a shelving unit next to my laundry tub, so it can gravity drain into the tub.

 

[GrayHare]

FWIW, I've been using a Keystone brand dehumidifier for over 10 years. It continues to work well.

 

[Koolau]

Expensive solution: We moved from a town house (with dirt crawl space) to a high rise. No need for a dehumidifier now. Best luck. Stuff these days is not built to last.

 

[triangle]

This is probably not what you are interested in, but I have been considering installing an in-wall dehumidifier like the SantaFe MD33

Ultra Aire MD33 | In-Wall Dehumidifier | Santa Fe & Ultra Aire

The Ultra Aire MD33 dehumidifier is the first true in-wall dehumidifier designed to drain directly into a hub-drain or plumbing line.

www.santa-fe-products.com

I am hesitating because my HVAC system is really old and could use an upgrade, which would offer alternate options. But that in-wall unit is tempting to avoid having one sit in a room or hallway taking up floor space.

 

[Plantman]

I also recommend a Frigidaire. Mine has been going strong over 10 years now.

 

[zaqxsw]

Thanks for all of the replies!

 

[MrMikeCT]

Our Frigidaire is at least 10 years old and we have had no issues with it. Occasionally it'll get a little noisy from the vibrations that it creates and when it does, I tie a bunge cord around the bucket area and it'll be fine.

 

[Surewhitey]

We have a 10yr old Hisense in the garage after breaking the hose connector in the back. Finally tired of emptying it & got a Midea with pump and Wi-Fi about a year ago. Still pumping & can turn on / off while away on vacation.

The thing I've found is to keep the inflow side away from the wall so it's not taking back in the dry air to make it very similar to the thermostat reading of humidity. It definitely works for our 1150 Sq ft home. The only time we don't run it is in the hottest or coldest days with low humidity. I try to keep ours 45-50.

 

[joesxm3]

I have been buying Midea Cube dehumidifiers on Amazon having previously used GE. I like them. One stopped pulling water last year but the other three are working well. I just bought two this year. I also have their window air conditioners that you can open the window with and the compressor is outside. Those work very well also.

 

[GBcycling]

We have 2 frigidaire's (separate finish, unfinished area). Both approaching 10 years old. They run 10 months per year. No issues. We maintain 50% RH. Would buy my same units again. But as been said, things don't last as long as they used to. I am sure I said that when I purchased these....

 

[freedomatlast]

I have two Frigidaires. One in a rental and one in the primary residence. The one in the rental was bought used for $25 and is about 10 years old and still works perfectly. The one in the primary residence is about 15 years old and still works perfectly. Both drain via gravity through a hose into a floor drain.

 

[Walt34]

I agree that there doesn't seem to be any consistently "good" brand anymore since they all (apparently) change more often than car models. Also agree that the pumps on the models that come with them are at best unreliable. Useless is probably a more accurate term.

I have found that gravity is pretty reliable so use that whenever possible to drain the dehumidifier. If a pump is needed, use gravity to drain to a "Little Giant" brand condensate pump. I have two of them, one is 23 years old and has never given a hint of trouble although I do take it apart every two or three years and clean it out. It has one moving part, the armature, which is directly connected to the centrifugal pump. It's hard to make it simpler than that. Well, I guess the float switch moves too, so that makes two moving parts.

 

[USGrant1962]

I dunno, I think it is a lottery scenario. Not something specific to GE. I've had this big box store GE dehumidifier running in my summer house full time, maybe 7 months a year, for 7 years.

GE® Dehumidifier with Built-in Pump|^|APEL70LW

GE Appliances is your home for the best kitchen appliances, home products, parts and accessories, and support.

www.geappliances.com

 

[Sunset]

They're just like refrigerators these days - it's really hard to find a good one that lasts. I don't have a good recommendation.

I did use to drain mine into my sump pump pit, which has a stone base, but I figured that was probably leaving some moisture in the room. I raised my unit onto a shelving unit next to my laundry tub, so it can gravity drain into the tub.

I never thought of raising mine, but now I think I will as that will solve the less that perfect draining I get from the hose. A few patio pavers should do the trick for me.

 

[skyking1]

we have a Hisense 35 that works fine, but from time to time the fan gets really noisy. Of course it is out of warranty.

 

[Midpack]

May not be applicable, but we have an Aprilaire 1850D dehumidifier in our encapsulated crawl space, specs say 95 pint/day. There was a control board failure after about 3 years, but it was an easy fix under warranty (and wouldn't have cost much without the warranty) - I watched the tech do the replacement. Otherwise it's been flawless for 6 years and it runs hard during the humid warm months, typically Apr-May thru Oct-Nov. I have it set to 55% RH, and it typically reads 50-55% RH at most, much lower Dec thru Mar when it's not needed at all. FWIW

 

[G-Man]

I have been buying Midea Cube dehumidifiers on Amazon having previously used GE. I like them. One stopped pulling water last year but the other three are working well. I just bought two this year. I also have their window air conditioners that you can open the window with and the compressor is outside. Those work very well also.

Been using my Midea cube dehumidifier for over a year now. Stilling going. However, I don't think the hygrometer built into the dehumidifier is accurate. So, I purchased a ThermoPro TP50 hygrometer to read the relative humidity in the room.

 

[triangle]

May not be applicable, but we have an Aprilaire 1850D dehumidifier in our encapsulated crawl space, specs say 95 pint/day. There was a control board failure after about 3 years, but it was an easy fix under warranty (and wouldn't have cost much without the warranty) - I watched the tech do the replacement. Otherwise it's been flawless for 6 years and it runs hard during the humid warm months, typically Apr-May thru Oct-Nov. I have it set to 55% RH, and it typically reads 50-55% RH at most, much lower Dec thru Mar when it's not needed at all. FWIW

Did you get the Aprilaire 1850 at the same time you replaced your HVAC system or encapsulated the crawl space?

I should call my local HVAC company as I am sure they will answer all my questions, but I plan to continue with my old HVAC and 80% efficient furnace as long as they are relatively trouble free. I do need to encapsulate the crawlspace and whenever the HVAC system is replaced I imagine it will be a heat pump with nat-gas backup, as I think that is the common practice here. At which point I would probably want a whole house unit like your Aprilaire.

 

[triangle]

This is moving further off-topic but as many may know refrigerant standards have been changing over the years. In 2025 HVAC systems are also required to change over to either R-32 or R-454B. I heard one industry professional state that in 8-10 years (?) residential HVAC systems may be using propane as refrigerant, as it does not harm the ozone and has low warming potential. But since it is highly flammable, water or some other inert liquid will be use for heat transfer back inside the building.

I am not sure if portable dehumidifiers are also required to change over to either R-32 or R-454B as well, or if they are on a different timeline. The crawlspace Aprilaire 1850 mentioned above uses R-410A and that in-wall SantaFe MD33 uses R134A.

In any case I think it may be difficult to judge the reliability of a new floor standing dehumidifer model from a old one built by the same manufacturer due to the regulation changes.

 

[ncbill]

This is moving further off-topic but as many may know refrigerant standards have been changing over the years. In 2025 HVAC systems are also required to change over to either R-32 or R-454B. I heard one industry professional state that in 8-10 years (?) residential HVAC systems may be using propane as refrigerant, as it does not harm the ozone and has low warming potential. But since it is highly flammable, water or some other inert liquid will be use for heat transfer back inside the building.

I am not sure if portable dehumidifiers are also required to change over to either R-32 or R-454B as well, or if they are on a different timeline. The crawlspace Aprilaire 1850 mentioned above uses R-410A and that in-wall SantaFe MD33 uses R134A.

In any case I think it may be difficult to judge the reliability of a new floor standing dehumidifer model from a old one built by the same manufacturer due to the regulation changes.

Yes, it is a great design.

But unfortunately the fluid transfer will require larger pipes.

So, no reusing the current refrigerant lines that run through my finished basement's concrete slab.

 

[YB88]

ThermoPro TP50 hygrometer

Been using my Midea cube dehumidifier for over a year now. Stilling going. However, I don't think the hygrometer built into the dehumidifier is accurate. So, I purchased a ThermoPro TP50 hygrometer to read the relative humidity in the room.

I've got a couple of similar cheap hygrometers, but how do you know how accurate that is? There's a 'salt test' one can use that involves putting the hygrometer in a ziplock with wet (but not dissolved) salt. My recollection is that my cheap hygrometer came out okay, reasonably accurate from that test when I did it a couple of years ago. One cannot readily place an entire dehumidifier into a ziplock with wet salt to test the built-in hygrometer!
So I think that having a cheap testable hygrometer is a good way to go. First determine the offset from 'accurate' of the cheap hygrometer, then use that to find the offset-from-accurate for the hygrometer built into the dehumidifier. Maybe tape a little note onto the dehumifier to remind you of the offset. Mine is a bit more than 10% off, which seems like quite a bit (too much) to me.

I'm interested in the Rh% levels that people are shooting for. In my garage I'm happy if it's in the 60 - 70% range, 50% seems to me to be running the unit longer (shorter unit life, higher electric bill) than I need in order to suck up puddles of water from a wet car and to keep tools from rusting.

 

[Midpack]

Did you get the Aprilaire 1850 at the same time you replaced your HVAC system or encapsulated the crawl space?

I should call my local HVAC company as I am sure they will answer all my questions, but I plan to continue with my old HVAC and 80% efficient furnace as long as they are relatively trouble free. I do need to encapsulate the crawlspace and whenever the HVAC system is replaced I imagine it will be a heat pump with nat-gas backup, as I think that is the common practice here. At which point I would probably want a whole house unit like your Aprilaire.

Yes, it was installed at the same time as I had our crawl space encapsulated. Where we live, the climate is such that not protecting your crawl space is just asking for serious problems down the line.