Bah! it's dehumidifier time -- and time for a new one for me...

[mattl]

Went to power up my Dehumidifier and it's making strange noises and not shutting off when it should not be running.  I've gotten about 14 years out of it, one of the longest runs I've had outside of a Kenmore  from the late '60s that ran for close to 30 years.

 

I know that there are only 3 or 4 Chinese manufactures for all units but wondering if anyone has had any luck with any of the brands lasting over 3 years.  I'm considering Honeywell, GE, Frigidaire, LG, and hOmelabs.  Need something rated at the new 50 pt. std - that was 70 pt. previously. All seem to have mixed reviews, though the Frigidaire get high marks for efficiency. My current unit is energy star and runs at 850 watts or so but still adds $30+ to my bill each month, something I'd like to reduce.

 

Right now my top three are the Honeywell (5 year sealed system warranty) Frigidaire ( highest efficiency) and LG (like the design, decent reviews) so I'm in a quandary. One feature I must have is restart after power failure, my current one does not do that.  I want to put it on a smart plug so I can cut power on Energy Action Days between 2-6 PM when rates triple if not more.

 

[petek]

What's this new 50 pint standard thing?

I looked on the HD Canada and US website and they have 50 and 70 pint models or is there something different going on besides conversions from metric/us/canadian measurements.? Like this one

https://www.homedepot.com/p/LG-Elec...-with-Handle-Dehumidifier-UD701KOG3/300773708

 

[circlew]

I got a Whirlpool a couple years ago to replace a Frigidaire that went bad when it was about four years old. It's reasonably quiet, and does the job. I think it's 50 pts. I won't leave a dehumidifier running when I'm not here, after my neighbors the McLaughlin's unfortunate experience about three years ago.

 

[datalady]

Danby Has Been Good

We’ve had a Danby for several years and it’s been good. We had one of those Kenmores too, from the 80s. It was really expensive to operate. Good luck!!

 

[gusherb]

No luck with anything made in the last 15 years. Have a few vintage ones but none powerful enough to do the job I need them to do. I'm curious if there's a more commercial alternative that isn't prohibitively expensive.

 

[mattl]

The one that died is branded "Sunbeam"  got a good run out of it.  about 9 years in I got a notice it was a fire hazard and they sent me $80 after I sent them a picture of the cut cord.  Never mind I paid 2-3x for it.  Decided if I did not have a problem in 9 years it was safe to use and spliced the cord back on. Had a similar issue with a "Maytag" had to cut the cord but I was fine with that since it died on me before that.  Tried a Solaris but it was a weak performer and went back to the vendor.

 

If I can buy a cube fridge that lasts for years why not a DH?  Basically the same guts plus a fan.

 

[combo52]

Need For Dehumidifiers ?

If you have a home with central A/C but still need humidity reduction in basements or maybe a garage consider instead installing a small 5000 BTU window A/C in a window Etc.

 

I small WAC will remove a lot of water and will assist in keeping your home cool and dry and not be working against the C/A by putting off nearly 3000 BTUs of heat when it is running.

 

Small A/Cs are cheaper, less of a fire hazard and do not have to be emptied, yes you may still need a dehumidifier for cool damp days but I would never run one in a home that has CAC running at the same time it is just too costly.

 

John L.

 

[jamiel]

Make sure that you retain the old one--you can get a rebate from DTE/Consumers....DTE is now having recycling events so you don't need to deal w/the house-call recycling (which only would take a dehumidifier in conjunction with a refrigerator/freezer).

 

[mattl]

I have central AC but rarely use it, too expensive.  Last time I ran it was when I had house guests for a couple of weeks, added $120 to my monthly bill. The $30 for the DH is small in comparison.

 

I'm in the Consumers section of the state, odds are they have a plan similar to DTE, don't know if they will take Energy Star equipment though.

 

[jamiel]

there are two programs...one is the rebate on the purchase of an Energy Star appliance (refrigeration or non-refrigeration) and the other is a bounty on the recycling of a compressor-containing appliance. I had purchased a dehumidifier years ago at ABC Warehouse, which died (fan motor). I got the mail-in rebate on the new dehumidifier (bought at Costco), and got the bounty (check mailed to me) on the dehumidifier when I took it to the place where they had the recycling drive (happened to be in Detroit). You also can get the dehumidifier $25 if they're picking up a refrigerator at your address as well, but I didn't have an unused refrigerator. Looks like the Consumers' program is slightly different than DTE's but you get the idea.

https://www.consumersenergy.com/residential/save-money-and-energy/rebates/appliance-recycling

 

[blackstone]

Friedrich

Always a quality product. I've been using a Friedrich dehumidifier for a few years. I got the smallest one, which uses the least amount of electricity, since I don't have a great need for dehumidification. I can just leave it running, and draining into the sink. Check their website.

 

[blackstone]

Apparently, Friedrich does not offer the lowest-capacity unit that I purchased in 2013. Mine is rated at 2.2 amps; the two models currently offered use 5 and 8 amps.