Hi everyone, I would like some feedback on the brand of dehumidifier to buy. Any info. on performance, repairs etc. would be helpful. Thanks, Gary
Dehumifiers
- Thread starter abcomatic
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What? In your basement??
Good plan Gary - this warm humid weather can make a mess of any machines you have down there!
I have an ancient compressor driven one that I think may have been made by Whirlpool (it is branded 'Mastercraft' from the Canadian Tire stores up here in the far north). I picked up a new one last and I can't remember the brand for the life of me, but it is supposedly more energy-wise. It needs to be emptied WAY more than the oldie. However, there is a way that you can hook up a standard garden hose to the water outflow and run it right into a drain (if you have one in the floor).
I know my father has a couple of recent Kenmores and they work really well. In a basement the size of yours, you may need two!
Good plan Gary - this warm humid weather can make a mess of any machines you have down there!
I have an ancient compressor driven one that I think may have been made by Whirlpool (it is branded 'Mastercraft' from the Canadian Tire stores up here in the far north). I picked up a new one last and I can't remember the brand for the life of me, but it is supposedly more energy-wise. It needs to be emptied WAY more than the oldie. However, there is a way that you can hook up a standard garden hose to the water outflow and run it right into a drain (if you have one in the floor).
I know my father has a couple of recent Kenmores and they work really well. In a basement the size of yours, you may need two!
I have a Frigidaire from 1955 that I don't use often for lack of a bucket-full cutoff switch and a Frigidaire from 1998 that I run constantly. The newer one has never failed but sounds like a freight train running a constant loop around the basement. I looked at Sears the other day when I was there and they had several models, I think all made by LG. The TOL model had a pump as well as a gravity drain option but was priced at $299!
some basements are too cool in the summer that dehumidifiers "freeze" up...there are a few models that have a "warm" feature so this does not happen.....just a thought!
At this point I'd go cheap and consider them disposable. Had a Kenmore from '68 that ran for a couple of decades, replaced it with a newer Kenmore that lasted 7 or 8 years. replaced that with a Maytag that lasted 1 and a half years. It was made by Fedders who went bankrupt and refused to stand by the warranty. Maytag is not much better. Still waiting on satisfaction from them on the unit. Offered me a few $$ for a $250 unit.
Picked up a sunbeam from Circuit city last year for $69, it is the same exact unit as the Maytag. Now made in China It's been holding it's own. Saw it all over the place last year from $59-$189. If it dies I'll just get another cheap unit.
Picked up a sunbeam from Circuit city last year for $69, it is the same exact unit as the Maytag. Now made in China It's been holding it's own. Saw it all over the place last year from $59-$189. If it dies I'll just get another cheap unit.
iheartmaytag
Well-known member
Yea, what the other's are saying
I have a Whirlpool with de-icer so it will run in a cooler basement temps down to 60 without freezing up.
Most of what I have been seeing are Harier or clones of such. It is a lot more convenient to have the hose drain into the floor drain if possible, but by emptying the bucket you are able to gage how effective the dehumidifier is at given time and adjust your dryness level to match what is being removed.
In any case we are reaching the end of season, and I am seeing several clearance sales. Wally-world had one for $89 and I think I saw one at Target in the under 100 range.
I have a Whirlpool with de-icer so it will run in a cooler basement temps down to 60 without freezing up.
Most of what I have been seeing are Harier or clones of such. It is a lot more convenient to have the hose drain into the floor drain if possible, but by emptying the bucket you are able to gage how effective the dehumidifier is at given time and adjust your dryness level to match what is being removed.
In any case we are reaching the end of season, and I am seeing several clearance sales. Wally-world had one for $89 and I think I saw one at Target in the under 100 range.
spookiness
Well-known member
I had a heck of a time shopping for one...
a few years ago.
Most of what I read about them were that a) they're loud b) they use a lot of power, and c) they put out a lot of heat. I wanted the ability to set the control to the %humidity that I desired.
I bought and returned an LG. Too loud, too much heat. After reading a lot of reviews, I decided to take a risk and buy online a model called the Soleus (CFM40?). I got it and it worked great, and quietly... for about a week. After a total run-around from the online store, I finally got them to take it back and give me a replacement. However, they were not able to get the same model, so they offered something similar called the "New Air" something.
Yes, it is made in China, and initially appears cheap, but it is quiet enough to run in a living space with the TV on, and it doesn't put out excessive heat. The controls are not as I'd ideally want them, and the "automatic" setting only gets the RH down to about 55%. Any lower, you have to run it on "Continuous" mode. But it does have a timer which is handy, and you can connect it to a drain if you want.
Another handy feature is the "Clothes Dry" setting, which is "continuous" with a high fan speed. I often dry some clothes on racks, so this does speed things up. Overall, I'm happy with it, and frankly its lasted longer (2 or 3 yrs) than I expected it to.
I totally complained to Consumer Reports that their reviews and tests were completely unhelpful.
Anecdotally, I have read somewhere that Frigidaires are reasonably quiet. I will check them out next time, but make sure I buy it from someplace that I can easily return it if I have to.
I guess my complaint is that a lot of "traditional" dehumidifiers are basically air conditioners, and they're made for basements or places that aren't really lived in. Having had experience with 2 other products that appear to be a different, more modern design, they are definitely quieter, put out less heat, use less power, and are easier to live around. Also easier to handle and carry. I just hope the technology gets worked out so that it provides acceptable longevity, and that there are better (online) reviews over time so its easier to shop for one.
a few years ago.
Most of what I read about them were that a) they're loud b) they use a lot of power, and c) they put out a lot of heat. I wanted the ability to set the control to the %humidity that I desired.
I bought and returned an LG. Too loud, too much heat. After reading a lot of reviews, I decided to take a risk and buy online a model called the Soleus (CFM40?). I got it and it worked great, and quietly... for about a week. After a total run-around from the online store, I finally got them to take it back and give me a replacement. However, they were not able to get the same model, so they offered something similar called the "New Air" something.
Yes, it is made in China, and initially appears cheap, but it is quiet enough to run in a living space with the TV on, and it doesn't put out excessive heat. The controls are not as I'd ideally want them, and the "automatic" setting only gets the RH down to about 55%. Any lower, you have to run it on "Continuous" mode. But it does have a timer which is handy, and you can connect it to a drain if you want.
Another handy feature is the "Clothes Dry" setting, which is "continuous" with a high fan speed. I often dry some clothes on racks, so this does speed things up. Overall, I'm happy with it, and frankly its lasted longer (2 or 3 yrs) than I expected it to.
I totally complained to Consumer Reports that their reviews and tests were completely unhelpful.
Anecdotally, I have read somewhere that Frigidaires are reasonably quiet. I will check them out next time, but make sure I buy it from someplace that I can easily return it if I have to.
I guess my complaint is that a lot of "traditional" dehumidifiers are basically air conditioners, and they're made for basements or places that aren't really lived in. Having had experience with 2 other products that appear to be a different, more modern design, they are definitely quieter, put out less heat, use less power, and are easier to live around. Also easier to handle and carry. I just hope the technology gets worked out so that it provides acceptable longevity, and that there are better (online) reviews over time so its easier to shop for one.
The thing with dehumifiers is the larger the capacity for removing moisture the more heat it will put out. I have 3 in the house. 2 - 65pint models which put out a considerable amount of heat but don't run continuously. Then the 3rd is a 30 pint model and puts out just a modest amount of heat. Basement level has one of the larger and the smaller unit. Need 2 down there cause of a lot of rooms and almost 2,000 ft. I keep the door to the basement closed to keep the heat down there, but its dry. When I am down there I turn the a/c on and then the dehumidifier shuts off. A/c takes over the duty of moisture removal. Same with upstairs, except this past week where its been very humid and the dew point is way up there. We are in for out 1st heat wave starting today thru next wednesday. Finally summer has arrive in the northeast.
Jon
Jon
Soleus
Wow, what a POS. I bought one of those too, based on all the great reviews, it did nothing, but it was quiet doing it. Went back quickly got a Frigidaire and it's noisy but it works.
Wow, what a POS. I bought one of those too, based on all the great reviews, it did nothing, but it was quiet doing it. Went back quickly got a Frigidaire and it's noisy but it works.
By the way the 2 larger units are maytags and about 6 years old no problems and the smaller is hampton bay unit about 8 tears old and no problems with any of them.
Jon
Jon
Thanks to everyone who gave me advice on what to buy. I called the Whirlpool dealer and he said that even they can't get one. They have been outsourced and so Whirlpool no longers makes their own brand. Thanks again. Gary
bobbyderegis
Well-known member
Gary:
I have the LG 65 pint in the basement. It pulls quite a bit of water each day and isn't too noisy. I set it to cycle on and off for two hours.
A friend has a new Frigidaire that is quite nice too.
My mother has a Maytag that is a POS. It's very noisy and not much water removal.
BTW, I had to return the LG within the first year. The electronic panel quit. Thank God it was under warranty.
Bobby in Boston
I have the LG 65 pint in the basement. It pulls quite a bit of water each day and isn't too noisy. I set it to cycle on and off for two hours.
A friend has a new Frigidaire that is quite nice too.
My mother has a Maytag that is a POS. It's very noisy and not much water removal.
BTW, I had to return the LG within the first year. The electronic panel quit. Thank God it was under warranty.
Bobby in Boston
