Dehumidifier Suggestions...

[Richard]

When we built this place, prior to the AC being installed, we literally had lines of water on the floor where moiosture condensed on the pipes in the (basement) ceiling. I bought a dehumidifier and the next day, all was well and the sticky air was gone. This was 20 years ago.

So I've always ended up using the dehumidifier in the (walkout) basement as it is always more humid down there.

Machine gave up the ghost yesterday so it's time for another. I originally had a Kitchenaid 60/pint unit. I have to dump the bucket maybe twice a day (I just crank the humidity level as LOW as it will go so it essentially works all day)

Anyway, I'm open to a larger unit. I'll still have to carry the water out because the finished basement doesn't really have any provisions to accept a drain hose unless I piped it into the sink, toilet or shower. Don't think that's going to happen.

More interested in a higher capacity unit than smaller unit. Even looked up some commercial units that are over 700 pints. Never heard of any of the brands, probably all made in china (which I hate).

So if possible, any DOMESTIC units out there that are good and high capacity??

 

[3gunr]

Your basement doesnt have a floor drain?

 

[TN8Man]

I have a Santa Fe unit in my crawlspace that works very well. Mine came with the pump and I plumbed it to the sink drain, not a big deal at all. The bigger units will remove more water which is what you want. You don't want wood framing to stay moist, it will cause many unwanted problems.

 

[KennyG]

I think dehumidifiers are now so generic that most are made in China with various names pasted on them. I have a HomeLabs unit that's been running for close to 10 years with no issues. Mine drains to a sump pump. I would almost consider installing a sump system if I didn't have one to get rid of the need to dump the tank.

 

[dodge man]

I wish I could recommend a good one but I’ve had some junk ones, most bought at Walmart. I have a GE in the basement, 70 pint and a smaller Kenmore in my shop. They seem to be holding up a little better than some others.

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

I have Kenmore ones (as said I think most all are similar Chinese now), run garden hose to sump pump or drain.

 

[Hughman]

I'm using this one in my walkout basement

https://www.amazon.com/Whirlpool-Pint-Dehumidifier-WHAD401CW-White/dp/B08GLD2SRD/ref=sxin_20_recs_zoco_bs?content-id=amzn1.sym.d145680e-0a5d-4f31-b995-b48c7e5dff09%3Aamzn1.sym.d145680e-0a5d-4f31-b995-b48c7e5dff09&crid=3L1558CJDFJDS&cv_ct_cx=whirlpool+dehumidifier+for+basement&keywords=whirlpool+dehumidifier+for+basement&pd_rd_i=B08GLD2SRD&pd_rd_r=5afdbec7-e1f2-4d28-9c23-b6955e9c17df&pd_rd_w=fB9U6&pd_rd_wg=opMEh&pf_rd_p=d145680e-0a5d-4f31-b995-b48c7e5dff09&pf_rd_r=F6MK7732MMEJYHP2RPZ3&qid=1689947880&sprefix=whirlpool+de%2Caps%2C249&sr=1-2-517d4988-76e4-4a45-96c1-e9f46edd7a85

 

[Chewwy]

We have a Lennox unit installed in the ductwork for our downstairs HVAC. I think it is actually made by Aprilaire. It works well. Doesn’t run very much in cooler time of year but works its butt off during warmer (i.e., more humid) season. Its drain is plumbed into the condensate drain lines for the HVAC units. It got replaced under warranty at just about 3 years of operation. The replacement unit is going on its fourth year.

i gave up on using the cheaper stand alone units ($200-$500 range), although they may be the lowest cost solution. The Lennox unit was about $2k plus unstallation. Although warranty covered the replacemnt unit, it did not cover the labor to remove and install the new unit (about $600).

 

[TN8Man]

This is the model I use but I have a fairly large area (~2000sf) to dehumidify. They have a variety of sizes.

 

[nyone]

basement doesn't really have any provisions to accept a drain hose unless I piped it into the sink, toilet or shower. Don't think that's going to happen

No matter what you get I highly recommend piping it into some type of drain. Even if you have to use a condensate pump to pump it out. I use to empty mine every 3 days..after a few weeks that got really old. I couldn't imagine doing that for 20yrs.

 

[Yander]

We have an Aprilaire in our crawlspace because we didn't think a small, not commercial would hold up. This one works well but they are spendy.

Whole-House Dehumidifier to Balance Your Home's Humidity

AprilAire Whole-House Dehumidifiers were named Energy Star Most Efficient 2022. Get an AprilAire dehumidifier installed by a local Pro today.

www.aprilaire.com

 

[CalG]

When the Emerson unit failed several years back, I did an internet search on a replacement. Sentiment then was that Japan made the best domestic refrigeration units.

I bought a toshiba. It works just fine, plumbed through the wall to drain outdoors.

Serves 1000 sq. ft of walk out basement.
Takes 2 gallons of water out of the air per 24 hrs. The space is kept at 55%RH. It's been RAINY-WET this June and July.

 

[ponytug]

Just my $0.02, but if you can, position your dehumidifier near the ceiling. Warm air rises, and it holds more water, so putting the dehumidifier up helps get more water out of the air.

All the best,

Peter

 

[dlctcg]

We have been using Santa Fe & Aprilaire units on customer projects for years... Both good companies with good support. And as many others have said... I would definitely try to get it piped to a drain (even if you need to use a condensate pump)...

 

[KennyG]

Just my $0.02, but if you can, position your dehumidifier near the ceiling. Warm air rises, and it holds more water, so putting the dehumidifier up helps get more water out of the air.

All the best,

Peter

There may be some logic in this, but it doesn't really work. The amount of water in the air is more or less constant. If some portion of the air is warmer, the relative humidity will be lower, because the air contains a smaller portion of the total it could hold. The dehumidifier works by lowering the temperature to make the water vapor condense. If you put it in a warmer place, it will not lower the temperature as far and less water will condense because the unit only has a constant BTU removal capacity. The best place for the unit will be where the temperature is lowest and moisture is most likely to condense. That's where you want to maximize the moisture removal.

Basements and crawl spaces are where we need dehumidification because they have cool surfaces likely to cause condensation, not because there is more moisture in the air.

 

[hosspuller]

Some of the new dehumidifiers have a built-in pump. Another option is a condensate pump (as mentioned before)
Amazon has several models to choose from.

 

[dstig1]

I think they are a crapshoot these days. I got 2 identical units at the same time. One for the basement, one for the shop. The basement one lasted 2 years and died. The shop one about 7 or 8. No rhyme or reason to the difference. I just replaced the shop one last week. Some models do have a condensate pump built in, which could help if you have no direct path to a drain.

I ended up putting in a wall unit in the basement that is piped to the floor drain but I don't think it works that well frankly and was $1100 5-6 yrs ago. The shop gets the bucket manually dumped as it about the best I can do there and works well enough to keep the rust at bay on tools that way.

 

[marhar]

When we built this place, prior to the AC being installed, we literally had lines of water on the floor where moiosture condensed on the pipes in the (basement) ceiling. I bought a dehumidifier and the next day, all was well and the sticky air was gone. This was 20 years ago.

So I've always ended up using the dehumidifier in the (walkout) basement as it is always more humid down there.

Machine gave up the ghost yesterday so it's time for another. I originally had a Kitchenaid 60/pint unit. I have to dump the bucket maybe twice a day (I just crank the humidity level as LOW as it will go so it essentially works all day)

Anyway, I'm open to a larger unit. I'll still have to carry the water out because the finished basement doesn't really have any provisions to accept a drain hose unless I piped it into the sink, toilet or shower. Don't think that's going to happen.

More interested in a higher capacity unit than smaller unit. Even looked up some commercial units that are over 700 pints. Never heard of any of the brands, probably all made in china (which I hate).

So if possible, any DOMESTIC units out there that are good and high capacity??

Same problem. Insulate the pipes and you will not have the dripping from the water lines. Still, get a dehumidifier and an HVAC water pump. The pump made all the difference in the world; I use to empty it daily.

 

[Richard]

Some filler info...

finished basement, tile floors. Ventless fireplace, stereo, tv... washer/dryer room connected. Actually the utility room is a fully finished bathroom...again, tile floor, very nice walk in shower (washer/dryer behind accordian doors)

So I can't easily just drop it into a drain....no drain exists. I could plumb it into the toilet or shower but frankly, that's not going to work either.

I just dump the water and that's ok by me.

 

[Alan W.]

Hisense sucks out loud. They die quickly and usually with the E9 code and a new humidity sensor usually doesnt fix it.
Had two die recently same E9 code.
They usually last till the warranty is out.
Looking for good stand alone units myself. Will probably check out Consumer Reports.