dehumidifier

10 years ago

Hello, Iam in the market to buy a dehumidifier, I was going to get a whirlpool until I read the reviews.... Seems they only last between 1-3 years and die. Does anyone have one that they love and is energy star rated? thanks

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Comments (6)

monica_pa Grieves
10 years ago
We had one installed on the heating system. Works great.
iowagirl2006
10 years ago
Monica - I bet you have a HUMIDIFIER installed on your heating system.

I have an old Emerson that has been running for 20 years (summer time) and a newer Gold Star. I need to work on the Gold Star one - it thinks the tank is full when it barely has anything in it. Must have a bad switch or something.

I don't know if that helps much - but if you have floor drains - look for one you can attach a hose to and just have it drain. That works so much better than having to remember to dump the tank. I can fill a de-humidifier tank pretty fast in the summer time. I just use them in my basement - but it is a swamp down there without them!!!
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I guess adding the basement wouldn't shorten the cycle, but it would lengthen the time between cycles. A/C is set at 75, and basement is 69. Blending bsmt air with living space upstairs would cool upstairs even without any a/c on, if I didn't mind the extra humidity and radon. The only difference, as I understand it, between an air conditioner and a dehumidifier is that the heat from the a/c condenser can be separately vented if desired. An a/c's dehumidification should equal a dehumidifier's, just as an a/c cools as well as a heat pump - all the same machine, except how the plumbing and venting is arranged. The only other considerations are that if it is vented, the a/c will cool the bsmt, as well as drawing in moist outside air, both increasing RH. In other words, the dehumidifier (or a/c in unvented dehumidifier mode) achieves part of its dehumidification by heating the space, or at least by not cooling it. I think if the a/c unit can operate at temps in the 60s, it is preferred, as it has the flexibility of running in cooling mode (vented) or dehumidifier mode (unvented). I'm also thinking it might be more efficient, as EER is reported (even tho not great), while there's not much reason for dehumidifier mfr to make unit efficient.
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I'm sorry I overlooked your all responses. After some research I decided the problem might have to do with the fact the humidistat sensor is inside the unit's case and thus is exposed to excess humidity from all the water in the humidifier's bucket. (This is an observation made by someone else--I forget who and where.) I called Hisense tech support and asked the representative if that might be the case and he called the suggestion 'astute,' which I took to mean 'yes, indeed.' I returned the Hisense and bought a Whynter, which does the same thing. It is, however, a little better looking, in my opinion, and maybe a bit quieter. I've taken to letting it run continuously until the bucket fills and it turns itself off. This is taking about 6-8 hours. I empty the bucket twice daily, which I don't find onerous, and the humidity stays in a reasonable range. Geoffrey, your suggestion sounds like it might work. If I can find out how to make that adjustment (the term, 'dead band' comes to mind) I'll give it a try.
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I just installed a Frigidaire FFAD5033W1E in our basement. FWIW, it was highly rated as being built well. The dehumidifier exhaust is ducted into the HVAC cold air return (the ECM blower is set to run at a low speed when the system is off). Our house is a ranch with a walkout basement, 4200 sq ft total. The indoor humidity is 43% right now, we are in Indiana. The duct end boot is 4x10" and closely matches the discharge opening of the unit. The pine boards are there to 'seal' the opening (no air leakage is felt) and 1/4" dowl pins on the inside of the 4x10 opening locate the assembly on the dehumidifier. The duct end boot transitions to 8" flex duct, so the duct area is a 25% increase from the discharge, no restrictions added there. .
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Hi, Josh, You shouldn't have any HVAC supplies in the garage; that would violate the mechanical code. Joints in duct work should be sealed with mastic or UL approved tape designed for that purpose. Your crawlspace can be a source of moisture that gets pulled into the your home by a combination of stack effect and an HVAC system operating at negative pressure due to inadequate return air flow (most do.) If you're running a dehumidifier and the crawlspace isn't a sealed, conditioned crawl space, then you're spending money to dehumidify the outside world. I recommend you convert the crawl space to a conditioned crawl. One of the principal sources of moisture is improper grading within the first 10 ft of your home; there should be 6 in. of fall in that distance. Storm water should be directed well away from the foundation. You should be able to fit a piece of rigid insulation to seal the fireplace throat (entrance to the fireplace flue)--not the opening of the fireplace into the room. I suggest you include a ribbon that hangs down in full view as a reminder of the need to remove it before lighting a fire in the fireplace. Make sure any fresh air intakes for combustion air are closed, too.
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Georgysmom
10 years ago
I have a Haier. I bought it at Target last summer. It gets quite a workout. I run it all the time and was emptying it daily. I don't need it in the winter time, so it's getting a rest right now. I need it for the living room, dining room area. The front of the house does not get much sun light and it's very humid here. We've been pleased with it.
User
10 years ago
I have a Garrison dehumidifier. It has been running 24/7 since we bought it in June. I don't remember what we paid for it, but it sure keeps the basement dry. If it only lasts 2 or 3 years, that's fine by me.

Here is a link that might be useful: Garrison
chisue
10 years ago
Sorry I am not home to go look. We have two in our basement that empty into drains -- run them on low all summer. They're 14 years old.
itsmedelgado
9 years ago
Hey.

I am betting you have found a dehumidifier for purchase already but I figured I would throw out another option or idea if you have not.

I live in Texas and sometimes in the Summer it gets so hot we have parts of our house that practically sweat and the only way to keep moisture out of our utility room is to turn on a dehumidifier every once in a while.

I recently purchased a Phoenix Stainless 200 Series from abatix.com online. They do have many options and many portable options as well. I chose to spend a little more money on the stainless steel one simply for durability purposes. I know this product will last as it was referred to me.

The price point varies in their products but hey, wouldn't hurt to check out what they have!

Here is a link that might be useful: Abatix

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dehumidifier

Comments (6)

monica_pa Grieves

iowagirl2006

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