We've got one room in the basement of our house that tends to stay damp and the kitchen flooding in 2016 did not help. Mold a problem, so we finally got the room completely dried out, treated, and re-painted. And I added a Shinco small room dehumidifier to keep the humidty in the 50% range. Me dumping out the water 2-4 times per day became part of the routine.

It died after 10 months. I did a LOT of Amazon-based reviews research. It seems every brand name I researched is just packed with mixed reviews, and buying service warranties is universally deemed ad waste of time and gain of frustration.

So, I'd be willing to pay more for a small room demihunidifer that will work for at least a few years, but again, my research seems to show they are ALL a crapshoot. I will not be able to run a hose to a drain and don't mind emptying it as needed (so I don't need one with a pump). Any recommendations? Going into a relatively dry time of the year, so timing is not critical.

I just purchased one at Lowe’s but it is too early to recommend it.
I did get one with a pump that allowed me to run a small line outside which makes it easier since I am not tied to the dehumidifiers operation.

Because of the size and number of rooms in my basement, I use two portables. Like you, Batty, I was emptying 2-3 times/day when I used just one, and the humidity was still too high on some days. With two units I'm emptying less often and I can get the humidity level down to between 40-45 if I want to.

The oldest is a Frigidaire model# FFAD7000T1 and it's been working well for the 4+ years it's been in use. I searched for a link to buy but apparently these are like cars - every year there's a different model.

The most recent portable dehumidifier I bought off of Amazon in May 2019 and it's been used every day since it arrived.:
https://www.amazon.com/hOmeLab...id=1632142287&sr=8-5

I did get the Asurion 4-year warranty for the newest just for peace of mind. The Frigidaire didn't have that option because it was a replacement for a unit that came under a recall notice.

Edit to add: Back in May 2019 I paid $209 for the hOmeLabs unit. Not relevant to anything, I just thought it interesting it's gone up in price by $50.

I have a GE unit I bought from Home Depot 3 years ago that has a built in pump to empty the reservoir. Can be run without the pump function if preferred. The hose for the pump is small diameter though, not like a garden hose by any means, more like the size of the water supply to an ice maker.

It's located in my basement, and runs year round. No issues keeping it at 45%.

GE Dehumidifier at Home Depot

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Gibb,

Like you say...its is a crapshoot.

I have same models as Marksman...as well as some others...all off Amazon.

The Frigedaire was replaced under warranty...5 years on compressor. Got the dreaded "EC" code. You fill out a form, send picture of cut cord and they send replacement.

Just got the Homelab model...seems like a decent unit...time will tell.

I have a graveyard of dead units in the basement...

Similar issue in my old house. Dumping the bin is a pain and gets forgotten. Finally I ran the drain hose into the overflow tray under my hot water heater. That just drains to the sump so no issues and I stopped emptying. They are a crapshoot. I would take your best guess and just plan on replacing as needed.

We bought this one a few months back. Tried it out in the house for a few weeks and it worked fine; brought the humidity down from 54% to 49%.
Put it in the Airstream RV and have to empty it every 2-3 days.
I would buy it unit again if we needed another:
Levoair 68oz. Small Dehumidifier for 330sf, 3100 cf. $89.99 at Amazon

I had a frigidaire that I used in my crawl space for a few months.


For those that are having to empty too often
I suggest getting a Little Giant Automatic Condensate Removal Pump, Amazon has them that come with hose kits. I ran the hose to the furnace drain

I usually get the larger versions that also have the drain hose option so I don't have to empty the bucket all the time. They should also have a setting to shut off if the humidity gets below the level you set.

Be sure to check the reviews to get the least troublesome one but none are all that good.
If you get one that lasts two or more years, that's good.

ALORAIR LGR Compact Dehumidifier auto Shut Off with Built-in Pump, cETL Listed, 5 Years Warranty, up to 180 PPD (Saturation) Water Removal Per Day, Blue

Thanks for the input folks! I don't use a pump/hose because the room is like 30' from the only drain in the basement (by AC unit and water heater wth humidifier), and I work from home, but that might change. Only place in the house with a dampness/mold problem is the one corner room/gym/work room so moving the unit closer to the drain helps with ease of water removal but takes the demuidifier from the localized porblem spot.

The more I dig into these units, the more "cross your fingers" it gets.

Got the same one marksman linked to, but I got mine in Sept 2019. Would buy again.

I've had a Frigidaire dehumidifier for about 5 years now, it only gets used during the summer here. It has been flawless all that time, only needs to be emptied once a day on the highest humidity days here in SE Mi.

I got the 70 pint version of this one July 2018, no problems since. Probably not long enough of a track record to be sure, but happy so far. Runs almost 24/7, 3-4 months a year.

I have a GE Sahara 25 Dehumidifier that is probably about 45 years old and it runs like a champ!

It’s probably an efficiency pig but it’s from the house I grew up in so I’ll probably hold onto it until it gives up the ghost.

It looks like THIS (from an auction web-site).

Check Craigs List for local sales. If it’s running well and can be purchased for $10 or $15, why not?!

I just have the pump empty into a 5 gallon drinking water bottle. Dump it daily