No Contest! Our Top Choice for Optimal Performance
This 70-pint dehumidifier has risen above all the rest to take our top spot as the best dehumidifier on today’s market. I have to say, though, that the 50-pint and 30-pint options are just as impressive, depending upon the capacity you need. The 70-pint version of this unit will remove, as you may have guessed, 70 pints of moisture from the air in a 24-hour period of time. This makes it optimal for whole-house dehumidifying, but it’s also great for mid-sized open office spaces and small warehouses. Or large living rooms.
Let’s Talk Basics
Most people begin their search for the best dehumidifier by searching for the one with the most extra features – the most bells and whistles. To be the best, however, a dehumidifier must first master the basics. After all, if it isn’t capable of performing basic tasks, what good will all those bells and whistles really do?
The 70-pint unit, as the name suggests, will remove up to 70 pints of water in a 24-hour period. The tank provided with this dehumidifier holds just over 13 pints of water, and you will find the same size tank on the 50 pint model, whereas the 30-pint model has a 7.5-pint tank. You don’t need to worry about it overflowing because a “tank full” alert is included.
Self-Drain Option
If you don’t like the daily bucket hassle, you’ll be happy to hear that these dehumidifiers are also set up for continuous operation. Simply hook up any garden hose to the output and allow gravity to do the rest. Run your garden hose directly out the door, or window, through a hole in the wall, into a larger bucket, or down the hall to a sink or shower basin.
Some people prefer dehumidifiers which come with their own attachable hoses, but the FFAD7033R1 does not come with such a hose and may disappoint those people. However, the ability to use any basic garden hose allows you much more freedom to replace the hose as often as necessary, and it also allows you to select a length of hose appropriate for your uses.
Visible Water Level
I absolutely love that you can visually monitor the water level in the tank through the clear glass ring built into the unit. Although I like that the system will notify you of a full tank, there is something to be said about being able to monitor and plan. I once housesat for someone who had a dehumidifier with this type of alarm system and was rudely awoken at three o’clock in the morning to the incessant beeping. Being able to monitor the water level means that you will never receive these rude awakenings. You can simply peek in and see if you need to empty the unit before you go to bed. Of course, you could open any other unit to do this, but why go through so much of a hassle?
Energy Star Rating
For those of you who aren’t currently aware of what an energy star rating is, allow me to quickly explain. Somewhere around the late 1990s or early 2000s, researchers realized that we are using far more electricity than is actually necessary. As it turns out, all of our appliances and light bulbs were sucking far more power out of the grid than they actually needed to operate. Now, environmentally conscious companies are providing “energy star rated” appliances which use only a fraction of that electricity while still maintaining the same level of functioning. Not only is this dehumidifier better for the environment than many other options, it will actually save you money on your electricity bill.
Other Great Qualities and Features
All three of these Frigidaire dehumidifiers come with handles on the top and sides, and are equipped with casters so you can move it about with ease. The wheels are especially helpful for people who, like myself, have a difficult time carrying the full water tank from one room to another. Whether it is a bad back or a broken wrist, the wheels will help you work around your own limitations. You also benefit from a splash guard which I really like because getting wet when you’re trying to dry out isn’t exactly good for the soul.
The easy-wrap cord system allows you to tuck the power cord away to minimize its interference with travel as you move the unit from one room to another.
The electronic controls are easy to see in darker areas, and it will give you the current humidity reading. In addition, you can set the humidity to your desired level, and once this has been reached the fan will shut down. It doesn’t get much easier than that.
Most importantly though, this dehumidifier simply does what it’s meant to do – extracting moisture from the air. It’s one of the most efficient dehumidifiers out there, one of the most quiet ones, and as you can see here on Amazon, it’s also one of the most affordable ones. It seems that Frigidaire is out to make your dehumidifier choice the easiest product choice ever.
