I attempted to disassemble the unit yesterday evening, but the bucket would not come out, and there was a silver dollar sized patch of ice on the outside of the unit near where the gravity drain nozzle is on the interior. I turned off the unit and left it to thaw overnight. This morning, I went down and removed the housing and everything appeared to be normal. So, I reassembled the unit, but left the left hand hold insert out, so I could see inside the unit. I plugged it in and let it run for several hours, and it became apparent that what is happening is that the defrost function is no longer working (which is the same problem that my previous dehumidifier developed), so ice is forming and blocking the drainage through the elbow that either drains into the bucket, or the gravity drain hose, depending on if the drain hose is connected. The design of the unit is such that, if the normal drain path is obstructed, there is an "overflow" drain hole on the opposite and higher side of the draining channel, that drains into the bucket. I also observed that the evaporator coils iced up across the entire width of the unit, up to about 3/4 of the entire evaporator surface, until I finally shut it down and unplugged it. Since the unit only has a 1 year limited warranty, and it would cost too much to ship it anywhere to have it fixed, it would appear that I have just paid $200+ for one year of operation. I am nonplussed. I sincerely hope that anyone that was persuaded to purchase this based on my initial review has much better luck that I have had, and in the event that they don''t, I sincerely apologize. Longevity is something that is impossible to predict, so my initial assessment, while accurate, has subsequently been rendered invalid due to the one year lifespan of the product. It makes me question why I bothered to voice my opinion in the first place. From now on, I will reserve judgment, and review, until such time as I feel I can have confidence in the product... in the world of dehumidifiers, this was another sad and expensive lesson. I have revised my rating to 1 star. I went to a big box store today and bought another unit, along with their 4 year "extended warranty" option. If history is any indication, they will be seeing me either next year or the year after with the then defective unit and my receipt in hand.
UPDATE 05/13/12 Game Warden requested an update since it has been a year... so I''m back. Which is uncannily coincidental, since I was intending to come back for an update anyway, due to an issue that has arisen. Which is: Now the unit seems to be filling the bucket rather than the water draining out the drain hose. Others described this problem earlier, and I attributed it to them perhaps having the hose running uphill, or coils in the hose, which was preventing the water from draining correctly. Suddenly this Spring, my dehumidifier developed the same problem, and NOTHING has changed... LITERALLY... it is sitting in the exact same position with the exact same hose going from the unit to the sump pump. I guess my next step is to take the housing off from the unit and try to determine why this is now happening (which isn''t an exercise that I am looking forward to undertaking). But I would revise my initial assessment to include that you should be wary of the drainage issue as reported. I will update my review once I have determined why this issue has developed, if I can come to a conclusive determination. Stay tuned...
UPDATE 08/09/11 Bad John requested an update... so here goes... after 4 months, still very satisfied. During the colder months, it never really did go much lower than 48% when the temperature was around 60 in the basement, it got down to around 45% RH and that was as good as it could do. Although 45% humidity at 60 degrees was certainly acceptable. For the past few weeks we have had outdoor temperatures running between 80 and nearly 100 degrees with beastly humidity (at least for the northeast). My basement has been in the mid to upper 70''s and I have the control on the dehumidifier set for 45%. It is currently 75 degrees and 40% humidity, at least according to the thermometer/hygrometer sitting on the shelf 3 feet away from the unit. The unit cycles off and on rather frequently, but it does not run continuously, although that is obviously a very subjective observation that would be influenced by outdoor and indoor temperatures, RH, rainfall, and water infiltration into the basement drainage/sump, as well as the setting of the dehumidifier controls. So overall, I would still recommend this as a solid choice. Longevity remains to be seen, but so far, so good...
ORIGINAL REVIEW:
My initial synopsis of this unit based on 3 hours of ownership:
PROS:
o VERY quiet... makes you wonder if it is really working at first
o Very simple, straightforward, and intuitive controls
o Auto-restart in the event of a power failure
o Superbly packaged, double boxed and excellent manufacturer packaging
o Competitively priced
o Ingenious "continuous drain" option
o Feels solid and the casters work well (at least on a concrete floor)
NEUTRALS:
o Air intake on front and exhausts out the top
CONS:
o Made in China but then you really don''t have much of a choice nowadays
Read on if you want to see why I have stated these PROS and CONS... otherwise, just seriously consider this unit
THE EPEXEGESIS:
I have owned and/or observed several dehumidifiers over the years... my parents had an Amana (I think it was) that they had for *years*, it worked fine but was quite noisy and eventually gave out. Now they have another brand that I don''t remember at the moment which also works fine but is somewhat noisy. I''ve had a couple of different dehumidifiers, too. A couple of my friends have Frigidaire dehumidifiers that they have so far had good luck with for three or four years, and I *almost* bought one but the "sales associate" at the big box store (rhymes with blows) that I went to was so much less than helpful that I decided I would just order from Amazon, since they had the same model for $40 less even with shipping. The previous dehumidifier I own I payed a crapload of money for (like approaching one thousand) and it didn''t even run correctly for two years. I''m currently talking to the company that I bought it from to see if it can be serviced... but that''s another story which is not looking too rosy at the moment.
Anyway, after leaving the big box store with no joy (and no dehumidifier), I came home and decided to reconsider other dehumidifiers that I had looked at on Amazon. I had read that dehumidifiers with a rotary compressor were far quieter and more efficient than the conventional reciprocating-compressor-based models. I had previously stumbled upon this Supentown dehumidifier in my explorations on Amazon. I agonized over the decision, and had it narrowed down to three choices, the Frigidaire, a Danby, and this one. I *finally* decided, based on the wildly varying reviews that I read on Amazon and elsewhere, that it was really a total crap shoot and that I would go with this dehumidifier, also due in some part to satisfy my curiosity as to whether the rotary compressor would really live up to the reputation of which I had read.
It arrived today while I was at work, and this evening, I unboxed it and got it set up. The packaging was exemplary, it was double boxed and was in pristine shape. I hooked up a continuous drain hose, which in itself is an ingenious implementation. On one of my previous dehumidifiers, you cut the "plug" out of a garden hose threaded stud that was molded into the bucket of the unit... cheesy and meant that there was an inch or so of water that always stood in the bucket... plus it came out the side of the bucket, so it was ugly and never pointed in the right direction. I hated the design from the get-go. This unit has a rubber plug on the back which you pull out and then you slide a short piece of clear plastic tubing in through the hole and it slides over a nipple that would normally drain into the bucket, so no water ever enters the bucket, it just goes straight out the drain hose... VERY nicely thought out and executed. They provide a male threaded outlet stud that you use two screws to fasten into the hole on the back of the unit, then attach a standard garden hose connection. (Actually you slide that male threaded stud onto the clear plastic tubing before you slide the tubing into the back and onto the nipple I mentioned previously.) Once I got the drain hose outlet installed, I got it plugged in and turned on. I kid you not, I cannot even hear the compressor running. It makes me wonder if it is even working!!! The only sound I hear is the fan; it is on the "turbo" setting and is like a strong fan noise, but FAR FAR FAR quieter than any of the dehumidifiers I have ever owned or experienced. Reminds me of the noise made by the old "carousel slide projector" that my parents owned back in the day. On "normal", it is even quieter. I just went down to check it, and it showed a "P1" on the display, which the manual stated that it was in a "defrost" cycle, and would resume normal operation once it had defrosted. I stood there until the compressor came back on, and it is just a low hum that is audible when you hear the difference but is very quiet and unobtrusive.
One thing that you have to remember is that dehumidifiers are less efficient as the temperature drops... my basement is at 60 degrees right now, and I *believe* that dehumidifiers are rated at their water removal capacity at a temperature of 80 degrees or maybe a bit warmer. But I digress, and in any event, it is chugging away down there and I will be very interested to check the hygrometer that sits on a shelf nearby tomorrow to see how far it has dropped from the initial 51%... it has dropped to 48% in the short time it has run, so I am very hopeful to see the results.
So... the bottom line from my initial impression is that this is a VERY nicely thought out, designed, and executed unit. Of course the other attribute that I am highly interested in is its longevity, which unfortunately, as they say, "only time will tell". I''ll make an effort to come back and update my review in the future, but there are a few drawbacks to that concept: Firstly, I may not remember, Secondly, I may not last as long as the dehumidifier (hope so but hey you never know), and Thirdly, at that time this model may no longer be available which means this review will be pretty much of no use...
This is my newest Sunpentown dehumidifier. I got my first (an SD-60E) almost 2 years ago. I''ve used many home dehumidifiers (Hampton Bay, Maytag, Fedders, Amana, Whirlpool) over many years. My two Sunpentowns are the most effective by any measure. Their water buckets are bigger, yet need to be emptied as often or more, even when used in the basement where temperatures are lower and many dehumidifiers lose effectiveness. I can now keep my whole house under 45% with only two dehumidifiers where I used to need three. Also, they''re quieter, which is very important. At first I worried that they occasionally seemed to run unnecessarily, but I now realize they''re smart devices and sometimes move air (with compressor off) just to monitor it better. They don''t need to be reset after a power failure. The filters are easy to remove and vacuum. Also, readings are more accurate than on older models. One very minor complaint: I could wish for a pause button (off for an hour, then resume, in case you want super quiet for a while). But overall I''m far happier with my two SPTs than any other dehumidifiers.
Buy Sunpentown SD-65E Energy Star 65-Pint Dehumidifier Now
I purchased SPT SD-65E 65 pint dehumidifier in October after my home was nearly flooded. The water came up to within 5 inches of coming into my house. All of my insulation and ductwork had to be torn out. Under my house had to be sprayed 3 times with clorox mixture to prevent mold. I knew there was a lot of moisture inside my home. The first week I used the dehumidifier, I emptied the tank 14 times in SIX days. The humidity level is now maintained at a steady 45 to 50%. It is efficient and very quiet except when it goes into defrost mode. I am using it now in conjunction with my gas logs to control the humidity level. I am very pleased with the operation of the Sunpentown SD-65E. I have reccommended it to many people since I received mine. Thank you for such an efficient product. Jack Jarvis, Washington, NC
Read Best Reviews of Sunpentown SD-65E Energy Star 65-Pint Dehumidifier Here
Possibly a good buy when used with the tank. I tried to plug a garden hose into the unit, both directly or using the clear vinyl tubing they provided. Neither works, water still drips either into the tank from the overflow, or runs down to the floor. Called the manufacturer to give them a chance to make it right, very polite but totally unhelpful. Also the appliance feels flimsy and cheap, not sure how durable it will be.
Bottom line, unit going back to Amazon for a refund.
UPDATE
Frigidaire FAD704DUD vs. Supentown SD-65E
Purchased the Frigidaire unit instead 70 pints/day (vs. 65 for the Supentown) and was $185 (vs. 224 for the Supentown, noticed the two are priced identical now). The Frigidaire appears to be better built, the plastic seems sturdier, the unit is smaller and better finished (e.g. the condenser overflow in the Supentown appears to be something drilled into the tank, those in the Frigidaire are manufactured with a collar and have a smooth finish). The Frigidaire is less noisy and produces far less heat than the Supentown. The tank of the Frigidaire can be stood flat on the ground, a major design fault of the Supentown which leans precariously. Finally, on the subject of continuous drainage, the elbow and plug provided by the frigidaire work flawlessly. The reason neither Frigidaire or Supentown drain continuously is the absence of a vent to balance the pressure within the hosepipe and allow gravity to do its job, Frigidaire has solved this by including a vent at the top of the elbow. Supentown should look to produce a similar part if they can be bothered. Gave the Frigidaire four stars because the necessary "drainage kit" should have been included in the box rather than having to call Customer Service for it.
In conclusion, after much research (and hands-on comparison of the two units), on short-term use, Frigidaire wins hands down.
Want Sunpentown SD-65E Energy Star 65-Pint Dehumidifier Discount?
Just got this unit. Turned it on and I couldn''t believe how NOISY it was. I should have done my homework on Consumer Reports. This unit is recommended for it''s ability to dehumidify, but it is by far the noisiest unit of all, and I agree with their assessment. For those looking for a quieter unit, Consumer Reports says the GE Frigidare and Kenmore are quiter. They also recommended the larger units, because they are by far much more efficient by virtue of the size and the ability to do the job faster. Read Consumer reports first, I should have. I''m going to return this product if I can''t stand the noise where I plan to use it.
UPDATE: June 19th 2011. Well I didn''t return it. It is still a NOISY unit, but it does a good job. I''ve placed it in a part of our house by the downstairs entrance foyer. That is where it has stayed. I won''t buy it again, reason being the noise level. When buying a Dehumidifier, buy according to how ''noisy'' they are, not how quiet. They are all noisy because they all have compressors. This is the first one I ever bought or even encountered, however I recently stayed in a Hotel/suites on business and they had a Maytag Dehumidifier in the room, it was quiter. Not sure why it was quiter, the unit did not specify quarts per day capability, hence the quietness may have been attributed to a smaller compressor. Once again, read Consumer reports first. The STAR Rating remains a 3 out of 5 because of the Small Block V8 with dual carb''s and headers level of noise.
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I have used the Little Green Machine in the past and bought this to use on the cars that I detail and small stains on rugs in the house. I use it for small areas which are soiled with coffee or soda. I bought it because it had a higher amperage rating than the Green Machine. I have used it and it works very well for small areas. The water heater is just OK and I find that using an external source like an external sprayer and brush to loosen and wet the stain/dirt works the best; then I use the Bissell to suck up all the residue. I like the power of the suction and it works well. The dirty water tank has a cut off feature that will "pop" when filled to the limit which is nice, so you won''t overfill it. After using it I clean it out any leftover dirt or stuff in the hose, tank or fittings. I know some reviews have said that it doesn''t work well or clogs, but I have found that taking a little time to clean it out when done will eliminate most of those problems. Good for smaller areas; best to use proper cleaner for the stains.
