A good possibility for a small to medium sized apartment, house, or large single room, the Delonghi DD50P dehumidifier covers about 1,000 square feet of space. It offers a visible water collection system, and a quiet to moderate noise fan. It is considered medium capacity, with the ability to pull about 50 pints of water from the air in a 1,000 square foot space every 24 hours.
Users program the desired humidity levels into the machine. The two-setting fan switches on to the higher setting while actively dehumidifying the room, and then down to the lower setting when the desired level is reached. It works by drawing moist air over refrigerant-filled coils, where the water condenses and drains into the drip pan. The re-heated, dehumidified air is then blown back out.
The three options for water removal include the 14.8 pint capacity drip tank, a gravity hose, and a pump system. The drip tank has a clear front, which allows users to see when it needs to be emptied. But for people who don’t want to be constantly emptying the system, it can also be hooked up to a hose that is either gravity-fed or the water pumped out through it.
User-friendliness is obvious on this model. It has an LCD screen that displays the relative humidity in the room as a percentage, and allows you to set your desired level. The system includes a timer that allows you to run it only during needed times, and also lets you turn the fan speed up or down. Weighing only 41 pounds and with built-in casters, it is also easy to move from place to place.
Included safety features such as a light and alarm warning when the tank fills up allow people peace of mind. The machine also has an automatic defrost system when the coils start to get too cold and ice up. The functional range of this model is purported to be 41 to 90 degrees F, which is a fairly good range for a smaller, portable machine.
The great points of this system include the internal pump, which is not common, the warranty, the low operating temperatures, and the visible water level. The warranty is technically one year, but includes a parts warranty on most of the machine for an additional four years. Being able to check the water level without opening the machine is very convenient, and the ability to pump water out allows the hose to be drained into a sink or other drain that is higher than the machine.
Possible downsides include the fact that there are only two fan speeds, and that the machine does not auto-reset after a power failure. Additionally, the fact that the fan does not turn off but only turns down to the lower level when the humidity goal is reached is not ideal. Some people find the fan loud, but others do not agree.
The Delonghi DD50P dehumidifier is environmentally friendly. It sports an energy star rating, which means that it uses 10 to 20 percent less energy than other models of similar size and ability. It also uses environmentally-friendly refrigerant, so that when the system wears out or the refrigerant needs changing, you don’t have to worry about the negative impact on the earth.
