Showing posts with label humidifier cleaning. Show all posts
Showing posts with label humidifier cleaning. Show all posts

Thursday, February 19, 2015

Danby Premiere DDR5009REE 50 pint dehumidifier - Euro Grey Review

Danby Premiere DDR5009REE 50 pint dehumidifier - Euro Grey
Customer Ratings: 4 stars
List Price: $229.99
Sale Price: $224.52
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We've lived in this house 22 years, and I just bought our 5th portable residential dehumidifier the Danby DDR5009REE for use in our finished basement. Without the use of a dehumidifier, the RH level can easily exceed 60% which is not good for all of the electronics we have in the basement, including those components located in one of our family rooms. The previous dehumidifiers in chronological order were: Sears Kenmore, Whirlpool, LG, and Fedders. Of the previous units, the one's with the best performance and longevity were the LG and Fedders.

The Fedders recently died, thus I had to replace it rather quickly. The two replacements under consideration were a Frigidaire and Danby. I chose the Danby DDR5009REE based upon the reviews, not only here on Amazon, but elsewhere. Here are my thoughts based upon only a few days of use:

Positive

Intuitive interface and LCD display. Two separate LCD displays... one that reads current temperature or on/off timer setting, and another that reads the current RH or set RH. Two fan speeds: Low and High. Two warning LEDs: Defrost cycle and bucket full. Anyone experienced with portable residential dehumidifiers will have this up-and-running in a few minutes after unboxing.

Nice size and easy to move about on the built-in casters.

Quiet compressor... just a noticeable hum from 10 feet away

Dehumidifies well in our 1,000 sq. ft. basement

Will operate down to 41 degrees Fahrenheit

Easy-to-remove water bucket with visible water level indication

Remote control (Why? Personally, I think this is superfluous)

Quite inexpensive to purchase

Negative

Fan runs continuously, thus does not turn off with the compressor when the set RH is reached. This is the biggest complaint that I have with the unit.

Fan (moving air dB level) is rather loud even at its low speed setting

Quite small bucket water capacity (comparing it to our previous Fedders 50 pint unit)

Only a two year full warranty. No 5 year "sealed system"/compressor warranty as some brands offer.

This unit is Energy Star rated, but it will cost more to operate than the Fedders it replaced which was NOT Energy Star rated. I measured the power use when the compressor and fan are operating (580 to 600 Watts) and when only the fan is operating (78 Watts). You can determine its cost of operation by calculating the kW/H used and multiplying that figure by your electrical utility's cost per kW/H. I find its Energy Star rating counter-intuitive, especially since when the compressor is off (not dehumidifying), it's still using as much electricity as a 75W incandescent light bulb!

It appears that practically all portable residential humidifiers are manufactured in China today. That's not always a bad thing I guess, but it implies that price is the most significant consideration than long-term durability and reliability. From my experience, four years is about all one can expect from the typical portable residential dehumidifiers available at most Big Box stores, or here on Amazon. There are better built and more durable ones available, such as the Santa Fe units manufactured by Therma-Stor LLC, but they come at a much higher price typically $1,400 to $2,000.

Am I pleased with the purchase?... a qualified yes. The major downside is the continuous fan operation. All else, I can live with on a day-to-day basis. Of course, the verdict is still to be determined on its long-term durability reliability. Most likely, I'll be in the market once again in a few years.

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This unit is pretty compact and well made, love the drainage hose.

It is quite but not whisper quite.Originally I was going to use in bedroom,however the quite noise did annoy me so I moved it to hallway between bedroom and bath. Now my heat pump does not run continuously,for air conditioning and a dry 75-80 is extremely comfortable even though I have health issues. I am very excited by this buy and big savings.

I live in the swamps of the DC metro area,so I am pleased.

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I bought this unit do to the auto on feature in case of a power failure. It is auto on but only restarts to the factory settings. Even worse is the fan runs all time! Even when it is not calling to dehumidify the air it sits there with the fan going. I will see see, so far I am not very happy.

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Worked good for a few months, then water started leaking out the bottom of the unit. Something internally is clogged and it is not draining into the bucket or through the external hose. I pulled out the owners manual for some troubleshooting advice, but that did not help. But what I did notice is that on the first page of the manual where Danby thanks you for buying there product they have in bold, highlight text the following warning: "Do not leave this unit unattended or operate in an area where people or animals may not be able to react quickly. A failed unit may cause over-heating, resulting in personal injury or property damage." I realize these disclaimers are written by the lawyers, but in order to own a Danby product I have to quit my job, stay at home, go on welfare, and watch for a fire. If the cat is not quick enough to jump out the window, he will die too. WTF are these people selling?

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We chose this dehumidifier because a friend suggested it. It has been a good choice so far with no problems or complaints. It does what its suppose to do. Living in Oklahoma can get very humid so it helps so much during the summer months. We like it alot.

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Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Review of Frigidaire FAD504DUD 50-Pint Dehumidifier

Frigidaire FAD504DUD 50-Pint Dehumidifier
Customer Ratings: 4.5 stars
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I received this unit free of charge because my old unit failed AND because I registered that purchase online at the Frigidaire website.

I originally purchased the Frigidaire 50-pint humidifier (Model FDF50S1) in June of 2009 [i.e. the 2009 version of this product] through Amazon.com. The unit worked perfectly for two years then stopped dehumidifying. The unit would power on, one could change the fan speed, but the unit would not dehumidify even though the unit was set to Continuous (CO) and a hyrgrometer showed the basement room to be at 49% humidity.

After contacting a local Frigidaire authorized repairer, I learned these units are considered "throwaway" meaning there are no serviceable parts (except the filter). The units are less expensive to replace than repair, so the manufacturer does not sell any replacement parts (except the filter). My 2009 system had a one year full warranty (long past) and a Years 2-5 "Sealed System" warranty (the sealed refrigeration system).

I called Frigidaire (eventually directed to Electrolux Home Appliances, the actual manufacturers of Frigidaire dehumidifiers), and was expecting to have to pay some cost to get my unit replaced. The rep told me that since the dehumidifier system failed (within the five year warranty) the unit would be replaced with a new 50-pint unit FREE OF CHARGE. Frigidaire arranged for me to pick up a new unit (this unit) at Lowe's at no cost to me.

Since my unit was REGISTERED ONLINE AT FRIGIDAIRE.COM at the time of purchase, I did not have to submit any receipts nor send the old unit back.

Therefore, I have two summary points:

1. These dehumidifiers only last a few years

2. Make sure you register your Frigidaire dehumidifier purchase on-line after you buy. It will make the replacement process alot easier.

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FIRST REVIEW (2 stars):

1) The dehumidifier function seems to be quite effective. Our basement was really dank. After a few days, the difference is quite improved.

2) The machine does NOT drain into a hose. I tried all of the suggestions seen in other reviews without success. I was really hoping that I could drain directly into the sump pit, but that is not to be. The water does collect in the tank, so a trip to the basement is required every two days. Not the end of the world, but not as advertised either.

UPDATE Frigidaire is sending me a modification to the dehumidifier. Per their email of today, "We are pleased to announce we now feature a kit that once installed should totally eliminate the drainage issue. We are mailing the kit along with installation instructions direct to your residence. Please allow 7-10 business days."

So, if you are having the drainage problem, you need to contact Frigidaire via their web site and request the kit.

I will let you know if it works...

UPDATE # 2 Frigidaire got the parts to me in 3 days. There is a plug for the drain which leads into the tank, diverting the water. The other part is an adaptation for the threaded drain on the back. Installation of both required less than one minute.

Viola! Water is now coming out of the hose!

Although one must wonder why they don't include the modification kit with the original product package, I'm quite impressed with Frigidaire service.

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I use this in my finished basement, and it does an excellent job of keeping it dry. I used it when it was 98 and humid and it did its job. I had to empty it out about two times a day. When the temperature dropped to the 70s and humidity dropped, I emptied it out about once a day. I can be away from my house a couple days at a time, so I hooked up a hose. Initially, it did not drain out of the hose, but instead continued to drain into the bucket. I took off the rear two wheels so it tips back a bit, now it drains through the hose.

If you are considering purchasing this, I would look elsewhere to a product that was designed correctly instead of needing to make an adjustment. If you already purchased this, want to use continuous draining, but do not want to return it, either put some cardboard at the front of the dehumdifier, or take off the rear wheels so it will drain from the hose instead of into the bucket. Hopefully there are no other design errors with this product, since it keeps my basement dry.

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I've got a Whirlpool dehumidifier that has run ALMOST continuously in my basement for 6 years and a Kenmore dehumidifier that has run pretty much continuously in my garage for 8 years. Throw a little bleach in the water bucket every now and then ... that's all one has to do with these two appliances.

I bought THIS Frigidaire dehumidifier for my bathroom just SIX WEEKS AGO! The electronic control panel has been "sketchy" a couple of times since then but tonight it quit working completely. I should have known better (but, alas, I thought lightning did not strike twice in the same place) because I bought ANOTHER Frigidaire dehumidifier (which I've also reviewed on AMAZON) just a little over a year ago and its electronic control panel ceased to work just a few days after the one year "warranty" expired.

So, I will never buy another Frigidaire or Electrolux (who now owns Frigidaire) product again for as long as I live. Govern yourselves accordingly with regard to these poorly engineered products.

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The two dehumidifiers I have had running in the basement started staying on longer and longer and producing less and less water even while the humidity was increasing one of them actually stopped producing completely.

When I plugged in the Frigidaire FAD504DUD 50-Pint Dehumidifier, I was first amazed at the noise level. Practically nil compared to the other two units and also much more airflow with the squirrel-cage fan vs the standard bladed/rotating fans on the others.

I had a full bucket of water within 6 hours! I ran it through two more full bucket-cycles over the next 24 hours before I made the decision to keep it. After that, I put it on a raised platform (3 feet) and connected a hose down to the furnace condensate removal pump. Works like a charm!

A word about the hose connection. I had no issues as other reviews have mentioned. This must be an improved model. All I had to do was unscrew the cap on the outlet and connect a hose. No "kit" was required as some others noted.

It is important to make sure the unit is level or tipped back slightly for the hose drain to work properly as there is no pump in the Frigidaire FAD504DUD 50-Pint Dehumidifier it is strictly gravity that moves the water out the hose or into the bucket.

Another note regarding this: Most basements have a slope built into the floor! Either towards a standard floor drain or to the outside perimeter. Do yourself a favor and put a level on top of your Frigidaire FAD504DUD 50-Pint Dehumidifier and shim it level or slightly back and to the right to get the best performance.

Oh! Delivery was 3 days with Prime instead of the normal 2 day Prime delivery. I was notified of this extra day at time of purchase. No big deal for me but it may effect your buying decision.

Update: I have to rescind my comments about not needing a kit for hose drainage. Seems that a "plug" needs to be inserted in the hole that empties into the bucket. Frigidaire is sending me a one of these plugs so I think that all will be fine in the end. I am keeping the five star rating as the customer service was top-notch. They are even sending me an additional kit to "fix" the second Frigidaire FAD504DUD 50-Pint Dehumidifier I ordered over the weekend (it shipped today). Why don't they send the "kit" with every dehumidifier? I doubt they cost more than a few cents each, but I'm sure they have their reasons. I'll update if the kit fails to fix the issue (but I am confident that won't be necessary).

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Wednesday, October 22, 2014

6 x Kaz WF2 Humidifer Wick Wicking Filter Review

6 x Kaz WF2 Humidifer Wick Wicking Filter
Customer Ratings: 4 stars
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This contains my previous reviews of the same product that used to be a three pack sold through Amazon(now sold as single Protec WF2 Extended Life Replacement Humidifier Filter through outside retailer). This purchase was a bulk 6 x single filter through AmericanWholesale. Shipping through them was only $1.99, extremely quick and made me up my review 1 star. I also use the ProTec Humidifier Tank Cleaning Cartridges. A 2 pack will just last me the winter months. They do help keep the water cleaner and the filters lasting about 6 weeks each.

Old reviews: I purchase these every year for my Vicks humidifier. I have spent way beyond what the machine itself cost me on filters. Each filter lasts about a month to 6 weeks before getting moldy and stops wicking the water. I only use the humidifier for about 4 months in the Winter, which a 3 pack of filters is good for. I would use it all year if I did not have to keep replacing the filters. If someone knows a better choice of longer lasting filters, please post.(5/5/2008)

12/9/08-Too bad this is the only place I have easily found these. I cannot believe they have gone up $10 in cost since I purchased them a year ago (11/30/07)!

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This was a great price for a 6-pack of these filters. They are necessary for the humidifier, but they do have a short life span. It's just part of the reality for them. We use only filtered water to fill the tank, open the top and leave it open to the air during the day, and try to clean out the unit reasonably regularly. This lengthens the lifespan, but unfortunately you just have to get used to them needing to be replaced.

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Our family has been using these filters for our 3 year old for over a year now as he as asthma. Each filter lasts us just over 2 weeks (we use humidifier every night and at nap time). Never had any problems and we recently noticed that we're saving money by buying filters on Amazon and not Wal-Mart.

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solid filter that maintains wetness down to the bottom of the waterline. lasts longer than the basic filter that comes with the humidifier. shipper delivered 2 days ahead of schedule too. recommend

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I need this filter for my infant son's humidifier. It works great however the reason for the four stars is that it does not last long and constantly needs to be replaced. I probably already paid more for filters than than the humidifier is worth.

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Friday, October 10, 2014

Cheap Aprilaire #4007 White Orifice

Aprilaire #4007 White Orifice
Customer Ratings: 5 stars
List Price: $11.48
Sale Price: $5.77
Today's Bonus: 50% Off
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For many years I never had to replace the orifice of the in line water for my humidifier. However, I have had to the last three years in a row. It's a small price to keep the water flowing.

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Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Buy BestAir L11-C Lasko N. Cascade Humidifier Filter

BestAir L11-C Lasko N. Cascade Humidifier Filter
Customer Ratings: 3.5 stars
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The filters fit perfectly. They are slightly different than the original, in that they have an aluminum mesh on one side. I assume this is to help the filter keep it's shape, and is thus a good idea. Shipped pretty fast. I'm not sure what else to say. They're filters.

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I bought these for my Lasko humidifier. Its really dry up here in the mountains. Well, these Bestairs don't hold together as well as the Laskos. You can only use them once. If you try to wash them a second time thay fall apart!

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Fits my Natural Cascade Super Humidifier perfectly ... but it would have been nice if there were instructions some where on the box. The filter comes silver on one side but no where does it say how to install it. Silver side to the air or to the machine? I couldn't find these replacement filters in any local store ... so I'm very happy to have found them here.

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These filters are bigger and sturdier than the ones that came with the filter. However, just like the ones that came with the filter, they shrink upon use. Once a week, soak them in vinegar and turn them over. Soaking them prolongs their usefulness. They should last a season.

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Wednesday, February 19, 2014

RedCore 1500 Infrared Indoor Heater with Air Purifier and Humidifier Review

RedCore 1500 Infrared Indoor Heater with Air Purifier and Humidifier, Silver
Customer Ratings: 3 stars
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Do not even consider buying this heater. It is terrible in so many ways. Online, this product looks to be sleek and modern looking, but when it arrived it looks like a hunk of tin from the 1970's. Second, the triple combo of purifier, humidifier, and heater sound good on paper but it was unable to handle the requests digitally. The purifier worked well, but the heater had a mind of its own. The digital thermostat was well below the actual temperature in the room, 5-8 degrees in fact. Then it would shut off at random times. The remote would not register the commands and had to be connected to the unit for it to work. When working the unit would make these sounds that could only be related to pennies in a dryer. Tried using it when sleeping, awful. If I had to buy this heater, I honestly would not pay more than $30 for it. Stay away; there is a reason why it is hard to find a 3-in-1 unit, maybe because it just isn't possible...

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Got the 1500 model 26 OCT 2011. I have to read the instruction to make this work properly and it did. The quality is much better than my Holmes Quartz heater, infact I'll give it three & three-quarter stars for built quality. The heat is very good. I more than likely NOT gonna use this unit as a standalone Air Purifier and or Humidifier coz I have a standalone SHARP HEPA purifier and Humidifier that are "Library Quiet" that emits less than 30 Decibels fan noise. Set the red core 1500 on mid-size room at 78 Degrees F you might able to hear a very low fan hiss. Good thing that the fan speed adjust automatically as the temp is met. Time to retire my noisy Holmes Quartz Heater. Also I thought of the Amish fireplace look alike heaters, but I prefer the size of the Redcore 1500, its small enough and easy to move in any room in my house unlike those bulky amish heaters. Had I received a defective unit, I would have written something negative as well, fortunately I got a good working unit that I was able to test myself, I'll recommend it to friends, and will probably get a second unit.

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An OK if overly complicated unit with usability issues. REVISED

I doubt that the first reviewer ever saw one, unless it was a different model or defective.

The Good:

Reasonably effective heater.

Fully adjustable thermostat.

Displays room temp +/-2 degrees accuracy.

Ultrasonic Humidifier adds about 3 to 4 percent humidity to a large room.

Air purifier seems to work well. REVISED see below

Controls are proximity not touch and should last.

Large fancy LCD display easy to read.

The bad:

Any momentary power glitch resets the unit to off. Not suitable for unattended operation as a result.

Controls are complicated and not as well documented as they could be.

The humidifier really wants distilled water. REVISED running one batch of tap water left it operating intermittently.

The ultrasonic humidifier ejects a plume of water vapor that can dampen stuff.

The controls are poorly marked and have odd interactions.

The controls are not illuminated so often hard to see

Air purifier is ineffective for pollen.

The ugly:

Because of the humidifier really needs to be elevated.

Controls are fussy, .

To use the air purifier you need to set the temperature then the offset time.

Timer is time to start not to turn off, It would be easy to have both.

Fan and humidifier aren't loud but not especially quiet.

Distilled water makes it expensive to operate.

Overall works so so but is unnecessarily fussy and suffers from phony reviews. As well as being relatively expensive.

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Too loud. Does not work. If that changes I will let you know. Clunky and not worth the money. Don't buy something like this online.

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...but it's more of a lovable early '80s ugly. Received this the day after I ordered it with standard shipping, on the 13th hottest day of the year. So far, everything is working as described. I'd purchased another brand with similar features last winter; that unit died within 24 hours, and a cheesy, '50s ugly fake fireplace displayed real flames after the second day, so at this point I'm easily satisfied. But -make no mistake, this has a thin hard plastic chassis, but make no mistake, all of these do, save for the wooden ones and the single metal unit I'm aware of. All of them are lined with metal; I don't know what protects the internal electronics from heat, but the instructions say if the filter is dirty the unit will operate very poorly. The main remote itself is quite impressive, rechargeable was an unnecessary and thoughtful bonus, and the main power switch is no-nonsense no-accidents heavy duty. While the previous unit was working, it spit out a whole lot of heat, more than I'd like (temp couldn't be set below 68f.) Theoretically these shouldn't be able to heat at all, as I read online infrared allegedly only heats water, and then only if directly in the path of the rays. So just be thankful this thing heats at all, and quit your complaining already. Defying internet physics -what more could you ask for at under $200?

And if you're afraid of guests complaining about how tinny it looks, do what I did: get a deeply discounted '60s ugly germ guardian from myquickby, guaranteed to divert attention from this cute little monstrosity.

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