bit-tech Shopping: Frigidaire Dehumidifiers & Humidifier - Model Number: FDF50S1

Rating: 4

Time with product: 3 Days

Strengths: Quiet pump

Weaknesses: Noisy fan

Summary: Last year I bought a LG and Goldstar dehumidifier. Have to return both because of excessive noise. Then my sister bought a Frigidaire because her maintainance guy said it is very good. It is a 50 litre model and very quiet. Therefore I went to Best Buy and bought a 30 litre model because the 50 litre is out of stock. Turns out the 30 litre is more noisy than the 50 litre but still acceptable. This year I need another dehumidifier so I think I will stick with Frigidaire. According to PriceGrabber, Newegg is the cheapest. However, I can get a Whirlpool from Costco for 10 dollars less and Consumer Report said LG is the best? Finally I decide to still go along with Frigidaire and bought a 50 litre model from Newegg. Turns out the fan noise is very loud, much worse than last years' model. Not the high pitched pump noise but the low frequency fan noise. This time I am not happy but have to live with it because it is not economical to return to Newegg. My advice for buying dehumidifier is: Dehumidifiers are simple devices, my main concern is noise and you can't really stay in the same room with one. Seems there is little quality control on noise. Better buy from a department store that you can return easily.

Rating: 10

Time with product: 7 Days

Strengths: lots of desireable features. quality, relative humidity display, auto off, container full alarm, quiet, gets the humidity down very quickly! Save on central a/c by keeping the humdity level down.

Weaknesses: slight heat coming out sides, but not enough to heat up a room. you only notice it when you walk by it.

Summary: love it. should have bought one years ago. with the prices of energy going up, we are trying everything practical to save $ and be COMFORTABLE. This energy star dehumidifier fits that bill.