In today’s dehumidifier review I’ll cover the most recent line of dehumidifiers by Whirlpool.
Whirlpool is a multinational manufacturer of home appliances and is trusted by many consumers. They offer multiple dehumidifier models for your home or office needs. From medium-sized rooms to large basements, you can find the right size dehumidifier from Whirlpool for good value.
Whirlpool is a trusted brand and offers some great options, but if you’re looking for our comprehensive guide on the overall best dehumidifier for basement check out our guide here.
Below I will cover the most important product specifications and customer review feedback to help recommend the best model for you. Check out the table below to see which one is the right fit for your situation.
Whirlpool Dehumidifiers Comparison
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | |
|---|---|---|
Editor's Choice  |
| View On Amazon →Read Our Review |
Runner-up |
| View On Amazon →Read Our Review |
Runner-up |
| View On Amazon →Read Our Review |
|
| View On Amazon →Read Our Review |
|
| View On Amazon →Read Our Review |
|
| View On Amazon →Read Our Review |
PROS
- Energy Star rating
- Digital humidistat display
- Pre-programmed humidity settings
- Automatic shutoff with tank full alert
- Low temperature operation down to 41°F
- Automatic defrost
- Power outage auto restart
- 24-hour programmable timer
- Continuous drainage options
- Removable, washable air filter
- Integrated side handles and four caster wheels
CONS
- Can be noisy
- Poor bucket design
- Low quality pump
Dehumidification Performance
The main purpose of a dehumidifier is to remove excess moisture in the air. A dehumidifier’s performance is measured by the amount of water it can collect per day. Standard home dehumidifiers have a capacity that range from 20 to 70 pints per day. Some of the popular appliance brands that produce dehumidifiers include Whirlpool.
Whirlpool dehumidifiers effectively reduce humidity levels, eliminating airborne allergens such as mold, mildew, and dust mites. They are available in four sizes: 20-pint, 30-pint, 40-pint, and 50-pint, all of which are Energy Star rated. The Energy Star label is given to products that meet the EPA’s energy efficiency requirements. This means Whirlpool dehumidifiers can help save your money on electric bills while maintaining comfortable levels of humidity in your home.
Programmable Settings
You can customize the settings on a Whirlpool dehumidifier according to your needs. The LCD display on the top shows the intuitive controls.
Digital Humidistat
Like most modern dehumidifiers, Whirlpool models feature a built-in digital humidistat. Just set your preferred humidity level on the control panel and the unit will cycle on and off to maintain the humidity. When the ideal humidity is reached, the compressor will stop running, while the fan continues to circulate the air. Once the room humidity rises by around 10% above your setting, the unit will start dehumidifying again.
The recommended humidity levels for homes range from 30% to 50% RH. You may also use the pre-programmed humidity settings based on the room in which the dehumidifier is running: bedroom, living room, and basement.
Fan Speed
Whirlpool dehumidifiers have two fan speeds. On the control panel, you can choose between Low and High fan speed. If you need a more powerful dehumidification, choose High. If you want minimal noise levels, choose Low.
Timer
Save energy by running the dehumidifier at a specific time instead of 24/7. You can program the unit to automatically start or stop operation after a specified time. Set the timer up to 24 hours on the LCD display.
Bucket Capacity
Dehumidifiers collect moisture in the internal bucket. Once it’s full, you will need to empty it before the unit can start running again. All Whirlpool dehumidifiers have a bucket capacity of 14 pints. This is quite small for a 50-pint unit and you will have to empty the water at least three times if the dehumidifier is running at full capacity for 24 hours.
Whirlpool has the standard auto shutoff function that stops the unit when the collection bucket is full. The Bucket Full indicator will light up and the alarm will alert the user. The bucket can be accessed on the front of the unit. For optimum performance, wash and rinse the bucket at least every few weeks.
Drainage Options
Drain Hose
Not everyone has the time to manually empty the bucket. If your unit is in the basement, garage, or any area you rarely visit, it can be easy to forget. While the auto shutoff prevents flooding, it also means your dehumidifier will not be doing its job. And during that time, moisture levels will increase again, reducing the effectiveness of the dehumidifier.
To enable continuous mode, Whirlpool dehumidifiers give you an option for automatic gravity drainage. Simply remove the drain plug and attach a drain hose to the outlet port at the back and place the unit near a floor drain. Make sure that the unit is elevated and the hose is directed below to allow gravity to pull the water.
Drain Pump
If a floor drain isn’t available in the area, a drain pump is the easiest solution. It pushes the collected moisture out of the unit in a vertical or horizontal direction. You can have the hose run up a sink, out into a window to divert the water, or connect it to your sump pump. Some of the higher capacity dehumidifiers have the option of a built-in pump. It’s common in 50-pint units like the top-rated Frigidaire.
The Whirlpool 40-pint and 50-pint units have corresponding versions with a built-in pump. If you’ve already purchased a dehumidifier without this functionality, there are also external condensate pumps available.
Additional Features
Whirlpool units are equipped with all the standard features found in top dehumidifiers for homes.
Auto Defrost
Similar to most refrigerant type dehumidifiers, the Whirlpool models work in temperatures down to 41°F with the auto defrost function. This is an important feature during the winter or in places where the temperature is typically at 60°F or below. When frost is detected on the coils, the compressor stops running while the fan continues to melt any ice buildup.
Auto Restart
In the event of a power interruption, your dehumidifier settings will be saved. Once power is restored, the unit automatically restarts operation with your previous settings. This saves your time and ensures the dehumidifier is operating as needed.
Air Filter
Dehumidifiers come with an air filter that catches dust and other impurities from the air before the moisture is removed. Whirlpool has a removable and washable filter that can be accessed from the back of the unit. You’ll find a Clean Filter indicator light on the control panel and this will tell you when it’s time to check the filter. Wash and dry or replace the filter if necessary.
Sizing Whirlpool Dehumidifiers
Dehumidifier sizes are determined through tests performed under the Department of Energy standards. As of 2019, dehumidifiers are tested at 65°F temperature and 60% humidity, 15° lower than the 2012 standards. Because of this, the new pint ratings appear lower than the previous.
Whirlpool dehumidifiers come in four sizes: 20, 30, 40, and 50 pints. Each of these models has a recommended area of coverage. When choosing a dehumidifier, consider the size of the space you need to dehumidify.
The Whirlpool 20-pint is ideal for small rooms up to 250 square feet, the 30-pint for small basements up to 400 square feet. For medium to large rooms, the 40-pint and 50-pint units cover 500 square feet, and 650 square feet, respectively.
Aside from the dimensions of the room, another factor to consider is the current conditions. For areas that are typically damp and cold, like a basement, you may need a more powerful dehumidifier.
If you want to use your dehumidifier in multiple rooms, this is made easy with the Whirlpool units. They have four heavy duty wheels and side handles for added portability. Make sure you get the right size for the largest room you will operate on.
Customer Feedback on the Whirlpool Dehumidifier
This particular line of Whirlpool dehumidifiers has been out in the market only quite recently. Older units include this 70 pint Whirlpool dehumidifier.
In the short time the current Whirlpool dehumidifier line has been available, it has received mostly 5 stars from early customer reviews. Said reviewers would recommend Whirlpool after their purchase. Although, keep in mind that these are reviews of a new dehumidifier. Only time (or at least a few months) will tell how reliable a dehumidifier actually is.
Most of the negative feedback is about the noise levels and this seems to be an issue with older models too. One user remarks that the units make an annoying harmonic hum. This isn’t a big problem if you operate them in the basement or garage, but this may be a dealbreaker if you need them for the living space or bedroom.
Another common problem is the poorly designed water bucket. Users report that there’s no handle on the water tray, or the unit arrives with incomplete parts. In most cases, Whirlpool will send a replacement unit within a few days or a week as covered by the one-year warranty.
Like most built-in pumps on other units, those in Whirlpool also tend to have a short life. If you mainly rely on the pump for continuous drainage, it may be better to install an external pump instead.
Overall, the Whirlpool units have been praised for excellent performance in average room conditions and good value for the price. Aside from a very few cases, Whirlpool works great in the basement or other humid areas in the house.
It can be just as effective and efficient as the top rated high capacity models such as the Frigidaire FFAD5033W1 and the hOmeLabs HME020031N 50 pint dehumidifiers (previously 70 pint).
See other reviews here or check the prices here.
