Kenmore Dehumidifier__I am pleased with this product

I purchased a Kenmore 50 pint dehumidifier a year ago, to help with damage control, due to a leaking pipe at the water heater. The floor and walls where the water heater is kept were water damaged to a degree that two complete walls (studs and all) had to be removed. It was recommended that fans be used to dry out the floor before the work to replace the walls commenced. Well, that might have been the thing to do, if the leak was caught early, but not in this case. This is when I bought the first of two Kenmore dehumidifiers.

It took 3 days of continuous running of the dehumidifier before the floor passed a moisture meter test. Once that part was over, the process of rebuilding walls began.After a thorough cleaning of the unit and the filter, the dehumidifier was then set to run at 3 hour intervals at 35% humidity level, during the entire process of rebuilding walls. This process was done for my peace of mind. The only time that the dehumidifier was shut down, was during the drywall installation because of the dust.

About the product: From product manual

Energy Star compliant
Washable slide out air filter
Bucket full indicator lamp (My units will also beep for a couple of seconds)
Shuts off automatically when bucket is full
Auto restart in case of power failure (restarts in “on” setting)
External drain connector ( I have not used this feature)
Touch-pad button fan-speed selection and Humidity Sensor
Cabinet has casters for ease of mobility
Efficiency of dehumidification is reduced when room temperature falls below 65 degrees

*One year warranty on dehumidifier
*5 year warranty on sealed refrigeration system

Power & Ratings:
Amps 5.7
Watts 630

Performance Features:
No. of Fan Speeds 2 (High/Low)
Air Flow 120 CFM (High)
Bucket Capacity 22.0 Pints
Pints per 24 hr. period: 50.0

For all other specifications: Please read "view details"

The exhaust is in the rear of the cabinet and it is recommended that the unit should have at least 12 in. of space for good circulation.


This unit has a continuous "On" setting and can be set in increments of 5% beginning at 35% humidity control up to 70%. When the unit hits the set point, it will automatically shut off until humidity levels rise. There is a timer which can be set at 3 and 6 hour intervals for energy efficiency. I chose to keep the timer off and kept the unit running 24/7 while going through the drying out process.


I was pleased with the way that the Kenmore helped with damage control, so I bought a second unit to aid in humidity control throughout our home. Both are set at 35% at 3 hour intervals. After a year of use, they are still giving me peace of mind.

The dehumidifiers are very noisy when the compressor kicks in and when the fan is set on high. I have one unit in the laundry area and the other is located just off the Master Bath; all I hear is a hum, when I am in other areas of the house.

Emptying the bucket is easy. Honestly, I do not have a problem with this task. The bucket slides out and has a handle that is easy to grasp. It has a lid with a pouring cut out and emptying this is like pouring coffee. Don't dump . . . pour. When reinstalling the bucket, make sure that it lines up perfectly with the body of the unit, or the unit will not run.

Last but not least, keep the bucket and the washable filter clean. Cleaning the filter keeps the unit running efficiently, but what one should also remember is that the purpose of the unit is to remove humidity from the air, and what can and will grow in the bucket and on a dirty filter can be horrifying to those of us with allergies.


Thank you for reading this review of the Kenmore 54501 Dehumidifier.

RC

This review is the sole property of rcjones. Permission is not granted for use or reproduction on any other sites.


* Update: 23 Nov. 2008 *

It has been 3 years and the units are still performing well. The lower humidity level keeps my home comfortable and the air cleaner. No stale musty smells in this home. : )