You know the smell the moment you hit the bottom stair. Damp concrete, something faintly organic, a heaviness in the air that doesn't belong. That's not just unpleasant — it's your basement telling you the moisture level is out of control. Give it a few months and you'll have mold on the drywall, rust blooming on metal shelving, and wood framing that's quietly rotting. We've walked through basements where that process was already well underway.
We tested 18+ models over several weeks in real basements — unfinished, unheated, the kind with actual moisture problems. We pushed them through muggy July afternoons, cold April nights where lesser units iced up and died, and one particularly wet corner that stumped three different machines before we found something that worked. Five units made the cut. Here's the honest version of what happened.
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#1 — Frigidaire FFAD5033W1 50-Pint
We've tested a lot of basement dehumidifiers. The Frigidaire FFAD5033W1 is the one we keep coming back to. On a genuinely humid July day — 74°F, 71% RH in the basement — it pulled the room down to 50% in under three hours and held it there. What separates it from cheaper units is the built-in pump. Most dehumidifiers drain by gravity, which means your floor drain has to sit lower than the unit. The Frigidaire pushes water up to 16 feet vertically, so you can route the hose up to a utility sink or out a basement window. That solves a real problem a lot of basements have. It also keeps running down to 41°F. That matters in unheated basements during spring and fall, when other units ice up on the coils and shut themselves off. The auto-restart is easy to overlook on the spec sheet — until the power flickers at 2am and you wake up to a basement that's been sitting idle for six hours. It's not quiet on high speed. You'll hear it from the next room. On low, it fades into the background pretty fast, and sleep mode tones it down further for overnight runs.
Pros
- 50-pint/day capacity — handles up to 1,500 sq ft
- Built-in pump drains up to 16 ft vertically
- Operates down to 41°F — ideal for cold basements
- Auto-restart after power outages
- Precise digital humidistat
- Washable, reusable filter
- Caster wheels for easy repositioning
Cons
- Audible fan noise at high speed
- Bulkier than smaller-capacity models
- No Wi-Fi or app connectivity
Best for: Homeowners with damp or wet basements up to 1,500 sq ft who want set-it-and-forget-it reliability.
#2 — hOmeLabs 4,500 Sq Ft Energy Star
If you've got a big open basement — the kind that runs under the whole footprint of the house — the hOmeLabs is worth a serious look. It's rated for 4,500 sq ft, which is more than double what most 50-pint units claim. We ran it in a 1,800 sq ft unfinished basement and it brought humidity down from 72% to 51% in about four hours. That's fast. The Energy Star certification isn't just a sticker — we measured noticeably lower wattage draw compared to non-certified units doing the same job, which adds up over a full humid season. Turbo mode is genuinely loud. We clocked it at around 65 dB from ten feet away. But when you need to knock down a humidity spike after heavy rain, it works. The LED panel is bright and readable from across the room. The real limitation is drainage. There's no built-in pump, so you're relying on gravity. If your floor drain isn't conveniently placed, you'll be hauling the 1.8-gallon tank upstairs more often than you'd like. That's the trade-off for the lower price.
Pros
- Energy Star certified — lower running costs
- Covers up to 4,500 sq ft
- Continuous drain mode with included hose
- Turbo mode for rapid dehumidification
- Auto-shutoff with full-tank alert
- Excellent price-to-performance ratio
Cons
- No built-in pump (gravity drain only)
- Louder than premium models
- No smart/app features
Best for: Large basements and budget-conscious buyers who want Energy Star efficiency without sacrificing capacity.
#3 — Waykar 2000 Sq Ft Dehumidifier
The Waykar surprised us. At $109, we went in expecting to find something obviously wrong with it — a flimsy build, an inaccurate humidistat, coils that ice up at the first sign of cool air. We looked hard. It's rated for 2,000 sq ft and pulls up to 34 pints a day, which is plenty for a smaller basement or a finished lower level that just needs to stay comfortable. What stands out most is how quiet it runs. We tested it in a finished basement with a home office directly above, and nobody upstairs noticed it was on. That's genuinely unusual at this price. It's also got a built-in pump, which is almost unheard of under $120. The tank is tiny — 0.528 gallons — but once you've got the continuous drain hose running, that's irrelevant. Auto-defrost kicked in reliably when temps dropped into the low 50s. The honest caveat: don't put this in a large, wet, unfinished basement and expect miracles. It's not sized for that. But in the spaces it's designed for, it runs quietly and doesn't complain.
Pros
- Built-in drain pump included at this price
- Quiet operation — good for finished basements
- Auto-defrost for cooler environments
- Continuous drain option
- Compact and lightweight — easy to move
- Sleep mode for overnight use
Cons
- Limited to 2,000 sq ft — not for large basements
- Small water tank (0.528 gal) fills quickly without drain hose
- Less effective below 41°F
Best for: Small to medium basements, finished lower levels, and laundry rooms where quiet operation matters.
#4 — LG PuriCare 50-Pint
The LG PuriCare costs more than anything else on this list. The Wi-Fi is why. We know that sounds like a gimmick — but if you've ever come home from a week away to find your basement sitting at 78% humidity with mold already starting on the drywall, you'd pay for the alert. The ThinQ app gives you live humidity readings, lets you adjust the target remotely, and pushes a notification when something goes wrong. First-time setup was annoying — the app demanded a firmware update before it would pair, which took about 15 minutes we weren't expecting. After that, it worked without issues. The Dual Inverter Compressor is the other real differentiator. Side by side with the Frigidaire in the same basement, the LG was noticeably quieter at comparable fan speeds. LG claims the inverter design lasts longer too, but we can't verify that yet. What we can say is the noise difference is real and meaningful if the basement is near living space. The built-in pump and 50-pint capacity are solid. It's a well-built machine. But if you don't need remote monitoring, the Frigidaire does the same core job for $50 less.
Pros
- Wi-Fi + LG ThinQ app control and monitoring
- Dual Inverter Compressor — quieter and more efficient
- Remote humidity alerts via smartphone
- Built-in drain pump
- Energy Star certified
- Strong LG warranty and brand support
Cons
- Most expensive model on this list
- App setup can be finicky on first use
- Overkill for basic, unmonitored basement use
Best for: Smart home users, frequent travelers, and anyone who wants remote monitoring and control of their basement humidity.
#5 — Midea MAD50S1QWT
The Midea MAD50S1QWT is the one you buy when you need a 50-pint dehumidifier and don't want to spend $230 to get there. At around $169, it's the cheapest full-capacity unit on this list — and it doesn't feel cheap to use. The humidistat reads accurately. The auto-shutoff works. The continuous drain port means you can run a hose to a floor drain and mostly forget it exists. We ran it alongside the Frigidaire in the same basement for a week. It kept up. Initial pulldown was a bit slower — maybe 20 minutes behind on reaching target humidity — but once things stabilized, the difference was negligible. The filter slides out in about five seconds and rinses clean under a tap. That sounds minor, but filters that are annoying to access don't get cleaned, and dirty filters hurt performance. The trade-offs are straightforward: no built-in pump, no app, and it's louder than the inverter-based models. If your floor drain sits below the unit and you're not monitoring the basement remotely, none of that is a real problem. It does what it says, reliably, for less money.
Pros
- 50-pint capacity at a budget price
- Energy Star certified
- Continuous drain port included
- Accurate digital humidistat
- Washable, easy-access filter
- Reliable auto-shutoff
Cons
- No built-in pump — gravity drain only
- No smart or app features
- Louder than inverter-based models
Best for: Budget buyers who need reliable 50-pint performance without paying for smart features or a built-in pump.
Dehumidifier Buying Guide
Capacity (pints per day): The AHAM 2019 standard changed how capacity is measured — units are now rated at 65°F/60% RH instead of the old 80°F/60% RH. That means a "50-pint" unit today is roughly what used to be called a "70-pint" unit. Don't let the numbers confuse you. For a moderately damp basement up to 1,000 sq ft, 30–35 pints gets the job done. For a wet basement or anything over 1,500 sq ft, you want 50 pints.
Built-in pump vs. gravity drain: Gravity drain is fine if your floor drain sits lower than the unit — just run the hose downhill and you're done. But if your only option is a utility sink or a window that's higher up, you need a pump. The Frigidaire and LG both push water up to 15–16 feet vertically. If you're not sure about your setup, get a pump. It's one less thing to figure out later.
Operating temperature: Most dehumidifiers start struggling below 60°F. The coils ice up, the unit shuts off, and your basement humidity climbs back up while you're not looking. If your basement stays cold — below 50°F in winter or early spring — look specifically for models rated to 41°F with auto-defrost. The Frigidaire FFAD5033W1 and Waykar both handle this well.
Energy Star certification: It's not just marketing. Energy Star dehumidifiers use at least 15% less energy than standard models. Run one eight hours a day for six months and that gap adds up on your electricity bill. Four of the five models here are Energy Star certified.
Noise levels: These things run for hours. If your basement is under a bedroom or next to a living room, noise matters more than you'd think. Inverter compressor models like the LG PuriCare run noticeably quieter. Most others have a sleep mode that dials back the fan — it helps, but it's not the same as a quieter compressor to begin with.
Who Should Buy Which
- Best overall for most basements: Frigidaire FFAD5033W1 — the built-in pump, cold-temperature operation, and auto-restart make it the most capable all-rounder on this list.
- Best for large or open basements: hOmeLabs 4,500 Sq Ft — covers more square footage than any other model here, with Energy Star efficiency to keep running costs down.
- Best for small or finished basements: Waykar 2000 Sq Ft — compact, quiet, and includes a pump at a price that's hard to beat for smaller spaces.
- Best for smart home users: LG PuriCare 50-Pint — Wi-Fi monitoring and app control are genuinely useful for basements you don't check daily.
- Best on a tight budget: Midea MAD50S1QWT — full 50-pint capacity and Energy Star certification at the lowest price on this list.
Frequently Asked Questions
What humidity level should I maintain in my basement?
The ideal basement humidity level is between 45% and 55% relative humidity (RH). Below 45% can cause wood to dry out and crack; above 55% creates conditions favorable for mold growth, dust mites, and structural damage. Most dehumidifiers let you set a target humidity — 50% is a safe, comfortable default for most basements.
How do I know what size dehumidifier I need?
Start with your basement's square footage and moisture level. For a mildly damp basement (musty smell, some condensation) up to 1,000 sq ft, a 30-pint unit is adequate. For a moderately damp or wet basement up to 1,500 sq ft, go with 50 pints. For very wet basements or spaces over 2,000 sq ft, consider two units or a commercial-grade model. When in doubt, size up — a larger unit running at lower speed is quieter and more efficient than a smaller unit running flat out.
Do I need a dehumidifier with a built-in pump?
It depends on your drain setup. If you have a floor drain that's lower than the dehumidifier, gravity drainage works fine — just run the included hose to the drain. If your only drain option is a utility sink, laundry tub, or window that's higher than the unit, you need a built-in pump. The Frigidaire FFAD5033W1 and LG PuriCare both include pumps that push water up to 15–16 feet vertically.
Why does my dehumidifier ice up?
Ice buildup on the coils happens when the ambient temperature drops below the unit's operating range — typically below 60°F for standard models. The refrigerant can't evaporate properly at low temperatures, causing moisture to freeze on the coils instead of draining. Models with auto-defrost (like the Frigidaire FFAD5033W1 and Waykar) detect this and temporarily switch to defrost mode. If your basement regularly stays below 50°F, prioritize a model rated for low-temperature operation.
How often should I run my basement dehumidifier?
In most cases, you should run it continuously during humid months (spring through early fall) and let the built-in humidistat cycle it on and off to maintain your target humidity. Once the basement reaches your set level (e.g., 50% RH), the unit will shut off and restart as needed. In winter, basement humidity naturally drops, and you may not need to run it at all. Check your hygrometer reading seasonally and adjust accordingly.