A Sleek, Simple Large-Capacity Dehumidifier Perfect for Home Use
I had the chance to personally test out the h0meLabs 50-Pint Dehumidifier, the largest-capacity dehumidifier the company produces.
I found this sleek-looking machine surprisingly well-sized given the 50-pint tank. It also wasn't overly heavy and, thanks to the built-in handles and castors, it was easy enough to move around my three-story home. But most importantly, the dehumidifying power of this product more than met my expectations. During our test, it was able to drop the humidity by 50% in just over 10 minutes on turbo mode.
Thanks to the sparse control panel on the top, it was a bit confusing and challenging to access the different features. But, after spending a little time with the manual, I quickly found out that there is an auto-on and auto-off timer functionality, as well as, set humidity goals, auto-comfort levels, and turbo power.
This dehumidifier works quickly and has a better design and look than other home-use models. The control board setup, the amount of noise it puts off, and some functionality quirks restrict its use. But if you are looking for a reliable humidifier to put in your basement or crawlspace or to keep on hand for emergencies, the h0meLabs 50-Pint is definitely one worth considering.
Review Criteria Ratings
- Works for large rooms up to 4,500 square feet
- Sleek design blends with decor better
- Great value for its size
- Long 2.5-year warranty for registered users
- Short power cord
- Puts out a good amount of noise
- Built entirely of plastic
- Features are difficult to program and come up short
Should You Buy It?
If you need a continuously running dehumidifier for an oversized space, this model is great!
It is effective for large rooms and has an oversized tank that allows for longer running periods before tank emptying is required.
If you are looking for a highly programmable dehumidifier for personal comfort, there are better options out there.
Disclosure:It is important you understand that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases. However, this does not impact our reviews and comparisons. All opinions are our own we pride ourselves on keeping our articles fair and balanced. For more info see our disclosure statement.h0meLabs 50-Pint Dehumidifier Overview
The h0meLabs 50-pint Dehumidifier is the largest-capacity dehumidifier in the h0meLabs lineup. It comes with many of the same features and functions as the 35 and 22-pint models but does include the optional pump for automatic draining.
The large capacity tank and sleek design set this unit apart from most home humidifiers you will find at the big box stores. It is powerful enough to work in rooms and basements up to 4,500 square feet. According to our tests, it can drop the humidity in a 50 square foot room by 50% in just over 10 minutes.
On normal speed, this unit is noticeably louder than your refrigerator. It is certainly not something you'd want right next to the couch while you watch TV. Turbo speed is even louder but a nice feature to have for use after leaks, carpet cleaning, or just to help you survive those long bayou summers.
Like most h0meLabs products, this dehumidifier comes with a 2-year warranty (2.5 if you register) and the reliability we've found in all of this company's products.
h0meLabs is a fairly new company to the home appliance world but already has put out a long list of refrigerators, purifiers, and dehumidifiers that customers can't stop raving about. They are located in New York City with manufacturing hubs throughout the world. In addition to their long warranty periods, they are known for offering quality products at a lower price than competitors.
Their dehumidifiers don't come with a ton of extra features-there is no remote, scheduling capability, or more advanced functionality. But you can set an auto-on and auto-off timer and choose your target humidity setting. Or, you can set the unit to comfort and let the machine choose the target humidity based on the current temperature in the room.
The 50-pint unit will automatically turn off when the water reservoir is filled or you can hook up a drainage hose or purchase the extra pump for truly continuous use.
Overall, this is a quality dehumidifier that will work to keep your home more comfortable during those balmy summer days. But it is an even better option for large basements and cellars where it can be used continuously and the noise is less likely to bother anyone.
How the 50 Pint Dehumidifier Performs
The h0meLabs 50-Pint Dehumidifier is marketed as providing better moisture removal than competitors while offering a larger reservoir and sleeker design than most home units. But does it stand up to the hype?
We put this dehumidifier to the test-using both real-life situations and manufactured ones to see just how well the different features work and to test the unit's overall performance. Keep reading to find out if the h0meLabs Dehumidifier delivered.
Moisture Removal
To test the h0meLabs' ability to lower humidity levels, I put it to work in the bathroom after taking a shower. I used a separate hygrometer to measure the moisture levels in the room.
For the first test, I measured how long it took the unit to drop the humidity in the room-which was raised to 90%-by half. On the turbo fan setting, it took just over 10 minutesto accomplish a 50% humidity decrease. This is about on par with other large dehumidifier units, including those used by mitigation companies after a leak.
The second test looked at how effectively the unit removed moisture from the room over the course of an hour when set on the normal fan speed. I started with control measurements that looked at how the moisture in the bathroom changed after a shower without the use of any fans or ventilation.
Here are the results:
- Control - 66% humidity at 0 minutes; 66% humidity at 30 minutes; 62% humidity at 60 minutes.
- Dehumidifier set to normal - 69% humidity at 0 minutes; 47% humidity at 30 minutes; 44% humidity at 60 minutes.
These results were typical of every test we ran. The initial drop in humidity was quick and substantial, followed by a much slower drop once the humidity levels got into the 40% range.
Since 45% humidity at temperatures above 75 degrees is considered comfortable (with higher humidity levels preferred as the temperature drops), I feel this performance curve would be adequate for most home uses.
The last test I ran was to determine the effectiveness of the target humidity setting. And this is where I ran into some quirkiness in the product's functionality.
I placed it in my basement (about 300 square feet) where the humidity was 53%. I set the target humidity level to 45% and left it running on normal mode. After about 15 minutes the unit shut itself off even though it had only reached 49%.
I then set the target level to 40%. The humidifier turned back on and ran for about 30 minutes before it hit 40%. At that point, interestingly, it did not turn off. It stayed on while reading 40% for about 20 minutes until I adjusted the target to 45%. At that point, it did turn off.
Once the reading jumped back up to 48% it turned back on and ran for about ten minutes before turning off again, despite dropping below 45% only about five minutes after clicking back on. About five minutes later, the humidity had risen enough to kick it back on once again.
Overall, the dehumidifying power of this machine is impressive. But the unit does not reliably power on and off to keep a strict humidity setting when one is programmed, making this product a better choice for continuous run situations in very damp areas.
read our article on
the best Dehumidifier For Basements.
The h0melabs 50 pint dehumidifier won our 'Best Dehumidifier For Basements" award.
Noise Level
The total noise output of the h0meLabs 4500 sq ft dehumidifier is between 58 and 60 decibels depending on the fan speed setting. Considering the average refrigerator puts out about 44 decibels when the compressor is on, I wouldn't call this unit quiet by any means. But compared to other dehumidifiers of similar size, it is about normal.
However, the h0maLabs unit does make a distinct buzzing sound due to the way the plastic housing is put together and the location of the compressor.
I didn't find this noise overly annoying, but I certainly would not want to have the unit too close while watching TV or trying to hold a conversation. From the reviews I have read of this product, it seems that the degree of buzzing experienced does vary unit to unit with some users finding it almost intolerable and others not noticing it at all.
Overall, I give this dehumidifier an average score when it comes to noise output.
Energy Efficiency
All sizes of the h0meLabs dehumidifiers are marketed as being "Energy Star Rated." However, finding additional information on this rating is difficult. To complicate matters more, no h0meLabs dehumidifiers are listed on the energystar.gov certification page.
According to the manufacturer, the unit has a power draw of about 750 watts. This is lower than other dehumidifiers in this power class.
Independent tests found the unit runs at around 610 watts when humidity levels are at 50%, with the power usage increasing to a maximum of 760 watts as the humidity levels increase. These levels run on par with other 50-pint dehumidifiers.
Considering the lack of an Energy Star Certification and the constant powering on and off that occurs when a target humidity level is set, I give this unit an average rating when it comes to energy use.
Ease of Use
On the surface, this dehumidifier seems very straightforward to use.
Out of the box, the only thing you need to do is remove the cord storage piece from the reservoir and install it on the back of the unit. After that, the unit is ready to use.
If you plan to use the dehumidifier in continuous mode, all you have to do is hit the power button. To switch it to turbo mode, you only need to press the turbo button. The comfort setting is also as easy as pressing a single button.
But to access any additional functions, you will have to play around with the unit or break out the manual. Setting auto-on and off timers or a set humidity target all require specific button sequences that aren't immediately apparent.
One other confusing aspect of using this machine is the fact that the unit does not seem to respond right away when it hits the set target humidity level. This may have something to do with the internal hygrometer and the on-screen display not being synced up or just delayed compressor responsiveness.
Extra Features
While many of the features are more difficult to program than we would like, the unit does have a decent amount of extra features compared to other dehumidifiers we've tried. These include:
- Auto-on functionality that allows you to set a timer to turn the unit on at a specified time.
- Auto-off functionality that allows you to set a runtime between 30 minutes and 24 hours.
- Comfort setting that will automatically target the best humidity level based on the temperature in the room.
- Set a humidity level that allows you to manually choose a humidity target between 35% and 85%.
- A continuous mode that allows the unit to run until the reservoir is full.
- Ability to set target humidity levels.
- A turbo setting for expedited dehumidifying.
Unfortunately, this unit does not have a program feature that allows you to set repeatable on-off cycles or different humidity targets throughout the day and night.
Considering the features that this unit does have and the overall performance, this dehumidifier would be best suited for home use situations that require quick moisture removal or continuous humidity control. It would be great to have on hand if you frequently experience leaks or to control humidity in your basement or crawlspace.
As a means to control the humidity in your living space, it will work well enough but does not have a ton of extra features to optimize its use in this situation. It is also a bit too loud to use in rooms where you might want to watch TV or socialize.
Alternatives
The h0meLabs 4500 sq ft dehumidifier is a powerful dehumidifier for home use and comes with a list of extra features, but it comes up short in a few key areas.
If you are interested in a dehumidifier that is Energy Star Certified, we recommend the TaoTronics Dehumidifier. Not only does this 50-pint unit use less power than the h0meLabs unit, but it also comes with a built-in pump, which means you do not have to purchase any extra parts if you want the unit to run continuously.
Another great Energy Star Certified model is the Shinco 3000 Sq.Ft Energy Star Dehumidifier. This 50-pint dehumidifier is rated for smaller spaces than the h0meLabs and Tao, but comes with a few extra features that might make it a better choice for you, including a special setting for drying clothes and a quieter operation that maxes out at 48dB.
If your main concern with a new humidifier is usability, then the Ivation 4,500 Sq Ft Smart Wi-Fi Energy Star Dehumidifier is the one for you. This 50-pint dehumidifier is WiFi-enabled, allowing you to control the unit from your phone. Set the target humidity level, timers, and fan speed without ever leaving the couch. You can even control this unit from the office or while you are away on vacation.
Things to Consider Before Buying
A dehumidifier can be an essential appliance if you live in a humid climate. Even in less humid areas, it is a good thing to have on hand to help quickly restore your home after a leak or flood.
How you plan to use your humidifier is just one thing worth considering before you make a purchase. Here are a few more considerations worth looking at before you decide which appliance will be the best for your needs.
- Room size - If you plan to use your humidifier in a large basement or for emergencies, you will want a large-capacity unit. For smaller rooms, you can save money by purchasing a smaller unit.
- Moisture removal rating - For continuous use to keep the room comfortable, a less expensive, less powerful model will work well enough. But for cleaning up after leaks or for those painfully humid Louisiana summer afternoons, it's worth spending the extra money on a unit with a high moisture removal rating.
- Noise output - If you plan to stick your humidifier in the crawlspace, then noise shouldn't be a consideration. But if you want to use it in your living room, look for a unit that puts out less than 50dBs on the standard setting.
- Warranty - Dehumidifiers are appliances you will want to use for years. The longer the warranty offered the less likely you are to have to replace the unit before its time.
Conclusion
Having a reliable, effective dehumidifier is a must if you are a homeowner, regardless of whether you're constantly fighting humid days or just worried about emergencies. The h0meLabs 50-Pint Dehumidifier is a powerful moisture removing machine that will work well to fight humidity in the air or to help you restore your carpets and drywall after a leak.
This unit is no slouch in the moisture removal department. In turbo mode, it can cut the humidity in a small room by half in just ten minutes and has a large capacity reservoir for longer continuous use. It isn't the quietest dehumidifier on the market and doesn't boast the most features, but for a reliable machine to use in the basement, crawlspace, or to keep around for emergencies, it won't let you down.
Click here to learn more about the h0meLabs Dehumidifier or to purchase one for yourself.