A number on a box says nothing about the condition it was measured in. Two machines both called 80 pints can be tested in completely different air, and the one that looks bigger on the shelf can be the weaker of the two in a Canadian basement.

The manufacturer states the condition alongside the figure: 80 pints, or 38 L, per day at 95F and 35C with 90% relative humidity. That is a hot, saturated test, and knowing so lets you judge it fairly rather than assume. Coverage is given as 4,000 sq ft on the same basis.

The figures, and the condition behind them

Eighty pints a day is measured at 95F and 90% relative humidity, which the manufacturer also prints in metric as 38 L at 35C. That is a hot, tropical test and every brand uses something like it for the headline. The 4,000 sq ft coverage figure sits on the same basis. In a 20C basement expect considerably less, which is normal and true of every compressor machine.

Eight things the panel is looking after

Six keys handle timer, inside drying, fan speed, humidity target, mode and power. The row beneath is what runs on its own: overload protection for the compressor, auto defrost for the coil, a water full indicator, a child lock and a memory function that restores your settings after a power interruption. Inside drying is the one worth knowing about, and it has a key of its own.

A gallon in the tank, or none of it

At 1 gallon this tank is large enough that manual emptying is realistic in a room where the machine idles, and the water full indicator warns you before it stops. In a basement running hard it will fill faster than that. The 2 ft hose in the box takes over, draining by gravity to something lower than the machine, at which point the tank stops mattering.

Forty two decibels next to a bed

At this capacity 42 dB is a reasonable figure. It is quieter than a normal conversation and about the level of a fridge in a quiet kitchen, so it can share a room overnight without much complaint. The 0 to 24 hour timer is the other half of the answer: set it to stop a few hours after you go to bed and the room stays dry without running until morning.

Runs the fan on its own after the compressor stops so the coil dries out rather than sitting wet. Worth a press before the machine goes into storage.

Restores your mode and target after a power cut instead of needing to be set up again. Useful in a basement nobody checks daily.

Larger than most machines this size carry, with a visible level down the front and a water full indicator.

Auto holds a target between 30% and 80% and idles in between. Continuous ignores the target and runs, which is what a wet week needs.

Overload protection guards the compressor if the supply sags, and auto defrost clears the coil when the room is cool.

Freezes the panel so the settings stay where you put them on a machine standing at knee height.

250W and 3.5A at 115V. That is modest for an 80 pint rating and it matters on a machine meant to run for months.

Continuous gravity drainage costs nothing extra, provided the outlet end sits lower than the machine.

Ships from a Canadian warehouse, so there are no customs charges and no cross-border delays. Free shipping on orders over $150, a flat $18.90 below that, and tracking by email as soon as it leaves.

Return within 14 days of purchase, unused, in original condition and packaging.

Covered directly by the manufacturer under their warranty terms for material and manufacturing defects.

Found it cheaper at a Canadian retailer? Send us the link and we will match that price. It has to be the same item, in stock, sold and shipped inside Canada, and compared like for like on what comes in the box.

Rated to 4,000 sq ft, which suits a full basement or an open plan main floor rather than a single room. In a bedroom it would reach target and idle most of the day.

Memory function, auto defrost, overload protection and a 1 gallon tank. With the hose fitted there is nothing to do but rinse the filter.

The inside drying cycle dries the coil before the machine goes into a cupboard, which is what keeps it from smelling stale next spring.

This is a compressor machine with auto defrost, so a heated basement suits it. An unheated garage near freezing wants a desiccant unit instead.

What we stand behind

• Ships from a Canadian warehouse, free shipping over $150, and 14 day returns unused in the original packaging.
• 14 day returns on unused items in original condition and packaging
• Covered by the manufacturer's own warranty for material and manufacturing defects
• The 2 ft drain hose is in the box, and the filter is washable with nothing consumable to reorder

Is 80 pints a day what I should expect?

No, and that applies to every dehumidifier. The 80 pint figure is measured at 95F and 90% relative humidity, which the manufacturer also prints as 38 L at 35C. In 2019 the US Department of Energy moved its own test to a much cooler 65F and 60% precisely because the hot number misleads buyers, and machines typically return a third to a half of their headline figure under it. No DOE rated figure is published for this model, so compare it only against listings quoting the same 95F and 90% condition.

What is the inside drying function for?

It runs the fan after the compressor stops, so the coil dries out instead of staying wet inside a switched off machine. Use it before the unit goes into storage at the end of the season, and after a long run in a very damp room. It has its own key on the panel.

How often will the 1 gallon tank need emptying?

It depends entirely on how damp the room is. In a wet basement in July a machine this size can fill a gallon in a few hours. In a mildly damp main floor it might take a day or more. The water full indicator warns you before the machine stops. If daily emptying is not practical, fit the 2 ft hose and drain to something lower.

Does it need a special outlet?

No. It is specified at 115V, 60Hz, drawing 3.5A and 250W, on a 6 ft cord. That is an ordinary grounded Canadian household outlet. Plug it straight into the wall rather than through a light duty extension cord, and avoid sharing the circuit with another large appliance.