 Works great! |
| Review Date: November 1, 2005 |
| Reviewer: B. T. Denyer, Midwest, United States |
I installed this unit in my basement about 8 months ago, and it has been working flawlessly ever since.
Things I noticed:
If the power goes out, the unit will NOT turn back on automatically (as some other units do.)
If you want to use the continuous drainage (which I highly recommend) via a hose, you have to punch out a plastic disc on the side of the unit. I would have designed a screw-type plug that was replacable, but they didn't think of that. Anyway, once you punch the quarter-size disc out it's out forever.
If you choose to use the continuous drainage feature, you will need to pick up a hose with an inner diameter of 15mm (.59" or just over half an inch.) I went to the local DIY center and found some clear tubing that has worked well.
The unit can operate down to 2-degrees C (36-degrees F), which will be great for continuous operation in the garage to keep the tools from rusting.
Has three fan settings: med, high and quiet. "Quiet" really is quiet, and could probably work just fine in a bedroom. Though, it does warm the room it's in. How much it warms it depends on the humidity setting.
Four settings: The humidty level (humidstat) can be set to "continuous dehumidification" (which is the default setting), 50%, 60% and 70%. The fan will continue to run but the dehumidification processor will turn off when it reaches the selected humidity level. Cool. I mean, that's when the fan will just blow room-temp air.
A full drainage tank will stop the unit and illuminate a "tank full" indicator light.
The unit is not that heavy -- maybe for some, but not nearly as heavy as some people make it sound. It's 30.8 pounds.
According to the instructions: You will need at least 21 cm (about 8 inches) of clearance in front, behind and side to side. Air blows out of the top of the unit, so you'll need to make sure it's clear as well.
There are movable louvers on the top to direct the air straight up, 45-degrees or almost straight ahead.
Power consumption: CFM-25E is 220W // CFM-40E is 330W
I highly recommend this model dehumidifier.
***15-month UPDATE: It is still working like a champ! We haven't had one single problem with it, and I don't foresee ever really having one in the near future. I've been running this thing nonstop and it has only required me to clean the filter on the back (which takes 5 minutes.) It has remained as quiet as the day I bought it. It's awesome! |
Works well
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| Review Date: May 10, 2006 |
| Reviewer: Justin Wolf, Oshkosh, WI |
I purchased this dehumidifier for mainly basement use, but wanted one quiet enough for use upstairs if needed. And, boy is this thing quiet. My refrigerator is louder. I also own a Fedders 45 pint unit and a Whirlpool 65 pint noise maker. The Fedders (Maytag) was the quiet champ untill I purchased the Soleus Air CFM-40E. The Whirlpool removes an amazing amount of water, but can be heard UPSTAIRS when running in the basement. So it is used only when needed. The Soleus Air is so quiet I have to go down the basement stairs and visually check to see if the unit is on. Can't say that for many dehumidifiers. My only complaint is that the fan is always on, even when it has reached the set humidity level. This prevents the short cycling the others do, on for 2 minutes off for 2 minutes or so, but I think prevents an Energy Star certification. At 2.9 amps it draws significantly less than the Fedders 5.6 amps and the Whirlpool's 7.9 amps.
The Soleus Air works great (so far) upstairs in the spring, when it is cool but damp, like the weather this week. Here in Wisconsin it is in the 60's but rainy, so the house is humid. Running the central air is not necessary since the house is not hot. So I use a dehumidifier, which makes the house seem less clammy. I would recommend the Soleus Air CFM-40E to anyone who is looking for a small, really quiet, relatively light, medium capacity (40pint) dehumidifier that simply does what is supposed to do (remove water from air) with out excess noise.
*******3 Year Update******
This dehumidifier has been working flawlessly for 3 years of nearly constant use. Other than cleaning the filter and the occasional collection tank clean out, maintenance has been minimal. I still can not get over how quiet this unit is, and it has not gotten any louder with age. I highly recommend this product, yes it is not cheap, but it works really well, and is very well built. Highest possible recommendation. |
Excellent balance of efficiency and effectiveness
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| Review Date: April 22, 2005 |
| Reviewer: Patrick Smyth, North Carolina |
| I currently have 5 dehumidifiers in different locations, and this one is the strikes the best balance of efficiency, reliability, effectiveness, and quietness. There are other models that can pull more moisture out of the air more quickly, but they are invariably much louder and MUCH more expensive to run. |
The quiet life, death and rebirth of a dehumidifier
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| Review Date: December 2, 2006 |
| Reviewer: Shady Ave Reader, Arlington, VA |
(November 2006) I joined one of the other reviewers in apologizing for being compelled to praise a dehumidifier. When our loud old humidifier finally died, I spent many frustrating trips buying and returning louder replacements (think of a 747 jet at take-off) dehumidifiers to various big-box stores.
Then I found the Soleus. It was quieter (I guess maybe 30-40db), as efficient, and smaller than anything else we could find on the market. When I plugged it in, I frankly did not think it was running - as it was that quiet. Despite its silent running it filled the bucket faster than any other one I had tried. It was also more energy efficient than the other standard brands. Even if the bucket empties slightly different than standard dehumidifiers, it could hardly be simpler.
I do agree there is an inconvenience when one has to return larger items like this from mail order and not a store. However, making returns to Home Depot or Lowes is no picnic either these days. But in this case, I would urge folks to take the chance if you cannot find it elsewhere.
I would say if you have no concern about the noise, one could go with other models. However, if you have to live in proximity to the dehumidifer - this model ought to be at the top of your list.
----
(December 2007) To update the original review, 1 year later, the dehumidifier was still working quietly. Although when the temperature was below 60(F)degrees it lost efficiency and would ice up. However, most dehumidifiers do not work well in cold temperatures.
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(May 2008) - Well the icing up eventually caused the thermostat to blow (or vice versa) and the unit died in May 2008. It would only run on continuous mode but then would ice up making it non-functional. I could not blame cold temp any longer as the basement was now 70 degrees. Thus the unit lasted about 18 months. While I was disappointed (and would remove a star or two if Amazon would let reviewers do that), I had to say it was very good when it worked. I replaced it with a more traditional noisy dehumidifier, since I did not want to buy a humidifier every year and a half. The new one worked fine but noisily. I had to admit that I missed the quiet of the Soleus.
My comment at the time: If you want to take the risk and it works you probably will have the quietest dehumidifier on the market. But it might not last judging from my own experience and what I see from other reviewers.
Epilogue - Well the noisy replacement (Danby) died in January 2009. (To their credit Danby provided a full refund). I had, however, hated the loud noise of the Danby, so I gambled again on the Soleus. I decided NOT to revise my prior review until I had at least 6 months of operation on the Soleus to report on. Now, 8 months later, it is still working flawlessly filling a full pan of water every 24 hours, sometimes faster. It is still whisper quiet. One change I have made, is to be sure to turn it off when the relative humidity gets low, i.e. I turn it off if in a 24 hour period I don't see water collecting in the pan. Given my jinx with dehumidifiers, I did something I never ever do, I bought an extended warranty for it. So knock wood, I once again have a functioning dehumidifier, and one that can be in the same room with me and I can still hear the TV or stereo. |
Does exactly what I wanted
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| Review Date: June 30, 2007 |
| Reviewer: Rick Buchanan, Roanoke, Virginia United States |
We purchased this dehumidifier last summer and used it all season. We've been using it this season beginning last month, and it still works like a charm. I like it for several reasons.
First, it's very light for a humidifier, with a carrying handle which makes it easy to move from one room to another in our lower level. There are wheels, but I don't use them, since the weight of the unit is about the same as a medium size packed suitcase. My wife, who weighs a hundred pounds, uses the wheels.
Second, it's extremely quiet. The last dehumidifier we used (a Kenmore, admittedly much larger) was so loud we had to turn it completely off to hear the television. The Soleus has 3 fan levels, Medium, High and Quiet, with a light which indicates the setting. Quiet, as you'd expect, is the lowest fan setting, but set on High the fan noise is not audible across a normal size room unless you're listening for it. Truthfully, there isn't much audible difference between Medium and High, so I leave it on High.
Finally, it's simple to set up and use. There are electronic controls for each function, each clearly labeled. You set a humidity level of Dry to Moist with an intermediate level in between, again with a light which indicates the setting. There's also a setting to run continuously. I have no idea how accurate the humidistat is, or what is meant by Dry or Moist. We set ours on Dry, and after the first day there was a noticeable difference. The carpet is dry as a bone, the musty odor went away, and the room (a family room about 16' X 24') is comfortably dry.
The manual says the unit can pull 40 pints of water a day from the air. I have no way to tell if this is true. The reservoir tank fills in our house about every eight to twelve hours on High and Dry settings. This obviously varies somewhat with the humidity outside, and how well your air conditioning works, etc.
There is a simple float device which triggers a switch to shut off the unit just before the tank reaches capacity, which is about 12 pints, or about 1.5 gallons. A light indicates the reservoir is full (there is a water level indicator on the front, but I can't see it when the unit is sitting on the floor), and the unit shuts off.
You grab the sides of the reservoir with your fingertips where the tank fits into the bottom of the unit and pull straight out, and there is a nice handle on top of the tank to carry the container to empty it out. It's a little heavier than a full gallon milk jug, and I easily carry it with one hand. My wife is quite small and she has no trouble carrying or emptying the tank. When you slide the empty tank back into the unit it sort of clicks into place, and the unit automatically starts running again. Very simple. There's a hole in which to install a hose (not provided) for the unit to drain continuously, but we don't use it, finding the tank more manageable and less messy.
Two things to keep in mind: One, the unit puts out heat because of its operation. Keep it in a vented place, and make sure the louvered vent on the top of the unit is open. The wider the opening the greater the discharge of heat. The heat output in our house, with the louver at its widest point, is about the same as running the air conditioner on fan in your car in summer, without the ac compressor running. In other words there is noticeably warm air venting out of the unit while it's running. It's not warm enough to be any danger to children or pets, but it might increase the temperature slightly in a very small room, and certainly in an enclosed space such as a closet.
And two, there is an air intake on the back of the unit with a simple air filter. The filter has to be removed and vacuumed periodically, or else no air can get through. Air is necessary for the unit to do its job properly, so you have to keep the filter clean. We do this about once a month, but we have a whole house filter on our furnace and air conditioner. The manual is quite clear and easily followed regarding set up, operation and maintenance.
This is the best dehumidifier we have ever used. I just bought a second one to use in our bedroom. I have no idea how long they last, but we're into our second season with no problems. I have seen reviews where the units reportedly did not work, or eventually malfunctioned, but we've never had a single problem. There is a one year warranty. |
Works great
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| Review Date: August 19, 2006 |
| Reviewer: M. Richardson, Wakefield, MA United States |
This is our first and only dehumidifier, and is kept in our very damp basement. At the time we got the dehumidifier, our unfinished cement basement had wet spots which had formed during the very large rainstorms we had in MA earlier this year. The wet spots were not drying up on their own after months of waiting. We had never had this problem before and were not sure what we should do.
It has been very effective in reducing the humidity in our ~700 sq ft. basement from 90+% to a very comfortable 60% (although it took about a week to break 80% due to our wet floors, I assume). It is extremely quiet. I cannot hear it when I stand at the top of the basement stairs; I have to walk downstairs to see if the red light is on or not. We have to empty it twice a day.
My biggest concern before buying this product was exactly how awkward or difficult it was to empty the container - people really seemed put off by it in some reviews. But I have had no trouble at all emptying it. You have to lift the container up just a little to get it onto the tracks, but then it slides right out without any trouble.
Someone else mentioned this as well: it does significantly raise the temperature of the room. Our basement is now 5 degrees warmer than it was before (was usually 65 deg, now is 70 deg). We run it in continuous mode.
My only negative comment about this product is its short electric cord (~6 ft). |
My basement feels drier already!
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| Review Date: August 11, 2007 |
| Reviewer: J. Royce, Nashua, NH United States |
PURCHASE DECISION
I bought this unit after I discovered some signs of mold growing on a wooden door slab in my basement. The numerous reviews on this website really helped in my decision as it is highly rated from many reviewers.
INSTALLATION
Installation was a breeze. I took it out of the box and had it running in about 2 minutes.
PERFORMANCE
In the first 20 hours, I estimate that it has removed about 8 liters of water from the air in my basement. It alreadys feels noticeably drier down there and I can finally close the door again without slamming it shut.
DURABILITY
Unsure.
ENVIRONMENT
The unit is not overpackaged. There is a single plastic bag covering the unit and four small styrofoam corner supports. Amazon ships this dehumidifier in its factory box, so there is only one cardboard box to recycle.
I was a little disappointed that the unit is not Energy Star rated. In fact, there is no mention at all of it on the Energy Star product list. However, after some further research I think this unit would qualify for Energy Star status. Per this link: http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=dehumid.pr_proc_dehumidifiers, you can see that a 40 pint dehumidifier should have an energy factor of at least 1.5 L/kWh. The Soleus consumes 330W of energy and removes 40 pints per day. 40 pints = 18.9 liters per day or 0.79 liters per hour. So the energy factor is 0.79 L/0.33kWh = 2.39 L/kWh--much higher than the Energy Star rating of 1.5 L/kWh. |
works like a charm
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| Review Date: February 26, 2006 |
| Reviewer: janie, |
| We're using this in a 840 sq ft house to keep mildrew at bay during the rainy season. It works great. 40 pints refers to the amount of moisture it pulls out of the air, not the size of the reservoir. The fan does create a bit of air flow which can cause some "wind chill", but air circulation is overall a good thing. When enclosed in the bathroom overnight, it also does a great job of drying hand laundry! I'm very pleased to have purchased this product. |
Quiet, No Leaks, Looks Great
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| Review Date: August 30, 2005 |
| Reviewer: William M. Boyd, Washington, DC United States |
The 40 pint reservoir is fantastic - I only need to empty the container once daily. Removing and reinserting the reservoir is simple. No leaks.
Even if I put the unit on "High" the noise is less than with most small fans. On "Quiet" I can barely hear the unit from 5 feet away.
The unit also looks great. Simple controls. It's about the size of an old electric typewriter case turned upright. |
Sucks all moisture out of the air to make living space nice and dry!
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| Review Date: February 23, 2006 |
| Reviewer: chinagirlie, San Francisco, California United States |
| My apartment had a moisture problem; whenever it rained, my apartment seemed damp, and whenever anybody showered, the towels stayed wet for days. Soon, our closets were damp and we had to throw out many precious belongings that we couldn't salvage. I bought this dehumidifier in January, and our apartment has been blissfully dry since. We leave it running on all the time for maximum dryness, and we dump buckets of water each day. It works very well, and sucks all moisture out of the air, making our apartment much warmer and livable. It is also very quiet, not loud like an air conditioner like I thought it would be. I hardly notice the hmm that it makes while it's on. I highly recommend this dehumidifier! |
Very quiet
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| Review Date: September 15, 2006 |
| Reviewer: Louise Hibbert, Gloucester, VA |
I first bought a whirlpool dehumifier because our rented apartment was so damp that we had to put our towels in the dryer after every use. It was so loud with lots of vibration noises that we took it back. After lots of research we bought the Soleus and it's been great - it's very quiet even on a hard floor, it had no trouble drying our 400sq ft apartment and being able to direct the dry air flow means you can point it into damp cupboards /at damp walls /clothing etc.
The only downsides are that it does not turn back on after you lose power (we have lots of power cuts) and I would prefer a clear bucket to see when it needs emptying (the small clear strip it has is very difficult to see through). |
Excellent Dehumidifier: Quiet, Efficient, Compact
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| Review Date: November 12, 2006 |
| Reviewer: Compulsive DIYer, Plymouth Meeting, PA United States |
I think I have purchased nine dehumidifiers over the past ten years since I have them in three locations and they just don't seem to last. I started with the Whirlpool units and was very disappointed with their quaility. They were loud, had a horrible bucket design and a crude connection for hose drainage. When they broke after a few years, I replaced them with Maytag dehumidifiers. The Maytags were better designed but the fan was very loud and they too broke within two or three years. I replaced two of them with an LG and a Frigidaire which are nothing special.
The other I replaced with a Soleus CFM-40. I know it's hard to get excited about a dehumidifier but this one is about perfect. It is extremely quiet (even on the highest fan setting, you have to stand next to it to hear it run). It is about half the size of the other dehumidifiers I've owned and uses about half the energy as well. It is well designed and appears very well made with good quality plastics.
This unit is in my 1,500 sq/ft basement and it has no problem keeping the humidity level at around 50%. Time will tell if it can last longer than the others but based on other reviews I am optimistic. |
Quiet and portable
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| Review Date: July 30, 2006 |
| Reviewer: Jonathan Miller, Chicago, IL USA |
| The unit is very quiet and portable. You have to cut out a tab to access the external drain and also cut a garden hose to use as piping. Also, as mentioned in other reviews, the unit does not automatically restart after the power goes off and the fan is always going, regardless if it is actually dehumidifying. |
Works very well, but beware if you're buying for this reason....
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| Review Date: February 1, 2006 |
| Reviewer: Jessica Parets, |
This is the first dehumidifier we've owned, so I'm relying on the opinion of the other reviewers on how much quieter it is than other models. We've had ours for a few weeks now, and it is quiet - no louder than our computer. It removes the water very well, with no leaking.
The only problem for us is this, and it would probably be true with any dehumidifier, but just beware: We bought this because humidity aggravates my son's eczema (skin rash). We had been lowering the air conditioner at night to knock the water out of the air, and so I thought we would be able to raise the air temperature while still achieving the same level of comfort with the dehumidfier (any maybe save on the electricity bill). But I didn't realize how warm the air coming out of the dehumidifer would be (when the compressor is running). It raises the temperature upstairs (where we use it) by 2-3 degrees, so I have to lower the air conditioner down again to compensate!
Oh, well. Hopefully the low energy consumption of the dehumidfier will at least make it a nearly-break-even endeavor, as far as the utility bill goes! |
amazingly quiet!
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| Review Date: June 3, 2007 |
| Reviewer: hedley's mother, Boston, MA |
| I admit to being a skeptic when I read the reviews that said how quiet the unit was as I have suffered through many an hour of listening to my other dehumidifiers loud noises. This unit is truly quiet, and also efficient. My basement air is DRY now. The only hassle is that it does not come with a hose for continuous drainage and the size needed seems a bit difficult - 15 mm inside diameter. Right now I am emptying the unit but will try to find a hose to fit soon. I highly recommend this unit if you want a quiet, efficient dehumidifer. |
Great For NYC Apartments!
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| Review Date: June 25, 2006 |
| Reviewer: D. Pitt, New York, NY |
| I decided, just before the summer heat started, to buy only one air conditioner for my bedroom and a dehumidifier for the living room to provide some comfort. Believe it or not it works great! At least this brand does. My living room has 10' ceilings and is approximately 400 square feet (including a kitchen.) The room is still warm especially when the temperature reaches 80, but there is no discomfort. The only down side is the warm air released by unit. The living room cools off as long as I have my Vornado fan (best fan in the world) blowing cool air from the bedroom to living room. |
Works like a charm!
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| Review Date: August 16, 2006 |
| Reviewer: daaznjil, NJ United States |
| This machine delivers everything it promises. It operates quiet does not produce too much heat and is very effective in dehumidifying. Using it in hour basement we have to empty the collection bin once a day now that it is in continuous operating mode. Emptying is easy. Recommend this product |
Does it's work quietly.
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| Review Date: August 18, 2006 |
| Reviewer: Paul Robinson, Kansas City USA |
| We just use it in our basement, but you could use it in a bedroom if you wanted to - very quiet. It's also easy to put a hose on and have it drain automatically - no emptying the bucket. Highly recommended. |
This is the one to buy
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| Review Date: February 19, 2007 |
| Reviewer: Richard Stoyeck, Westport, CT |
If you need a dehumidifier in you home, than there is no question in my mind, this is the one to own, and used every day. First of all, it's beautiful, and that means something. There are no sharp corners, all the edges have been rounded. What this tells you is that the functional design inside was also thought about on the outside.
It required a minimum amount of time to put together, and this could easily be done by someone who is not handy. Although the price is not cheap, it is comprable to what is out there on the market. When I took the time to examine what the mass retailers had for sale, I was extremely please that this product by Soleus was my final choice.
It clearly does the job, and basically is almost soundless. What little sound it does emit, is not bothersome. This means I am willing to tell you that you can put it in any room in your house, and even your bedroom where you sleep. It will not disturb you.
I have owned it for several months now, and continue to be pleased with its performance. It is on all the time. The best thing you can ask about any product is whether or not the consumer would be willing to buy it again. The answer is yes I would, because I purchased a second one a few months after owning the first one. Both are performing admirably. Only time will tell as to the long-term reliability of both machines.
I would add that they are also beautiful to look at. The construction quality is excellent. The buttons are easy to used, and understand. Soleus has built a knock me out product, and I couldn't be more pleased with owning it. Try it, before you buy any other brand, try this one. Good luck.
Richard Stoyeck |
Excellent design and whisper quiet !!!!!!!
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| Review Date: May 21, 2007 |
| Reviewer: Joe B., Oakdale, NY United States |
Soleus Air CFM-40 E 40-Pint Dehumidifier with Humidistat
WOW! I can't tell you how difficult it was for me to for me to find a quiet dehumidifier. This unit has it all. It's whisper quiet, it sucks water out of the air like a sponge, it's small, it's very nice looking and uses only 330 Watts. Tell me, what more could you ask??
I put this unit in my living room and it covers a total of 4 rooms/700SqFt perfectly.
Within a period of about 6 weeks, before I bought this unit, I tried a Frigidaire Frigidaire FDL601P 60-Pint Portable Dehumidifier and a DeLonghi DE500P Dehumidifier - 50 Pint with Condensate Pump. They were both much larger, very loud and drew twice the power of the Soleus unit.
As an engineer, I really appreciate a well designed and manufactured product. Clearly, this is one worthy of such praise. Almost all other dehumidifiers follow the same model, big, boxy, loud, and for the most part, primitive in design. The Soleus is different. Their folks sat down with a clean sheet of paper a designed a terrific product. I've had mine for 3 weeks and wouldn't want to do without it.
I tried hard to buy this locally, on Long Island, NY, but no chance. I bought mine online from a retailer in Oregon...they were great.
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US $200.00
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