Customer Reviews

Frigidaire FAD504DUD 50-Pint Dehumidifier

5 star:		(49)
4 star:		(26)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(10)

 

 

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I received this unit free of charge because my old unit failed AND because I registered that purchase online at the Frigidaire website.

I originally purchased the Frigidaire 50-pint humidifier (Model FDF50S1) in June of 2009 [i.e. the 2009 version of this product] through Amazon.com. The unit worked perfectly for two years then stopped dehumidifying. The unit would power on, one could change the fan speed, but the unit would not dehumidify even though the unit was set to Continuous (CO) and a hyrgrometer showed the basement room to be at 49% humidity.

After contacting a local Frigidaire authorized repairer, I learned these units are considered "throwaway" meaning there are no serviceable parts (except the filter). The units are less expensive to replace than repair, so the manufacturer does not sell any replacement parts (except the filter). My 2009 system had a one year full warranty (long past) and a Years 2-5 "Sealed System" warranty (the sealed refrigeration system).

I called Frigidaire (eventually directed to Electrolux Home Appliances, the actual manufacturers of Frigidaire dehumidifiers), and was expecting to have to pay some cost to get my unit replaced. The rep told me that since the dehumidifier system failed (within the five year warranty) the unit would be replaced with a new 50-pint unit FREE OF CHARGE. Frigidaire arranged for me to pick up a new unit (this unit) at Lowe's at no cost to me.

Since my unit was REGISTERED ONLINE AT FRIGIDAIRE.COM at the time of purchase, I did not have to submit any receipts nor send the old unit back.

Therefore, I have two summary points:

1. These dehumidifiers only last a few years

2. Make sure you register your Frigidaire dehumidifier purchase on-line after you buy. It will make the replacement process alot easier.

I use this in my finished basement, and it does an excellent job of keeping it dry. I used it when it was 98 and humid and it did its job. I had to empty it out about two times a day. When the temperature dropped to the 70s and humidity dropped, I emptied it out about once a day. I can be away from my house a couple days at a time, so I hooked up a hose. Initially, it did not drain out of the hose, but instead continued to drain into the bucket. I took off the rear two wheels so it tips back a bit, now it drains through the hose.

If you are considering purchasing this, I would look elsewhere to a product that was designed correctly instead of needing to make an adjustment. If you already purchased this, want to use continuous draining, but do not want to return it, either put some cardboard at the front of the dehumdifier, or take off the rear wheels so it will drain from the hose instead of into the bucket. Hopefully there are no other design errors with this product, since it keeps my basement dry.

Dried out my 1100sqft basement in about 36 hours.

The float takes about 3 sec to install BTW.

FIRST REVIEW (2 stars):

1) The dehumidifier function seems to be quite effective. Our basement was really dank. After a few days, the difference is quite improved.

2) The machine does NOT drain into a hose. I tried all of the suggestions seen in other reviews without success. I was really hoping that I could drain directly into the sump pit, but that is not to be. The water does collect in the tank, so a trip to the basement is required every two days. Not the end of the world, but not as advertised either.

UPDATE - Frigidaire is sending me a modification to the dehumidifier. Per their email of today, "We are pleased to announce we now feature a kit that once installed should totally eliminate the drainage issue. We are mailing the kit along with installation instructions direct to your residence. Please allow 7-10 business days."

So, if you are having the drainage problem, you need to contact Frigidaire via their web site and request the kit.

I will let you know if it works...

UPDATE # 2 - Frigidaire got the parts to me in 3 days. There is a plug for the drain which leads into the tank, diverting the water. The other part is an adaptation for the threaded drain on the back. Installation of both required less than one minute.

Viola! Water is now coming out of the hose!

Although one must wonder why they don't include the modification kit with the original product package, I'm quite impressed with Frigidaire service.

I had a 30 pint dehumidifier in a damp (not wet) basement that couldn't get humidity below 70%. The Frigidaire 50 pint worked great and got down to 45% - 50% overnight. I keep it set at 50% and the humidity hasn't gone above 50% since. It is hard to tell when it is running, but doesn't seem to run all the time.I wasn't sure if I should go with the 50 or 70 pint, but the 50 pint I bought works great. I have a 900 square foot basement that does get very humid and damp without a dehumidifier. The floor & walls actually look wet. It also worked well with temperature about 55 deg. It may work well below that, but I haven't had the temperature in the basement below 55deg. I use the constant drain but it still filled the bucket so I tilted it back a little and haven't had to empty the bucket since. I would also say it runs a lot quieter than the 30 pint I bought last year (not a Frigidaire). I have had it a couple of months now and I am very satisfied. I would have rated 5 stars if the bucket didn't fill until I tilted it back a little.

If you want continuous draining this product will NOT WORK and Frigidaire will only tell you to take it back. They offer NO technical support- just "take it back." To be more emphatic- if you are looking to drain through a hose run away from this machine now!!!!

The unit worked great, except for the hose drain. It just didn't work. I finally had to block the two holes above the bucket, in order for the drain to work. A poorly designed product. On the advice of the Frigidaire help line,I returned it to one of the large chain stores in the area that carried these units, three times, none of them worked, as advertised, using the hose drain. I was able to get a store credit and went to a small local store and bought a GE.

This unit was only purchased to enable us to receive the 70% refund credit due after a previous, like unit failed after two seasons.

Due to the updated design of the drain hose port, not enough water pressure present to force the water through a curled 25' length of hose into the basement sump pit. Had to cut the hose and re-direct it into a floor drain instead. After much reading of reviews on various manufacturers units, I've concluded that NO ONE makes one that will actually last more than a few years at best. The guy at the Electrolux official service shop where I went told me that they really aren't serviceable. He was surprised that mine had a limited 5 year warranty and said that Fridgidair (Electrolux) had since shortened it dramatically. Check this yourself, because you'll surely need it if you purchase this appliance. Electrolux made us send in the nomenclature tag from the new unit, as well as purchase proof, and said that by using the warranty for the old one would void warranty on the new one. The service shop had disposed of the old one without giving us the required nomenclature label, so we were told we had the peel off the NEW one. You'll find many negative reviews about their warranty service on Amazon and other sites.

In short, I'd say it seems to work Ok, but don't expect more than 2 years out of it. Don't even think about ever getting it repaired.

So I thought I could get through one more year with my old dehumidifier, but I was wrong and it died a couple days ago. I thought about buying this same model last year before the spring and summer brought in the dampness. I've only had this thing on for about 8 hours but I can already say that it is incredible. Let me start with how quiet it is. Obviously, some of those who have said that it is a bit noisy haven't had the privilege of using a 14 year old dehumidifier. This unit is so quiet (in high fan mode) that I hardly notice that it is on, and it is in a living space where we are at during the day for a significant amount of time. My old unit was so loud compared to this that it isn't even a comparison. Even in high mode, it is quiet enough to watch tv only 15 feet away from the unit. If you have an older dehumidifier and are thinking that this won't be much quieter, think again!

It has been working great in continous mode for about 8 hours now and the bucket is almost half full. I have a humidity gauge in the basement and it has gone from 64% to 47% over those 8 hours.

I can't speak about longevity but if it keeps working for several years then it will have been a great purchase.

I purchased the unit for a wet basement and am pleased with it's performance. It is quite, lighweight,easy to maneuver, and can fill the water bucket every day.I like that I can set the desired humidity setting and it will show both the actual humidity percentage in the romm/area and the percentage I selected. One problem was when I connected a drain hose so I would not have to dump the water bucket everyday) the water did not drain out of the hose. It filled the bucket instead, resulting in having to drain the water manually everyday. It is a design problem and fortunately Frigidaire had a fix. I called customer service and they quickly sent out a "drain kit" which was easy to install. It did fix the problem and other than that, I am extremmly pleased with the unit.