Soleus DehumidifiersSoleus shipped us several models from
their DP1 line of dehumidifiers to test. For our purposes, I chose
to test the 30 pint model. At first
glance, it could easily be mistaken for an air purifier. It is
smaller than other dehumidifiers we have tested and seems more
compact. The housing is all plastic, and there is a digital
control panel on the top of the unit. All the other models in
the DP1 line are exactly the same, just larger capacities and
additional weight. These dehumidifiers pull air in from the
front and exhaust through the top of the unit, so there is an upward air draft
created while they are operating.
What I liked about the Soleus Dehumidifiers
There are a few things that stand out on the Soleus Dehumidifier.
I like that it has a filter change indicator that can be reset.
I wish timed filter change reminders were in everything that
required a filter cleaning or filter change. I like that the
unit has a visible water level indicator on the front of it. I
like that it can be programmed to run for 2 or 4 hours or set to
continuous mode to run all the time. When powered up the
machine generates a good deal of white noise. With this
particular unit I can also hear a little motor noise, perhaps that
is the condenser removing water from the air. Lastly, I liked
that the Soleus dehumidifier has three fan speeds. Other
models we have tested only have 2 fan speeds
Casters Often referred to as wheels, the box
says this model weighs 33 pounds, and it certainly feels like it! Add
in a full water reservoir, and it gets even heavier. Not that
anyone would be carrying it around with a full reservoir, but it is
nice that the DP1 line has casters. All four casters
independently rotate so on smooth surfaces it is easy to move your dehumidifier nearly anywhere with little effort
Handle I like the design of the handle. It is located on
top of the dehumidifier and pulls out from the plastic housing.
When not in use it can be pushed back flush with the top.
Filter The air filter is relatively easy to access, you must
remove the bucket first though to access it. Maintenance is simple,
and the manual says to clean with warm soapy water and dry
thoroughly before placing the filter back in the machine. I
also like that this series has a filter clean indicator which lets
you know when you need to clean or replace the filter.
Digital Humidistat I like the digital, easy-to-read, built-in humidistat. After you select the desired
level of humidity on the controller, it reverts back and reads out the
actual humidity. We tested the dehumidifiers built in
hygrometer accuracy, and it was within +/- 2 percentage points of
our properly calibrated humidistat.
Controls The controls are very self
explanatory and easy to navigate.
What I did not like about the Soleus Dehumidifiers
Capacity If you are unable to port this line
of dehumidifiers, you will be creating a lot of work for
yourself. They have small collection reservoirs, and the one we
tested filled up within 3 hours. We highly recommend porting
this dehumidifier and setting it to run on continuous mode.
Noise This line of dehumidifiers has two fan
settings, and both create a fair amount of white noise. I like
the white noise created by air purifiers, but this white noise seems
louder. The noise created while running on high is considerable for the average person to endure while trying to sleep.
Warranty Soleus dehumidifiers only carry a 1
year manufacturers limited warranty.
Not Basement Rated This dehumidifier will
freeze up and not operate efficiently at temperatures below 41
degrees Fahrenheit.
It should also be noted that the humidistat on this dehumidifier
can only be changed in 5% increments, i.e., 30%, 35%, 40%, etc.
In summary, the Soleus dehumidifier I tested performed
well. The packaging was attractive, the power cord is
very adequate and the instruction manual suffices.
Maybe because of the particular tone, but it seemed a little
noisier to me than other models we have tested that are a similar
size. If you are within the square footage tolerances,
this is an economical dehumidifier that will get the job
done.
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Soleus Air introduces its new line of Energy Star rated portable
dehumidifiers. Light weight and heavy duty casters allow their ultra
portable dehumidifiers to be moved and placed almost anywhere.
Keeping with their tradition of making energy efficient products,
they created this new line of dehumidifiers to adhere to all energy
star dehumidifier standards. In addition to portability and energy
efficiency they've added the low temperature operation to their
feature packed dehumidifier line. Low temperature operation allows
the units to operate in a basement all your round without freezing
up and shutting off.
works great
