21 out of 21 people found this review helpful.
Like A Good Red Wine...Nice & Dry
Date of Review: Jul 1, 2007
The Bottom Line: There is a huge choice of units from many manufacturers but look no further than this brand for high efficiency, quietness, good looks and reasonable price.
I had been using a Kenmore dehumidifier in my basement for about 5 years until it finally gave up the ghost. It was still running, but the compressor was not pulling any water out of the air. After shopping around for a replacement, I finally settled on the Soleus CFM-40. I am so glad I made this choice.
I never realized how inefficient and noisy the Kenmore was until I plugged in my new Soleus. It removed more moisture in one day than my old unit did in a week. When the Kenmore was running you could hear it on the first floor, grinding away. With the Soleus I could hardly hear it from 2 feet away in the basement and that is when it is on high power. I also noticed that besides keeping my basement dry it also smells better. The air that is emitted back seems to be cleaner as it exhausts.
The Soleus has a lot of nice features such as a powerful dehumidifying capability, adjustable thermostat, magnetic float, a large drainage tank and 3 power settings. It also has a constant run setting. The power levels are medium, high and quiet. The quiet setting is great if you were using the unit in a bedroom. It is so quiet that you have to put your ear next to the unit to hear it. The humidity level settings are dry, med. & moist which correspond to 50%, 60% & 70% humidity. There is also an indicator light to tell you that the tank is full.
This unit can also be adapted to use as a continuous water drainage unit by cutting away the cap in the tank and attaching a hose. This is convenient if you have a basement drain or sump pump hole. The unit's design is very handsome and lightweight compared to most dehumidifiers. There is an attached carry handle on the top and 2 casters on the bottom for moving. There is also a cord storage clip on the back.
The only regular maintenance required is the periodic cleaning of the air filter. This can be done by vacuuming or washing under water. The unit itself can be cleaned with a damp cloth. There is a 1-year limited warranty from the manufacturer and a toll-free number to call for information or assistance. The user's manual is pretty basic and includes some troubleshooting tips.
After using this dehumidifier for about 2 weeks, I can confidently state that it is the best of many units I have used over the years. It is super efficient, quiet, unobtrusive and good looking. It is solidly made and I expect to get many years of satisfactory use from this machine. I purchased mine at Amazon.com for $199. with free shipping and it arrived in 3 days.
The only minor fault in the design is the rather awkward way you have to carry the water tank to dispose of the water. The carry handle is built into the tank but you needs 2 hands to steady it or the water will spill out. The tank could have been designed with heavier construction and a stronger handle to make disposal less cumbersome. Perhaps the next model will feature this.
