Dehumidifier With Pump Or Without Pump – What to Choose & When

Last Updated: February 27, 2024

Dehumidifiers optimize and maintain humidity levels within enclosed spaces by removing the excess moisture, thereby keeping the indoors free of sticky air, muggy conditions, and unhealthy mold growth. Dehumidifiers come in all shapes and sizes, and you should buy one keeping in mind the area that requires dehumidification as well as the humidity level. For example, the dehumidification requirement for a bedroom with around 60-65% humidity level would be different from a basement or crawl space prone to flooding.

Dehumidifiers are rated on the maximum amount of humidity they can absorb in 24 hours. For example, a 50-pint dehumidifier can remove 50 pints of moisture in 24 hours; however, the container’s storage capacity might not be equivalent to moisture removal capacity. So, a 50-point dehumidifier may not hold that much amount of water. The dehumidifier might only have a 25-pint storage tank, so you will need to drain the reservoir container to achieve the unit’s maximum capacity.

Ways to Remove the Collected Moisture from Dehumidifier

There are multiple options to drain the water from the dehumidifier: Manual draining, Gravity drainage, internal condensate pump, external condensate pump,

Manual drain –

Standard dehumidifier comes with this option, where the moisture is collected in a storage tank. Once it is full, the user must remove the bucket and empty it in a sink or outside.  Manual draining is accessible but may not be the most convenient, as you to every time get up and remove the bucket. Especially if the storage capacity is low or the dehumidifier is kept in faraway places such as the attic or basement. For example, if you have a 50-pint dehumidifier with a 10-pint water tank. Over 24 hours, you’ll need to empty the dehumidifier’s water tank five times. Every time the dehumidifier reaches, you need to run downstairs and drain and replace the water tank.  The dehumidifier won’t re-start until the container is put back in its place. 

Most dehumidifiers are equipped with an automatic shut-off feature that will turn off operation and alert the user when the container is full.

Automatic Gravity Draining –

If you don’t want to drain your dehumidifier bucket manually, you can use gravity to help drain the water. Gravity drainage involves connecting a drain hose to a drain outlet on the dehumidifier’s back or side, to allow water to flow down in a drain, tub, or outside. If the device comes without a drain hose, a standard garden hose generally fits most dehumidifiers. Since this type of draining works only using gravity, the collected condensate has to flow primarily downward. Hence the drain’s location needs to be lower than the dehumidifier’s drain outlet. Even if the dehumidifier is placed on the ground, it should still be placed higher than the floor drain. You also need to be careful about the distance between the drain outlet and the drain. If the drain hose is stretched on the ground for a long distance, it might impact the drainage removal efficiency.

Raising the dehumidifier –

You can also improve gravity draining by raising the dehumidifier above the ground by putting it onto another flat surface, such as a table, shelf, or even a chair.  Since most dehumidifiers come with castor wheels, ensure that they are placed securely and not easily roll off a table or any other raised surface moving. Also, the surface where you put the dehumidifier needs to be large, flat, and able to withstand a full tank dehumidifier’s weight. Please test if the dehumidifier is working efficiently using this method before leaving it for a long time.

Pump drainage –

Unlike gravity drainage, pump drainage allows you to empty the collected water to a distant location without physically raising the dehumidifier. A dehumidifier located on the ground level can be emptied continuously into a sink or a floor drain far away from it by employing this type of drainage. This is the most hassle-free way to drain your dehumidifier automatically.

To employ pump drainage, you can either buy a dehumidifier with a built-in pump or, if you already own a dehumidifier that doesn’t include an internal pump, you can add an affordable external condensate pump and hose.

For dehumidifiers with a built-in pump, you can easily connect the pump drain hose (included with built-in pump dehumidifiers) to the designated drain outlet on the dehumidifier. When the container is full, it activates the pump and pushes water up and out of the unit.  This water can be directed to a drain, out of a window, or any other location. Most pumps are capable of pushing water up to 15 to 17 feet vertically or horizontally.

Dehumidifiers with pumps will limit how far away from the dehumidifier the pump can push the water. This limit usually is further enforced by the length of the included pump drain hose. An external condensate pump adds more flexibility regarding how far away the water can be drained from the dehumidifier. Since the horizontal movement has minimal impact on the pump’s head pressure, the water can be potentially drained as much as 30 feet away from the dehumidifier.

Dehumidifier with a condensate pump adds convenience as it automatically pumps the moisture continuously. While the internal-condensate dehumidifier is slightly expensive, these devices come in handy while removing high amount of water and if no one is around to drain the dehumidifier.

Dehumidifier with Pump

XPOWER XD-125 Commercial Dehumidifier

The powerful XD-125 is designed for durability, efficiency, and quick moisture removal. The commercial dehumidifier can remove 125 pints or 15 gallons of water per day in a saturate environment and 76 pints or 9.5 gallons as per AHAM standards. The dehumidifier is useful in construction sites, grooming salons, water damage restoration sites, hotels, disaster relief, and flood areas.

The XPOWER XD-125 is equipped with a high-efficiency rotary compressor that can deliver maximum airflow of 235 CFM with low 7.3 Amps power draw and can operate efficiently in the range of 33° F to 100°F. The compact dehumidifier features two shock-absorbing semi-pneumatic wheels that provide easy portability. The device comes in a rugged casing that protects the rough wear and tears and ensures low maintenance operations for a long time.

The XPOWER XD-125 features an advanced recessed digital control panel that is easy to program and operate. Once you set the desired humidity level, the device will automatically purge water when full via the drainage hose, eliminating the requirement of manually monitoring tank levels and emptying them. The XPOWER XD-125 also comes with a manual water purge override option. Its 20′ drainage hose provides appropriate displacement with up to 15 ft. high vertical discharge capability.

The commercial dehumidifier employs standard refrigerant (R410A) and features onboard lights illuminating while the machine performs tasks such as purging water and defrosting.  The XPOWER XD-125 is equipped with an optional ASK125 Ducting Adapter Kit, which can be connected to Air Scrubbers via the 8DH15 Ducting Hose to form the full range Air Purification & Drying System. The commercial dehumidifier is ETL/CETL Safety Certified and comes with a one-year warranty.

Pros

• Durable Construction
• Portable
• Versatile
• Does not generate a high amount of noise

Cons

• Only one-year warranty

Why Buy – Easy to operate and ruggedly built, the XPOWER XD-125 commercial dehumidifier is an excellent choice for water extraction as well as roles where a high level of air drying is required.

Dehumidifier Without Pump

Vacplus 50 Pints Dehumidifier with Wi-Fi

The Vacplus dehumidifier can remove up to 50 pints of moisture per day (under 90% RH @ 86°F condition). The Company claims that it improves dehumidifying efficiency by 25% and is best suited for medium and large spaces such as living room, bedroom, bathroom, RV, basement, kitchen, closet.

The Vacplus dehumidifier is WIFI enabled and can be controlled via the Tuyasmart app. The device comes with four operations modes(standard/raining/drying/sleep).  It also features intelligent constant humidity to monitor humidity levels and adjust itself to maintain the pre-selected level. The top-mounted control panel with LED display uses three colors to remind you of the present humidity. The device generates a shallow 35.9 dB average sound while working.

The Vacplus bathroom dehumidifier comes with a 24-hr timer that enables you to operate the device for a specific time, making it energy efficient. Additionally, it will automatically shut off when the 3.1-liter container gets full. The dehumidifier can be connected to a drain hose for continuous removal. The Company promises a two years replacement or a full refund.

The Vacplus dehumidifier with high-quality and durable casters and comfortable tuck-away handle makes it more secure and easy to move around.

Pros

• High-quality dehumidifier with a sleek and modern design
• Wide operating temperature range
• Two-year manufacturer’s warranty
• Lightweight and easy to set up and use
• High energy efficiency and low running cost

Cons

• Relatively low dehumidification capacity
• Not suitable for large basements
• Tiny bucket size (0.8 gallons)

Why Buy: With smart features and powerful performance, the Vacplus 50-pint dehumidifier is a must-have option for your house.

Frequently asked Questions

What to do with Collected Moisture?

If you don’t want to discard the collected moisture in a sink or down a drain, you can use it for many external activities such as watering plants, washing cars. However, you should not use this water for drinking purposes.

What About Leaks or Pump Issues?

If the dehumidifier has a built-in pump, the dehumidifier will be alerted and cut off operation immediately in case of a malfunction. Additionally, many manufacturers create brand-specific pumps that you can wire into your dehumidifier and behaves like an internal condensate pump.

However, if you use a standard external pump, the unit might not be aware of an issue with the pump. If you’re using your dehumidifier in a crawl space, rental property, or you don’t often visit, ensure that the pump is properly working before leaving it for long periods. You can also employ a water leak detector that will alert when a leak occurs.