Kenmore 70 Pint Dehumidifier Review

The Kenmore 70 Pint Dehumidifier is the largest home dehumidifier in the Sears Kenmore Dehumidifier range.

It is an Energy Star® certified dehumidifier and complements the two smaller models, the 50 Pint and 35 Pint Kenmore Dehumidifiers.

Dehumidifier reviews of the Kenmore 70 Pint Dehumidifier suggest that this may not be the best dehumidifier to choose for your basement and there are other models which we would recommend before this unit.

The 70 pints per day capacity of this dehumidifier makes it suitable for larger areas of the home and it will be effective in a basement where the temperature remains reasonably warm at most times.

In most respects the this model is comparable with other large capacity room dehumidifiers. A decision to purchase this model will depend mainly on the reports of others who have used this Sears Dehumidifier.

Features

The Kenmore 70 Pint Dehumidifier can extract 70 pints of moisture every 24 hours from air at a temperature of 80°F and relative humidity of 60%. The majority of dehumidifier suppliers to the North American market subscribe to test conditions prescribed by AHAM (The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers).

Sears Dehumidifiers, marketed as Kenmore Dehumidifiers, are tested under these conditions, which benefit consumers by providing a common standard for comparing dehumidifiers.

Many of you will be aware that the amount of moisture a dehumidifier can remove varies with changes in temperatures and relative humidity. The cooler the air and the less moisture it contains the less water will be collected in the bucket during a given period. A 70 pint dehumidifier will not always collect 70 pints per day but it will always collect twice as much as a 35 pint dehumidifier in the same heat and humidity conditions.

The Kenmore 70 Pint Dehumidifier is, therefore, a powerful home dehumidifier and will control humidity in a large area. Users report that it is very effective in removing moisture from the air.

The water removed from the air is deposited in a water collection container, a bucket. The bucket has to be emptied at least once, often twice and sometimes more often during a 24 hour period. The size of the bucket is limited by the need to keep the overall size of the dehumidifier within reasonable limits. When the bucket is full the dehumidifier will automatically shut down until it is emptied. This is a safety feature but does mean that if the bucket is not emptied as required the dehumidifier will not be operating at all times.

If emptying the bucket is a chore, or a task likely to be overlooked, the Kenmore 70 Pint Dehumidifier can be set up for continuous drainage. A small bore plastic hose (not supplied) may be attached to a port in the dehumidifier and run to an adjacent drain. In common with most room dehumidifiers this unit does not have a pump and the drainage is by gravity alone. It will ease the flow if it is possible to locate the dehumidifier on a raised surface. The use of continuous drainage may be helpful as customers report that the bucket is difficult to remove and replace.

The Kenmore 70 Pint Dehumidifier has an adjustable humidistat to control the level of relative humidity as preferred. We recommend a level of 50%, or a little lower, to provide full protection against condensation, mold growth and to deter dust mites. The control panel shows the level of relative humidity programmed into the humidistat but does not show the level in the room. To monitor the ambient relative humidity a separate hygrometer will be needed.

The Kenmore 70 Pint Dehumidifier will work effectively in a basement but please note that if your basement has a consistently low temperature at some times of the year a room dehumidifier of this type will operate at a lower efficiency level.

The formation of ice on the cold coil will cause the unit to shut down for periods to allow the ice to melt. As the temperature drops these periods of inactivity will occur more often and last longer. A dedicated basement dehumidifier, designed to operate in lower temperatures, will be a more effective solution to the problem of a cool, damp basement.

The Kenmore 70 Pint Dehumidifier is an attractive unit and its stylish appearance has been commented upon by reviewers. It is reasonably compact with overall dimensions of 23.75(h) x 12.33(d) x 14.5(w) inches. The unit is of reasonable weight for its power, at 40.1lb and is portable thanks to caster wheels on the base and integral carrying handles at the top.

The noise level of the Kenmore 70 Pint Dehumidifier is not stated but consumer reports suggest that the volume and quality of the sound it makes is intrusive, especially at higher fan speeds.

Noise from dehumidifiers is always an issue and so long as fans are required they will always be noisy. Complaints about noise are made about dehumidifiers with very low noise output compared to similar units so it is clearly a very subjective perception. On the other hand the number of complaints about this unit suggests that the perception is quite widespread and this may be an issue for some prospective purchasers.

The Kenmore 70 Pint Dehumidifier is operated using the electronic, soft touch controls. Users have commented favourably on the ease of use of this dehumidifier. The unit does not have an auto-restart feature to turn the unit back on following an interruption in the power supply, a useful feature which is included with many other portable home dehumidifiers.

PRODUCT SPECIFICATION

Brand	Kenmore (Sears)
Model	Kenmore 70 Pint Dehumidifier
Application(s)	Residential
Suitable for	Medium to large areas
Portable	Yes
Carrying handle(s)	Yes
Wheels/casters	Yes
Weight (lb)	40.1
Dimensions, inches (WxDxH)	14.5 x 12.33 x 23.75
Dehumidification process	Refrigerant
Water extraction (80°F 60%RH)	70 pints per 24 hrs
Water container capacity (pints)	Not given
Container full indicator	No
Auto-power cut off when full	Yes
Continuous drainage option	Yes (to nearby drain)
Operating temperature range	Not given
Air Flow Volume	148 CFM
Anti-frost	Yes
Electronic controls	Yes
Humidistat	Yes
Variable fan speed settings	Yes (3)
Noise level	Not given
Power input	115v/6.9amps/765 watts

Consumer Reactions

Dehumidifier reviews of the Kenmore 70 Pint Dehumidifier, written by consumers, produce a mixed picture of this appliance.

On the positive side the unit is praised for its effectiveness in controlling humidity, the electronic controls are frequently complimented for their ease of use and many users comment on the pleasing appearance of this dehumidifier.

Negative comments often include the relatively high noise level of this dehumidifier, the difficulty of replacing the bucket in the unit after emptying, and problems with continuous drainage.

In addition to these specific complaints there are a relatively high number of reviews that report units that were defective out of the box or broke down within weeks or months of purchase.

The Kenmore 70 Pint Dehumidifier
Our Recommendation

While this dehumidifier has some excellent qualities and has been well received by many users there are some drawbacks that are referred to with worrying frequency in dehumidifier reviews.

General build quality and durability appear to be questionable. Complaints about noise, although commonplace among dehumidifier reviews of all models, appear more often and are expressed more strongly than for many other brands. In the same way complaints about the difficulty in using the bucket are widely mentioned and heavily emphasised.

In our view this dehumidifier is effective but there are other brands that are equally effective and present fewer difficulties for their users. We are not prepared to recommend the Kenmore 70 Pint Dehumidifier in preference to other units in which we have more confidence.

For more details of the units we do recommend please visit this page.

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Kenmore 70 Pint Dehumidifier Review