The Aprilaire E100 Pro 100 Pint Dehumidifier is an outstanding product that we would love to review today. When temperatures are high, especially here at Kansas, the humidity levels can also go high sometimes. Hence, your air conditioner tends to work harder to cool your home. Installing a dehumidifier into your indoor space can take some of the burden off your central air conditioner. An efficient one will reduce humidity levels in an indoor space, and maintain it within the recommended 30 to 50 per cent range.
I bumped into this product (the Aprilaire E100) while doing my research on the best dehumidifiers in the market. The unit can remove up to 100 pints of moisture every 24 hours. And when it comes to price, it is north of $1000 – as at the time of writing. We also noticed that the dehumidifier can act as a whole house dehumidifier or as a portable unit for basements and crawl spaces.
So, is the dehumidifier ideal for you? Should you invest in it considering that you are about to spend more than $1,000 for this product?
Well, if you want to know more about this dehumidifier, this article provides an in-depth and unbiased review of the product. Read further to learn more about this unit.
The Brand
Getting to know the brand that manufactures the product is an essential part of the buying process, especially when you are about to invest in a premium product like this one. Aprilaire is a recognized brand, which has been in operation since 1954. They focus on providing quality healthy air products for residential indoor spaces promoting comfortability whenever you are indoors.
Other than dehumidifiers, the company also manufactures humidifiers, thermostats, air purifiers, air filters, and ventilators. They have several other dehumidifier models apart from the Aprilair E100 – which is a part of the E series.
Aprilaire also provides five-year warranties for all their products, comprehensive user manuals, and a Healthy Air App for Android and iPhone users. You can control the brand’s devices and get notifications via the app. From my research, I noted that the app only operates thermostats.
Product Features
The Aprilaire E100 Pro 100 Pint Dehumidifier is a member of the brand’s E-Series and an improved version of the Aprilaire E1850 dehumidifier.
When shopping, you will find two versions of this model. Both have similar features and levels of efficiency. The only difference, however, is that one has castor feet, while the other one comes with leveling feet. If you will be moving the unit across different rooms often, go for the one with the castors. It will be easy to move and set.
Nonetheless, please note that both dehumidifier models shouldn’t be too difficult to carry since they weigh 64 pounds. The humidifier is also 34 inches long, 15.42 inches wide and 18.57 inches high. This makes it easy to fit in small spaces such as sealed crawl spaces.
Setting it up
The dehumidifier’s package comes with every accessory you need to install it. You will get a washable MERV 8 filter, drain connection, 10-foot drain tube, inlet and outlet collars, 10 screws, a Torx bit, and a user manual to guide you through the installation process. Aprilaire recommends users to get professional help for installation when setting it up as a whole house dehumidifier. On the other hand, I don’t think setting it up as a portable unit is difficult. Hence, no need to call a professional.
You can set up the unit in two ways. First, you can connect the dehumidifier to your central air conditioner’s duct system if you want to dehumidify your entire home. Alternatively, you can use the drain tube to drain the water out of your home if you set it as a portable dehumidifier. You just have to find a proper drainage, such as the nearest sink. The Aprilaire E100 connects to a power outlet using an 8-foot long power cord so you don’t have to worry when dehumidifying crawl spaces. Expect it to use between 110V to 120V when functioning.
How it operates
The unit offers up to 100 pints per day and an airflow capacity of about 280 cubic feet per minute. Once you power it on, the unit will use the humidistat to detect the amount of humidity in the air at that particular moment. If it’s above the 50 per cent range or your targeted level, the unit will start the dehumidification process immediately.
Use the digital display control panel at the top of the unit or side to set your preferred humidity range and to program the timer.
Pros
When looking for the right dehumidifier size for your space, we recommend our readers to examine the pint value of the unit first. For the Aprilaire E100 Pro 100 Pint Dehumidifier, you get up to 100 pints. That means that it’s an ideal unit for larger spaces such as your basement, larger crawl spaces, and whole house since you can connect it to your ducted systems in your home.
I also loved the convenience that this dehumidifier offers. You don’t have to keep coming back to alter the settings every other time. Once the humidity level reaches a certain level, the sensor will shut it down and only start the dehumidifying process again if it exceeds the targeted range. You also don’t have to worry about emptying the water tray as all the water goes out of the unit via the drain tube or exhaust hose. It’s a pro benefit that I think most manufacturers should include in their dehumidifying unit.
Additionally, the Aprilaire E100 has an Energy Star rating for many reasons. One, the programmable timer ensures that the unit doesn’t run when the humidity is within the required range. Therefore, you can leave it during the day without worrying about increased energy bills at the end of the month. Another quality that makes it energy efficient is the refrigerant it uses, the R410A. It’s an efficient refrigerant, common in new AC units on the market. The refrigerant also absorbs heat better and is environmentally friendly.
We also noticed that the unit’s design promotes durability. It comes with aluminum coils, which are resistant to corrosion. No amount of humidity or moisture will make your unit rust. The MERV 8 washable filters also help eliminate impurities in the air, such as dust and pollen, as the air gets into the unit. By the way, I had to read various reviews on Amazon, and none of the reviewers complained about it breaking down or refusing to function.
During operation, the unit is not noisy. Its noise level is 58.5 decibels, which is within the range of most noiseless air conditioners. Hence, you can leave it running during the night when everyone is sleeping.
Cons
Although the Aprilaire E100 100 Pint Dehumidifier offers many benefits to the user, it has its own limitation. For instance, despite the unit’s price, I still cannot understand why this unit doesn’t have smart features. Well, I think Aprilaire, the brand, should do something about it in the next model.
The other thing you should be careful about when installing the dehumidifier is to avoid lifting it alone if you don’t have the stamina. Even though it has a durable design, carrying it with someone can reduce your chances of dropping.
Another limitation I saw is that it doesn’t have a remote control. Every time you want to change the settings, you must have access to the control panel on the unit. For most people, it can be quite a hassle, especially if the unit is in a tight space such as a crawl space.
Conclusion
We have come to the end of the review, folks. That’s all you need to know about the Aprilaire E100 100 Pint Dehumidifier. Although it doesn’t have smart features, I believe this unit offers value for its money. You will need it to dehumidify large spaces with high humid. If you run it consistently, it will remove all manner of wetness within a few days. And you can be sure that it will not consume much energy when running.
If you would like to buy it, head over to the Aprilaire Amazon Buy Page via this link.