The Aprilaire E80 Pro 80 Pint Dehumidifier is yet another product from Aprilaire that does an excellent job at drying basements and crawl spaces with lots of humidity. And today, we would like to review it.
I once got into a situation where so much water sipped into my crawl spaces after a storm. The results were somewhat outrageous. I noticed a damp smell coming from my basements, and the air in my home changed. All of a sudden, everyone at home was sneezing and developing respiratory problems. I cleaned up the flooding, did several repairs, and decided to invest in a dehumidifier to prevent humidity from ever destroying the room again.
This one right here seemed like the perfect installation because it can operate as a freestanding unit or you can also duct it. Which is what I prefer most of the time because it allows me to dehumidify several rooms at once. Read further to understand why we recommend it to you.
Let’s get right into it.
Brand
AprilAire has been producing high quality and award-winning products since 1954 – when they launched their first whole-home dehumidifier. I usually encourage people to stick to brands they know and those with a reputation. AprilAire is a brand with a good reputation, and it’s why I have reviewed several of their dehumidifiers here on this website.
Besides dehumidifiers, the brand also manufactures humidifiers, thermostats, air purifiers, air filters, and other accessories. The product we are reviewing in this article belongs to their E-series, which includes units such as E070, E100, and E130.
All their units come with a 5-year warranty and a detailed user manual. You also get a lifetime of support from their customer care team. When reviewing this product, I noticed that their support team committed to answering most of the questions asked about their products on Amazon.
The following video summarizes what you need to know about the brand.
Product Features
The Aprilaire E80 Pro Dehumidifier promises to remove 80 pints of water (or 38 liters) every 24 hours. If you have an extraordinarily humid or wet space, as large as 4,400 sq. ft., this unit should remove all the excessive humidity. Its airflow capacity is 185CFM, which is within the average (150-200) of most dehumidifiers in the market today.
You may have to carry out some measurements to determine whether this unit is suitable for your room or not. If the area is higher than what is recommended, look for a unit that has a higher pint value. Otherwise, this unit might struggle to keep the humidity level within the 30 to 50% range. It will also consume much energy while trying to do so.
Physical attributes of the unit
The Aprilaire E80 Pro Dehumidifier is a compact unit that measures 34 inches long, 15.42 inches wide, 17.1 inches high, and weighs 63 pounds. Out of the box, the dehumidifier comes with a metallic shell with one inlet and outlet on both ends. The inlet has a MERV 8 filter, which promotes airflow and does enough work to prevent small allergens and viruses in the air from reaching the coils. It is also washable and easy to replace.
The interactive control sits at the top and on the side of the inlet for easy access, especially in tight spaces. By the way, the humidity range on this unit is between 40% and 80%. Under the appliance, you’ll find four leveling feet to provide the needed stability and reduce scratches on the body.
How do you set up?
Aprilaire provides one inlet and outlet collars for your duct work, a 5881 filter, Torx Bit, and a drain connection. That’s all you need for the installation.
In the standalone or freestanding mode, you will have to use a 0.75-inch drain hose. Then, place it close to a floor drain or sink for proper water drainage. If you want to connect the dehumidifier to your ductwork, you will need 10-inch ducts for a tight fit. Note the unit releases hot air when ducted and water when in freestanding mode.
You can set the fan to run continuously or program the unit to run only when the humidity is not within your preferred range. Once you set it, you don’t need to reset it again (unless you want to change the settings) even after a power outage. The unit will also defrost itself automatically in case the coils start freezing.
Pros
If you are looking for a dehumidifier that can fit in small spaces, we recommend the Aprilaire E80 Pro Dehumidifier.
We also loved this unit because it comes with the 2021 Energy Star Certification. You can be sure that the machine will not consume much energy while dehumidifying any space. Other features that make this unit energy efficient are that you can set the fan to run when it’s necessary or continuously. The dehumidifier requires 110V to 120V; hence, you shouldn’t have to worry about increased electricity bill costs shooting in months when it’s most humid.
The MERV 8 filter enhances maximum airflow while preventing air pollutants such as allergens and viruses from reaching the coils. Furthermore, it’s washable and easy to remove and clean. By the way, we find air filters with a MERV rating between 5 and 8 efficient.
If you want to monitor this dehumidifier remotely, you can buy a compatible on-wall remote. It makes it easier to access the settings if the unit is in a sealed and tight crawl space. On top of this, the E80 dehumidifier is not noisy during operation. Its noise level is 45 dB, which makes it one of the quietest dehumidifiers, in my opinion.
You should also expect not to have any problems maintaining this appliance. The user manual provides all the details you need for proper installation. AprilAire’s support team is always easy to reach in case of any issues.
Cons
Besides being one of the most effective whole-home dehumidifiers to review, I still find some weaknesses in this product. Note that there’s no drain hose provided in the package. I didn’t understand why you had to buy this separately, especially when they provide everything else other than this.
Of course, carrying this unit shouldn’t be a problem, but I think AprilAire would have included a carry handle on the unit to enhance portability. The lack of one makes it easy for one to drop it when carrying it from one place to another. I also saw people complain that they got a faulty dehumidifier upon delivery. But it’s not. If you notice any defects once you receive the package, you can ask for a replacement from the company, and they will do that immediately.
Conclusion
We have come to the end of this review, folks. So, should you buy the Aprilaire E80 Pro Dehumidifier? I would definitely recommend it to anyone who wants a unit that can dehumidify extremely wet spaces in homes and commercial spaces. Whether it’s on freestanding mode or ducted, it does a good job.
Furthermore, who wouldn’t want an energy-sufficient dehumidifier? This whole house dehumidifier ticks all the boxes since it doesn’t consume much energy in your home. Click on this link to the Amazon page to know more about the Aprilaire E80 Pro Dehumidifier.