KNKA 34-Pint Dehumidifier for 2,500 sq ft: features, specs and who it suits

The KNKA dehumidifier is a compressor unit on wheels for damp spaces of up to 2,500 square feet, such as basements, laundry rooms, garages and crawlspaces. It removes up to 34 pints of moisture a day, holds the humidity level you choose, and can drain continuously through the included hose. Here is what its specs mean in practice.

What 34 pints a day means

KNKA lists up to 34 pints (about 16 litres) of moisture removed per day, measured at 95°F (35°C) and 90% relative humidity. Relative humidity is the amount of moisture in the air compared with the most it can hold at that temperature.

Those are warm, very humid test conditions. Compressor dehumidifiers remove less water from cooler, drier air, so in a cool basement the daily amount will typically be lower than the headline figure. When you compare dehumidifiers, compare figures measured under the same conditions.

Three modes

• Auto holds 50% relative humidity, the default setting.
• Dry speeds up drying clothes, which suits a laundry room.
• Setting lets you choose a target anywhere from 30% to 80%.

The automatic humidity control turns the unit on when humidity rises above your setting and off when it falls below it. KNKA notes that the humidity reading reflects the air at the inlet, so it may differ slightly from a separate humidity meter elsewhere in the room. KNKA also advises keeping doors and windows closed while it runs.

Three ways to drain

Water collects in a built-in 0.79-gallon (about 3-litre) tank. For continuous drainage, connect the included 3.28 ft (1 m) drain hose; KNKA recommends the hose for continuous running, so you aren't emptying the tank often. On dehumidifiers without a built-in pump, hose drainage works by gravity, so the hose needs to run downhill to a floor drain or a sink below the outlet.

A larger 2.64-gallon (about 10-litre) external tank is optional and not included. Both the built-in and the external tank shut the unit off and alert you when they're full, to prevent overflow.

Controls and the humidity light

The control panel sets the humidity, a timer and a child lock. A colour-changing LED shows the current humidity in blue, green or red, even when the unit is off, so you can see at a glance whether a room is damp. In sleep mode, the lights turn off and it runs more quietly.

Moving it and upkeep

It rolls on 360° wheels and has a soft leather handle for moving it between rooms. It measures about 13.2 x 10.3 x 20.9 inches (34 x 26 x 53 cm). The tank is removable and the filter is washable and reusable; a clean filter keeps air flowing freely through the unit.

KNKA says to keep it upright at all times and, after delivery, to let it stand upright for 24 hours before first use. That's standard for compressor appliances: it gives the oil in the compressor time to settle after transport.

What to check before you buy

• Space and temperature: check the area you need to cover and, for a cold basement or crawlspace, the lowest operating temperature in the manual.
• Drainage: check there's a floor drain or sink below the outlet within reach of the 1 m hose, or plan on emptying the tank.
• Noise: if it will run in a bedroom, check the noise level and consider sleep mode.
• First use: let it stand upright for 24 hours before switching it on.
• Upkeep: check how often the manual suggests cleaning the filter.

The short version

• A compressor dehumidifier on wheels for spaces of up to 2,500 sq ft.
• Removes up to 34 pints a day, measured at 95°F and 90% relative humidity.
• Auto (50%), Dry and Setting (30-80%) modes; it switches on and off with the humidity.
• A built-in 0.79 gal tank, the included 1 m drain hose or an optional external tank; it shuts off when full.
• Timer, child lock, colour humidity light, sleep mode and a washable filter.

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