Frigidaire 35-Pint Dehumidifier Review: Does the FHDD3534Y1 Belong in Your Basement?

How much basement this covers

The Frigidaire is rated to pull up to 35 pints of moisture a day out of a space up to about 3,000 square feet. Both are the maker’s figures. The pints rating is measured at 65°F, so a cooler basement will see less. Sized by ENERGY STAR’s capacity table, a 35-pint unit fits a moderately damp basement under 2,000 square feet, and that is where I’d use this one, as long as there is no standing water or active leak. A larger basement, or one with a sump pump running often, is a better fit for the Midea Cube’s 50 pints a day.

Running it through a cold basement

This unit is rated to run down to 41°F, and in a basement that’s the spec that matters most. Below that threshold, a compressor-based dehumidifier like this one starts to lose efficiency, because the coil can frost over, and running it in that state removes less moisture and adds wear. A basement that stays above 41°F through winter is within the range this unit is built for. The Midea Cube shares this same 41°F floor, so the two tie here; the Hisense goes lower, to 38°F, which is the better pick if your basement runs a few degrees colder in winter. None of the three is rated for an unheated basement that regularly drops to freezing.

Drainage: hose or bucket

Continuous drain works through a standard garden hose, which isn’t included in the box, so budget a few dollars for one if you’d rather not empty a bucket. Without a hose, the internal tank holds 13.6 pints, less than half the Midea Cube’s 33.6. In a basement running anywhere close to this unit’s rated 35 pints a day, that means emptying the tank two to three times a day, which matters if nobody’s down there regularly. In a basement that’s only mildly damp, the smaller tank is far less of a practical issue.

Wi-Fi and app control

This unit and the Midea Cube both have app control; the Hisense is the one pick without it. The Frigidaire app, along with Alexa and Google Home compatibility, lets you check the humidity reading and tank status without walking down to the basement. If you’d rather skip the app entirely, the unit runs the same without it.

Noise and where to put it

Frigidaire hasn’t published a decibel rating for this unit. A retailer listing says only that it’s noticeable on higher fan settings, which isn’t much to plan a purchase around. For a basement used for storage or laundry, that gap in the spec sheet won’t matter much either way. For a finished basement doing double duty as a home office, playroom, or guest space, plan on running it at a lower fan speed during the hours people are in the room.

Energy use and the Energy Star certification

This unit carries Energy Star certification, meaning it meets the EPA’s Energy Star criteria for how much moisture it removes per unit of electricity, tested under the current DOE methodology. In practice, that means a lower electricity cost than an equivalent non-certified unit run for the same number of hours, though the exact dollar figure depends on your local electricity rate and how often the unit runs, which in a persistently damp basement can be close to constant during humid months.

Build and everyday features

A few smaller details add up over time. Casters make the unit easier to move for cleaning or seasonal storage. Auto restart means that if a breaker trips or the power blips while no one’s home, the unit picks back up where it left off instead of sitting off while humidity climbs. Auto shut-off when the tank fills protects against an overflow if you’re relying on the tank instead of a drain hose. The washable filter is worth checking every few weeks in a basement, which tends to collect more dust and debris than a typical living space.

Alternatives