Best Dehumidifiers With a Built-In Pump (and When Gravity Drain Is Enough)

How we made this guide: picks, prices and specs come from our catalog and the makers' published specs, owner quotes come from customer reviews on our product pages and every guide is checked and edited by Trevor Hall.

You need a built-in pump when no floor drain or sump sits below the dehumidifier's drain port, or when the water has to travel up and out to a sink, a window or through a wall.

For most basements the pick is the AlorAir Sentinel Elite 80X at $799.99: AlorAir rates it at 80 pints a day on the AHAM test (80°F, 60% RH), with a pump that lifts condensate up to 19.6 ft. For a smaller room, the Sentinel Elite 50X at $599.99 has the same pump. For a warehouse, take the 220 V Dapper Supply 350-pint (176 pints at AHAM) at $2,000.

If a drain sits below the unit, a gravity hose is enough and it gives you one less part that can fail. The rest of this guide helps you decide which case you are in, then compares eight pump-equipped machines we carry, from a 50-pint unit to an industrial building dryer.

Quick picks: pump dehumidifiers compared

Every pint figure below carries the test condition as the maker or our listing gives it. Do not compare an AHAM number with a saturation number: saturation (90°F, 90% RH) always reads higher. Where a maker states no condition, we say so in the text and leave the cell as listed. Empty cells mean the listing is silent on that spec.

AlorAir and Dapper Supply list a pump lift on our spec rows. Ebac's brochures give 20 ft of vertical lift for the Kompact and K100, and XPOWER's XD-125 manual limits hose rise to 15 ft above the unit. The Pro 55X and the Orion show no lift figure, so we give none. If your drain is well above the floor, choose a unit with a listed lift and measure first.

Pump or gravity: how to decide

A dehumidifier pulls water out of the air and collects it as condensate. That water has to go somewhere. There are three ways out: a tank you empty, a hose that runs downhill by gravity or a pump that pushes it through a hose to a higher or farther drain.

Gravity is the simple one. The hose attaches to a drain port, the water runs to a floor drain or sump lower than the port, and nothing mechanical is involved. The AlorAir Sentinel Elite units ship with a 6.5 ft gravity hose for exactly this case, and the Dapper Supply 350-pint lists a 3.28 ft gravity drain hose. If you can set the machine within a short hose run of a lower drain, you do not need the pump.

A pump earns its place in three situations. First, the drain is above the machine: a laundry sink, a utility sink or a window ledge. Second, the machine sits in the middle of a room and the nearest drain is on the far side of a raised obstacle. Third, the unit runs unattended for days, for example on a drying job, where a tank would overflow. In each case a pump with a hose turns a chore into a set-and-leave setup.

The cost of a pump is one more part that can clog or wear. That is why we keep a maintenance guide for the whole drain path: see dehumidifier maintenance, including the pump and drain line.

A gravity-only unit can also be paired with an external condensate pump, but that is another powered part with its own reservoir to keep clean. If the hose discharges outside through an exterior wall, water left in it can freeze in winter, so make sure the run drains clear.

What matters when you choose a pump dehumidifier

Lift and hose length

A rated lift is a vertical figure: how far above the machine the pump can push water. AlorAir lists 19.6 ft on the Sentinel Elite pair, Ebac's brochures give 20 ft for the Kompact and K100, Dapper Supply lists 16.4 ft and XPOWER's manual caps the XD-125 hose at 15 ft above the unit. A lift rating does not say how far the hose can run sideways, so check the owner's manual for the horizontal run your machine allows before you plan a long route. Measure from the machine's drain outlet to the highest point the hose has to clear, then compare it with the listed lift.

Pints per day, with the condition

The two conditions in this list are AHAM (80°F, 60% RH) and saturation (90°F, 90% RH). The AlorAir and Dapper Supply units list both. XPOWER lists 76 pints at AHAM and 125 pints at 90°F and 90% RH. Ebac lists one pint figure per model with no test condition on the spec rows, so treat those as the maker's headline number and do not set them against an AHAM rating. The exception is the K100 brochure, which adds more than 90 pints a day at 80°F and 60% RH.

Power and the circuit

The three AlorAir machines call for a 15 A circuit with a grounded 3-prong GFCI outlet (their spec rows say so) and draw 3.29 A to 5.05 A. The Dapper Supply 350-pint runs on 220 V at 6.8 A, so it needs a 220 V outlet. Check the outlet at the spot where you want the machine before you buy.

Operating temperature

Basements, garages and job sites run cold. The Sentinel Elite and Pro lines list 37.4°F to 100.4°F. The Ebac Orion lists 33°F to 105°F, and the Ebac Kompact and K100 list 33°F to 95°F in Ebac's brochures. XPOWER's XD-125 manual lists 33°F to 100°F. The Dapper Supply lists 41 to 95°F.

How we picked

We did not test these machines. Every figure in this guide comes from the spec rows on our product pages, the makers' manuals and spec sheets and the way the makers state each rating. This guide makes no reliability claims. We chose units that list a built-in pump, then spread them across size and price so that a basement owner, a restoration crew and a warehouse manager each find a fit.

Best overall: AlorAir Sentinel Elite 80X

The Sentinel Elite 80X is rated at 80 pints a day AHAM and 170 pints a day at saturation, with 210 CFM of airflow. AlorAir claims coverage up to 2,100 sq ft. The drainage row reads built-in pump with up to 19.6 ft lift through a 19.6 ft hose, or gravity drain through a 6.5 ft hose, so one machine covers both cases and you decide at install.

It draws 5.05 A (576 W) at 115 V on a 15 A GFCI circuit, runs at 57.5 dB, and weighs 63.05 lb. The humidity setpoint runs from 35% to 90% RH in 1% steps, with a GPP mode that controls by moisture content in grains per pound.

Skip it if your space is small. For a 1,300 sq ft room the 50X below does the same drain job at a lower price.

Best compact pick: AlorAir Sentinel Elite 50X

The 50X uses the same 16.14" x 15.15" x 26.85" cabinet as the 80X and the same drainage row: built-in pump, up to 19.6 ft lift, or gravity drain through a 6.5 ft hose. It lists 50 pints at AHAM and 110 at saturation, 132 CFM, 3.29 A (376 W) and 48.2 dB. That is the quietest machine in this list, and the lightest of the Elite pair at 56.43 lb.

Skip it if the room is larger or the space stays wet all year. Step up to the 80X.

Watch the Elite trio

AlorAir publishes one video for the 50X, 60X and 80X.

Best on wheels: AlorAir Sentinel Pro 55X

The Pro 55X is the lightest machine here at 45 lb, in a slimmer 12.9" x 14.14" x 24.55" cabinet. It lists 55 pints at AHAM and 120 at saturation, 187 CFM, 3.5 A (408 W) and 52 dBA, with a washable MERV-1 filter. The drainage row reads built-in pump with a 19.6 ft hose, or gravity drain with a 6.5 ft hose. AlorAir does not list a lift figure for this model on our page, so measure your route against the hose length and read the manual.

Skip it if your drain is far above the machine and you need a documented lift. The Elite pair lists 19.6 ft.

A look at the Pro cabinet

Biggest AHAM rating in this list: Dapper Supply 350-pint

Read the name carefully. The "350" is a peak figure, up to 350 pints a day. The ratings are 176 pints at AHAM (80°F, 60% RH) and 420 pints at saturation. So 176 pints at AHAM is the figure to compare with other makers' AHAM ratings, and in this list it is the largest. Dapper Supply claims coverage up to 30,000 sq ft, with 750 CFM of airflow and a 2-gallon (7.5 L) tank.

The pump lifts water 16.4 ft. The spec rows list a 3.28 ft gravity drain hose. It draws 6.8 A on 220 V (1,450 W), runs at 60 dB and weighs 183 lb on locking casters.

Skip it if you have only a standard 115 V outlet or a small room. A 50-pint unit is the better match.

Best rugged restoration unit: XPOWER XD-125

The XD-125 uses an automatic purge pump and ships with a 20 ft drain hose. The listing's water removal row gives two figures: 76 pints a day at AHAM, and 125 pints a day at a hotter, wetter 90°F and 90% RH. Compare the 76 with other AHAM ratings. Airflow is 235 CFM at 7.3 A on 115 V, and the unit weighs 81 lb with a roto-molded polyethylene housing and a 25 ft power cord. XPOWER lists ETL and CETL safety certifications and a one-year limited warranty.

XPOWER's owner's manual caps the hose rise at 15 ft above the unit, and the hose should run free of kinks.

Skip it if the discharge point is more than 15 ft above the unit. The AlorAir Elite pair lists 19.6 ft.

Best with a long drain hose: Ebac Kompact

The Kompact lists an internal condensate pump, continuous drain capability and a 25.5 ft drain hose. Capacity is 56 pints, with no test condition stated on the spec row, a 360 CFM maximum airflow, a 16 ft power cord, a 57 dB maximum noise level and a weight of 78 lb. Ebac suggests a room of 1,000 sq ft and lists a lowest operating temperature of 33°F. The listing calls out warehouse and water-damage restoration use.

Ebac lists a one-year warranty, plus three years on the compressor, condenser and evaporator. The owner's manual and brochure are attached to the product page.

Skip it if the job is a home basement. The AlorAir Sentinel Pro 55X and Elite 80X cost far less and state their pints at AHAM, so you know what you are comparing.

Best for storage rooms: Ebac K100 series

The K100 series comes as the K100-H without Bluetooth and the K100-E with it, which is why the price starts at $3,406 and rises for the Bluetooth model. Both list an internal condensate pump, continuous drain capability and a 25.6 ft drain hose. Capacity is 97 pints per day as Ebac's headline figure, with no condition; Ebac's K100 brochure adds that it removes more than 90 pints a day at 80°F and 60% RH. Airflow is a 700 CFM maximum, and the brochure lists a 16 A draw at 110 V (1,090 W), 20 ft of vertical pump lift and a noise level of 66 dBA, the loudest figure in this list. Ebac recommends it for rooms up to 3,000 sq ft and lists warehouses, storage rooms, locker rooms, basements and marine vessels as uses.

Skip it if you only need to dry a basement: it costs more than three times the AlorAir 80X.

Best for job sites: Ebac Orion building dryer

The Orion is aimed at flood and water-damage restoration and building drying. It lists an integral (built-in) condensate pump, 105 pints per day with no condition stated, 360 CFM, 8 A at 115 V and 900 W per Ebac's Orion brochure (our listing gives a 10 A maximum), 57 dBA and 165 lb. The operating range of 33°F to 105°F is the widest in this list, and the unit has temperature-sensitive automatic defrost, a washable air filter and a GFI plug. Ebac's brochure lists an effective volume of 10,594 cu ft and a 25 ft PVC drain hose with a pump purge switch.

For the water-damage side of the decision, read dehumidifiers for water damage: LGR vs conventional vs desiccant. It also has the grains-per-pound targets drying crews work to.

Skip it if the job is a home basement. Professional drying is what this one is for.

How to choose by situation

Finished basement with a laundry sink nearby

This is the classic pump job: the sink is above the machine. Take the 50X or 80X, measure the height of the sink rim above the unit's drain outlet and keep it comfortably under the 19.6 ft listed lift. See best basement dehumidifiers for gravity-drain machines when a floor drain is close.

Crawl space or garage with no drain

If the water has to leave through a wall or a vent, a pump hose out the side wall solves it. For low spaces, compare the machines in best crawl space dehumidifiers and read crawl space dehumidifier installation for placement and drainage steps.

Warehouse or large commercial space

Start with the Dapper Supply 350-pint at 176 pints AHAM, or the Ebac K100 series. If you also want a general shortlist for big spaces, see best commercial dehumidifiers.

Water-damage drying

The Ebac Orion and the XPOWER XD-125 are the restoration-minded units in this list. The Orion is rated for building drying, and the XD-125 is a rugged option with a long hose. Before you choose, read the category and class guidance in dehumidifiers for water damage.

Whole-house duct work

The machines on this page sit in the room. If you want conditioned air ducted through the house, that is a different product: see best whole-house dehumidifiers.

Price bands in our range

These bands are for the eight machines in this guide. For the wider catalog, browse all dehumidifiers or the restoration dehumidifiers. For bigger machines, see the 90 pint dehumidifiers. Ebac has its own Ebac dehumidifiers range.

Setting up a pump dehumidifier

1. Let the unit stand upright before first use. AlorAir asks you to leave the Sentinel Elite upright for at least 24 hours after unpacking, because shipping can tilt it.
2. Place it on a level surface with clear space around the air intake and outlet.
3. Connect the drain hose to the pump outlet for pump mode, or to the gravity port for a floor drain, as your manual shows.
4. In pump mode, run the hose with no kinks or tight bends; AlorAir's Sentinel Elite manual says an E4 alarm means the pump hose is clogged or bent. In gravity mode, the hose must fall all the way to the drain: the same manual says its end must not sit higher than the gravity outlet. Fix the end so it cannot slip out of the drain.
5. Plug the unit into the outlet its spec rows call for. For the AlorAir machines that is a 15 A circuit with a grounded GFCI outlet.
6. Set the humidity target. For a basement target, see ideal basement humidity.

Clean the filter and check the drain line on a schedule. If a pump stops moving water, check the hose first: AlorAir's Sentinel Elite manual says an E4 alarm means a clogged or bent pump hose. The step-by-step is in dehumidifier maintenance. For what the machine costs to run each day, see how much it costs to run a dehumidifier. To understand how the refrigerant cycle makes the condensate you are draining, read how a dehumidifier works.

Frequently asked questions

Is a dehumidifier with a pump better?

It is better when the water has to go up or out, because the pump replaces emptying a tank. It is not better when a drain sits below the machine, since a gravity hose does the job with no pump to maintain. The AlorAir units and the Dapper Supply 350-pint list both a pump and a gravity hose, so you can choose at install.

Do dehumidifiers have built-in pumps?

Many commercial units do. Every machine in this guide lists a built-in or integral pump: the AlorAir Sentinel Elite and Pro, the Dapper Supply 350-pint, the XPOWER XD-125 and the Ebac Kompact, K100 and Orion. Smaller home units usually rely on a tank, and a pump is often an add-on part.

Do dehumidifiers need to be vented?

No. A standard portable dehumidifier recirculates room air: it pulls air across a cold coil, drains the water and returns the air to the room, so it needs no vent to the outside. A ducted whole-house unit is a different setup; see best whole-house dehumidifiers.

What is the most powerful dehumidifier in this list?

By the largest AHAM figure in this list, the Dapper Supply 350-pint at 176 pints a day. By its saturation rating it also leads, at 420 pints. Its name says 350 because that is a peak figure, so use the AHAM number when you compare.

What is the best dehumidifier with a pump for a living room?

A living room rarely needs a commercial machine. Of the eight here, the 50X is the smallest and quietest, at 48.2 dB. For a space that size, check what size dehumidifier you need first.

Does a dehumidifier with a pump use more electricity?

The listed watts are the best guide. Our spec rows list 576 W for the Sentinel Elite 80X and 376 W for the 50X. For what a machine costs per day, see how much it costs to run a dehumidifier.

Do I need a pump for a basement dehumidifier?

Only if the water cannot run downhill to a drain. If a floor drain or sump is lower than the machine's drain port, use the gravity hose. If the only drain is a sink above the floor, you need a pump.

Related guides

• Best Basement Dehumidifiers: Commercial-Grade Picks for Big, Cold or Wet Basements
• What Size Dehumidifier Do I Need? Pints per Day, AHAM vs Saturation and a Sizing Chart
• Best Crawl Space Dehumidifiers: Picks by Size, Height and Drainage
• Dehumidifier Maintenance: How to Clean the Filter, Coils, Pump and Drain Line