Basement Dehumidifiers With a Pump (No Floor Drain): Built-In vs. External Pump, Lift Ratings and Noise (2026)

By Sorted Home Guide editors · Research current as of October 8, 2026

Published October 12, 2026 · Last updated October 12, 2026

We haven’t tested these dehumidifiers ourselves. Our picks are based on manufacturer manuals and specs, ENERGY STAR certification data, published reviews from DehumidifierBuyersGuide, HouseFresh, Consumer Reports and Good Housekeeping (credited wherever we use them), and U.S. government recall and incident databases. See How we researched this.

If your basement has no floor drain, or the drain sits higher than the dehumidifier, the water has to be pushed up to a sink, a laundry tub or a window. You can do that two ways: buy a dehumidifier with a pump built in, or pair a regular gravity-drain dehumidifier with a separate condensate pump. Two publishers that test dehumidifiers advise against built-in pumps because the pumps tend to fail. This guide compares both routes and lists how high each pump can lift water, because some “built-in pump” models can only push it a few inches.

Quick picks by buyer type

We ordered these picks by how well each one fits the buyer’s problem, based on manuals, certification data and published reviews.

Watch out: the BLACK+DECKER BD50PMWSA is sold “with built-in pump,” but its manual limits pumping to 16 inches of height. See Also considered.

The picks in detail

Midea 50-pint Cube Dehumidifier with Built-in Pump and Ionizer (MAD50PS1BQGR): our research pick for a built-in pump up to 14 ft

Midea 50 pt. Cube Dehumidifier with Built-in Pump and Ionizer MAD50PS1BQGR

What it is: a 50-pint dehumidifier in Midea’s stacking “Cube” design, with a pump in the bucket and an ion generator (Midea; manual). Midea makes air-cleaning claims for the ionizer. We didn’t find a test of them, so we don’t rely on them.

Key facts:

• Pump lift: “up to 14 feet above the drain port,” according to the manual. A pump drain hose is included, but neither the manual nor Midea’s page gives its length (manual).
• How the pump runs, per the manual:
  • It leaves some water in the bucket to keep the pump inlet covered.
  • It “may generate a loud noise for the first 3 to 5 minutes of operation.”
  • In pump mode, empty the bucket at least weekly.
  • Don’t run the hose outdoors at or below 32°F.
• Low temperature: the manual says it won’t dry properly below 41°F (manual).
• Capacity and efficiency: ENERGY STAR lists 49.67 pints/day under the 2019 DOE test and 515 kWh/yr (ENERGY STAR).
• Size and weight: 14.57 × 14.45 × 14.76 in and 41.54 lb (Midea).
• Noise: Midea doesn’t publish a dB figure for this model.
• Warranty: the sources conflict. Midea’s manual lists a one-year full warranty, while Midea’s product page lists two years (manual; Midea). Ask Midea which applies before you buy, and keep your receipt.
• Expert reviews: we didn’t find a review of this exact model. DehumidifierBuyersGuide reviewed the standard Cube without a pump, which is a different model. It measured 65.4 dB on low and 66.4 dB on high with its meter right above the control panel. It calls the standard Cube the quietest top-exhaust 50-pint unit it has tested, though it says the Cube is louder than most side-exhaust units (DehumidifierBuyersGuide). Those findings are for the no-pump Cube, not this model.

Who it’s for:

• Finished basements where the water has to rise up to 14 ft to a sink, tub or window, and you want a single unit rather than a separate pump.

Who it’s not for:

• Anyone who puts pump durability first. See the external-pump route below.
• Anyone who can’t empty a bucket weekly. The manual asks for that even in pump mode.

Honest downsides:

• Pump durability is the main risk. DehumidifierBuyersGuide expects built-in pumps in general to fail early.

• The pump can be loud for its first 3–5 minutes (manual).

• Its 14 ft lift rating is the lowest of our built-in-pump picks.

• The warranty length is unclear: 1 year in the manual, 2 years on Midea’s page.

• We didn’t find an independent test of this model.

• Incident reports on an earlier Cube model: we didn’t find any SaferProducts.gov reports naming this model (MAD50PS1BQGR) when we searched on Oct 8, 2026. An earlier, different model in the same Cube design family, the MAD50PS1QGR, has two reports. Midea lists that model as no longer available (Midea). Both reports predate this model, which went on the market in September 2025 (ENERGY STAR):

  • A report filed Dec 16, 2021 describes a loud pop, followed by the room filling with smoke and an electrical-fire smell while the unit kept running (report).
  • A 2025 report, on a unit made in May 2021, says that while the unit was off but still plugged in, its drain pump kept cycling, and the unit then ran nonstop with a burning smell (report).

  SaferProducts.gov reports are submitted by consumers and aren’t verified. Neither of these reports is a recall, and CPSC recall records showed no recall for either model when we searched on Oct 8, 2026. Midea’s public documents don’t say whether the two models share pump or electrical parts.

Frigidaire 50-pint Dehumidifier with Built-In Pump (FHDP5033Y1): our research pick for published low/high noise ratings (lower confidence)

Frigidaire 50-pint Dehumidifier with Built-In Pump FHDP5033Y1

What it is: a 50-pint dehumidifier with a built-in pump that, per Frigidaire, sends water “in an upward direction, either into a sink or out of a window” (Frigidaire).

Key facts:

• Noise: Frigidaire publishes 49 dBA on low and 51.5 dBA on high (Frigidaire). Those are maker figures, not independent measurements.
• Pump limit: the manual says, “The maximum distance and the rise may be 5m (16.4 feet) from the unit. Exceeding this distance may damage the unit or cause leaks.” Frigidaire doesn’t define this further. We read it as a combined limit on the run plus the rise, so a 10 ft rise would leave only about 6 ft of horizontal run. If your drain point is high or far away, confirm with Frigidaire before buying. The manual doesn’t give the pump hose length (Y1 manual).
• Specs:
  • A 1.9-gallon bucket, 470 W, 41.89 lb, and 19.1” H × 18.9” W × 9.9” D, with Wi-Fi (Frigidaire).
  • An operating range of 41–89°F and 30–80% relative humidity, per the manual.
  • ENERGY STAR lists 49.95 pints/day and 520 kWh/yr (ENERGY STAR data).
• Pump troubleshooting: Frigidaire’s support article explains the “PU” error, which means the pump didn’t empty the bucket. Its fixes include cleaning algae from the pickup and checking the hose for kinks or freezing (Frigidaire support).
• Warranty: 1-year limited, covering functional repairs only (Y1 manual).

Who it’s for:

• Finished basements where the drain point is close. On our reading of the manual, keep the total distance plus rise within 16.4 ft, and confirm with Frigidaire if you’re unsure.
• Buyers who want maker-published noise figures for both fan speeds.

Who it’s not for:

• Long or high runs. We read the manual’s 5 m limit as covering distance and rise together.
• Buyers who want independent test results. We didn’t find any for this model.

Honest downsides:

• We didn’t find an independent test of this model.
• Good Housekeeping notes that the Frigidaire models it tested lacked frost control. It doesn’t say which models, so this may or may not apply here (Good Housekeeping).
• The hose length isn’t published.
• It carries the same built-in-pump durability caveat.

Hisense 50-Pint Built-In Pump Dehumidifier (DH5026KP1G): our research pick for cold basements and a longer warranty

Hisense 50-Pint Built-In Pump Dehumidifier DH5026KP1G

What it is: a 50-pint dehumidifier with a built-in pump and an included hose, which Hisense describes as a “Quick-connect water hose included to discharge the water into a sink or basement window” (Hisense).

Key facts:

• Pump lift and hose: Hisense’s product page gives no lift figure, and Hisense doesn’t publish a manual for this exact model. The only manual its product page links is written for the DH5024 models. That manual says the pump works “horizontally or vertically with a 16 ft. … hose included,” and that the height should be under 16 ft (Hisense-linked DH5024 manual).
• Low temperature: Hisense says it “can operate at temperature as low as 38°F,” the lowest minimum among our picks (Hisense).
• Controls: 3 fan speeds; Auto, Continuous and Manual modes; a 24-hour timer; and a full-tank alert and shut-off (Hisense).
• Capacity and efficiency: ENERGY STAR lists 49.95 pints/day and 526 kWh/yr (ENERGY STAR data).
• Size, weight and tank: the sources differ. Consumer Reports lists 24.8” H × 15.3” W × 10.8” D, 43.4 lb with an empty tank, and a 13-pint tank (Consumer Reports). DehumidifierBuyersGuide says it weighs 46.9 lb and lists a 16-pint tank (DehumidifierBuyersGuide). Hisense doesn’t publish these figures.
• Noise: Hisense publishes no dB figure.
• Warranty: “2 year warranty on both parts and labor” (Hisense).
• Expert reviews:
  • DehumidifierBuyersGuide reviewed this model hands-on.
    • In its own setup, it measured 64.8 dB on low and 67.1 dB on high. It said, “Its compressor is loud and its fan is fairly quiet, and so you hear the unpleasant buzzing noise its compressor makes even on high fan speed.” It still ranked the Hisense the second-quietest top-exhaust unit it tested, behind the Midea Cube.
    • It found moisture removal worse than average: 10 min 35 s to take a 50 sq ft room from 90% to 40% humidity, versus 7 min 39 s for the Midea Cube it tested.
    • It listed low power draw and the 2-year warranty as pros. It listed build quality that isn’t great for its size class as a con.
  • Consumer Reports has a model page listing a pump, frost control and an included drain hose. Its test scores are for members only, and we didn’t use them.

Who it’s for:

• Cold basements that sit near 40°F.
• Buyers who want a 2-year parts-and-labor warranty instead of the usual 1 year.

Who it’s not for:

• Anyone who wants the fastest drying. DehumidifierBuyersGuide found its moisture removal slower than average.
• Anyone sensitive to compressor buzz.
• Anyone who wants lift specs from a manual written for this exact model.

Honest downsides:

• DehumidifierBuyersGuide reported slower-than-average moisture removal, an audible compressor buzz and so-so build quality.
• Its lift and hose figures come from a manual for the DH5024 models, not this one.
• It’s heavy: 43.4 lb according to Consumer Reports, or 46.9 lb according to DehumidifierBuyersGuide.
• It carries the same durability caveat as every built-in pump.

Frigidaire 50-pint Dehumidifier (FHDD5033Y1, no pump) + Little Giant VCMA-20ULS condensate pump: our research pick for pump durability

Frigidaire 50-pint Dehumidifier with Wi-Fi FHDD5033Y1 · Little Giant VCMA-20ULS Condensate Pump 554425

What it is: a standard dehumidifier with no pump, draining by gravity into a separate condensate pump. The pump has its own reservoir and pushes the water up to your drain point.

Why consider it:

• DehumidifierBuyersGuide says: “We generally do not recommend dehumidifiers with built-in pumps because early pump failure is highly probable.” It recommends a gravity unit plus a separate condensate pump, says the combined cost is “usually right about the same or slightly less,” and names the Little Giant VCMA-20ULS.
• HouseFresh (Sep 2026) says, “Don’t get a dehumidifier with internal pumps,” after the internal pumps on two of its test units failed.
• If the external pump fails, you replace only the pump.

Key facts:

• Dehumidifier:
  • The Frigidaire FHDD5033Y1 has no pump (“Pump Feature: No”) and drains into its bucket or through a gravity hose.
  • Frigidaire lists 49 dBA on low and 51.5 dBA on high, 2 fan speeds, a 1.9-gallon bucket and 19.1” H × 18.9” W × 9.9” D (Frigidaire spec sheet).
  • Frigidaire Canada lists 41.45 lb (Frigidaire Canada).
  • The manual gives an operating range of 41–89°F and recommends a 1/2” or larger drain hose with “no kinks or elevations” (manual).
• Capacity and efficiency: ENERGY STAR lists 49.95 pints/day and 520 kWh/yr for the dehumidifier (ENERGY STAR data).
• Pump: the Little Giant VCMA-20ULS has a 20 ft shut-off head, a 0.5-gallon tank, a safety switch and 115 V power. Little Giant rates it at 48 gallons per hour at 10 ft of lift (Little Giant; order info).
• What “shut-off head” means: 20 ft is the height at which flow stops completely, so the useful lift is lower. Little Giant’s own table shows zero flow at 20 ft (Little Giant).
• Tubing: the VCMA-20ULS doesn’t include tubing. The VCMA-20ULST version includes 20 ft of 3/8” tubing (Little Giant).
• Setup height: neither Frigidaire nor Little Giant publishes the height of the dehumidifier’s drain outlet or the pump’s inlet. So we can’t tell you whether the dehumidifier will drain into the pump while sitting on the floor. You may need to raise the dehumidifier on a sturdy riser so the gravity hose runs downhill into the pump. Follow both makers’ instructions.
• Warranty: the dehumidifier has a 1-year limited warranty “for functional repairs only” (manual). The pump has a 12-month warranty (Little Giant order info).
• Expert reviews: we didn’t find an independent review of the FHDD5033Y1.

Who it’s for:

• People who care most about long-term durability and don’t mind two devices and two power plugs.

Who it’s not for:

• Anyone who wants one self-contained unit.
• Anyone who doesn’t want to work out drain heights and tubing.

Honest downsides:

• It’s two products to buy, set up and maintain, with two warranties.
• You’ll need to buy tubing for the VCMA-20ULS.
• You won’t know whether you need a riser until you measure.
• We didn’t find an independent test of this dehumidifier, and it has only 2 fan speeds.
• We didn’t confirm a current price for the pair, so check that the combined cost really is close to a pump model’s.

Comparison table

Sources: see each pick above. DBG is DehumidifierBuyersGuide. Noise figures come from different sources and methods, so they can’t be ranked against one another.

Buying advice: what other guides skip

How high and how far can the pump push?

This is the spec that matters most, and the manuals word it differently:

• Midea MAD50PS1BQGR: up to 14 ft above the drain port (manual).
• Frigidaire FHDP5033Y1: the manual says “the maximum distance and the rise may be 5m (16.4 feet) from the unit.” Frigidaire doesn’t define this further. We read it as a combined limit, so a high drain point would leave less room for a long run. Confirm with Frigidaire if your drain point is high or far away.
• Hisense DH5026KP1G: a height under 16 ft with a 16 ft hose, per the DH5024 manual Hisense links. Hisense doesn’t publish a manual for this exact model.
• Little Giant VCMA-20ULS: a 20 ft shut-off head, where flow stops completely, and 48 gallons per hour at 10 ft.
• Midea MAD50PS1AWBL: the same 5 m “distance and rise” wording as the Frigidaire, which we also read as a combined limit (manual).
• TCL W50D9P3: the hose is about 16.4 ft, but TCL doesn’t publish a vertical lift anywhere we checked.
• BLACK+DECKER BD50PMWSA: 16 inches, even though it comes with a 16 ft hose (manual).

Measure first: measure the height from the floor to the rim of your sink, tub or window, and the length of the hose route. Then compare those numbers with the manual’s wording, not the box. For the external-pump route, also check that the dehumidifier’s drain hose can run downhill into the pump.

Built-in pump or external pump?

Two testing publishers, DehumidifierBuyersGuide and HouseFresh, advise against built-in pumps because the pumps fail early. DehumidifierBuyersGuide suggests a gravity unit plus a separate condensate pump at “about the same or slightly less” combined cost. A built-in pump is simpler: one box and one plug. The external route lets you replace just the pump, but it adds tubing and a drain-height question.

How quiet is “quiet”?

• Maker figures: Frigidaire lists 49 dBA on low and 51.5 dBA on high for both of its models here. Midea and Hisense don’t publish dB figures for their picks. BLACK+DECKER says “under 51 dBA.”
• DehumidifierBuyersGuide’s measurements, in its own setup:
  • The Hisense measured 64.8 dB on low and 67.1 dB on high, with an audible compressor buzz.
  • The standard (no-pump) Midea Cube, a different model from our Midea pick, measured 65.4 dB on low and 66.4 dB on high.
  • It ranked the no-pump Cube the quietest top-exhaust 50-pint unit it has tested and the Hisense second.
• Pump noise: the Midea manual warns that its pump can be loud for the first 3–5 minutes of operation.

Maker dBA ratings and a reviewer’s meter readings use different methods, so the numbers can’t be compared directly. We didn’t find independent measurements of these models on low fan in a real finished basement.

Is it really “50 pints”?

ENERGY STAR lists all four dehumidifiers at 49.67–49.95 pints/day under the Department of Energy’s 2019 test (ENERGY STAR data). Some store pages also show a larger number from the older test method. Compare models by their 2019-test numbers.

What does it cost to run?

At the U.S. average residential rate of 18.31¢/kWh (July 2026, EIA), ENERGY STAR’s annual energy estimates work out to:

These figures are electricity costs, not product prices, and they’re based on ENERGY STAR’s standard-use estimate. The external pump’s own electricity isn’t included. A dehumidifier running hard through a humid summer will use more in those months. To get your own figure, swap in the rate from your utility bill.

Cold basements and frost

The Hisense has the lowest listed minimum operating temperature here, 38°F (Hisense), and Consumer Reports’ model page lists frost control (Consumer Reports). The Midea and both Frigidaires list 41°F. Good Housekeeping noted that the Frigidaire models it tested lacked frost control. It doesn’t say which models, so this may or may not apply here (Good Housekeeping). The Midea manual says not to run its pump hose outdoors at or below 32°F, and Frigidaire’s support article lists a frozen hose as one cause of its pump error.

Warranty

• Hisense: 2 years on parts and labor (Hisense’s page).
• Midea: 1 year in the manual, 2 years on Midea’s product page. Ask Midea which applies.
• Frigidaire (both models): 1-year limited, functional repairs only.
• Little Giant pump: 12 months.

Keep your receipt, and note when the first year ends.

If you can’t lift a full bucket

A pump, whether built-in or external, saves you from carrying buckets. Even so, the Midea manual asks you to empty the bucket at least weekly in pump mode, because the pump leaves some water behind.

Recalls: check any older dehumidifier you already own

Dehumidifiers have a long recall history, but none of those recalls covers the models on this page. We searched CPSC’s recall database on Oct 7–8, 2026 for every dehumidifier model on this page and for the Little Giant pump, and none has a recall. Every dehumidifier recall in that database covers units sold in 2017 or earlier. Past dehumidifier recalls include:

• Midea-made units (3.4 million), sold Jan 2003–Dec 2013 under Midea, Frigidaire, Honeywell, GE and other names (CPSC). The recall notice explains how to check whether your unit is included.
• New Widetech-made units (about 2 million), sold Feb 2009–Aug 2017, including older Honeywell units (CPSC).
• Gree-made units, sold 2005–2013, including Frigidaire (CPSC). CPSC later warned consumers to stop using recalled Gree dehumidifiers (CPSC warning).

If you have an older dehumidifier from any of these brands, check its model number against the recall notices before you keep using it.

We also searched SaferProducts.gov incident reports on Oct 7–8, 2026 for every dehumidifier model on this page and for Little Giant condensate pumps. We didn’t find reports naming any of them. The only related reports are the two on an earlier Midea Cube model, described in the Midea section above. SaferProducts.gov reports are submitted by consumers and aren’t verified.

Also considered (and why they’re not picks)

• BLACK+DECKER BD50PMWSA. Retail listings call it a “built-in pump” model, but the manual says not to pump more than 16 inches in height, even though it ships with a 16 ft pump hose (manual). That won’t reach a sink, laundry tub or basement window. BLACK+DECKER also says it’s ENERGY STAR certified, but the current ENERGY STAR list doesn’t include this model.
• Midea MAD50PS1AWBL. Consumer Reports (updated Jan 9, 2026) calls it “fairly quiet for a large-capacity model.” Its manual describes the pump limit only as a 5 m “distance and rise” (likely combined) (Midea).
• TCL W50D9P3. TCL doesn’t publish how high its pump can lift water. That’s the key spec for this problem, so we can’t recommend it as a pick (TCL).
• GE APEW50LZ and APHR50LB (built-in pumps). GE’s support pages list them as manufactured until May 2025 and May 2023, respectively, so they’re out of production (GE APEW50LZ; GE APHR50LB).
• GE ADHE50PWF (built-in pump). It’s a current GE model, and GE’s manual says its maximum lift height is 16 ft (GE; manual). It’s not a pick: it isn’t ENERGY STAR certified, GE publishes no noise figure, and GE lists its warranty as a limited 1-year exchange only, with no labor coverage. We also didn’t find an expert test.
• Midea MAD35S1QWT. It has no built-in pump: Midea’s product page lists “Built-in Pump No,” and Consumer Reports’ model page agrees, so we left it out (Midea; Consumer Reports model page).

How we researched this

We did not test these products or take any measurements. Our research team compiled published information on Oct 7–8, 2026:

• Manuals, spec sheets and warranty terms from each manufacturer.
• Capacity and energy data from ENERGY STAR’s certified-product dataset.
• Published reviews and test findings from DehumidifierBuyersGuide, HouseFresh, Consumer Reports and Good Housekeeping, each credited where used.
• Safety records from CPSC recall data and SaferProducts.gov incident reports.
• Electricity rate from the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

To make our list, a pump option needed a published lift rating that can reach a typical sink, tub or window, plus published warranty terms. For the Hisense, which has no exact-model lift rating, the figure comes from the DH5024 manual Hisense links for this model. We then matched each pick to the buyer it fits best, using manuals, certification data and published reviews. We didn’t use Amazon customer ratings or reviews. No brand paid for placement, and we don’t earn from the links in this guide. Where sources disagreed, such as Midea’s two warranty lengths or the Hisense’s weight and tank size, we say so on the page.

Questions or corrections? contact us

Sources (accessed Oct 7–8, 2026)

• Midea MAD50PS1BQGR: Midea product page · manual (PDF) · ENERGY STAR record · Midea MAD50PS1QGR page (earlier model) · SaferProducts.gov reports on MAD50PS1QGR: Dec 16, 2021, 2025 · DehumidifierBuyersGuide standard Cube review
• Frigidaire FHDP5033Y1: product page (Canada) · Y1 manual (PDF) · PU error support article
• Hisense DH5026KP1G: Hisense product page · Hisense-linked DH5024 manual (PDF) · DehumidifierBuyersGuide review · Consumer Reports model page
• Frigidaire FHDD5033Y1 + Little Giant VCMA-20ULS: Frigidaire spec sheet (PDF) · Frigidaire manual (PDF) · product page (Canada) · Little Giant VCMA-20 series · VCMA-20ULS order info (554425)
• Also considered: BLACK+DECKER BD50PMWSA manual (PDF) · Midea MAD50PS1AWBL · MAD50PS1AWBL manual (PDF) · TCL W50D9P3 · GE APEW50LZ support · GE APHR50LB support · GE ADHE50PWF support · GE ADHE50PWF manual (PDF) · Midea MAD35S1QWT product page · Consumer Reports MAD35S1QWT model page
• Reviews: DehumidifierBuyersGuide · HouseFresh · Good Housekeeping · Consumer Reports, quiet dehumidifiers
• Data, rules and recalls: ENERGY STAR dehumidifier dataset · EIA electricity prices, Table 5.6.A · CPSC recalls · SaferProducts.gov · recall notices linked above