Black & Decker Portable Dehumidifier With Pump Hose (4,500 Sq Ft)

Why I picked the Black+Decker 50‑pint dehumidifier

I wanted a portable unit that could quietly keep a damp basement in check without babysitting it. The Black+Decker 50‑pint dehumidifier checked a lot of boxes on paper: Energy Star certification, a built‑in pump with hose for continuous drain, a decent‑sized tank, auto‑restart, and a simple control panel. After living with it through sticky summer months and shoulder seasons, I have a clear sense of where it excels—and where it asks for compromises.

Setup and first impressions

Out of the box, it’s straightforward. The casters snap in, the washable mesh filter slides out for a quick rinse, and both a gravity‑drain hose and a pump hose are included. The plastic shell feels mid‑tier—nothing luxurious, but not flimsy either—and the proportions make it easy to tuck beside a utility sink or along a basement wall. The air exhaust is side‑discharge rather than top‑vented, which helps push air across the room if you angle the machine thoughtfully.

The onboard interface is simple: a bright LED display, up/down arrows for the humidistat, a 24‑hour timer, and buttons for fan speed and pump/drain options. The humidistat adjusts in 5% increments, and the unit displays both the setpoint and current humidity. Against my calibrated hygrometer, the reading ran 2–3% high—well within what I expect from consumer dehumidifiers.

Performance and coverage: realistic expectations

The marketing says “up to 4,500 sq ft,” but its 2019 DOE coverage spec is a much more down‑to‑earth 650 sq ft—and that’s the range where it shines. In my 800 sq ft basement at 60–68°F, it can pull humidity down from 65% to 45–50% within a day and hold there, cycling the compressor on and off as needed. The auto‑defrost function kicks in periodically in cooler conditions; you’ll notice a brief pause in water collection while it clears frost from the coils. That’s normal behavior and helps protect the compressor.

I also tried it in a 1,200 sq ft main level after a week of rain. With doors open between rooms and the HVAC fan circulating, the dehumidifier ran nearly nonstop to nudge the environment below 50% RH. It kept things comfortable, but it never had the reserve to pull down quickly and rest. If your goal is whole‑home control, plan on either multiple units or a dedicated ducted dehumidifier.

Noise and day‑to‑day living

This unit is genuinely quiet for its class. On low, it blends into the background as a soft whoosh; on high, there’s more airflow noise but no harsh compressor clatter. Measured at an arm’s length in a quiet room, I saw roughly 50 dB on low and a few decibels higher on high. In a living area, low is fine for conversation and TV; in a basement or utility room, either speed feels unobtrusive.

The side discharge helps move air across the space, but you still want clearance: I had the best results with at least 8 inches to the back and sides and a couple of feet of open air in the direction it’s blowing. Close doors and windows to avoid importing moisture you then have to pay to remove.

Drainage options: tank, gravity, and pump

There are three ways to manage water:

• Tank: The 6‑liter bucket is easy to slide out and has a clear level window. During heavy swings (think swampy August), I was emptying it 2–3 times a day. The unit will beep and shut off when full—no spills, just an interruption.

• Gravity drain: For setups with a floor drain, this is the set‑and‑forget option. Attach the included hose, ensure a continuous downward slope, and you’re done. This was my most reliable mode.

• Built‑in pump: The pump is the hero feature if you need to go uphill to a sink. In my tests it handled a typical utility sink height without complaint. It does take a moment to prime, and the pump runs in short bursts; you’ll hear it hum briefly when it evacuates the internal reservoir. Keep the hose straight and periodically check for kinks.

If you plan to run the unit continuously, use either the gravity drain or the pump. The tank is fine as a backup but becomes tedious under high load.

Controls, automation, and smart touches

• Auto‑restart brings the unit back to the last settings after a power outage—nice peace of mind during summer storms.
• The 24‑hour on/off timer is simple but handy for energy management if you only need aggressive drying during certain hours.
• Overflow protection works as advertised; it won’t flood the floor.
• The filter is washable and easy to pop out. A monthly rinse has kept airflow healthy in my dusty basement.
• Auto‑defrost is effective and keeps ice from building on the evaporator during cooler shoulder‑season operation.

I would have liked finer fan control and a room‑to‑room humidity averaging option, but that’s wish‑list territory at this price point.

Energy use and operating cost

On my meter, the Black+Decker drew roughly 600–750 watts with the compressor engaged, depending on fan speed and ambient conditions, and under 50 watts with just the fan circulating. That’s typical for a modern 50‑pint machine and aligns with its Energy Star certification. The real variable is duty cycle: in a sealed 650–800 sq ft area, it cycles on and off as the space dries; in larger, open floor plans it tends to run hard for long stretches. If you pay premium rates for electricity, aim for a realistic coverage area, shut doors to isolate the target space, and use the timer or a 45–50% RH setpoint to avoid over‑drying.

Maintenance and reliability

Routine care is straightforward: rinse the filter monthly, wipe the intake grille if it dusts up, and occasionally flush the pump hose if you’re in a lint‑heavy environment. The internal coils stayed clean with normal filtration, and the case is easy to wipe down.

Over the longer term, I ran into one hiccup. After about a year of intermittent use (heavy in summer, light in spring/fall), the fan assembly developed an intermittent squeak and airflow dipped until power‑cycled. It never failed outright, but it hinted at wear on the circulation fan. The design doesn’t expose user‑serviceable internals, so you’re limited to basic troubleshooting. It’s worth considering an extended warranty if you plan to rely on a single unit for critical moisture control.

What I liked

• Effective, steady drying in spaces up to about 650–800 sq ft
• Quiet operation for its class; usable in living areas on low
• Flexible drainage, including a competent built‑in pump
• Simple, readable controls with a reliable humidistat
• Auto‑restart, auto‑defrost, and overflow shut‑off all work as promised
• Washable filter and easy‑to‑move chassis with smooth casters

What I’d change

• Marketing coverage claims are optimistic; set expectations around the DOE rating
• Noisy spaces aside, high speed can be a touch breezy in small rooms without added benefit
• The pump could prime faster and include a slightly beefier hose
• Longevity of the fan assembly is a question mark; parts aren’t user‑serviceable
• No smart connectivity or remote monitoring (not a must, but increasingly common)

Who it’s for

• Homeowners with a damp basement, crawlspace, or a single large room who want reliable humidity control without installing a ducted unit
• Renters who need a portable, pump‑equipped dehumidifier that can drain to a sink
• Anyone who values quiet operation and straightforward controls over bells and whistles

Who should look elsewhere: folks seeking whole‑home dehumidification across multiple floors or very open plans. You’ll get better results (and sometimes lower overall cost) from a larger‑capacity or ducted solution.

Recommendation

I recommend the Black+Decker 50‑pint dehumidifier for targeted spaces up to roughly 800 square feet, especially where a built‑in pump simplifies placement. It’s quiet, easy to live with, and offers the right automation to run unattended. Just go in with realistic expectations about coverage, plan on continuous drain for heavy seasons, and consider extended warranty coverage if you intend to run it hard for years. For single rooms and typical basements, it’s a capable, flexible workhorse. For whole‑home control, it’s the wrong tool.