Santa Fe Compact 2 Dehumidifier Customer Reviews
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviews(based on 75 reviews)
Ratings Distribution
100%
of respondents would recommend this to a friend.
Pros
- Compact (17)
- Effective (16)
- Energy efficient (10)
- Quiet (9)
- Lightweight (7)
Cons
Best Uses
- Dank basement (15)
- Summer humidity (10)
- Reviewer Profile:
- Homeowner (17)
- Primary use:
- Personal (18)
Most Liked Positive Review
Basement dehumidifier
I bought this dehumidifier to keep my basement workshop dry. My application is challenging because the environment can be dusty sometimes (from woodworking), which can clog up the evaporator of unfiltered units. My...Read complete review
I bought this dehumidifier to keep my basement workshop dry. My application is challenging because the environment can be dusty sometimes (from woodworking), which can clog up the evaporator of unfiltered units. My understanding is that the wood dust is corrosive, which might explain why my previous units only lasted about 2 years each.
The Santa Fe Compact has a nice filter system which should help keep the evaporator coil clean. I also like the ducting feature - I use this to pull air from the cleanest corner of the workshop and blow the dry air into the dustier part of the workshop. This helps with air circulation and should also help protect the evaporator from dust. I hang my dehumidifier from the ceiling joists, which keeps it out of the way and makes it easy to gravity drain the water to a floor drain. The hang kit is sturdy and includes some rubber bits that reduce vibration from being transmitted to the joists (keeps the noise level down).
When I bought this unit, I was impresssed that both Sylvane and ThermaStor (parent company of Santa Fe) had folks that answered the phone and were actually able to answer technical questions. It's unfortunate, but this kind of basic customer service is getting rare. I was also happy to find out that the Santa Fe Compact is made in the USA; I really resent sending my money overseas, especially in this tough economy. So far the only quirk I have noticed with this dehumidifier is that it sees to cycle on and off more frequently than its predecesors. Now that the humidity level is stable, it runs for about 1 to 2 minutes and then shuts off for about 3 to 4 minutes and repeats. I hope that this frequent cycling does not have any impact on the durability. So far though, it is able to maintain a very steady humidity level in my workshop. It has been running now for about a month.
VS
Most Liked Negative Review
Once You Repair a Design and Manufacturing Defect, It Works Well
After wiring a circuit in the cellar for this unit to run on and setting up a spot for it, I plugged this unit in, turned it on, and got the worst grinding sound...Read complete review
After wiring a circuit in the cellar for this unit to run on and setting up a spot for it, I plugged this unit in, turned it on, and got the worst grinding sound I've ever heard from it. The unit was level and had been allowed to sit for four hours (more than enough time for the refrigerant to run into its sump).
After being able to get a hold of no one from either Sylvane or Therma-stor (the manufacturer), I violated the warranty and removed the back cover of the machine. The source of the awful grinding noise was immediately obvious. A sheet metal box containing most of the electrical controls for the unit was loose and rubbing on the radial fan in the unit. (As a side note, this control box has a mechanical hygrometer/thermometer atop it with a multitude of dip switches on it. Don't move any of the switches. They're set where they're supposed to be at the factory.) I tugged the electrical box back as far as I could, but the clearance between the fan and box was never more than 1/16" or so. However, that was enough to get rid of the interference with the fan and allow the unit to operate.
After three months of use, the electrical enclosure managed to vibrate forward and engage the fan again. Since I didn't want to completely disassemble the unit to resolve this, I braced the electrical enclosure away from the fan with a pair of foam rubber shapes cut from a "Wacky Noodle" pool toy I picked up from Dollar General for a buck-fifty. Now the electrical box can't move. So far, the unit is working reliably again. Time will tell.
If anyone is considering this dehumidifier (or is wondering how to fix one that's grinding) and would like pictures detailing the quick and easy repair, email Clutch.Drofab@GMail.com.
Reviewed by 75 customers
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Pros
- Compact
- Effective
Cons
Best Uses
- Dank Basement
- Year Round In Basement
Comments about Santa Fe Compact 2 Dehumidifier:
Currently using this product in basement. So far very effective really pulls the musty smell from our lake house.
- Primary use:
- Personal
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
- Dank Basement
Comments about Santa Fe Compact 2 Dehumidifier:
After throwing money away on cheaper units that never could bring down the humidity level, I invested in the Santa Fe and I'm very pleased with the results.
- Primary use:
- Personal
Pros
- Compact
- Effective
- Energy Efficient
- Quiet
Cons
- Heavy
Best Uses
- Damp C Rawl Space
- Dank Basement
- Summer Humidity
Comments about Santa Fe Compact 2 Dehumidifier:
purchased to dry out a damp crawl space which had been closed up with standing water and black mold in joist spaces. After remediating the mold I installed this unit. No more dampness. No more mold. It is quiet and very efficient compared to a normal room dehumidifier. Runs seldom now. I drain it into a Little Giant lift pump which pumps into an overhead trapped drain. Perfect.
- Primary use:
- Personal
Pros
- Compact
- Effective
- Energy Efficient
- Lightweight
- Quiet
Cons
Best Uses
- Dank Basement
- Summer Humidity
Comments about Santa Fe Compact 2 Dehumidifier:
Fits perfectly in a very tight space, out of the way and keeps my basement at 48%-50% humidty with no problem. Just set it up, clean the filter, and forget it.
- Primary use:
- Personal
Pros
- Compact
- Effective
- Energy Efficient
- Lightweight
- Quiet
Cons
Best Uses
- Summer Humidity
Comments about Santa Fe Compact 2 Dehumidifier:
This product is easy to install - sits up in the basement ceiling with a drain through the exterior wall. It is not cheap but I have had many standard dehumififiers that have failed - iced up, burned out, or failed to start. This took my 1600 sq ft basement to 47% humidity very quickly. It is quiet and reliable. I have recommended it to quite a few people.
- Primary use:
- Personal
Pros
- Compact
- Effective
- Energy Efficient
- Lightweight
- Quiet
- Well constructed
Cons
Best Uses
- Dank Basement
- Summer Humidity
Comments about Santa Fe Compact 2 Dehumidifier:
My house, which dates to the 1830s, is very small, so I must depend upon dry storage in my otherwise clammy basement. I had witnessed the difference in air-quality a Santa Fe unit had made in a friend's house of similar vintage; when I bought and restored my property, there was no question that I would buy one of my own. I could not be more satisfied. I am uncertain of the effect on my electric bill, but while I'm not exactly made of money, whatever it is, it's worth it.
- Primary use:
- Personal
Pros
- Compact
- Energy Efficient
Cons
Best Uses
- Dank Basement
Comments about Santa Fe Compact 2 Dehumidifier:
Use in a crawlspace with limited space. Unit fits perfectly with the hanger kit. Simple controls yet industrial strength materials and quality. My first unit leaked, Sylvan replaced it with a new one without any questions or delays. Kudos to Sylvane!!! Will buy again from these folks.
- Primary use:
- Personal
Pros
- Compact
- Effective
- Energy Efficient
- Quiet
Cons
Best Uses
- Dank Basement
Comments about Santa Fe Compact 2 Dehumidifier:
Much more efficient, quieter, and better made than the el cheapo LG model I bought previously.
- Primary use:
- Personal
Pros
- Compact
- Effective
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Santa Fe Compact 2 Dehumidifier:
I bought a home that was built in 1925 with a 2 foot crawlspace. The crawlspace is musty and moisture does exist causing a musty and mildew type smell. The smell creeps up into the house. I'm pretty sure the unit it is working because the smell has been reduced greatly. You can hear the unit slightly from the floor up. It's not a bad noise at all, and you only really hear it from the room/s the unit sits under. My unit is near the bedroom, so actually the low hum puts me to sleep. When installing the unit, I opt to run a drain line with a trap to an existing drain line, and installed a 15AMP receptacle with its own circuit. The first week of use, it did leak around the outlet of the unit. Make sure you use plenty of Teflon tape around the threads of the connector, and a hose clamp around the hose (clamp not included). That solves that problem. Overall, I'm happy with the product. For the price, I hope it give me years of good service.
- Primary use:
- Personal
Pros
- Compact
- Effective
- Energy Efficient
- Lightweight
Cons
Best Uses
- Dank Basement
Comments about Santa Fe Compact 2 Dehumidifier:
I used to use a small 50 pint dehumidifier in my basement but the humidity and a bit of a smell started and it was clear it was not going to do the job.
It is a decent size basement and there are 2 crawlspaces as well. I thought about running 2 more small ones in other areas but getting drains there was problematic.
I talked to a friend and he had a SaniDry unit but it was expensive and a franchise item. I then discovered that Therma-Stor was also producing the Santa Fe and picked the compact one.
I have installed it in my utility area and used the ducting kit to connect it to the finished area and started running it with doors open. 12 hours later humidity in my crawlspace was down 9% and is varying between 48 and 51 3 days later.
I am going to install some air returns grilles between the 3 spaces and see if it is the same; unfortunately I don't have louver doors and will be expensive to replace 2 of them.
I had some concerns about noise levels but I am happy to say it is not any worse, it is mainly air noise. The fact that is running in the utility room also helps so is actually better than before.
- Primary use:
- Personal
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