The Basics

Frigidaire FFAD7933R1 Dehumidier

The Frigidaire FFAD7033R1 is a 70 pint (33l) dehumidifier. It’s Frigidaire’s newer model to their previous model, the FAD704DWD. The FAD704DWD is also a 70-pint model. It was released in 2013, about two years before the FAD704DWD. Both are still available for purchase and are by Frigidaire at the same list price (a sale can change that), although the FAD704DWD is harder to find for purchase. It is possible Fridgidare is taking them off the market to be entirely replaced by the FFAD7033R1.

The FFAD7033R1 is slightly narrower than the FAD704DWD, but there’s only an inch difference here, so unless you’re really tight on space, this probably won’t be a deciding factor for you. They’re basically the same depth and height, and like most standing dehumidifiers are on castors to raise them off the ground and make them easy to move. The biggest difference you’ll notice in the appearance between these two models is the FAD704DWD has a large honeycomb grate pattern on the front of the unit, whereas the FFAD7033R1 is a much more contemporary looking design with a sleeker look on the front. The back of the units is almost the opposite – the intake and filter on the FAD704DWD are on the front, behind that honeycomb grate and the back is sleek, whereas on the FFAD7033R1 has a less attractive looking filter on the rear of the unit.

Both dehumidifiers have a water level notification which will beep when the internal tank is full, as well as a viewing window on the front of the unit so you can see when the tank is nearing full. On the FAD704DWD the window is a simple line, on the FFAD7033R1, it’s a clear ring. They both have handles on the top of the unit which drop back, so they’re flush with the top of the dehumidifier when not in use. The tank capacity on the FAD704DWD is larger at 16.3 pints to the FFAD7033R1’s 13.1 pints. While both dehumidifiers have a continuous drain option, this isn’t suitable for every situation, and if emptying the tank less often is a factor for you, this may influence your decision. Both dehumidifiers have front loading tanks with carry handles and a splash guard to prevent water spillage during emptying, though a small number of users of both models find the tank cumbersome to change and prone to spillage.

The FAD704DWD includes Frigidaire’s ‘Effortless Clean Filter’. They say ‘our removable, washable filter reduces bacteria, room odors and other airborne particles for a healthier, more comfortable environment’. Some users especially note how impressed they are with how quickly this model reduces odors from musty and damp rooms.

When looking for a dehumidifier, there are two main factors I consider – how good is this unit at removing moisture, and how loud is it?

Effectiveness

Both the FAD704DWD and the FFAD7033R1 are rated at 745 watts, and both are energy star rated. They are both designed to draw 70 pints of water out of the air each day. Most users report they are satisfied with the amount of moisture both models remove. This model performs well, although not as well as the FFAD7033R1.

In a moisture removal test (conducted by http://www.dehumidifiersbuyersguide.com), the FFAD7033R1 and the FAD704DWD were both used in a 50 square foot room with 90% relative humidity. They were timed to see how long they would take to dehumidify the room to under 40% relative humidity. The FFAD7033R1 did so in 9 minutes, 41 seconds. The FAD704DWD took 12 minutes 14 seconds.

If dehumidifying an area quickly or electricity usage is an important factor to you, the FFAD7033R1 would be a good choice. Because it dehumidifies more quickly than the FAD704DWD, it will switch off more quickly consuming less power to dehumidify the same area. Unlike some other high capacity dehumidifiers, both units are designed to continue to run effectively at temperatures as low as 41°F, which will help to further reduce your electricity usage.

Click here to get more details on the Frigidaire FFAD7033R1

Click here to get more details on the Frigidaire FAD704DWD

Noise

As discussed above, the FAD704DWD though because the fan operates at a lower cubic feet per minute (CFM) than some other large dehumidifier models, including the FFAD7033R1. This means that compared to other models, the FAD704DWD is quieter. The FFAD7033R1 has a higher CFM than the FAD704DWD, which means you might expect a noisier unit. Frigidaire has moved the air intake from the front of the unit in the FAD704DWD to the rear, and moved the exhausts from the top in the older model to the side. This gives users the ability to position the FFAD7033R1 against a wall to reduce the noise of the unit.

However, despite the ability to direct the flow of air (and noise), many users have found that placing the FFAD7033R1 against a wall means the unit will pull air from between the unit and the wall, which is less efficient than pulling air from the front of the unit, like the FAD704DWD. This can, of course, be ameliorated by turning the unit around or placing it in the center of the room. For those who mind what our appliances look like, you may want to go with the FAD704DWD which pulls air from the front while looking much more attractive than the FFAD7033R1’s rear filter.

Many users of the FAD704DWD were pleasantly surprised at the noise level of these units, describing them as much quieter than previous dehumidifiers they had owned.

Controls

Frigidaire FAD704DWD Dehumidifier

Both units have an electronic display with simple, intuitive controls. They both can display a current humidity reading based on the internal humidity sensor. However, unlike the FFAD7033R1 which displays humidity in 1 percent intervals, the FAD703DWD displays humidity in 5% increments only. This has an impact on its performance, as it will dehumidify 5% lower than the humidity you set it for, and will turn back on when the sensor reads the ambient air humidity at 5% over what it is set to.

Some customers are concerned about the placement of the humidity sensor in both these Fridgidore models, noting that because the sensor is inside the unit near the collection tank, it does not accurately read humidity in the room. For a small number of people, this has led to the unit switching off and on more frequently than they expected. It is worth noting there are few situations where you might notice a 5% difference in relative humidity, so unless pinpoint accuracy is critical, this is unlikely to be a deciding factor on either of these machines.

Warranty

Both the FAD704DWD and FFAD7033R1 come with a one year warranty. Many customers report to being frustrated by Frigidaire’s protracted warranty claim process, even if they were very satisfied with the product before they made their claim.

For the FAD704DWD particularly, some users complained their unit leaked when using the collection tank or the coils froze or failed within a few months of normal use. While a small number of customers report having warranty issues, the FAD704DWD is an extremely popular dehumidifier. Failed units appear to be reasonably rare. This model was also recalled in September 2016 along with many different brands and models of dehumidifiers for potential fire safety issues. This recall only affected a small number of units.

Click here to check reviews and ratings on the Frigidaire FFAD7033R1

Click here to check reviews and ratings on the Frigidaire FAD704DWD