We finished researching dehumidifiers, to find the quietest one, and thought it would be fun to take an even closer look at some of the products. An in-depth Keystone dehumidifier review seemed like a great place to start. Their 70 pint dehumidifier was the obvious choice; the Keystone KSTAD70B pulls moisture from the air fast and without drama.
Pros…
- Covers 3,800 square feet
- Great price for what you get
- 70 pint capacity is ideal for most consumers
- Very quiet (as seen in our quietest dehumidifier review)
- Smaller reservoir is easier to empty than higher capacity competitors
- Auto defrost for continuous use
Cons…
- Fairly small 10 pint reservoir capacity requires frequent attention in high humidity locations. Consider using the continuous drain option to bypass the “bucket” if this is a deal breaker.
- Keystone isn’t as widely known as companies like Honeywell and Frigidaire. However, we think they’re equally as competent in the dehumidifier space.
Why bother with a Keystone Dehumidifier review
We know Keystone isn’t a global powerhouse. They don’t build everything from air purifiers to air to air missile components like Honeywell does. They haven’t been in stores for decades like products from Frigidaire. However, they do offer a reliable, feature-packed product at a great price. Perhaps that’s why you’ll find these products on myriad store shelves and available through online retailers. Simply put… they’re an excellent value. And, as we mentioned earlier it’s one of the quietest units you can buy.
Specifications
| Keystone KSTAD70B | |
|---|---|
| Weight (Empty) | 40 lbs |
| Casters | Yes |
| Handles | Side |
| Fan | 2 Speed |
| Airflow (CFM) | 188 |
| Exhaust Location | Side |
| Condensate Pump | No |
| Noise Output | 56 dB |
| Tank Capacity | 10.4 pints |
| Coverage | 3,800 Square Feet |
For most applications a 70 pint dehumidifier will provide the most value, performance and flexibility. Unfortunately, 70 pint units are among the most expensive options.
Keystone’s KSTAD70B is a great budget-friendly alternative to similar dehumidifiers. So, what did the manufacturer have to sacrifice to get this model so close to two hundred dollars? First, you’ll be hard pressed to see any Keystone marketing spend. Aside from product listings and reviews Keystone is virtually non-existent online. That obviously drives down the MSRP. Second, there is a bit of build quality lacking. It’s nothing terrible but to us it’s definitely noticeable. Plastic seems a bit thin and structural braces are missing when compared to other units. However, this purifier has great reviews and few complaints about build quality problems. We’re happy to admit that our standards are very high, but aren’t afraid to admit we might be overreacting sometimes.
We are not, however, afraid to complain about Keystone’s control panel. It looks like something from a 1990’s infomercial product. It’s not impressive and it seems like many of the feature limitations point to the control panel. Who limits anything related to time to two digits? Keystone, that’s who. Need to adjust a time setting? You get two digits. Want to set a timer for 2 hours and 25 minutes? Sorry, after the two digit limit is reached you’ll have to switch to whole hours.
But does it work well?
This dehumidifier works incredibly well. We gave it a bit of a hard time for cosmetic reasons, but when it comes to drying air… this purifier works great. When it comes to features that really matter the Keystone has almost everything a higher end dehumidifier offers. And, while it’s not Energy Star certified it is quite efficient when actual power draw is measured. Which is quite a contrast to most low-cost products that achieve performance through excessive energy consumption.
We suspect that energy efficiency and somewhat low airflow also contributes to the lack of excess operating noise. This is a quiet dehumidifier. The lower weight might also be a byproduct of the thinner plastic we complained about above. So the question is would you rather own an expensive, heavily-built, excessively-loud dehumidifier that “seems” better? Or something that’s affordable, lightweight, quiet, and works just as well (70 pints / 24 hours)? We’d choose the latter 9 times out of ten if we’re being completely honest.
Unless you have a specific need we think this dehumidifier will exceed expectations.
Where does the Keystone fall short?
Without taking price into consideration there are some places where this product falls short. For example, if you need continuous drain and need to route the drain hose higher than the dehumidifier. If the unit is placed lower than say a sink drain; you’ll need a pump to move the water. Other units provide an internal pump, while the Keystone will require an additional purchase. A condensate pump like the following model from Little Giant, which will bring your total cost up quite a bit.
Warranty and Customer Support
The parts and labor warranty expires after 12 months. However, Keystone added a five-year sealed component warranty to sweeten the deal and offer a boost in confidence. The shorter warranty period doesn’t worry us too much. If you are worried buy the dehumidifier from Amazon and add their optional warranty… it’s usually pretty cheap insurance.