Gurin DHMD-310 Review

Review Summary

The Gurin DHMD-310 is one of three dehumidifiers that Gurin manufacturers. It is the largest, most “heavy duty” of the three. The DHMD-210 is also a thermo-electric dehumidifier, like the DHMD-310, but it’s much lighter duty and removes much less moisture per day. The DHMD-110 is even more light duty and, unlike the DHMD-310 and DHMD-210, uses adsorption (instead of the Peltier technology used in thermo-electric dehumidifiers) to facilitate dehumidification.

In full disclosure we want to note here that we were unable to do any hands-on testing of the DHMD-310 for this editorial review. The Ivation IVADM35, which we did test, has almost exactly the same specifications as the DHMD-310 and thus we only purchased the Ivation for review in order to avoid redundancy in our testing. This same fact (the fact that both units have almost identical specifications) is also the reason why we’ll be comparing the DHMD-310 to the IVADM35 extensively throughout this review. Another very similar model, the Eva-Dry EDV-2200 will also be compared as it also has very similar, almost identical specifications to the Gurin.

Moisture Removal Rate

The DHMD-310 is rated by its manufacturer to be able to remove up to 20.5 ounces of moisture per 24 hours. This is the exact same manufacturer specified moisture removal rate as that of the Eva-Dry EDV-2200 (also 20.5 ounces per 24 hours) and almost exactly the same rate as that of the Ivation IVADM35 (20.3 ounces per 24 hours).

To put these dehumidifiers’ moisture removal rates in perspective, consider the fact that a small capacity compressor based dehumidifier can remove upwards of about 500 ounces of moisture per day. The top rated Frigidaire FFAD3033R1, for example, removes up to 30 pints of moisture per 24 hours. With 16 fluid ounces in a pint, 30 pints is equal to 480 ounces. Thus the FFAD3033R1 can remove up to 480 ounces of moisture per 24 hours. 480 divided by 20.5 equals 23.4, thus the FFAD3033R1 removes about 23 times as much moisture per 24 hours as any one of the large sized thermo-electric dehumidifiers we mentioned above, including the DHMD-310.

Despite the fact that the DHMD-310 removes much less moisture than even a small capacity compressor based unit, it does remove more moisture per 24 hours than most other thermo-electric dehumidifiers on the market. Of the 14 thermo-electric dehumidifiers we reviewed in 2015, only the Ivation IVADM45 removes more moisture per 24 hours – it removes up to 25 ounces of moisture per 24 hours. The next most “heavy duty” thermo-electric units on the market include the DHMD-210, EDV-2200, and IVADM35, all of which have a daily moisture removal rate of approximately 20 ounces. All of the aforementioned models, including the IVADM45, we classify as large sized thermo-electric dehumidifiers because they are the largest sized thermo-electric dehumidifiers on the market.

From here average daily moisture removal rate drops down to about 11 to 14 ounces per day. Those units in this class, which we classify as mid-sized thermo-electric dehumidifiers, include the SPT SD-350 and SD-350TI (approx. 12 oz. per day) and the Ivation IVADM20 (13.5 oz. per day) and ERSDM18 (11.8 oz. per day).

The least “heavy duty” thermo-electric units we classify as mini thermo-electric dehumidifiers. These units remove only 4 to 9 ounces of moisture per day. Models in this category include the Ivation IVADM10 (6 oz. per day), Eva-Dry EDV-1100 (8 oz. per day), and Gurin DHMD-210 (8 oz. per day).

The bottom line is that daily moisture removal capacity for thermo-electric dehumidifiers, in general, falls in the range of 6 to 25 ounces. The DHMD-310′s capacity falls into the higher side of this range, making it one of the more “heavy duty” thermo-electric dehumidifiers on the market. Do keep in mind, however, that it only removes a lot of moisture when compared to other thermo-electric units. Compared to compressor based dehumidifiers, all thermo-electric units, including the DHMD-310, are much less “heavy duty” and remove a very small amount of moisture per day.

Power Draw

The DHMD-310 draws 60 watts of power which is fairly standard for a thermo-electric dehumidifier with its daily moisture removal capacity. The slightly more powerful IVADM45 and the equally powerful IVADM35 and EDV-2200 all draw 72 watts of power, only 12 watts more than the DHMD-310. Note that this 12 watt discrepancy in power draw equates to only a few cents of monthly energy cost difference, thus it shouldn’t factor into your purchase decision. Regardless of which thermo-electric dehumidifier you buy, you’re getting an appliance that draws very little power and will have a negligible impact (if any) on your monthly power bill.

Durability (Build Quality)

General Impressions

The DHMD-310 features standard build quality and durability for a dehumidifier of its class and type. It features the same very basic design as every other thermo-electric dehumidifier on the market and thus it should have very similar reliability. For more information on thermo-electric dehumidifier reliability and durability see our general buyer’s guide.

Brand Reputation

The Gurin brand is not nearly as well known as those brands associated with popular compressor based dehumidifiers. When we review a compressor based dehumidifier manufactured by Frigidaire, GE, or even Danby we know that we’re reviewing a product manufactured by a large trusted brand with a well known and in most cases respectable reputation. The same can’t be said for most brands of thermo-electric dehumidifiers. Gurin is an unknown brand. So is Ivation. Less unknown but still not nearly as well known is SPT (or Sunpentown) and Eva-Dry. If you’re buying a thermo-electric dehumidifier you’re forced to buy from one of these unknown brands. Frigidaire doesn’t manufacture thermo-electric dehumidifiers. Neither does GE, Kenmore, or Danby.

The truth is that the reason why these large manufacturers stay away from thermo-electric dehumidifiers is most likely (and what follows is only speculative and a bit of a digression from our review) that the technology behind them really isn’t very good. Peltier technology is inexpensive and quiet but it cannot facilitate dehumidification on any sizable scale. As we discussed in the section on the DHMD-310′s moisture removal rate above, even the smallest compressor based dehumidifier can remove over 20 times as much moisture per day as a large sized “heavy duty” thermo-electric unit. What you have then is a product that removes 20 times less moisture per day than its compressor based counterpart, but only costs half as much. This results in many consumers buying a thermo-electric dehumidifier and being disappointed in its performance when comparing its price to that of compressor based alternatives. Our guess is that large brands (such as GE and Frigidaire) stay away from this type of dehumidifier because of this fact – that it inherently engenders consumer disappointment, as is evidenced by the fact that the negative consumer review rate (percentage of 1 and 2 star reviews) for the average thermo-electric dehumidifier is much higher than the negative review rate for the average compressor based dehumidifier.

The bottom line is that yes, Gurin is an unknown brand but so are most other brands of thermo-electric dehumidifiers, including Ivation, SPT, and others. You cannot buy the DHMD-310 expecting a large trusted brand to stand behind this product. But, again, the same is true for pretty much any other thermo-electric dehumidifier on the market. If brand reputation, warranty, etc. is important to you, we would recommend that you don’t purchase a thermo-electric dehumidifier at all but that you purchase a compressor based dehumidifier instead. See our 30 pint dehumidifier buyer’s guide for our recommendations as to which small capacity compressor based dehumidifiers are the best options currently on the market.

Extra Features

The DHMD-310 doesn’t have any extra features to speak of. You simply turn the dehumidifier on and it dehumidifies until its water collection tank is full. There’s no continuous mode, no auto mode, no selectable fan speeds, etc. Note that the same is true for most other thermo-electric dehumidifiers on the market.

Water Tank Size

The DHMD-310 features a 50 ounce water tank which is small for a thermo-electric dehumidifier in its size class. The IVADM35, IVADM45, and EDV-2200 all 68 ounce tanks. Why is water tank size important? It’s important for one reason – convenience. With a daily moisture removal rate of approximately 20 ounces you’ll need to empty the DHMD-310′s tank once every 2 to 3 days (50/20 = 2.5). The IVADM35 and the EDV-2200 will only need to be emptied once every 3 to 4 days (68/20 = 3.4). The bottom line is that you’ll need to empty the DHMD-310′s tank more frequently than you’ll need to empty either the IVADM35 or EDV-2200′s tanks.

Portability

Just as all thermo-electric dehumidifiers draw very little power, they are also all very small, light and portable. The DHMD-310 and similar “large sized” thermo-electric units weigh about 5 pounds each. Mini units weigh about 2 pounds. In either case, you’re dealing with a very light and portable appliance.

Value

The DHMD-310 retails for about $80 to $90. Both the IVADM35 and EDV-2200 are similarly priced. The IVADM35′s retail price also tends to fluctuate between approximately $80 and $90 while the EDV-2200′s price tends to fluctuate between approximately $80 and $100.

Final Thoughts

The DHMD-310′s primary competition is the Ivation IVADM35 and the Eva-Dry EDV-2200. As we’ll demonstrate below, which of these three dehumidifiers we recommend almost entirely depends on the price of each at the time of your reading this review. All three units have essentially the same daily moisture removal rate. All three units also draw about the same amount of power. The IVADM35 was tested to have average noise output among all of the thermo-electric dehumidifiers we tested. We were, unfortunately, unable to test either the EDV-2200 or DHMD-310 for noise output so we cannot say which of the three is the most quiet. The only notable physical difference between the DHMD-310 and the IVADM35 and EDV-2200 is the DHMD-310′s water tank size. It has a smaller 50 ounce tank while the Ivation and the Eva-Dry have a larger 68 ounce tank. Is this enough of a reason to recommend these two units over the DHMD-310? No, not really. Having an extra day between having to empty and replace the dehumidifier’s water tank is convenient, but not enough reason to recommend one dehumidifier over another.

Since all three units have essentially the exact same specifications, build quality and the durability and reliability that goes with it, we’re left with price being the only differentiating factor by which we can recommend one of these models over the other (or other two in this case). Our recommendation is simple – buy whichever model is most inexpensive at the time that you read this review. As we’ve shown above there are very few physical differences between the three models in question and none of the differences warrant your purchasing one model over the other. Our recommendation is that you rely on price to dictate your purchase decision.

As far as whether we recommend any one of these units over their less expensive less heavy duty counterparts, namely the IVADM10, EDV-1100, and DHMD-210, we once again have to point to price as being the deciding factor. To compare the price vs performance of the larger sized dehumidifiers we discussed above to that of the smaller mini thermo-electric units we just mentioned, divide the price of the model you want to purchase by the number of ounces of moisture it removes per day. The IVADM10, for example, removes 6 ounces of moisture per day and costs about $40. 40/6 = 6.7. In other words, you’re paying about $6.70 per ounce of moisture removal per day if you buy the IVADM10. The IVADM35 removes 20.3 ounces of moisture per day and at the time of this review costs about $85. 85/20.3 = 4.18. In this case, you’re paying only about $4.18 per ounce of moisture removal per day. The IVADM35 is thus the better value and is recommended over the IVADM10 at these prices. Similar calculations can be done in comparing the DHMD-310 to its smaller less heavy duty counterpart, the DHMD-210. The bottom line is that since large sized and mini thermo-electric dehumidifiers of the same brand have essentially the same reliability and functionality, you have no choice but to let price dictate your purchase decision. Use the calculations we’ve outlined above to help you decide which dehumidifier you should buy.

Finally, don’t forget about the fact that you do have the option of purchasing a compressor based dehumidifier instead. At the DHMD-310′s price point of about $80 to $90 you’d have to pay twice as much for even the lightest duty compressor based dehumidifier. But, you would be getting over 20 times the moisture removal capacity at the same time. If the room you’re trying to dehumidify is small and only mildly humid you could get away with using a thermo-electric dehumidifier such as the DHMD-310. If, however, the space you’re trying to dehumidify is larger than 100 or so square feet and is even close to being severely humid then our recommendation would definitely be that you save up for a compressor based unit. You can find our compressor based dehumidifier recommendations here.