Quick Review Summary

The ADEL70LR is a 70 pint dehumidifier manufactured by GE. This unit scored well in most categories and performed fairly well in most of our real world tests. However, its high price point keeps us from recommending this unit as a good buy in the 70 pint category. Note that this unit is readily available at local retail stores, unlike many of the other 70 pint dehumidifiers we tested and reviewed.

If price and value is not a top priority for you (maybe you absolutely want to buy a dehumidifier at a local retail store), this unit may well fulfill your requirements. Our review below covers all bases as we take a close look at what this unit excels in and what it doesn’t do well. Before purchasing this unit we definitely recommend that you read our review in its entirety as any one particular feature or lack of a particular feature, even the unit’s performance in one particular test, may persuade you to stick to your purchase decision or consider an alternative option. Let’s get started with the review.

Performance Test Results

Energy Efficiency

The GE was one of the least energy efficient units we tested. It placed 9th out of ten 70 pint units in our real world power usage test. At 50% RH the GE drew 632 watts of power. Compare this number to a measured 590 watts of power draw for the best performing units (the Danby, for example) at the same relative humidity.

Note that the unit will draw more or less power depending on the ambient air’s relative humidity. In severe conditions (relative humidity greater than 80% RH) you should expect power draw closer to the manufacturer specified 745 watts. In milder conditions (below 80% RH) you can expect the unit to draw power closer to what we measured in our real world test (closer to 632 watts).

Noise Output

The GE was also one of the least quiet large capacity units we tested. In our real world test at 10 ft the GE again placed in 9th place out of ten total units tested on both high and low fan speed.

We do note that the GE did not produce any noticeable compressor buzz on any of its three fan speeds. Even on low fan speed we could not hear the compressor making a buzzing noise on this unit, as we did for many of the other large capacity units we tested. This means that the noise output, while substantial, is a clean fan noise.

Moisture Removal

The GE placed a respectable 6th place (out of ten) in both our 90-40% test and our 80-50% test. It outperformed the worst performing units by about a minute in both tests. It was also at least a minute slower than the best performing units in both tests. We give the GE average marks for moisture removal as its performance was only average in both tests.

Hygrometer Accuracy

The GE’s hygrometer was one of the least accurate hygrometer’s we tested, although its accuracy was limited due to the fact that the unit only reads relative humidity in 5% increments. The Frigidaire was the only other 70 pint dehumidifier we tested that also reads in 5% increments. All other units read in 1% increments resulting in much more precise readings.

Not surprisingly, the GE’s humidity reading was only within 5% of the actual room humidity. If you’re looking for a unit with a more accurate hygrometer consider either the Danby or the ArcticAire units, both of which read the ambient air’s humidity to within 1% or exactly the same as the actual room humidity.

Included Features, Functionality, Build Quality, Warranties, and Value

Durability (Build Quality)

Brace

The GE’s condensate collection bucket does have a brace. The brace does much to stabilize the bucket, especially when emptying it when it’s full.

Consumer Feedback

This model has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from most consumers. Its negative review rate (percentage of 1 and 2 star reviews) is lower than most other large capacity units we tested at around 10%.

Brand Reputation

GE has an excellent reputation for manufacturing high quality long lasting appliances.

Overall Category Score

We found no fault with the GE’s construction or design of this dehumidifier. The unit appears to be well built and solidly constructed with quality parts. This unit has received excellent consumer feedback and GE is a reputable brand for making quality products. We give the ADEL70LR a perfect 5/5 for durability.

Adjustability

Humidistat

This unit’s humidistat can be adjusted in 5% increments, standard among large capacity dehumidifiers.

Timer

The GE’s timer is quite unique and unfortunately more limited than any other timer we tested. First, you will only be able to set a delayed stop on this unit. All of the other large capacity units we tested featured a delayed stop AND a delayed start. The GE only has a delayed stop.

Second, the delayed stop can only be set for 2 hours or 4 hours. All the other 70 pint dehumidifiers we tested could be set in either half hour or one hour increments up to 24 hours. Thus, should you need a unit with a delayed start or a dehumidifier with a timer that can be set for longer than 4 hours, the GE won’t be able to fit those requirements. We simply cannot recommend this unit if you plan on using either a delayed start or a delayed stop. Almost all other units in the large capacity size class have a better more precise and adjustable timer.

Number of Fan Speeds

While the GE’s timer adjustability is below average it has an above average number of fan speeds. It was the only dehumidifier we tested that featured three fan speeds, instead of the industry standard two fan speeds. The fan on this unit can be set to high, low, or medium fan speed, depending on the application.

It’s difficult for us to quantify the value of this additional fan setting. However, what we can say is that having an extra fan speed does make this unit more adjustable. While it may not be too helpful in adjusting how quickly the unit removes moisture, it might be helpful to have that extra fan speed if you’re trying to set the unit to a fan speed that has just the right noise output to fit the environment. For instance, let’s say you plan on using this dehumidifier in a location where you’ll be spending a lot of time watching TV, reading a book, or entertaining guests. You might find that setting the dehumidifier to a high fan speed makes it too loud while setting it to medium makes for acceptable noise output. Now you are able to remove moisture more quickly than if you were limited to high and low fan speed in which case you would have had to select a low fan speed which removes moisture less quickly than a medium fan speed. This is only one example of how having that additional fan speed setting might be useful.

Extra Modes

The GE does feature a continuous mode but does not include an auto mode. While the former can be quite helpful in certain applications, the latter is really an unnecessary feature and thus we won’t deduct points for the GE not having an auto mode. Read more about why you might want a dehumidifier with a continuous mode here.

Overall Category Score

The GE features industry standard humidistat adjustability. Its timer adjustability is well below average and we cannot recommend this unit if you plan on actually using a timer on the unit you eventually end up purchasing. On the positive side the GE was the only 70 pint dehumidifier we tested that features an extra fan speed. For this reason alone we can’t give this model too low of a score for adjustability and settled on 4/5 as a reasonable mark for the ADEL70LR in this category.

Versatility

Set Humidity Range

The GE’s humidistat can be set to as low as 35% RH (relative humidity) and as high as 80% RH. This range is more than adequate for most applications. Should you require a dryer environment there are large capacity units available that can dehumidify to as low as 30% RH (the Danby, for example).

Operating Temperature

GE recommends that the unit not be operated in temperatures less than 41° F. This appears to be the industry standard as most of the dehumidifiers we tested had this same lower limit for their recommended operating temperature range.

GE does not list an upper limit for the operating temperature range, thus we can only assume that the manufacturer claims that the unit can be operated even at very high temperatures. Most other large capacity units we tested do have an upper limit listed and it usually falls around 95° F. We should note here that GE not listing an upper limit could simply be a mistake on the manufacturer’s part in omitting this information. We would not recommend running any dehumidifier at temperatures that exceed 95° F.

Gravity Drain

No gravity drain hose is included with the dehumidifier (this is an included accessory for many of the large capacity units we tested, such as the Danby, for example). You will need to purchase a drain hose separately or you can simply use a standard garden hose if you have an extra one lying around.

Of note is the fact that connecting a drain hose is a little bit more difficult to do on this unit than it is for most other large capacity units we tested. On the GE you will need to lift a small plastic panel on the side of the unit. The drain port is actually inside the cabinet and you will have to feed the hose through a opening in the cabinet to reach the drain port and then be able to connect the drain hose. On most other units you simply connect the hose to a drain port that’s easily accessible on the back of the unit. The GE requires you to lift the plastic panel, feed the hose through the opening and connect the hose inside the cabinet through the side of the dehumidifier.

Built-in Pump

This GE unit, even at its higher price does not include a built-in pump. You will need to buy a condensate pump separately should you require pump drainage.

Overall Category Score

The GE features industry standard set humidity range. Its operating temperature range exceeds that of the competition only if you assume that the manufacturer’s omission of an upper limit on the recommended range means that the dehumidifier can be operated at exceedingly high temperatures. This would mean that the GE can be operated at higher temperatures than the other 70 pint units we tested and thus gives it an edge in versatility over those same units. We hesitate to make this assumption.

This model does offer gravity drainage as does all other 70 pint dehumidifiers we tested, the difference being that the GE drains through the side of the unit and requires a little bit more effort in connecting the drain hose than most other units we tested. This unit does not include a built-in pump. We give the GE a solid 4/5 for versatility, making the assumption that it can be operated at higher temperatures than competing units. Without this assumption the unit would earn a 3/5 due to the fact that it then offers an industry standard operating temperature range and still only offers slightly below average drainage capabilities. We settle on a final score of 3.5/5 for versatility.

Extra Features

Temperature Display

The GE does not have a separate LED display that shows the ambient air’s temperature.

Defrost Mode

The GE does come equipped with a defrost mode but there is no indicator light on the unit to let you know when this mode is activated.

Check Filter Light

This model does feature a check filter light like most other 70 pint units we tested.

Overall Category Score

This dehumidifier will do fine at lower temperatures as it includes a defrost mode to melt any frost that may accumulate on the unit’s evaporator coils. A check filter light is also included although this feature is fairly standard among the units we tested. Its lack of a separate temperature display reduces the GE’s score in this category only slightly. We give it an above average 4.5/5 for extra features.

Ease of Use

LED Display Clarity

The GE has a very basic but effective two digit LED display, like most of its competition. The LED display is more recessed on the GE with a plastic window, unlike most other units that have the LED display closer to the surface of the control panel.

Setup Difficulty

Inputting settings on the GE is easy to do. While its timer lacks many of the features of other units, it is very easy to set the time delay on this unit. All other settings can be inputted with similar difficulty to other units.

Filter Removal Difficulty

The GE has the same bottom-slide out air filter that is found on most other dehumidifiers on the market. You will need to remove the unit’s condensate collection bucket to access the filter. Some of the units we tested do have a top-slide out filter which makes filter removal and replacement easier, although we do not consider this feature to be too much of a positive mostly because you won’t be removing and replacing the filter very often.

Manual Clarity

This model comes with a very clear and well organized manual. We had no issue looking up certain settings to see how to input them correctly.

Water Tank Size

The GE features above average water tank capacity of 17.5 pints. Compare this capacity to that of the next largest water tank at 16.3 pints which can be found on the Frigidaire.

Overall Category Score

This GE dehumidifier is very easy to use. You probably won’t even have to open up the manual before operating it. Mostly because this unit has the largest capacity water tank of any of the 70 pint units we tested, we give the GE a perfect 5/5 for ease of use.

Aesthetics

This unit is by no means the best looking dehumidifier we reviewed. All plastic pieces on this unit have a glossy finish which gives the unit an overall glossy appearance. The finish is also a sort of beige color which doesn’t look nearly as good as the white or only slightly off-white color we saw on many of the other large capacity units we tested. What the color is, is practical. It should do much better over time than the equivalent aforementioned white finish we saw on most other units. We give this model a 3/5 for aesthetics but a solid 5/5 for practicality.

Portability

Weight

The GE weighs 45 lb, a full 5 lb heavier than the lightest large capacity unit we tested (the Keystone weighs only 40 lb).

Handles

Unlike most of the other units we tested, the GE features a top extendable handle but doesn’t have any side pocket handles. As we discuss in many of our other reviews (our Frigidaire review, for example) we find the top extendable handle to be a feature that vastly improves any dehumidifier’s portability. It’s just easier carrying a dehumidifier by a top handle than it is to pick it up by side pocket handles.

That being said, we do prefer units that include a top extendable handle AND side pocket handles. Because the top handle extends away from the unit it’s much more susceptible to damage than molded in side pocket handles that are actually part of the dehumidifier body and cannot break.

So, the top extendable handle improves portability but is easier to break. Side pocket handles make the unit less portable but won’t break. The GE only includes only a top handle so be aware that in the rare event that the handle does break, you’ll have to carry the unit without side pocket handles.

Cord Storage

This GE unit has no cord storage. We discuss the merits of cord storage in detail in our review parameters overview.

Caster Quality

The GE features average quality casters. We had no trouble moving the unit across both soft (carpet) and hard (wood and tile) surfaces.

Overall Category Score

The GE isn’t one of the lighter large capacity units we tested. It does feature a top extendable handle that improves the unit’s portability should you require a unit that can easily be moved up and down stairs or across a rough surface on which you can’t push the unit on its casters. This model does lack side pocket handles in case the top handle does eventually break. 45 lb is a lot of weight to carry by a plastic handle and you should be aware that over time the unit’s top handle may eventually break or be damaged.

The unit doesn’t include any cord storage and it offers average quality casters that didn’t pose any issues when moving the unit across any surface you might come across in the average home. We give the GE a solid 4/5 for portability. Its lack of cord storage and heavier weight cost it a point but the top extendable handle really does make a big difference in being able to move the unit from one location to another (we had ample time to verify this during our testing).

Warranty (Manufacturer’s)

The GE comes with an industry standard full 1 year warranty on all parts. The manual doesn’t mention a separate extended warranty for the sealed system (condenser and compressor, etc.) which is included with most of the other large capacity units we tested.

Value

By far the most negative aspect of this dehumidifier is value. At a street price of about $270 both online and at your local retail store the GE was the most expensive 70 pint dehumidifier we tested that does not include a built-in pump. Compare the GE’s price of about $270 with a price of only about $190 for the Keystone. Even compared to the $225 (approx.) Frigidaire, the GE is just not competitively priced and this is the primary reason why we do not recommend this unit.