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Ebac dehumidifier’s have a 45 year history of high performance industrial and domestic use. During both Golf wars it was the dehumidifier of choice by the British Army to keep equipment dry. Rowntrees confectionery and Royal Doulton pottery, two well-established British institutions, have also trusted the Ebac brand. Ebac has done well for itself, mainly because it continues to innovate with the British climate in mind. In this review, I will examine the performance of the domestic Ebac dehumidifier 3850e model.
Highlights
Features you can expect from the Ebac dehumidifier 3850e:
- Smart Control technology
- 21 litre water extraction
- Optimised for the British climate
- Intelligent Defrost system
- Hydrophilic Coils
- 2 Year manufacturer warranty.
Ebac dehumidifier 3850e Overview
The Ebac dehumidifier has an LED screen at the front and a few buttons. The extraction vent is built-in to the design giving it a simplistic look. The Ebac 3850e reminds me of the robot, EVE from Pixar’s animation Wall-e. What do you think? Simplistic though the design maybe, this is a bigger and heavier dehumidifier than other devices reviewed on Mould Removing.
At 13kg it’s weighty, taller and deeper — but, most Amazon reviewers agree that it looks good. Unfortunately, the box does not contain castor wheels to support the extra weight. It does have a handle, but as you can probably imagine it will not be the easy to carry.
Attributing to its appearance is the LED display that shows the function the machine is performing. It’s a lot easier to understand at a glance compared to dehumidifiers that can confuse with multiple controls.
Ebac dehumidifier Smart Control system
The Ebac 3850e extracts more moisture from the air using less energy than humidistat dehumidifiers. It does this using Ebac’s trademark Smart Control technology which acts economically and intuitively.
With the Smart Control system you do not have to manually programme your device. The 3850e remembers living habits within the home. It will record humidity levels establishing a pattern that will enable it to automatically switch on when needed.
The 3850e will also monitor the weather outside to maintain adequate air humidity within the home. As this is a refrigerant dehumidifier, the 3850e operates efficiently in warmer temperatures from 35℃ to a minimum of 3℃.
Ebac dehumidifier settings and controls
The buttons are labeled as they appear on the panel from left to right:
- Mode button: press the ‘Mode’ button to set to the device to ‘Max’ capacity which will display on the screen. The fan speed will increase to 2 (high) and will run continuously. Press it again to set to the ‘Smart’ function and the screen display will change. The fan speed will decrease to level 1 (slow/normal)
- Timer button: press the ‘Timer’ button to adjust the duration of ‘Laundry’ mode. It will operate in 2, 4 or 8 hours
- Standby button: press the ‘Standby’ button to turn the device off or on
- Laundry button: press the ‘Laundry’ button and the laundry symbol will appear on the display
- Fan button: press the fan button to select varying fan speeds which will appear on the screen
- Air Purifying button: the display will light-up with the symbol for this mode. The dehumidifier will stop extracting moisture and will only filter air to remove toxins.
Noise level
The Ebac dehumidifier 3850e operates at 46 dB which is not the quietest device, but it makes up for this with other features. To reduce sound, I suggest putting the device in a central location such as the landing. If you have hard flooring that amplifies sound, simply place a towel under the device when in use.
Alternatively, if you would prefer a quieter dehumidifier, then check out the EcoAir DD122 Classic MK5. Note that the EcoAir DD122 Classic MK5 is a desiccant and the Ebac 3850e is a refrigerant dehumidifier. Refrigerants are heavier as they contain a compressor which cools the air on coils before the water is collected.
Ebac dehumidifier Hydrophilic Coils
The 3850e is very energy efficient, and one way in which it achieves this is through Ebac’s trademark hydrophilic coils. The coils have a special coating that speeds up water extraction and collection. It reduces the amount of condensed water on the coils to improve overall airflow.
Ebac dehumidifier Intelligent Defrost system
The patented intelligent defrost system intuits freezing conditions and will automatically shut down the refrigeration process. It will give the hydrophilic coils time to cool and defrost. This innovation is fast and efficient, and outperforms the more common auto-defrost system.
Extraction rate
The Ebac dehumidifier 3850e extracts a maximum of 21 litres of moisture making it suitable for a 5 bedroom house. However, with such a large extraction it would have benefited from a larger water tank. You shouldn’t need to maximise the extraction unless using the 3850e in damp conditions continuously. Ebac claims it has the lowest running cost dehumidifier with an estimated energy bill saving of £50 to £100 per year. This should offer some peace of mind if you have severe damp or need to use it in a large home.
However, there are some disadvantages to the water tank, and the expected contents of the box. There have been some reports that the water tank is not that easy to empty. The tank has a handle and slides out from the front of the device at a 45 degree angle. Some say, taking the tank out and putting it back can be awkward to do. For this reason, there have been reports of leaks if the tank is not put back correctly. The tank could also do with a visible water level indicator to show when it needs emptying. Although the tank does benefit from an automatic shut off when it is full.
The Ebac 3850e has a continuous drain function. Be warned though, the hose will not be supplied and will incur an additional cost if needed.
This is not a cheap dehumidifier at £219 on Amazon, so it is unclear why Ebac haven’t included these necessities. Other brands in a similar price bracket provide castors and the drainage kit as standard.
The price of the accessories and buying details can be viewed at the end of the Ebac 3850e user manual.
Carbon Filter
The device has a carbon filter which traps toxins in the air and pumps out clean air instead. Ebac advises cleaning the filter every month using a vacuum nozzle, and replacing the filter every four months. A charming feature of the Ebac 3000 range is the option of a fragrance filter.
Box contains:
- x1 Ebac dehumidifier 3850e
The Review
Verdict
This is a superb dehumidifier that will do what it claims to. For most people, the main concern will be removing condensation and damp from their homes. Ebac achieves this at a smaller cost, and so will satisfy most people's checklist. In this respect, it was hard to find any damming reports about its performance. However, I don't want to wax too lyrical about the Ebac dehumidifier 3850e as it does have some disadvantages. Castor wheels should be supplied as standard to improve portability. The water tank also needs to be easier to empty. These items are easy modifications to make and perhaps the next Ebac model will improve. In my opinion though, the Ebac dehumidifier 3850e really redeems itself with its Smart Control technology. It's attractive with automatic intelligence and easy to use controls; which makes it easy to understand why the Ebac customer base is a loyal one.
Review Breakdown
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Overall
Verdict DEALS
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