Sizing a Dehumidifier for 600 sq ft basement

This one does have a hose drain option (not sure if that's a pump or just a gravity drain) into slop sink which I did for years with the previous dehumidifier. However the easiest way to do that was to keep it in the boiler room—near the slop sink—about ten feet from the main room. A real pump unit would allow me to keep it in main room and run a pex? line into slop sink, a bit more set up work. Also I found that the constant drip drip into the slop sink fostered some sewer flies. That pump option —more expensive and possibly another thing that could break down—WOULD allow me to size the unit purely for the correct capacity of dehumidification (about 2gallons a day) rather than have to factor in the bucket capacity. But since dehumidification req and bucket size are about the same, maybe no issue there except having to empty it daily. Also this smaller unit would seem to emit less heat than the prior 50 pint unit. The low speed CFM on this unit is 97 vs 167 for the larger unit, so it would work slower with less off and on.

I also see Midea has a very high efficiency rated unit 20 pint capacity. It's lowest speed cfm is 215; I'd prefer half that so that it would stay on longer but overall this seems smarter and easier to clean. The Frigidaire bucket has many intricate surfaces and is very hard to clean—and mold will form there several times during a summer. Noise is measured in Sound Pressure not DB, but SPL is 48, which from 20 ft away shouldn't be bad.

https://www.amazon.com/Frigidaire-FFAD3534W1-35-Pint-Dehumidifier/dp/B0BHCC5VDJ/ref%3Dasc_df_B0BHC5P5TZ?tag=bngsmtphsnus-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=80608063550906&hvnetw=s&hvqmt=e&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-4584207598498525&th=1

https://www.amazon.com/Midea-Dehumidifier-Ft-Compact-Basements-Medium-sized/dp/B08ZMY8BC8/ref%3Dpd_lpo_sccl_3/147-8217505-2461108?pd_rd_w=42cRr&content-id=amzn1.sym.1ad2066f-97d2-4731-9356-36b3edf1ae04&pf_rd_p=1ad2066f-97d2-4731-9356-36b3edf1ae04&pf_rd_r=KZNPT7JQ36BT1GPBDZZF&pd_rd_wg=LNYkE&pd_rd_r=ae732f9e-80bf-4d07-a563-ba275fde08a5&pd_rd_i=B08ZMY8BC8&th=1

One difference between the Frigidaire and preferred Midea is the low speed fan CFM. Frigidaire is 97 vs 215 for Midea. The 97 would seem to result in less recycling, but by how much? X more cycles per day? My current dead Frigidaire low speed was 167cfm which worked too fast. Ideal for this space is probably 50 cfm with the same 20 pint capacity.

I bought the 22pint Frigidaire unit, set it for 40% and with medium fan speed (115cfm) and heavy humidity outside, it easily maintains 43%. (When outside humidity is 30% as now, inside keeps 36%.) Bucket size is 1.7 gal, a little small but not a problem. For this unit —unlike prior 50 pint unit––I will not attach a timer to turn off every hour or so to save electricity or compensate for the fact that the capacity was too large for 600 sq fr and dehumidified too quickly—that on and off might have aged the prior unit prematurely. New unit on medium speed is very quiet, and I'm hoping will give off much less heat. Refrigerant is R32 which is supposed to be more efficient.

Makes me want to get a 50 pint unit for the main floor; would probably save money with less air conditioning (just north of NYC.) Will have to convince the wife to allow yet another gadget in the house. 1500 ft reach would probably cover both upper floors if I could locate it close to both.

Good to know and that was my most recent experience, but I refuse to pay for that extra insurance they offer you. My prior GE unit lasted for 5-6 years which I find acceptable. If this Frigidaire goes only 3 years again it will be my last Frigidaire. But this time around I've been setting it at 35%, low fan speed and I think because of its size is giving off less heat and keeping humidity at 35-40%. Time will tell.