Why it matters
The BLACK+DECKER BDM50WCDA Dehumidifier is a portable dehumidifier with a 12.68 pints bucket, rated for 4500 square feet and removing up to 50 pints per day a day.
Aim for 40 to 60 percent relative humidity indoors: drier air irritates airways and skin, wetter air feeds dust mites and mold.
The listing names a built-in condensate pump.
A condensate pump pushes water up and out through a hose, to a sink, a window or a drain above floor level, so the unit never stops for a full bucket.
At its full rating of about 50 pints a day, a 13-pint bucket would fill in roughly 6 hours, so in a damp basement plan on a hose or pump rather than emptying it by hand.
At its stated 470 watts, running non-stop uses about 11.3 kWh a day; in practice the compressor cycles off once the room reaches the set humidity.
Its rated area of 4,500 square feet is above the middle of the range we cover: 61 of the 99 dehumidifiers with a stated figure come in lower, and the range runs from 110 square feet to 7,500 square feet.
Price-wise it sat in the dearest third of the 52 portable models we cover when we checked; the button shows today's price.
It qualifies for our list Best Dehumidifiers for Basements, where it is ranked against every model that meets the same rule.
Who it's for, and who should skip it
Good fit if
- Damp basements
- Owners who can run a drain hose
Look elsewhere if
- Rooms far larger than its rating
Pros and cons
Pros
- 50 pints per day removal
- 12.68 pints bucket
- Rated for 4500 square feet
Cons
- Needs regular cleaning to stay hygienic
Limitations to weigh
- The BLACK+DECKER BDM50WCDA Dehumidifier listing states every figure we compare on; they are the seller's numbers, measured on the setting it chooses.
- Pints-per-day figures depend on the test conditions; since 2019 the US test uses cooler, drier air, so newer ratings look smaller than older ones for the same machine.
Specifications
The bracket shows where each figure comes from.
| Model number | BDM50PWCDA | Retailer |
|---|---|---|
| Room coverage | 4500 square feet | Retailer |
| Wattage | 470 watts | Retailer |
| Tank capacity | 12.68 pints | Retailer |
| Moisture removal | 50 pints per day | Retailer |
| Airflow | 217.65 cfm | Retailer |
Alternatives worth comparing
More dehumidifiers we cover
Final verdict
A practical choice for damp basements. Confirm the model it fits before ordering.
Where to buy
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