Dehumidifier with pump vs no pump
Last checked 2026-10-03.
Per Midea's manual, the Cube 50 with a pump has a maximum pump height of 14 ft, so it can send water up to a sink or out a window; without a pump, water only drains by gravity, so the unit has to sit above the drain. Both versions have the same certified 49.67 pints a day.
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Which drain works where
- Floor drain or sump lower than the unit: gravity drain works. The Cube includes a drain hose; the Frigidaire manual says you will need a garden hose, 1/2 inch or larger, with no kinks or rises along it.
- Only a sink, window or drain higher than the unit: gravity cannot lift water; this is what the pump is for. Midea states a maximum of 14 ft; a longer or higher run is outside what the manual covers.
- Pump model limits, per the manual: the bucket should still be emptied at least once a week; bucketless mode cannot use the pump; do not route the hose outdoors at or below 32°F, where it can freeze.
No workaround is suggested here for drains the manuals do not cover, such as extension hoses beyond the pump's stated lift or improvised pumps.
The three side by side
| Midea Cube 50 (no pump) | Midea Cube 50 with pump | Frigidaire FHDD5034Y1 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity (pints/day, Appendix X1) | 49.67 | 49.67 | 49.71 |
| IEF (litres per kWh) | 2.01 | 2.01 | 2.01 |
| ENERGY STAR model | MAD50S1QWT-A | MAD50PS1QWT-A | FHDD5034Y1 |
| Amazon offer | Sold by Amazon.com | Sold by Amazon.com | Sold by Amazon.com |
| Pump | none | built in | none |
| Pump lift | no pump | up to 14 ft | no pump |
| Hoses in the box | normal drain hose | normal drain hose, pump inlet hose, pump drain hose | none listed |
| Gravity drain | unit must sit above the sink or drain; the included drain hose or a garden hose attaches to the rear outlet | unit must sit above the sink or drain; the included drain hose or a garden hose attaches to the rear outlet | needs a garden hose (the manual recommends 1/2 inch or larger) and a drain nearby, with no kinks or elevations in the hose |
| Operating range | 41°F to 95°F (5°C to 35°C) | 41°F to 95°F (5°C to 35°C) | 41°F to 89°F (5°C to 32°C), 30% to 80% relative humidity |
| Recall check | none found not on any CPSC dehumidifier recall model list; on the market from 2025, after every listed recall's sale window | none found not on any CPSC dehumidifier recall model list; on the market from 2025, after every listed recall's sale window | none found not on any CPSC dehumidifier recall model list; on the market from 2025, after every listed recall's sale window |
| Manual | Midea MAD50S1QWT-A user guide (covers MAD50S1QWT-A and MAD50PS1QWT-A) | Midea MAD50S1QWT-A user guide (covers MAD50S1QWT-A and MAD50PS1QWT-A) | Frigidaire FHDD5034Y1 use & care manual |
| Buy | Amazon › | Amazon › | Amazon › |
No prices are shown: check the current price at the retailer. The comparison is on ENERGY STAR-certified capacity and IEF, drainage and each manual's limits.
Kinds of claim on this page: capacity and IEF are product evidence, ENERGY STAR certified values under the DOE Appendix X1 test (ENERGY STAR dataset, read 2026-10-03); drainage, hoses and operating temperatures are each maker's manual statement, a manufacturer claim; anything no source states is unknown. Recall check: the CPSC recall database on 2026-10-03 (CPSC recall database (saferproducts.gov recall API), product name 'dehumidifier': 18 recalls, 2001 to 2023); the three most recent (Midea-made, 2016; New Widetech-made, 2021; Gree-made, 2023) cover units sold up to December 2013, sold up to August 2017, and made 2011 to 2014 respectively. None names these models, which is not proof of safety: check your unit's model number and date code.
We tested nothing: no humidity, noise or energy measurements. Nothing here says a dehumidifier removes mold, fixes water coming in, or prevents illness, and makers' square-foot coverage figures are not independent evidence of what suits your room. Rated capacity is what a unit removes per day under the test's conditions, not what it removes every day of the year.
Brand comparison: Frigidaire vs Midea Cube. Running cost: electricity cost.