DeLonghi Ariadry DDS 25 / DDS 30
Verified19 reviews
It's quite a beast – Summary: What I love - Very powerful dehumidifier that removes a lot of humidity fast. - Big 6 litre built in tank (it needs it since it remove a lot of water). - Best feature is the ability to have the unit pump removed water out a long small hose (provided). Place that hose in a drain or out a cracked window and you never have to worry about… Read more
emptying the container again. - Washable and re-usable air filter. - One of the least expensive units around when looking at cents per litre of water removed (according to Choice Magazine). - Simple easy to understand buttons and LCD panel.
Things that could be better - Only two fan speeds. - Quite a loud unit (but that comes with the very powerful compressor). - No ability to direct air flow. - The brilliant pump hose I love so much comes out the front of the unit. It's ugly and gets in the way. - Heavy (but has built in wheels that work well on hard floor and thin carpet).
The long version: During the heavy watering Sydney received in March 2022, I managed to get my hands on what I think was one of the last dehumidifiers available in Sydney. I had done quite a lot of research online, including this very site, plus Choice online and a few of the other usual suspects and settled on the DeLonghi AriaDry DD230P.
The moment I got it home, I unpacked and immediately put it to work. Our house so needed it, I am sure a lot of people can relate. About five hours later my wife came home and I proudly showed her my new toy - and low and behold, the 6 litre tank was close to full. That is a massive amount of water - out of one room.
Delonghi claims that it can remove 30 Litres per day (that is of course under optimal conditions with the right humidity and temperature), but if you calculate the 6 approximate litres in 5 approximate hours, that actually does get close to 30 litres a day.
The technology lover I am I also installed a watt meter to see how much power this gadget uses. It uses, as the plaque in fact says, about 500 W when running, so depending on your electricity plan (let's say you pay 21 c per kWh as a reasonable estimate of the average), it will cost you those 21 c every two hours. That does not sound like a lot, but be careful, it adds up to $75 per month when used continuously.
Choice Magazine btw gives a cost per litre of water removed (21c per litre). I am not sure how they came up with that number, I come up with 12 to 15 c per litre removed, but for all intents and purposes, that is a useless number anyway (except for when you compare various dehumidifiers to each other, exactly what Choice Magazine is in fact doing). In the Choice test, this dehumidifier was one of the least expensive to run, even with the higher rate that Choice used for their calculations. That was one of the biggest plus points for me that drew me towards this unit.
All this incredible water removal comes at a price of course. In the shop for starters (I paid $649), when running it (see above) and also in, let's call it usability. It is a heavy piece of equipment (19 kg!), that thankfully comes with built-in wheels. It can easily be moved between rooms on hard floor and short hair carpet. For anything else, the wheels are a bit too small.
Another price you pay for the big compressor in the unit is the noise. 54 dB does not mean anything unless you are an acoustics engineer but what matters is this: Unless you are exceptionally noise tolerant, you will have a hard time sleeping when this thing is on in your bedroom, even on the lower setting. I even find it annoyingly loud to have it running in my home office during the day. The solution is, run it when you are not in the room. Over night in the office, during the day in the bedrooms or living areas.
The unit has two fan settings. I would like to have a few more. No big deal though.
Also nice to have is the easy to understand control panel with an LCD display and refreshingly few buttons with hardly any silly unnecessary settings. There is a timer that turns it on and off when you are not there and thank you Delonghi for resisting the urge to make an app for it.
One thing I am missing is the ability to direct the airflow coming out of the device. Air shoots straight up (at considerable speed), I would love to be able to direct it into the direction of an adjacent room or a drying rack or whatever. Just a few movable fins would do the trick.
I kept the best for last, though. It comes with a small built in pump and a long (about 5 m long) thin hose. With the press of one single designated button you can set the unit to discharge the water not into the built in water tank, but to pump it out of that little hose. The pump is important as it pushes the water out the hose, even if the outlet is higher than the dehumidifier is. Some other units allow you to attach a hose, but they are gravity based, so your hose has to point down-hill if you want it to work. Not in this unit, the hose is long and it can be emptying the water way higher than the unit. Out a Windows for example.
Do not underestimate how useful that feature is. No more having to carry the full water container through the house, making sure the water does not overflow and get on the carpet while you carry it. No more of the unit turning itself off automatically because you forgot to empty the reservoir at night or before you left the house. Having this ability to pump water out a separate hose is a brilliant feature, I love it.
Why in the world the connector of that little discharge hose is in the front of the unit is a mystery to me, though. It is not only ugly to have that hose run out in the front, but it is also in harm's way. Vacuum cleaning nearby? Watch for the hose, watch to not hit the plastic nozzle, it could break. Watch out when you move the unit, that nozzle sticks out just enough to hit furniture or door frames.
It also sticks out too much when you try to put the unit back into the box it came in to transport to a different house. If you are not careful and leave the nozzle attached while packing it, it will most likely break off. That is exactly what happened to me by the way. It is not exactly solely Delonghi's fault, I agree, but please, in the next version, put that outlet into the back of the unit and make it flush with the outside.
And in case you are wondering how to remove that nozzle once it has clicked into place, it's a bit tricky. It is a bayonette like mechanism that you need to push in with one hand while pulling out the hose with the other. It took me ages to figure that out (and yes, I did read the manual).
In summary its a great dehumidifier that may even be a bit of an overkill for most homes. It can handle the removal of a lot of humidity in a short period of time and the feature that allows the pumping of water out a window or a drain with a nice and long hose it brilliant. That feature makes it ideal to dry out basements or remote rooms without having to constantly manually empty the built in container.
It is heavy, it is loud and it has a very powerful compressor that is expensive to run (but since it removes so much humidity quickly, you will most likely not run it for very long periods).
It's a beast of a dehumidifier - which is great. Just know you are getting a beast.
Another Quality Product from Delonghi – We bought this for the other end of the house, instead of moving around the old Delonghi CFO8E that is still going strong after many years. Initially we weren't sure if the newer model would be as good as the old one, but we must say it does not disappoint. The only downside is the water tank is smaller than CFO8E but as long as it lasts for many years, that's all that matters. Show details
I liked it so much I bought two more – Bought my first dehumidifier DDS30 Combi, I was happy with its performance and ease of functions. Then I thought I would try another renown brand and bought one, however I was deeply disappointed by its quality in comparison to Delonghi, it as noisy, and they sent me a wrong model. I then returned for a full refund and bought two more Delonghi.… Read more
Now each corner of my home has one unit and the feeling of dryness, lack of dampness and smell is so nice.
A solid work horse – I've had this machine running around the clock for 5 years in Palmerston North (average 80% natural humidity). Controls are manual and basic but easy to operate, and do what they are supposed to. It's easy to forget to clean the filter But it will take a lot of fluff and dust before there is any appreciable difference with the air quality.… Read more
Operation is not whisper quiet, but not obtrusive, and only tends to raise the air temperature by a degree or two. I can get up to 8L of water a day (though closer to 3 most days) depending on weather. For continuous drying you can set it to laundry mode (perhaps, to dry a load of washing on a rack overnight). You can set the unit up to drain to a waste pipe, rather than emptying it manually. The bin is a bit messy to pour water from, but the carry handle on the top makes it easy to lug to the bathroom. It's pretty stable on its feet so the kids don't knock it over often.
Quite Disappointing - broke after 4 years and it's not repairable – I had the Dehumidifier for 4 years, was working ok , air filter not the best but did the job, then one day got a PF fault, took it to a delonghi repairer and after 2 weeks of wait, got told the fan motor failed and it's not repairable!!!! after 4 years?? a product that cost 400+$$ , very disappointed all i can say. Show details
Really good – We’ve had ours for a couple of years and works very well. Our place has a lot of condensation due to gas heater and when we turn it on, it just works. Just wish the tank was a bit bigger so we didn’t have to empty it twice a day in winter Show details
Purchased as a repaired unit with 1yr warranty – Works as expected. New Zealand conditions of damp damp and more danp. Not great in cold weather as delonghi rely on a PTC heater instead of HOT GAS DEFROST. I am sure as the oligarchy stipulate we actually create power into the grid they will implement this upgrade. As we are going into a Solar Minimum (i know right....told "global warming" all the time). Units working well at 5degrees will become more important. Show details
Don't bother waste of money – It worked fine for a month and then it stopped working all together. I rang Delonghi and was referred to my local repairer who were totally rude and very uninterested about looking at the machine. was told to take it back and reduce the setting to 30% and should definitely work. That was their resolution for my effort to take it up there. Take it… Read more
back home and try it again after trying it in other rooms with not a drop of water collected.
After almost three weeks of waiting patiently I took the initiative to call them up and was told it is working but will ask the electrician to have another look at it. Meanwhile I rang delonghi and at the stage I was very agrevated as I could sense both delonghi and the repairer were trying push the problem back on me. The conditions must have changed, oh we need to wait to see the report from the repairer so on and so on. I asked delonghi to call me with the report and that didn't happen either. I called them two days after they were meant to have received the report only to be told no report had been sent in and if its collecting a centimetre of water then its working even though for the first month since may it was collecting half a tank a day on 35% setting. Overall very unhappy with the product it is still not collecting enough even though conditions haven't changed and all my neighbours have the same humidity conditions. Delonghi Los trying to tell me it's not the machine I miraculously not live next to a rock face any more and don't have as much humidity. What a joke. Don't waste your money like I have
It’s working – Humidity is a heaven for germs and dust mites. Humidity in Sydney is always high. I and my kid have allergy to dust. This dehumidifier is really helpful, about 5 liters of water in 24 hrs. 80-90% of our sneezing problems gone. We keep the humidity of 45-50. The auto funtion is good. Show details
Fire risk – Beware. This product was working great and doing its job until it set fire to the house at 1am in the morning on December 6th 2017. My own actions saved the house 9 not without personal injury) Insurance covered the damage. It took 6 months to repair the damage. If you use this brand dehumidifier then do so aware of the risk. Show details
Works ok but – Indoor pollution, and the off-gassing of items inside the home, is becoming more and more talked about as being bad for our health. If you're the sort of person who worries about this kind of thing then you might want to look for a different make of dehumidifier - this one smells strongly like a toxic chemical factory. It's been running two whole days and still smells bad. Show details
Dehumidifier – Never used Dehumidifier before, researched which one is best for our need and decided on the Delonghi brand. I am tipping on average 9 litres of water per 24 hours cycle. My husband suffers pain when it is high humidity due to his spinal injury and this machine has given him some comfort. It is so versatile to move from one room to another, It… Read more
is great in the bathroom - bathroom hardly have any moisture after we have a shower :)
The laundry function is fantastic on rainy/wet days.
The cooler fan is great too.
Good as a dehumidifier, average air filter – We purchased this due to having asthma which flares up in the winter. We have previously used HEPA air filters without a dehumidifier which has worked great until the unit broke after over 10 years usage. Based on a family recommendation we purchased this unit, which works great as a dehumidifier but functions below average as an air filter.… Read more
We immediately noticed a difference in air quality & purchased a HEPA filter soon after which resulted in less flare ups with asthma.
Find out how DeLonghi Ariadry DDS 25 / DDS 30 compares to other Dehumidifiers
Know better, choose better.
Not as good as a CF 8E model – Small 4,5 L tank, the earlyer model CF8E and CF5E have 6 litre tanks that are far superior in use. The moisture removal is slow compaired the early models, could it be the refrigerent perhaps. I have purchased four of the DDS 30 models and none work as well as the older DeLonghi series, of which I still have seven of them in operation including… Read more
one of the old pre-plastic full steel boddied models which is the best one, pulls far more moisture out of the air compaired to the CF8E which comes in second, DDS 30 3rd, and CF5E 4th.
Delonghi is much better then Mitsubishi – We had Mitsubishi before no way near Delonghi. Difference between them is huge very easy to clean and you can place it next to the wall and extract lot of water. Previous one I need to empty twice in a week this one everyday. Most importantly value for money thanks Show details
Best All-Round Dehumidifier for Colder Environments – The DēLonghi DDS30 Combi dehumidifier has a modern and comparatively stylish appearance compared to its competitors. DēLonghi bills the DDS30 Combi as a compact design, although it would be more accurately described as short and stocky (fatter by depth). The Combi draws air from the front rather than the back, so partially mitigates the extra… Read more
depth by allowing you to place it closer to the wall.
We use the Combi to combat the dampness of our cold and wet New Zealand winters. This particular unit resides in our study, which is about the size of a small bedroom. It is our second dehumidifier in addition to an old Mitsubishi MJ-E20PX that continues to provide faithful service after 13 years!
CLOSEST COMPETITOR
The recent model Mitsubishi MJ-E22VX is a close alternative to the Combi, however I did not like the 90’s aesthetic that Mitsubishi have clung to for so long. The old style LCD and membrane buttons of the Mitsubishi do not look and feel as good as the white on blue LED display and solid push buttons of the DēLonghi Combi. The Mitsubishi does however compare more favourably on warranty, quietness, brand reputation, and a more informative display. Both are similarly priced, high-end models for their respective brands.
THE GOOD
The Combi has all the usual features that you would expect in a high-end consumer dehumidifier; a fully automatic mode, the ability to set preferred humidity levels and fan speed, a user-serviceable filter for “cleaning” the air, on/off timers, and a large 4.5L water container. The Combi does not have as many “special modes” as some other brands, however these are usually marketing gimmicks that are better achieved with less confusion through manual settings. DēLonghi have taken the better approach by keeping things simple, without compromising functionality.
THE VERY GOOD
It was the “Extra Power” mode that ultimately sold me on the Combi. This unique feature operates the same way as normal mode (in manual or auto), the only difference being that an integrated heating element automatically activates (only as required) when this mode is selected. Colder temperatures require a dehumidifier to expend larger amounts of energy, often with no real effect. Raising the temperature allows more moisture to evaporate into the air, so the Combi can use less energy to process more humidity.
In “Extra Power” mode, the Combi could easily replace a heater for a small to medium room, in mild conditions where the outside temp is above freezing. In this mode, the Combi may heat a room to a *maximum* of 23 deg C, or 28 deg C if the laundry boost is also selected. The actual temperature varies, but in my experience it maintains a comfortable range of 19—22 deg C. The target temperature can not be manually set by the user as it is automatically adjusted to achieve maximum power efficiency. Larger rooms and/or very cold temperatures may require additional heating to maintain comfort, but the Combi can operate effectively by itself.
The heating unit is a low power ceramic type that generates only mildly warm air, so it will take some time to heat the room. The low power design means the air never gets too stale or have that burnt smell of a traditional fan heater. Unattended operation feels safe.
The term “Extra Power” is a very poor naming choice. It suggests extra noisy fans or excessive energy use, but that is simply not the case. As far as I can tell, having an integrated heater is unique to the DēLonghi Combi. I really like it.
THE NOT SO GOOD
Although DēLonghi have regularly demonstrated a knack for good looks, they are not so adept at providing a good user interface. This is best illustrated by a few examples;
In manual mode, the unit displays the target humidity level, not the current humidity. Unlike the Mitsubishi, you have to press a button that only briefly displays the current humidity.
In automatic mode, the Combi calculates what it considers to be the optimal temperature and humidity for your environment. Although these computer-made decisions are quite unpredictable, the Combi manages to maintain a consistently comfortable environment (albeit with minor temperature fluctuations). When a machine is making all those decisions for you, it would be nice to know what it was aiming for (it won’t tell you), and what the current conditions are without having to press buttons.
The display goes blank when the Combi is in stand-by mode. Displaying the current humidity to indicate when a room is becoming too damp during stand-by would have been a better idea.
DēLonghi insist on making their appliances emit very loud beeps every time you press a button. It is an unnecessary and very irritating “feature” that can not be turned off. Our DēLonghi oil heater does the same. Operating the controls of a DēLonghi appliance is sure to wake anyone sleeping nearby. They are loud enough to be heard throughout the house.
The timer is a delay type, meaning you can not program a specific start or finish time, you can only set a delay before starting and stopping. It’s still useful, but I prefer to set actual start and finish times. You can not use your own timers to get around this problem, as powering off the machine will reset it to stand-by mode. To be fair, I have not found any other brand that does this any better.
The two-year warranty is acceptable, but pales in comparison to Mitsubishi service and reputation. It feels like I am taking more of a risk.
WHAT’S MISSING?
The Combi directs all airflow upwards and has no rotating louvres to adjust airflow direction. Although it would be nice to have the option, especially for drying laundry, I rarely used this feature on my old Mitsubishi. I have always found that pushing the air straight upward provides the best circulation. Rotating louvres often make an irritating noise when swinging, and they are just one more moving part that could break. I do not miss them.
NOISE
All dehumidifiers are noisy. The Combi is no worse than most, but definitely quieter than some others. As with all dehumidifiers (including Mitsubishi), operating this machine in your bedroom will likely prevent sleep. I definitely notice the noise in the small confines of our study, however, you adapt quickly.
PERFORMANCE
The water reservoir level increases at a rate indicative of fairly solid performance. Overall, the DēLonghi DDS30 Combi is an excellent performer in terms of removing humidity, maintaining comfort, and reducing energy costs.
PRICE (NZ Only)
The recommended retail of $749 NZD is significantly higher than the average street price of around $649 NZD. Some retailers will negotiate down to around $499—$529 NZD which, after accounting for currency and tax differences, is comparable to Australia. Briscoe's have sold this model for as low as $485 NZD.
SUMMARY
If the annoying button beeps and lack of useful information on the display are not an issue, then this machine should be very high on your list. If noise or reliability are your absolute highest priorities, then consider a Mitsubishi.
If you need dehumidification in a cold environment, the integrated heating system of the DēLonghi DDS30 Combi may be more than enough reason to choose this model over the others.
The Combi is the kind of machine that you can set in the corner, hit auto, and forget about it. In winter, the automatic heater is just fantastic!
I have not owned the Combi long enough to speak about reliability. Mitsubishi probably has that edge, with DēLonghi being hopefully “good enough”.
I highly recommend the DēLonghi DDS30 Combi.
Worse than another 3-year-old model from Delonghi. It's either broken or complete disappointment – We had a great old dehumidifier which works well and we were after a second but more modern. Bought this guy just to discover it doesn't really work as expected - comparing to our other one - this doesn't collect any moisture at all. 6-8 hours ~ 1 litre. Old one would have a 12L tank full in the same time.
DeLonghi are cheap and it shows – My dehumidifier has been back twice to be repaired under warranty, and it is still not working right. I dont think the workmanship is very good. The different positions of the switch on the front panel dont seem to make much difference to its operation. Even when it is raining outside at times it doesnt extract any water.
Awesome, very happy – I researched Dehumidifiers for a long time. We finally settled for the Delonghi DDS25 as the right one. It wasn't the choice of "Choice", but it was much cheaper. We bought it mainly to see if it would fix a damp smell in one of our rooms, but now use it on any rainy day as it dries laundry quickly and efficiently. It is amazing to see how much… Read more
water it sucks out of the air, and it's various filters keep the air clean. Easy to use, easy to clean. Love it.
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Hi bluebull, could you please send us a direct message to look into this for you?