Frigidaire FHDP5033Y1 50-Pint Dehumidifier: problems, parts and running costs

Checked: 2026-10-17

Summary

The issues owners hit are mostly documentation and setup: Frigidaire has published three different wattage figures for this model, and the Wi-Fi setup is finicky. The exact model rated “very good overall” at Consumer Reports. Electricity runs about $1.07 a day at 12 hours a day, roughly $32.69 a month. At $259-$279 (2026-10) it is a reasonable 50-pint pick, with the built-in pump as the differentiator.

Common problems and fixes

Conflicting electrical specs — Frigidaire has published 470 W, 593 W and 620 W for the same model number across spec-sheet versions and they do not reconcile; use the independently computed running draw of ~490 W [1][4][10].
Pump or drain fault (code Eb) — check that the hose is connected and not blocked, kinked or frozen, and that the bucket pickup is not blocked; codes EH60/EH61 mean sensor failure and EH00 an EEPROM error [7].
Leak risk on continuous drain — with no garden hose attached, the drain cap must be screwed tight or the unit can leak [7].
No defrost heater — Consumer Reports lists frost control as absent even though Frigidaire claims operation down to 41°F [1][3].
Rare premature failures, icing and coolant leaks — reported on older FFAD5033W1-family units; a caution signal rather than a defect rate [16]. Isolated motor or control failures on this model fall under the 1-year parts-and-labor warranty [1][2].

Parts and consumables

Drain hose — included with the pump model [3][9].
Garden hose for continuous drain — user-supplied; without it the drain cap must be tight [7].
No other consumables are reported; the unit has a washable filter and nothing else owners replace on a schedule.

Yearly running cost

The Dry Index computes a running draw of about 490 W from the ENERGY STAR certification (49.95 pints/day at an IEF of 2.01); the certified 50-pint class spans 443-490 W, so this model is median on efficiency rather than a leader. At the US average of 18.34 cents per kWh that works out to about $1.07 a day at 12 hours a day, roughly $32.69 a month. Consumer Reports estimates about $52 a month with much heavier use — the tank filling in about 7 hours. An annual total is not given in the sources; the monthly figures are the defensible ones. Filter cleaning every two weeks costs time only; no consumable purchases are required.

When it is a good buy

Consumer Reports lists the exact model “from $259.00” [3].
Alternative: the no-pump FHDD5033Y1 sibling, listed at $259 on Frigidaire’s site (2026-10) — same 50-pint rating and 2.01 IEF; the better choice if your drain sits below the unit and you do not need the pump or Wi-Fi [2][4][6].
Total Home Supply lists $319 and Abt $278 (2026-10) if you are comparing stores [9][18].
The manual documents fault codes and pump/continuous-drain setup steps, which helps with troubleshooting [7].