# Amana vs. Friedrich Dehumidifiers

> Same capacity, same built-in pump, nearly double the price. Here's what the extra money for a Friedrich really buys you.

Canonical: https://www.enthusiastreview.com/compare/amana-vs-friedrich-dehumidifier/
Last updated: 2026-11-05
Published: 2026-10-25
Category: Comparisons
Publisher: Enthusiast Review

On paper, the **Amana vs. Friedrich dehumidifier** matchup looks like a tie. Amana's AMND501PAW and Friedrich's D50B1B are both 50-pint, ENERGY STAR-certified units with built-in pumps. Yet the Friedrich typically costs close to twice as much — a big-box price for the Amana, versus well into the $400s and beyond for the Friedrich.

The two brands share no owner or factory, but they do share one piece of history: both names appear in the same 2021 CPSC recall of dehumidifiers made by New Widetech. Neither current model is affected. What's left to separate them is warranty length, the depth of independent data, and how much you value a specialist HVAC brand. Here's how they compare, point by point.

## The models compared

- **Best for tight budgets:** Amana AMND501PAW — [check price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Amana%20AMND501PAW&tag=sktiger-20)
- **Best for long-term coverage:** Friedrich D50B1B — [check price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Friedrich%20D50B1B&tag=sktiger-20)

For most shoppers, the **Amana AMND501PAW** is the better value; choose the **Friedrich D50B1B** if a five-year compressor warranty is worth the premium to you.

## 1. Amana 50-Pint Dehumidifier with Built-In Pump (AMND501PAW) — Best for tight budgets

[Check price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Amana%20AMND501PAW&tag=sktiger-20)

**Pros**

- Much lower price for the same 50-pint rating
- Built-in pump plus three fan speeds
- ENERGY STAR certified
- Widely sold at home-improvement retailers

**Cons**

- Standard one-year warranty only
- No independent test data we could find
- Coverage claims vary between retailers

**Why we picked it:** It delivers the same headline spec as the Friedrich — 50 pints a day with a pump — for far less money. If you want a capable basement unit and don't need extended coverage, it's the practical choice.

**Performance:** Amana rates it at 50 pints a day with three fan speeds, a built-in condensate pump and ENERGY STAR certification. Coverage figures are inconsistent across retailers, from about 4,500 square feet on one listing to a far smaller number on another, so size it as you would any 50-pint unit. We didn't find any independent bench test of a current Amana dehumidifier, so performance is unconfirmed either way. More in our [Amana guide](https://www.enthusiastreview.com/best/best-amana-dehumidifier/).

| Spec | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Capacity | 50 pints/day |
| Drainage | Built-in pump, bucket or hose |
| Efficiency | ENERGY STAR |
| Fan speeds | 3 |
| Warranty | 1-year limited |

## 2. Friedrich 50-Pint Dehumidifier with Built-In Pump (D50B1B) — Best for long-term coverage

[Check price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Friedrich%20D50B1B&tag=sktiger-20)

**Pros**

- Five-year sealed-system warranty
- Pump lifts water up to 15 feet combined
- Strong hygrometer accuracy in independent results for its predecessor
- R-32 refrigerant

**Cons**

- Costs nearly double the Amana
- Predecessor scored lower on durability

**Why we picked it:** Friedrich is a dedicated HVAC brand, and it backs this unit with a five-year warranty on the compressor and sealed system — the part that's most expensive to fix. It's also the only one of the two with independent performance data behind it.

**Performance:** Friedrich rates it at 50 pints a day, with a digital control range of 30–90% humidity and a pump with up to 15 feet of combined lift. It replaces the D50B1A and switches to R-32 refrigerant. Its closest tested sibling, the prior-generation D50BP, scored well overall in one independent review, with near-perfect hygrometer accuracy and quiet operation, but only middling marks for durability, with a notable share of owner complaints about reliability. See our [Friedrich guide](https://www.enthusiastreview.com/best/best-friedrich-dehumidifier/) for the full lineup.

| Spec | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Capacity | 50 pints/day |
| Drainage | Built-in pump, up to 15-ft lift |
| Humidistat | Digital, 30–90% |
| Refrigerant | R-32 |
| Warranty | 1-year parts and labor; 5-year sealed system |

## Amana vs. Friedrich at a glance

|  | Amana AMND501PAW | Friedrich D50B1B |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Capacity | 50 pints/day | 50 pints/day |
| Built-in pump | Yes | Yes, up to 15-ft combined lift |
| ENERGY STAR | Yes | Yes |
| Refrigerant | Not published | R-32 |
| Independent test data | None found | Predecessor: strong accuracy, weaker durability |
| Warranty | 1-year limited | 1-year parts/labor + 5-year sealed system |
| 2021 recall | Brand named; current model not covered | Brand named; current model not covered |
| Price tier | Big-box budget | Nearly double |

## How we researched this

We don't run a test lab. We compared each brand's closest matching current model using manufacturer specs, retailer listings, published warranty terms, independent reviews where they exist and the CPSC recall database. Where the numbers disagree between sources — as Amana's coverage claims do — we say so.

## Price and warranty: what the premium buys

The price gap is the headline. For the same 50-pints-a-day rating and the same pump feature, the Friedrich generally costs roughly $200 more. Neither spec sheet explains that with a bigger tank or a faster compressor; the difference is brand positioning and, above all, warranty.

Amana offers a standard one-year limited warranty. Friedrich adds a **five-year limited warranty on the sealed refrigeration system** on top of one year of parts and labor. Compressor failures are the costliest dehumidifier repairs, so that extra coverage is real value — especially for a unit that runs all summer in a basement.

> **Do the math for your situation:** If you'd replace rather than repair a failed unit, the Amana's lower price may cover a replacement on its own. If you'd rather have one machine for many seasons and the backing to fix it, the Friedrich's warranty tips the scales.

## Performance: data vs. no data

Friedrich's prior-generation D50BP earned a strong overall score in one independent bench review, including excellent marks for hygrometer accuracy (within about a point of actual humidity) and quiet running. The catch was durability, which scored noticeably lower, with the reviewer pointing to a relatively high share of owner reports of reliability problems.

We found no comparable independent test of any current Amana dehumidifier. That doesn't mean the Amana performs poorly — just that there's no third-party confirmation either way. Friedrich's data is more detailed but genuinely mixed.

## The recall both brands share

The CPSC's 2021 New Widetech recall covered roughly 2 million dehumidifiers across about 20 brand names after more than 100 reports of overheating and fires. Both Amana and Friedrich were on the list, but only for units made before September 1, 2017, with older model numbers.

- **Amana recalled models** included the D930M, D935M, D945E, D950EP, D965E, D970EP and related numbers. Current Amana models use an AM prefix.
- **Friedrich recalled models** included the D25, D50 and D70 families (for example D50BP and D70BP). Current Friedrich models carry B1A or B1B suffixes.
- **One catch:** some older Friedrich model names have lingered at retailers, so check the date code on any unit, not just the model name.

## Which should you buy?

- **Buy the Amana AMND501PAW if…:** you want a 50-pint pump unit for a basement at the lowest price, and a one-year warranty is acceptable to you.
- **Buy the Friedrich D50B1B if…:** you want five years of compressor coverage, value a specialist HVAC brand and don't mind paying close to double.
- **Consider neither if…:** your space doesn't need a pump. A non-pump 50-pint unit with a gravity hose costs less still — compare options in our [50-pint guide](https://www.enthusiastreview.com/best/best-50-pint-dehumidifier/) and [pump guide](https://www.enthusiastreview.com/best/best-dehumidifier-with-pump/).

## The bottom line

The **Amana AMND501PAW** is the smarter buy for most people: the same 50-pint, pump-equipped spec for far less money. The **Friedrich D50B1B** earns its premium only if a five-year sealed-system warranty matters to you — and its predecessor's mixed durability marks are worth weighing against that. Whichever you choose, verify the model number and manufacture date before buying a used or clearance unit.

## Frequently asked questions

### Which is better, Amana or Friedrich?

For value, Amana: its AMND501PAW matches the Friedrich D50B1B's 50-pint capacity and pump for far less. For warranty, Friedrich wins with five years of sealed-system coverage. Friedrich also has independent test data, though its predecessor scored weaker on durability.

### Are Amana and Friedrich dehumidifiers made by the same company?

No. They're unrelated brands. Their only real link is that both names appear in the same 2021 CPSC recall of dehumidifiers built by New Widetech.

### Why does the Friedrich cost so much more?

Mostly brand positioning and warranty. Friedrich is a dedicated HVAC manufacturer and includes a five-year sealed-system warranty, while Amana competes on price with a one-year term.

### Are current Amana or Friedrich dehumidifiers recalled?

Not the models compared here. The 2021 recall covered older units made before September 1, 2017, with different model numbers. Always check the date code on a used or clearance unit at CPSC.gov.

### Do both have a built-in pump?

Yes. Both the Amana AMND501PAW and Friedrich D50B1B include a built-in condensate pump; Friedrich specifies up to 15 feet of combined lift.

## Related guides

- [The Best Amana Dehumidifiers, Plus What to Know About the Recall](https://www.enthusiastreview.com/best/best-amana-dehumidifier/)
- [The Best Friedrich Dehumidifiers — and the Recall to Check First](https://www.enthusiastreview.com/best/best-friedrich-dehumidifier/)
- [The Best Dehumidifiers with a Built-In Pump](https://www.enthusiastreview.com/best/best-dehumidifier-with-pump/)
- [The Best Dehumidifiers at Sam's Club](https://www.enthusiastreview.com/best/best-sams-club-dehumidifier/)
- [Frigidaire vs. Honeywell Dehumidifiers](https://www.enthusiastreview.com/compare/frigidaire-vs-honeywell-dehumidifier/)
- [The Best 50-Pint Dehumidifiers](https://www.enthusiastreview.com/best/best-50-pint-dehumidifier/)

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*Enthusiast Review researches products against DOE ratings, ENERGY STAR data, manuals, CPSC recalls and owner reviews; it does not run a test lab. Amazon links are affiliate links (tag sktiger-20).*