DehumidifiersWhole-Home
Moiswell Director WP160 Dehumidifier Manual
Setup, everyday use, maintenance and troubleshooting for the 65-pint whole-home dehumidifier, with verified specifications.
- Capacity65 pints/day
- Efficiency (IEF)2.25 L/kWh
- Energy use628 kWh/yr
- Est. yearly cost$107
About the Moiswell Director WP160
This guide covers the Moiswell Director WP160, a 65-pint whole-home dehumidifier on the ENERGY STAR certified list. Under the current DOE test procedure it removes 65 pints (30.8 liters) of water per day.
As a whole-home unit it is designed to be installed in a basement, crawl space, attic or utility area and to treat air for the whole house, either on its own or connected to ductwork. Its cabinet has a case volume of 4.4 cu. ft.
The sealed refrigeration system holds 10.6 oz of R-32 refrigerant.
Its integrated energy factor (IEF) is 2.25 liters per kWh — about 4.76 pints of water removed for every kilowatt-hour. That is better than 15% of the 21 Whole-Home models in our database.
Specifications
| Brand | Moiswell |
|---|---|
| Model number | Director WP160 |
| Dehumidifier type | Whole-Home |
| Water removal capacity (DOE) | 65.00 pints/day |
| Integrated energy factor (IEF) | 2.25 L/kWh |
| Annual energy use | 628 kWh/yr |
| Case volume | 4.4 cu. ft. |
| Refrigerant | R-32 |
| Refrigerant global warming potential (GWP) | 675 |
| Refrigerant charge | 10.6 oz |
| Smart / connected features | No |
| ENERGY STAR Most Efficient | No |
Safety information
- Have a qualified HVAC contractor or electrician install the unit, following the installation manual and local codes for wiring, ductwork and condensate disposal.
- Turn off power at the breaker or unplug the unit before opening the cabinet, changing the filter or cleaning the coils.
- Do not operate the unit without its air filter in place; dust buildup on the coil reduces capacity and can cause freezing.
- Route the condensate drain to an approved drain, and where the unit sits above a finished ceiling, use a secondary drain pan or water-leak sensor as the manual recommends.
- Keep combustible materials and stored chemicals away from the cabinet and its air openings.
Installation and first-time setup
Whole-home dehumidifiers are installed much like a small air handler. The details below summarize the usual sequence; your installation manual takes precedence.
- Choose the location
Place the unit in a conditioned or semi-conditioned space such as a basement, crawl space or utility room, with service clearance at the filter and access panels and within reach of a drain.
- Decide on ducting
The unit can run stand-alone (drawing and returning air in the same space) or be ducted — typically drawing from the house return and supplying dried air to the supply plenum or directly to living areas. Ducted installations should include a backdraft damper so the HVAC blower does not push air backward through the dehumidifier.
- Connect the condensate drain
Run the drain line with a continuous downward slope to a floor drain, sump or condensate pump. Install a trap if the manual calls for one and make sure the line cannot freeze.
- Provide power and controls
Wire or plug the unit into the circuit specified in the installation manual and mount the dehumidistat or wall control in a central living area if a remote control is used.
- Start up and verify
Set the humidity target, confirm water flows freely from the drain within the first hour or two of operation, and check that all duct connections are sealed.
Using your dehumidifier
Choosing a humidity setting
Keep indoor relative humidity between about 30% and 50%. Levels above 60% encourage mold, dust mites and musty odors, while very low humidity causes dry skin and static. A setting of 45–50% is a good starting point; check it with an inexpensive hygrometer, because built-in sensors read the air right at the unit.
How temperature affects performance
Compressor dehumidifiers remove the most water in warm, humid air and progressively less as the room cools. The 65 pints/day rating is measured under the DOE whole-home test conditions; in a cooler basement, daily water removal will be lower. Below roughly 65 °F the coil can begin to frost, and many units pause the compressor periodically to defrost. Check your manual for the minimum operating temperature.
Getting the best results
- Fix the source of moisture where you can: run bathroom fans, vent the clothes dryer outdoors, and slope soil and downspouts away from the foundation.
- Keep interior doors to the dehumidified area closed unless you intend to treat the adjoining space.
- Use the higher fan speed for faster drying after a leak or flood, and the lower speed for quieter maintenance operation.
- Do not set the target lower than you need; every extra point of dryness costs electricity.
Care and maintenance
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| Every 1–3 months | Inspect the air filter and clean or replace it as the manual specifies; dusty basements may need more frequent changes. |
| Every 6 months | Check the condensate drain and trap for algae or debris and flush the line with warm water. |
| Every year | Have the coils inspected and cleaned, the drain pan checked, and duct connections and dampers verified during routine HVAC service. |
| As needed | Compare a separate hygrometer reading with the control setting and recalibrate or relocate the control if they disagree. |
Troubleshooting
Most dehumidifier complaints come down to room conditions, a dirty filter or drainage. Work through these checks before calling for service. If the display shows an error code, consult the code table in your manufacturer's manual.
| Problem | Possible cause | What to try |
|---|---|---|
| Not collecting much water | Room already at or below the setpoint; room too cool; dirty filter. | Lower the setpoint temporarily to test; check room temperature against the manual's operating range; clean the filter. |
| Compressor will not start | Bucket full or not seated; unit just switched off; power interruption. | Check the breaker and control; wait a few minutes for the compressor restart delay. |
| Frost on the coils | Room temperature too low; restricted airflow from a dirty filter. | Turn the unit off until the frost melts, clean the filter, and raise the room temperature if possible. |
| Runs constantly | Very damp space; open windows or doors; area larger than the unit can handle. | Close the space, look for water intrusion, and allow several days for a damp basement to dry out. |
| Water on the floor | Blocked or kinked condensate line; failed condensate pump. | Clear the drain line and check the pump and secondary pan. |
| Air from the unit feels warm | Normal operation — dehumidifiers release the heat removed from the air plus the heat of the compressor. | No action needed. Expect the room temperature to rise a few degrees. |
| Musty smell | Mold or slime in the bucket or on a dirty filter. | Clean the bucket and filter; run the unit until humidity drops below 50%. |
| Humidity reading looks wrong | Sensor reads air right at the unit; control placed near a moisture source. | Check with a separate hygrometer in the middle of the room and adjust the setpoint to match. |
Energy use and running costs
The Moiswell Director WP160 is rated at 628 kWh per year under ENERGY STAR's standard usage assumption. At an average electricity price of $0.17 per kWh, that is about $107 per year.
Its IEF of 2.25 L/kWh means each kilowatt-hour removes about 4.76 pints of water, so drying costs roughly $0.04 per pint at $0.17/kWh. Running flat out at its rated 65 pints/day would use about 13.7 kWh ($2.32) per day, an average draw of roughly 570 W.
Actual use depends heavily on how damp the space is, the humidity setting, room temperature and how many months a year the unit runs. A dehumidifier that cycles off once the target is reached uses far less than one running continuously.
Frequently asked questions
How much water does the Moiswell Director WP160 remove per day?
It is rated at 65 pints (about 30.8 liters) per day under the DOE test procedure for whole-home dehumidifiers. Warmer, damper air yields more water; cool basements yield less.
How much does the Moiswell Director WP160 cost to run?
It is rated at 628 kWh per year, about $107 a year at $0.17/kWh. Your cost will vary with how long the unit runs each day and how damp the space is.
What is the IEF rating of the Moiswell Director WP160?
Its integrated energy factor is 2.25 liters per kWh, equal to about 4.76 pints removed per kilowatt-hour. IEF includes fan-only and standby power, and a higher number means lower operating cost.
Does the Moiswell Director WP160 have Wi-Fi?
No. The certified configuration does not include Wi-Fi or app control.
What humidity should I set my Moiswell dehumidifier to?
Set it to about 45–50% relative humidity. Indoor humidity between 30% and 50% discourages mold and dust mites without making the air uncomfortably dry.
What refrigerant does the Moiswell Director WP160 use?
The certification record lists R-32 with a 10.6 oz charge. R-32 is a mildly flammable (A2L) refrigerant.
How big is the Moiswell Director WP160?
Its case volume is 4.4 cubic feet. Full dimensions are not part of the certification data, so check the manufacturer's installation manual for clearances and duct-collar sizes.
Sources and disclaimer
Specifications on this page come from the ENERGY STAR certified dehumidifiers dataset published by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (record certified May 20, 2026), retrieved October 7, 2026.
The setup, operating, maintenance and troubleshooting guidance is written by ManualHarbor's editors for this specific product type and configuration. It is an independent guide — not a reproduction of the manufacturer's manual — and ManualHarbor is not affiliated with Moiswell. Always follow the safety instructions, installation requirements and warranty terms supplied with your unit, and contact Moiswell or an authorized service provider for warranty repairs and replacement parts.
Running-cost figures use assumed U.S. average utility prices and are estimates for comparison only. See our editorial methodology for details.
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