LG PuriCare 50-Pint Pump & Wi-Fi Dehumidifier review

The LG UD501KOJ5 is the discontinued, black PuriCare 50-pint smart model in this older LG pair. Compared with the less-connected UD501KOG5, its exact documents add a built-in condensate pump and ThinQ Wi-Fi. It still uses a 13.3-pint fitted bucket: the pump waits for that tank to fill, and the manual does not describe normal bucketless dehumidification. Treat this review as an exact-model reference for an existing unit or a used listing, not a current purchase recommendation.

The source set is LG’s UD501KOJ5 U.S. product page, exact support page, exact specification sheet and MFL63261233 owner’s manual. LG marks the product discontinued. I do not claim independent extraction, noise, durability or ownership testing, current app-server compatibility, live stock or an online offer.

The archived LG image is linked from the exact UD501KOJ5 page and visually shows a black, rounded PuriCare cabinet with top controls and casters. LG’s page warns that images may be simulated or dramatized; photograph-versus-render status is therefore unknown. The picture cannot verify the pump inside the cabinet.

Same historical capacity class, but test conditions matter

LG labels this a 50-pint-per-day model. The 2019 specification sheet also records IEF 1.80 L/kWh, 115 volts/60 Hz, 545 watts, 5 amps and a two-speed fan. Its footnote says the 50-pint rating came from the DOE procedure in use before June 13, 2019, which tested pint removal at 80°F; the later method changed to 65°F. Do not compare that old label as if it were measured under the same conditions as a newer 50-pint model. Room output depends on temperature, humidity, ventilation and water load, and is not guaranteed by the product-page class.

The exact LG page and specification sheet list ENERGY STAR qualification. Those figures help identify the SKU, but do not tell you how a used unit performs today. If evaluating an installed appliance, check its label, cord, hose, tank sensor and filter. LG marks the model discontinued.

The pump handles a raised outlet only with the bucket arrangement

LG’s manual lists a 13.3-pint removable tank and explains that the pump begins discharging once the collection bucket is full. In the pump setup, unplug the unit, expose the pump connector, connect the short hose at the back of the bucket bay, route it through the square opening, and reinstall the bucket. The pump button is held for three seconds to enter standby. The included long hose is 16¼ feet (5 metres); LG warns not to install its end higher than 16¼ feet. The manual’s stated limit is the hose-end height, so check both the actual destination height and the full hose route rather than assuming any longer run works.

This is not a bucketless pump mode. The bucket is part of the normal pump path, and the pump waits until the tank reaches its full point. Although the manual says pumping continues if the bucket is removed, it also warns against operating without the hoses and bucket and says to turn the appliance off before removal to avoid pump damage. That note is not evidence for bucket-free dehumidification. If bucketless handling is essential, choose a model whose instructions separately document it.

For a lower drain, a separate continuous-gravity procedure uses a 3/4-inch-outer-diameter threaded garden hose and adapter; it removes and then reinstalls the bucket. LG says to secure the hose at a nearby drain, but this manual does not state maximum total gravity-hose reach. Do not confuse that garden-hose route with the supplied pump hose or connect the drainage adapter while the pump hose is inserted. Bucket collection is the third option, though the full-bucket light stops dehumidification until the tank is emptied.

Wi-Fi adds convenience, not a different water limit

Unlike the KOG5, this exact KOJ5 page, specification sheet and manual identify Wi-Fi/ThinQ. The manual says the appliance supports 2.4-GHz Wi-Fi only and describes app registration, remote start/stop, bucket status and scheduled actions. That documents its original feature set; whether an older appliance can still register with today’s service or app is not established in these sources. The app does not eliminate the bucket-full trigger, lengthen the pump hose or turn a lower-gravity outlet into an uphill one.

Local controls allow 30–80% RH setpoints in five-point increments and Low or High fan speed. The timer can shut the unit off in hourly steps up to 12 hours. A filter reminder appears after 350 operating hours; the washable filter should be checked and cleaned, and the bucket should be cleaned regularly. The manual lists 41°F to 90°F operating conditions and automatic defrost. It warns that low-temperature or low-humidity conditions reduce water removal. After 23 hours of continuous running, a one-hour safety standby pauses the fan and compressor before they restart. Allow approximately 11 13/16 inches (30 cm) of clearance from walls or other obstacles.

What changes from the sibling KOG5

The two older SKUs share the 16.8 × 12.6 × 26.2-inch cabinet dimensions, capacity class, 13.3-pint tank, two fan speeds, 545-watt specification and 1.80 IEF listing. The KOJ5 is slightly heavier in LG’s specification sheet (45.2 pounds net versus 43.9 for KOG5), adds Wi-Fi and the pump/hose assembly, and has a more involved drain setup. The KOG5 is the simpler gravity-or-bucket model; this KOJ5 is the relevant exact reference when an installed owner has a raised drain and the original pump hardware. Neither model’s old DOE rating should be treated as a directly equivalent modern test result.

For a current replacement, compare exact-model manuals for pump rise, hose reach, bucket requirement, test condition and service support. This is a discontinued-unit reference, not a current stock claim or used-appliance endorsement.