Waykar CTH120B 120-pint ENERGY STAR dehumidifier review

The Waykar CTH120B raises the CTH-B family’s standardized removal rate above the CTH80B while keeping the same 1.2-gallon tank and auto-swing outlet. The “120 pints” label applies at 95°F/90% RH. For a fairer rating comparison, the exact EPA ENERGY STAR record reports 32.46 pints per day under Appendix X1; Waykar’s manual rounds its 65°F/60% result to 32.

I assessed the exact CTH120B SKU and selected offer on Waykar’s CTH selector page, the linked CTH-B manual and the EPA record for CTH120B. The selector includes fixed-vent choices as well as B-code auto-swing models; this review applies only to the CTH120B code.

What the middle capacity changes

The manual lists 32 pints/day at 65°F/60% RH, 48 at 80°F/60% RH, 72 at 80°F/80% RH, and the advertised 120 only at 95°F/90% RH. EPA’s exact Appendix X1 figure is 32.46 pints/day. This makes the CTH120B a meaningful step above the CTH80B’s 24.84-pint standard rating, but not a 35-pint-standard model. A buyer whose essential filter is 35 pints per day or higher should move up to another well-supported configuration rather than borrow the 120-pint hot-test label.

The captured EPA entry reports ENERGY STAR certification, 2.01 L/kWh integrated energy factor, 343 kWh annual energy use and “Most Efficient” criteria not met. These figures let you compare listed certification data; they are not measured household consumption. The manual lists 470 watts rated input at 115 volts/60 Hz. Waykar’s exact page estimates coverage up to 6,500 square feet and shows a 120-CFM flow label in its gallery image. Treat those as the manufacturer’s claims, not as proof that the unit will control humidity in every layout that size.

Drainage is still the smaller-model setup

The CTH120B uses a 1.2-gallon (4.6-liter) tank—the same capacity as the CTH80B—even though its published removal rates are higher. That means a tank-only installation may require more frequent attention as it extracts more water; the sources do not provide a fill interval. A full tank stops the compressor until it is emptied and seated correctly. Waykar also lists a 3.3-foot gravity-drain hose. The manual requires a smooth downward route, with the drain outlet at least 3.94 inches below the drain port. Check that the floor drain is close enough and lower than the unit before choosing continuous gravity drainage.

This exact SKU has no built-in pump in the linked family documentation. It cannot satisfy a required raised pump route, and the manual does not confirm tankless operation. The CTH150B gives a larger tank and higher standard-condition rating but still uses tank or gravity drainage. If you need pump drainage in this family, the distinct CTH150PB is the pump option; its manual documents a maximum vertical pump height of 16.4 feet. That limit does not transfer to the CTH120B.

Controls and installation facts

The B-code outlet uses an automatic moving deflector; the manual illustrates up-and-down movement and allows the user to disable the swing function. That changes air direction, not dehumidification capacity. Waykar’s manual lists Dry, Laundry and Sleep modes, three fan speeds outside Sleep mode, an adjustable 30%–80% RH target in 5-point increments in Dry mode, a 24-hour timer and automatic defrost. It says Sleep mode defaults to low fan and does not allow manual fan-speed adjustment.

Allow at least 18 inches of clearance around the unit and a 54-square-foot minimum area, and keep it within the manual’s 41°F–90°F operating range. The reviewed page and manual do not publish cabinet dimensions, net weight or a decibel rating. The marketing phrase “super quiet” therefore does not resolve a noise-limit question. The EPA record says the model is not connected-capable; app control is not an established feature.

Who the CTH120B fits

This is the step-up choice if the 24.84-pint CTH80B is too small for your standard-condition target but 32.46 pints per day is sufficient, and you still prefer auto-swing airflow. Its smaller 1.2-gallon tank is the main ownership compromise versus the 150-pint models. The CTH150B adds capacity and a 1.9-gallon tank, but its 49.43-pint EPA result still falls just below a strict 50-pint threshold. The CTH150PB keeps that rating and adds a documented pump route. Avoid the CTH120B when you require 35 standard-condition pints, pump lift, app control, an exact noise limit or dimensions that the manufacturer has not supplied. Verify the B suffix in the selector; the fixed-vent choices are separate offers.