Main trade-off
Santa Fe Ultra70
Trap elevation can consume the apparent low-height advantage. It also uses replaceable filter media.
Head-to-head
Santa Fe Ultra70 vs AprilAire E080: Ultra70 uses a lower body, E080 avoids the external trap
The short answer
Choose Ultra70 when its narrower body and eight-inch connections suit an installer-approved system. Ultra70’s 12-inch body needs six inches above the secondary drain pan for its trap, so do not treat its lower cabinet as lower installed height automatically. Choose E080 when its 80-pint rating, ten-inch duct route and washable filter fit the job. E080 does not require an external drain trap. Both need a suitable drain and service access.
Before you choose
The reasoning and the trade-offs
Twelve inches high can still need more vertical planning
Ultra70 is three inches lower as a bare cabinet. Its current manual also raises the base six inches above the secondary drain pan to accommodate the P-trap. For a low attic or crawlspace, that can overturn a quick choice based on the 12-inch headline. E080’s body is 15 inches high and does not require an external trap, but still needs its instructed drain slope, pan protection and access. Compare complete drawings rather than subtracting the two cabinet heights.
What this is based on
Body height and Ultra70 trap-elevation instruction crossed with low-space installation. No universal minimum enclosure height claimed because other clearances and pan geometry apply.
Main trade-off
AprilAire E080
Its body is taller, wider and 8 lb heavier. The filter needs 15 inches of side withdrawal space.
Santa Fe Ultra70
- Choose it for
- The eight-inch duct design and narrower cabinet fit your planned system.
- The complete A2L installation, including raised trap arrangement and filter access, is verified.
- Main trade-off
- Trap elevation can consume the apparent low-height advantage. It also uses replaceable filter media.
AprilAire E080
- Choose it for
- The design needs the 80-pint class and accepts ten-inch collars.
- A washable filter and no external trap make maintenance and drainage simpler.
- Main trade-off
- Its body is taller, wider and 8 lb heavier. The filter needs 15 inches of side withdrawal space.
About this comparison
Santa Fe Ultra70 4044100 vs AprilAire E080 for a low attic or crawlspace. Check the full drain-trap height, duct connections and recurring filter work.
Both support permanent ducted dehumidification. A homeowner seeking a low-profile installation can reasonably choose between Ultra70’s body shape and E080’s higher capacity and different drain arrangement.
Winner by situation
Start with what you need it to do
Suitable eight-inch system with narrow body space
Ultra70 uses eight-inch collars and a 12-inch-wide cabinet.
- Santa Fe Ultra70
- Better fit
- AprilAire E080
- Caution
Ten-inch system and washable-filter preference
E080 combines ten-inch collars with washable media.
- Santa Fe Ultra70
- Caution
- AprilAire E080
- Better fit
Low gap judged only by cabinet height
Trap, drain, pan and service clearances still need checking.
- Santa Fe Ultra70
- Caution
- AprilAire E080
- Caution
An installation above finished living space
Check the complete pan and drain design. Ultra70 specifically needs its base six inches above the secondary pan for the trap.
- Santa Fe Ultra70
- Caution
- AprilAire E080
- Caution
What matters in practice
The differences that matter
Twelve inches high can still need more vertical planning
Ultra70 is three inches lower as a bare cabinet. Its current manual also raises the base six inches above the secondary drain pan to accommodate the P-trap. For a low attic or crawlspace, that can overturn a quick choice based on the 12-inch headline. E080’s body is 15 inches high and does not require an external trap, but still needs its instructed drain slope, pan protection and access. Compare complete drawings rather than subtracting the two cabinet heights.
How we reached this conclusion
Body height and Ultra70 trap-elevation instruction crossed with low-space installation. No universal minimum enclosure height claimed because other clearances and pan geometry apply.
An existing eight-inch path and reusable media pull the choice in different directions
Ultra70 uses eight-inch collars, while E080 uses ten-inch collars. If the home already has a suitable eight-inch dedicated duct route, Ultra70 may avoid a connection-size change after an installer confirms resistance and airflow. E080 instead offers washable filter media, while Ultra70 requires replacement MERV13 media at its prescribed intervals. Someone paying for difficult attic access should consider both the initial duct work and the later filter routine. A nominal filter rating is not a health result.
How we reached this conclusion
Duct connection size and independent filter maintenance crossed with an existing system and difficult recurring access.
A small leak above living space changes the installation priority
Both need appropriate protection when installed above finished space. Ultra70 specifies a secondary pan with a float switch, and E080’s manual also calls for drain-pan and float protection in that setting. That requirement can matter more than the ten-pint rating difference. If the buyer wants the unit out of sight in an attic, the quote should include protection and reachable service access. Neither a larger capacity nor a remote control replaces those safeguards.
How we reached this conclusion
Both manuals’ finished-space protection requirements crossed with an attic installation. No guarantee against leakage or property damage.
Choice A
Santa Fe, Ultra70 exact current part 4044100 A2L
Ultra70
The eight-inch duct design and narrower cabinet fit your planned system.
- Best matched use
- The eight-inch duct design and narrower cabinet fit your planned system.
Checked facts
- Matched removal rating: 70 pints at 80 F and 60% RH
- Body dimensions: 12 W × 28 D × 12 H inches
- Duct collars: Eight inches
- Drain and filter: External trap, replaceable MERV13
Choice B
AprilAire, E080 standalone, E080Z package code, no separate controller or pump assumed
E080
The design needs the 80-pint class and accepts ten-inch collars.
- Best matched use
- The design needs the 80-pint class and accepts ten-inch collars.
Checked facts
- Matched removal rating: 80 pints at 80 F and 60% RH
- Body dimensions: 14 W × 26 D × 15 H inches
- Duct collars: Ten inches
- Drain and filter: No external trap, washable MERV8
Meaningful differences
What changes the fit
| What changes | Santa Fe Ultra70 | AprilAire E080 | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matched removal rating | 70 pints at 80 F and 60% RH | 80 pints at 80 F and 60% RH | Rated capacity must fit the actual load. |
| Body dimensions | 12 W × 28 D × 12 H inches | 14 W × 26 D × 15 H inches | Ultra70 is lower and narrower, but two inches longer. |
| Duct collars | Eight inches | Ten inches | Existing duct size changes the work needed. |
| Drain and filter | External trap, replaceable MERV13 | No external trap, washable MERV8 | Installation and recurring care differ independently of capacity. |
What you give up
Every choice has a cost
If you choose Santa Fe Ultra70
- Include the trap, pan protection where required, filter replacements and any external pump.
If you choose AprilAire E080
- Drain hose, optional pump and external controls are separate from the standard package.
Recommendation switch
The decision flips if...
The verified eight-inch installation and narrower body are decisive
Choose Santa Fe Ultra70. Ultra70 matches that physical design.
Ten-inch installation, higher capacity and reusable filter matter
Choose AprilAire E080. E080 fits those requirements.
What matters in practice
Before you choose
You want a low unit above or below living space without hiding a drain or service problem in the installation.
What this comparison cannot tell you
- No guaranteed complete installed-height winner. Ultra70 manual airflow-clearance wording differs between pages, so no minimum cupboard size is asserted.
What the facts say
What the comparison shows
Useful conclusions from the current dehumidifiers comparison, followed by the checked facts used to reach them.
See the checked facts and calculation notes
| Product | Needs matched | Checked facts | Source records |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Fe Ultra70 |
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| AprilAire E080 |
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Ready to choose?
Check the price. Read the owner reviews.
Open either model on Amazon to check the current price, customer reviews and delivery options.
Santa Fe Ultra70
The eight-inch duct design and narrower cabinet fit your planned system.
The complete A2L installation, including raised trap arrangement and filter access, is verified.
See price & reviews on AmazonAprilAire E080
The design needs the 80-pint class and accepts ten-inch collars.
A washable filter and no external trap make maintenance and drainage simpler.
See price & reviews on AmazonLinks open in a new tab.