Any dehumidifier experts out there?...

beancounter

beancounter

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We have a B&Q dehumidifier which has purred away quite happily for the last two winters. On going down to the boat on Saturday, the "tank full" light was flashing. This was odd, as the machine is arranged for drain out via a pipe at the rear.

Tank removed & replaced - light goes out. Machine still refuses to work. Take out filter, check & replace. Still no joy. The green "machine running" light is on, but nothing happens.

Any suggestions? Or is the motor knackered & a new machine is required? /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Ta
 
I can't remember the exact symptoms, but some while ago, my B&Q dehumidifier warning light played up and stopped it running. Behind the tank is a small metal lever which senses the tank in position. This wasn't doing its job. Bending it slightly forward cured the problem for me.
 
Some dehumidifiers need a few minutes "grace" when starting up from an interrupted in-service phase. Have you tried switching it off for 10 mins ? Or the air filter micro-switch is blocked/jammed ? Or the outlet blocked with dusty gunge ? Or the thermostat / humidistat need swiping to and fro a few times to clean the internal contacts ?
 
Our B&Q special will only drain out through the hose when tilted back slightly. Also it has a 3 minute start-up phase so nothing happens for the first 3 mins when you turn it on

Simon
 
[ QUOTE ]
Our B&Q special will only drain out through the hose when tilted back slightly. Simon

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, I agree with that.

I have the front of my B&Q dehumidifier proped up about 1" (using a roll of masking tape)

Iain
 
On my B&Q jobby I've found that the drain pipe out the back needs to slope down (even at the slightest angle) immediately from the outlet tube. Just the slightest rise in the pipe before it then bends down will send the water back into the internal tank...and when that is full the machine swiches off.
As to why it doesn't work after emptying and replacing the tank... now that's another question. To which I don't have an answer.
As other posters have said ... there are trips in there... so perhaps one of them is stuck in a non-operating position?
Tiddle about with it is what I'd do.
After only two years I would hate to think that it's cream crackered.
Best of luck
 
Why are these things so shoddy?

I wonder why portable dehumidifiers are such useless machines. I've bought (and returned) several B&Q dehumidifiers which either didn't work at all, or only worked for a week. Then I bought a "brand name" dehumidifier - a DeLonghi - which was equally bad. Good job I don't need one for anything important (just to dry the horse rugs basically). So why are dehumidifiers so lousy? After all, they've effectively just got the innards of a small fridge. Now fridges work for ever, without problems. It's a mystery.
 
I also tilt my B&Q unit very slightly towards the hose, but I also use the rubber 'plug' from the hose connection to block up the hole which runs the water into the tank in the 'self contained' mode.

During the 'summer', when I run it in self contained mode, I sometimes find that the switch which detects if the tank is missing/full doesn't reset when the tank is refitted and needs to be jiggled with a little finger.

As said above, the fan only will run for the first few minutes after a call to work before the compressor kicks in.

The unit will run only the fan if in 'defrost' mode, but then the snow flake light will also be on. Note that this isn't hot gas defrost, and that the unit won't run the compressor in ambient temps below 6 to 8 deg C

Ash
 
Thanks guys.

I was aware of the 3 minute warm-up - no effect.

It won't run on tank setting or external drain, so I guess the problem is internal.

I'll check out the contacts etc.

cheers

John
 
See you got the tilting tip! We just put the front [ non outlet side] on an inverted saucer to tip the unit slightly and then it worked fine. Wonderful invention does a great job!
 
Re: Why are these things so shoddy?

I have a non-B&Q one that was a real pain to make self-draining, I had to modify the unit. Don't misunderstand me, it was supposed to be possible but was nearly impossible in practice. Why? I suspect because almost nobody has a drain for them, almost everyone uses the integral tank. Where, other than on a boat, are you likely to find a usable drain?
 
Checked out contacts last night - manually depressing the tank contact had no effect. The green "running" light showed, but not a sound from the compressor. B*gg*r.

I'll try dismantling the beast at the weekend - if I'm allowed time off from painting the kitchen....
 
I've got one that did this. It wasn't a B&Q one (can't remember the make now) but I sent it back and the 'control unit' was replaced under warranty. Exactly the same symptom as yours. They (some eBay retailer) treated me like an idiot until I sent it back and realised I wasn't doing anything wrong.
 
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