Dehumidifier stopped working

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robp

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Sorry if this has come up before. I tried searching but haven't found anything. There are a lot of posts on dehumidifiers though.

Mine has simply stopped, ahem, passing water. Controls work in that it will apparently operate at a point determined by the rotary control and the fan works. Also the compressor gets reasonably hot. However in two weeks of operation, no water has issued from the outlet pipe and the pipe is dry. It was working very efficiently a few weeks ago in our kitchen, after a plumbing leak. I'm assured that nobody tipped it over at any time.
It has a defrost facility. In any case the temperature has been relatively high until now. Also I have tube heaters that come on at the same time.
Where to start - do they need re-gassing from time to time? Any help appreciated.

Thanks
Rob
 
robp said:
Sorry if this has come up before. I tried searching but haven't found anything. There are a lot of posts on dehumidifiers though.

Mine has simply stopped, ahem, passing water. Controls work in that it will apparently operate at a point determined by the rotary control and the fan works. Also the compressor gets reasonably hot. However in two weeks of operation, no water has issued from the outlet pipe and the pipe is dry. It was working very efficiently a few weeks ago in our kitchen, after a plumbing leak. I'm assured that nobody tipped it over at any time.
It has a defrost facility. In any case the temperature has been relatively high until now. Also I have tube heaters that come on at the same time.
Where to start - do they need re-gassing from time to time? Any help appreciated.

Thanks
Rob
Click to expand...
It may well need re-gassing by the sounds of it, but they do not need doing on a regular basis like a car air conditioning unit.
Can you hear the compressor running? - It may be stuck rather than actually running.
I would try to get a free estimate for repair, but be prepared to buy a new one.
 
is it worth taking the back off to check if there is any condensation at all on the coolant tubes ? (There may be a micro-switch on a safety cover).
 
sarabande said:
is it worth taking the back off to check if there is any condensation at all on the coolant tubes ? (There may be a micro-switch on a safety cover).
Click to expand...

I did have the back off when I went down to the boat on Saturday. I felt for low temperature on the matrix whatever it's called and there was no sign of frost or condensation. The only microswitch seems to be on the removeable water catcher, to signify full - in the event that it isn't drained via the hose. The gash cct diagram on the back shows only one switch.

Could well be the compressor is not turning. I'll look at that.

Thanks guys.
 
robp said:
Also I have tube heaters that come on at the same time.
Click to expand...

A dehumidifier should not be on a timer. Also is is important that once the compressor is stopped it is not started soon after, because the compressor may break, the compressed gas should be allowed to settle in the system first. Some defective mechanical timers sometimes do not make a full contact immediately when the switch turns on and potentially can damage the compressor. The dehumidifier's own control prevents this to happen during normal operation, but when not powered, it does not know the compressor was just turned off, and allows it to start anyway under stress conditions.

The dehumidifier own control should be set to the desired level instead of a timer.
 
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harpo said:
A dehumidifier should not be on a timer. Also is is important that once the compressor is stopped it is not started soon after, because the compressor may break, the compressed gas should be allowed to settle in the system first. Some defective mechanical timers sometimes do not make a full contact immediately when the switch turns on and potentially can damage the compressor. The dehumidifier's own control prevents this to happen during normal operation, but when not powered, it does not know the compressor was just turned off, and allows it to start anyway under stress conditions.

The dehumidifier own control should be set to the desired level instead of a timer.
Click to expand...

Thanks for this Harpo. Yes I just learnt today, looking at other posts, that not all machines will start off a timer. Maybe I did mess the compressor up then. Although it's taken a few years. Case of RTFM here I'm afraid!

Oh well, it'll have to be heat n ventillation this winter!
 
>Also is is important that once the compressor is stopped it is not started soon after, because the compressor may break, the compressed gas should be allowed to settle in the system first.

I'm intrigued, where did that come from? To quote our dehumidfier manual: "When the full drainage tank indicator light lights up, the appliance turns off automatically. Remove the drainage tank, empty it and replace it.The appliance automatically begins its normal operation".

That takes less than a minute. Nothing about waiting or gas settling.
 
vyv_cox said:
Why not? I have run a dehumidifier on a timer, on for two separate hours per day, in my house for the past 15 years.
Click to expand...

I doubt using a timer will do any harm, but I cannot see why you would want to do it.
Most dehumidifiers will have an adjustable humidistat that you set to the level of moisture you are happy with.
If it gets to a higher level of humidity it will work for as long as is required to remove the excess moisture to your chosen level.
When it's dryer it stays off and doesn't use any power.
I don't see that by using a timer you can do anything than save on electricity at the expense of not removing the excess moisture that you presumably got the dehumidifier to do.
 
KellysEye said:
>I'm intrigued, where did that come from? To quote our dehumidfier manual: "When the full drainage tank indicator light lights up, the appliance turns off automatically. Remove the drainage tank, empty it and replace it.The appliance automatically begins its normal operation".

That takes less than a minute. Nothing about waiting or gas settling.
Click to expand...

In that case if you do not disconnect the power, the fan will start, but most probably the compressor will delay startup until later. This is what it does on mine.
Harpo is right, dehumidifier on a timer? Bad!
 
Sounds like it's low on refrigerant. As for not running it off a timer, as long as the timer is rated for the current, no problem at all. I repair humidifiers for a flood restoration company and often they will be put on timers as they can be noisy with a fan running all the time and at night people like to get some rest!

If it is low on refrigerant, then don't continue to let it run and run, the compressor can get very hot (compressor should have a thermal cut out on, but I've seen them without) and the oil in the compressor can can get very thick, that can damage the compressor and block pipes. I hesitate to suggest it, but a refrigeration engineer would be your best bet. It's fair to say that cheaper models are uneconomic to repair, but that's life these days.
 
Pete735 said:
Sounds like it's low on refrigerant. As for not running it off a timer, as long as the timer is rated for the current, no problem at all. I repair humidifiers for a flood restoration company and often they will be put on timers as they can be noisy with a fan running all the time and at night people like to get some rest!

If it is low on refrigerant, then don't continue to let it run and run, the compressor can get very hot (compressor should have a thermal cut out on, but I've seen them without) and the oil in the compressor can can get very thick, that can damage the compressor and block pipes. I hesitate to suggest it, but a refrigeration engineer would be your best bet. It's fair to say that cheaper models are uneconomic to repair, but that's life these days.
Click to expand...

Thanks for this and all the other replies. I'll try and find someone to have a quick look.

Cheers
Rob
 
>In that case if you do not disconnect the power, the fan will start, but most probably the compressor will delay startup until later. This is what it does on mine.

I guess different humidiers have different characteristics then because we don't see that.
 
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