Faulty dehumidifier

[Lobster]

I have a portable dehumidifier (Wickes own brand; I think it's a
compressor model?) about 18 months old which has stopped working.

The humidistat appears to be working in that if you turn it up, it
clicks in and the dehumidifer motor starts working; however the water
output container remains bone-dry.

Any thoughts as to what might be wrong, and whether it's repairable or a
bin job?

Thanks
David

 

[Toby]

"Lobster" <davidlobsterpot601@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:%Rj9n.33858$Ym4.4205@text.news.virginmedia.com...

I have a portable dehumidifier (Wickes own brand; I think it's a
compressor model?) about 18 months old which has stopped working.

The humidistat appears to be working in that if you turn it up, it clicks
in and the dehumidifer motor starts working; however the water output
container remains bone-dry.

Any thoughts as to what might be wrong, and whether it's repairable or a
bin job?

Thanks
David

If you have the receipt, a card statement, or anything that proves when you
bought it (Like a manufacturing date on it, as it is an own brand), it's a
take it back to the shop job, under your rights as detailed in the sale of
goods act.

If it is a compressor type, it will detail the refrigerant gas it uses on
the back somewhere.

http://consumerdirect.gov.uk has more advise.

Toby...

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Lobster brought next idea :

I have a portable dehumidifier (Wickes own brand; I think it's a compressor
model?) about 18 months old which has stopped working.

The humidistat appears to be working in that if you turn it up, it clicks in
and the dehumidifer motor starts working; however the water output container
remains bone-dry.

Any thoughts as to what might be wrong, and whether it's repairable or a bin
job?

A compressor type has a motor and you suggest a motor starts -so it is
indeed a compressor type. One more check you could do is on the cooled
matrix which should quickly become cold when the motor runs. If it is
not getting cold, then it has lost its gas. If it is only 18 months
old, then take it back and quote the Sale of Goods act to the supplier.

--
Regards,
Harry (M1BYT) (L)
http://www.ukradioamateur.co.uk

 

[Calvin Sambrook]

"Andrew Gabriel" <andrew@cucumber.ddemon.co.uk> wrote in message
news:hk4tpi$e2e$1@news.eternal-september.org...

In article <mn.fc8c7da12165a30e.106911@nospam.tiscali.co.uk>,
Harry Bloomfield <harry.m1byt@NOSPAM.tiscali.co.uk> writes:
Lobster brought next idea :
I have a portable dehumidifier (Wickes own brand; I think it's a
compressor
model?) about 18 months old which has stopped working.

The humidistat appears to be working in that if you turn it up, it
clicks in
and the dehumidifer motor starts working; however the water output
container
remains bone-dry.

Any thoughts as to what might be wrong, and whether it's repairable or a
bin
job?

A compressor type has a motor and you suggest a motor starts -so it is

Actually two motors - the compressor and the fan.
In mine, it's the fan which makes most noise and starts when
you turn it on. There's a 3 minute delay before the compressor
starts up (mainly to ensure that if there was a momentary power
interruption, the compressor doesn't try to start instantly
when it would most likely fail due to existing pressure
differential in the system). The compressor generates a small
amount of low frequency vibration, but very little of the noise,
and I doubt most people would notice it switching on 3 minutes
later.

You can easily check that the fan is turning as you can see it and feel the
airflow. Small dehumidifiers tend to have the crapiest fan motors
imaginable, open frame and as far as I can tell with metal on rubber
"bearings". Mine seized very early on and had a lot of trouble starting but
would keep going once it did. Lubricating the bearings fixed it.

If it's not that then use your IR thermometer (everyone on uk.d-i-y has one
now don't they?) to check that the cold bit gets cold..

 

[Andrew Gabriel]

In article <mn.fc8c7da12165a30e.106911@nospam.tiscali.co.uk>,
Harry Bloomfield <harry.m1byt@NOSPAM.tiscali.co.uk> writes:

Lobster brought next idea :
I have a portable dehumidifier (Wickes own brand; I think it's a compressor
model?) about 18 months old which has stopped working.

The humidistat appears to be working in that if you turn it up, it clicks in
and the dehumidifer motor starts working; however the water output container
remains bone-dry.

Any thoughts as to what might be wrong, and whether it's repairable or a bin
job?

A compressor type has a motor and you suggest a motor starts -so it is

Actually two motors - the compressor and the fan.
In mine, it's the fan which makes most noise and starts when
you turn it on. There's a 3 minute delay before the compressor
starts up (mainly to ensure that if there was a momentary power
interruption, the compressor doesn't try to start instantly
when it would most likely fail due to existing pressure
differential in the system). The compressor generates a small
amount of low frequency vibration, but very little of the noise,
and I doubt most people would notice it switching on 3 minutes
later.

It would be interesting to know which motors are running. If
either of them isn't, then it won't work.

I had something similar - the circuit which generates the 3
minute timer stopped working and the compressor never came on.
This was due to a zener diode in the simple LV dropper power
supply shorting out, which I replaced. Most consumers would
need to have it professionally repaired though.

indeed a compressor type. One more check you could do is on the cooled
matrix which should quickly become cold when the motor runs. If it is
not getting cold, then it has lost its gas. If it is only 18 months
old, then take it back and quote the Sale of Goods act to the supplier.

On big/heavy items, you'll often find a number to call to get
support, rather than carting it back to the shop.

Something else which can damage these is moving them whilst
they're running, or running them after moving them without
allowing 24 hours standing time first. If you tipped it onto
its side, then it can be quite difficult to get it working
again without wrecking it, so never do that.

--
Andrew Gabriel
[email address is not usable -- followup in the newsgroup]

 

[James Salisbury]

Calvin Sambrook wrote:

"Andrew Gabriel" <andrew@cucumber.ddemon.co.uk> wrote in message
news:hk4tpi$e2e$1@news.eternal-september.org...
In article <mn.fc8c7da12165a30e.106911@nospam.tiscali.co.uk>,
Harry Bloomfield <harry.m1byt@NOSPAM.tiscali.co.uk> writes:
Lobster brought next idea :
I have a portable dehumidifier (Wickes own brand; I think it's a
compressor
model?) about 18 months old which has stopped working.

The humidistat appears to be working in that if you turn it up, it
clicks in
and the dehumidifer motor starts working; however the water output
container
remains bone-dry.

Any thoughts as to what might be wrong, and whether it's repairable
or a bin
job?

A compressor type has a motor and you suggest a motor starts -so it is

Actually two motors - the compressor and the fan.
In mine, it's the fan which makes most noise and starts when
you turn it on. There's a 3 minute delay before the compressor
starts up (mainly to ensure that if there was a momentary power
interruption, the compressor doesn't try to start instantly
when it would most likely fail due to existing pressure
differential in the system). The compressor generates a small
amount of low frequency vibration, but very little of the noise,
and I doubt most people would notice it switching on 3 minutes
later.


You can easily check that the fan is turning as you can see it and feel
the airflow. Small dehumidifiers tend to have the crapiest fan motors
imaginable, open frame and as far as I can tell with metal on rubber
"bearings". Mine seized very early on and had a lot of trouble starting
but would keep going once it did. Lubricating the bearings fixed it.

If it's not that then use your IR thermometer (everyone on uk.d-i-y has
one now don't they?) to check that the cold bit gets cold..

It can be a bit hard to do that, I used my multimeter and a K type

thermocouple.

 

[Gerard Bok]

On Sun, 31 Jan 2010 18:20:43 GMT, Lobster
<davidlobsterpot601@hotmail.com> wrote:

I have a portable dehumidifier (Wickes own brand; I think it's a
compressor model?) about 18 months old which has stopped working.

The humidistat appears to be working in that if you turn it up, it
clicks in and the dehumidifer motor starts working; however the water
output container remains bone-dry.

Any thoughts as to what might be wrong, and whether it's repairable or a
bin job?

What's the ambient temperature and the outside temperature?
The manual probably tells you a minimum operating temperature.

My dehumifier also stops working whenever the outside temp goes
below freezing point. (Never figured out why, but it is the same
every year.)

--
met vriendelijke groet,
Gerard Bok

 

[Mike Lane]

Gerard Bok wrote on Feb 1, 2010:

My dehumifier also stops working whenever the outside temp goes
below freezing point. (Never figured out why, but it is the same
every year.)

Could it be that the relative humidity inside tends to reduce with a low
outside temperature?

--
Mike Lane
UK North Yorkshire
email: mike_lane at mac dot com

 

On Mon, 1 Feb 2010 13:43:50 +0000, Mike Lane
<mike.lane.usenet@ntlworld.co.uk>wrote:

Gerard Bok wrote on Feb 1, 2010:

My dehumifier also stops working whenever the outside temp goes
below freezing point. (Never figured out why, but it is the same
every year.)

Could it be that the relative humidity inside tends to reduce with a low
outside temperature?

Some dehumidifiers will not work when the ambient temp is lower than
the rated range of operation. Check the temperature of the space the
dehumidifier operates in and compare it to the rating. If it is lower
than the rating buy a dehumidifier designed to work in low temperature
applications.

 

[PeterD]

On Sun, 31 Jan 2010 18:35:13 -0000, "Toby"
<postmaster@127.0.0.1.invalid> wrote:

"Lobster" <davidlobsterpot601@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:%Rj9n.33858$Ym4.4205@text.news.virginmedia.com...
I have a portable dehumidifier (Wickes own brand; I think it's a
compressor model?) about 18 months old which has stopped working.

The humidistat appears to be working in that if you turn it up, it clicks
in and the dehumidifer motor starts working; however the water output
container remains bone-dry.

Any thoughts as to what might be wrong, and whether it's repairable or a
bin job?

Thanks
David

If you have the receipt, a card statement, or anything that proves when you
bought it (Like a manufacturing date on it, as it is an own brand), it's a
take it back to the shop job, under your rights as detailed in the sale of
goods act.

Consumer goods in GB have a lifetime warranty? That's interesting...

If it is a compressor type, it will detail the refrigerant gas it uses on
the back somewhere.

http://consumerdirect.gov.uk has more advise.

Toby...

 

[PeterD]

On Sun, 31 Jan 2010 19:24:41 GMT, Harry Bloomfield
<harry.m1byt@NOSPAM.tiscali.co.uk> wrote:

Lobster brought next idea :
I have a portable dehumidifier (Wickes own brand; I think it's a compressor
model?) about 18 months old which has stopped working.

The humidistat appears to be working in that if you turn it up, it clicks in
and the dehumidifer motor starts working; however the water output container
remains bone-dry.

Any thoughts as to what might be wrong, and whether it's repairable or a bin
job?

A compressor type has a motor and you suggest a motor starts -so it is
indeed a compressor type.

The OP may be referring to the fan motor, however.

One more check you could do is on the cooled
matrix which should quickly become cold when the motor runs. If it is
not getting cold, then it has lost its gas. If it is only 18 months
old, then take it back and quote the Sale of Goods act to the supplier.

 

[Toby]

"PeterD" <peter2@hipson.net> wrote in message
news:6fndm5tmkdqh7k7dqevapqftl7ao83387g@4ax.com...

On Sun, 31 Jan 2010 18:35:13 -0000, "Toby"
postmaster@127.0.0.1.invalid> wrote:


"Lobster" <davidlobsterpot601@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:%Rj9n.33858$Ym4.4205@text.news.virginmedia.com...
I have a portable dehumidifier (Wickes own brand; I think it's a
compressor model?) about 18 months old which has stopped working.

The humidistat appears to be working in that if you turn it up, it
clicks
in and the dehumidifer motor starts working; however the water output
container remains bone-dry.

Any thoughts as to what might be wrong, and whether it's repairable or a
bin job?

Thanks
David

If you have the receipt, a card statement, or anything that proves when
you
bought it (Like a manufacturing date on it, as it is an own brand), it's a
take it back to the shop job, under your rights as detailed in the sale of
goods act.


Consumer goods in GB have a lifetime warranty? That's interesting...

Where did I say that?

 

[Gerard Bok]

On Mon, 1 Feb 2010 13:43:50 +0000, Mike Lane
<mike.lane.usenet@ntlworld.co.uk> wrote:

Gerard Bok wrote on Feb 1, 2010:

My dehumifier also stops working whenever the outside temp goes
below freezing point. (Never figured out why, but it is the same
every year.)

Could it be that the relative humidity inside tends to reduce with a low
outside temperature?

Maybe it could, but that is not the case here.
RH is normally kept at some 50% by the hygrostat.
Currently (freezing outside) it is near 60% (inside).

What might be the cause is a slight temperature variation inside
that just passes the operating limit for the dehumifier.
(Inside temperature is between say 10 and 15 degrees Celsius for
an outside range of say minus 10 to plus 30)

--
met vriendelijke groet,
Gerard Bok

 

[PeterD]

On Mon, 1 Feb 2010 14:04:28 -0000, "Toby"
<postmaster@127.0.0.1.invalid> wrote:

"PeterD" <peter2@hipson.net> wrote in message
news:6fndm5tmkdqh7k7dqevapqftl7ao83387g@4ax.com...
On Sun, 31 Jan 2010 18:35:13 -0000, "Toby"
postmaster@127.0.0.1.invalid> wrote:


"Lobster" <davidlobsterpot601@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:%Rj9n.33858$Ym4.4205@text.news.virginmedia.com...
I have a portable dehumidifier (Wickes own brand; I think it's a
compressor model?) about 18 months old which has stopped working.

The humidistat appears to be working in that if you turn it up, it
clicks
in and the dehumidifer motor starts working; however the water output
container remains bone-dry.

Any thoughts as to what might be wrong, and whether it's repairable or a
bin job?

Thanks
David

If you have the receipt, a card statement, or anything that proves when
you
bought it (Like a manufacturing date on it, as it is an own brand), it's a
take it back to the shop job, under your rights as detailed in the sale of
goods act.


Consumer goods in GB have a lifetime warranty? That's interesting...

Where did I say that?

Well, he's had it for a year and a half, so I'd say it was out of
warranty. Certainly around here, a year is about the limit on such
warranties.

The "Sale of goods act" might be a good thing, but does it really
apply? (I don't know, so I'm really asking!)

 

[PeterD]

On Mon, 1 Feb 2010 13:43:50 +0000, Mike Lane
<mike.lane.usenet@ntlworld.co.uk> wrote:

Gerard Bok wrote on Feb 1, 2010:

My dehumifier also stops working whenever the outside temp goes
below freezing point. (Never figured out why, but it is the same
every year.)

Could it be that the relative humidity inside tends to reduce with a low
outside temperature?

The reason they shut off automatically at lower temps is because the
cooling coils that the moisture condenses on will freeze up when
ambient temps drop below a certain point. (usually about 45F, or so)

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

on 01/02/2010, PeterD supposed :

On Mon, 1 Feb 2010 14:04:28 -0000, "Toby"
postmaster@127.0.0.1.invalid> wrote:


"PeterD" <peter2@hipson.net> wrote in message
news:6fndm5tmkdqh7k7dqevapqftl7ao83387g@4ax.com...
On Sun, 31 Jan 2010 18:35:13 -0000, "Toby"
postmaster@127.0.0.1.invalid> wrote:


"Lobster" <davidlobsterpot601@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:%Rj9n.33858$Ym4.4205@text.news.virginmedia.com...
I have a portable dehumidifier (Wickes own brand; I think it's a
compressor model?) about 18 months old which has stopped working.

The humidistat appears to be working in that if you turn it up, it
clicks
in and the dehumidifer motor starts working; however the water output
container remains bone-dry.

Any thoughts as to what might be wrong, and whether it's repairable or a
bin job?

Thanks
David

If you have the receipt, a card statement, or anything that proves when
you
bought it (Like a manufacturing date on it, as it is an own brand), it's a
take it back to the shop job, under your rights as detailed in the sale of
goods act.


Consumer goods in GB have a lifetime warranty? That's interesting...

Where did I say that?

Well, he's had it for a year and a half, so I'd say it was out of
warranty. Certainly around here, a year is about the limit on such
warranties.

The "Sale of goods act" might be a good thing, but does it really
apply? (I don't know, so I'm really asking!)

It legally has to last for as long as a reasonable person would expect
it to last, upto a limit of six years. This is subject to how much wear
and tear it has received and how much was paid for the item. You would
not expect a cheap poor quality item to give as good service as a
quality item. The claim is against the seller, rather than the
manufacturer and once out of the usual guaranteed period - you may only
get a proportion of the cost of repair.

--
Regards,
Harry (M1BYT) (L)
http://www.ukradioamateur.co.uk

 

[Lobster]

Harry Bloomfield wrote:

Lobster brought next idea :
I have a portable dehumidifier (Wickes own brand; I think it's a
compressor model?) about 18 months old which has stopped working.

The humidistat appears to be working in that if you turn it up, it
clicks in and the dehumidifer motor starts working; however the water
output container remains bone-dry.

Any thoughts as to what might be wrong, and whether it's repairable or
a bin job?

A compressor type has a motor and you suggest a motor starts -so it is
indeed a compressor type. One more check you could do is on the cooled
matrix which should quickly become cold when the motor runs. If it is
not getting cold, then it has lost its gas. If it is only 18 months old,
then take it back and quote the Sale of Goods act to the supplier.

Just been having another look into this.

Am thinking maybe it's not a compressor model? - haven't wanted to open
up the case until I've decided whether it's going back or not.

Anyway, it's blowing warm air out the back (about 5 deg C above room
temp), and the fan cuts in and out as normal as you crank the humidistat
setting up and down. But the water reservoir is totally dry. And I
think the fan is the only motor though... not a compressor model, then?

Have found the receipt (it was from Wickes online) and it's actually 22
months old, and wasn't exactly a bank-breaker at 60 GBP. I still may
try the SOGA route (certainly the machine has only ever had light
domestic use and never been subjected to extremes of temperature) but
just wondered whether there was a simple repair I could do instead?

Thanks
David

 

[Toby]

"Lobster" <davidlobsterpot601@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:Nwibn.36829$Ym4.35213@text.news.virginmedia.com...

Harry Bloomfield wrote:
Lobster brought next idea :
I have a portable dehumidifier (Wickes own brand; I think it's a
compressor model?) about 18 months old which has stopped working.

The humidistat appears to be working in that if you turn it up, it
clicks in and the dehumidifer motor starts working; however the water
output container remains bone-dry.

Any thoughts as to what might be wrong, and whether it's repairable or a
bin job?

A compressor type has a motor and you suggest a motor starts -so it is
indeed a compressor type. One more check you could do is on the cooled
matrix which should quickly become cold when the motor runs. If it is not
getting cold, then it has lost its gas. If it is only 18 months old, then
take it back and quote the Sale of Goods act to the supplier.

Just been having another look into this.

Am thinking maybe it's not a compressor model? - haven't wanted to open
up the case until I've decided whether it's going back or not.

Anyway, it's blowing warm air out the back (about 5 deg C above room
temp), and the fan cuts in and out as normal as you crank the humidistat
setting up and down. But the water reservoir is totally dry. And I think
the fan is the only motor though... not a compressor model, then?

Have found the receipt (it was from Wickes online) and it's actually 22
months old, and wasn't exactly a bank-breaker at 60 GBP. I still may try
the SOGA route (certainly the machine has only ever had light domestic use
and never been subjected to extremes of temperature) but just wondered
whether there was a simple repair I could do instead?

Thanks
David

If it has a compressor, then it will usually detail the gas on the back it
uses - does it have anything like "R410A" on the back?