How to fix a dehumidifier
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 ส.ค. 2024
- This video walks through the common problems with dehumidifiers when they are not collecting water. In this case the thermal fuse was ok but the dehumidifier required a new capacitor and a refrigerant recharge.
The humidifier fixed in this video was a Whirlpool Accudry dehumidifier
one of the best dehumidifier fix video!
My first dehumidifier fix video and it was excellent - thank you! Your narration and camera angles are perfect and i think you for the great tutorial!
Good video. Interesting. Not many people think of buying a new capacitor and installing it as a test for resistance. :) I did the rewind and freeze-frame and can report that the pressure was pegged at zero with the compressor running, before he opened the valve.
I'm sorry, I fix some things around the house.... but this seems like a lot of work for something that lasted that many years. If a new one can last half that long, I'm just going to Lowe's. But I certainly do appreciate the fact that you're willing to do the work. Respect.
My thoughts exactly...
Well, there can be great satisfaction in troubleshooting and fixing something and the part was super cheap so I can relate and have been down that same road before. I can’t get comfortable spending that kind of money without trying to spend a little effort fixing it first.
What about just trying to save some trash to the Planet ?? Manufacturing this stuff uses a lot of ressources (materials, energy, water...) Putting it in the trash should be the last solution :(
@@BeaN-mn6tj Yep…wife hates how I keep old/scrap/broken things at times but hey…I made something last week completely out of scraps laying around and didn’t need to spend anything. Now THAT makes this engineer so dang happy!!!!
Good info, I messed around with a smaller glass door refrigerator I got for free once refilling it. It ended up leaking out in a couple weeks of use. I added a tad of dye with the charge and found a leak in the evaporator. Wasn’t feeling ambitious enough to try replacing that so I gave it to a buddy that does refrigeration for a living. Sometimes these ambitions are worth your time. Sometimes not.
I found this video very informative. I bought a brand new Frigidaire dehumidifier early 2022 from BJ's. It was manufactured in October 2021. We didn't buy a warranty. A couple of weeks ago, it gave an EC error. I turned the power off and on and the error went a way. However, it wouldn't collect any water. I called BJ's but was told that the manufacturer warranty was for one year and because I didn't buy an extended warranty, I have to pay for the cost of repair. I then started looking online and one of the videos that I found very helpful was yours. So, I followed the instructions in your video until I thought it would need refrigerant. Unfortunately, I didn't see anything on the compressor or other places that I researched to find out what kind of refrigerant, if any, the Frigidaire uses in their new dehumidifiers. I went ahead and added R-134a until it got to near the end of the blue zone. After a few hours, I saw a few drops of water in the bucket. It was clear that it didn't work. I noticed that regardless of the humidity in the basement, it keeps showing 55 and never changes even after running it for 4+ hours (no water). I set the dehumidifier to 50. I have another Frigidaire dehumidifier (smaller) that I bought in 2018 (it was manufactured in 2017) running a few feet from the one that doesn't appear to work and the bucket is full after a day or two. I hate the idea to get rid of what I paid $300+ for, just a year and half ago.
I encountered the same “EC” code yesterday. Mine, like yours, is relatively new-just 15 months old. Did you purchase with your credit card? If so, perhaps your credit card provider doubles (extends) Frigidaire’s 12 month warranty to 24 months? It’s worth a shot to give your cc provider a call. Good luck. 👍🏻
Thanks, I will give a try.
As I consider buying a new dehumdifier I see the EC code happens normally 1 - 2 years after new. This has been common since about 2020 and still occurs on 2023 Frigidaire models.
Frigidaire is not covering them & gives no repair or part replacement help per 100's of reviews on Amazon.
The Toshiba's also stop working but they do not display a code per reviews at HomeDepot Canada
Found out my Frigidaire Dehumidfier uses R-410A refrigerant, which is phased out. I can't find it anywhere except in $100+ large cans. I was all ready to fix it, thanks to this video, but now my dehumidifier is basically trash.
How to vidéos from Engineer are always cristal clear and complete thank you very much
Thank u for help,,,this is the most detailed video i I've seen,,it helped me solve my issue,,,
You left out how to test resistance. You mentioned esr meter. I assume you cant use your vom for this test.
The rest of how to test resistance at 4:20 is missing
Its looking like the manufacturers have caught on that they can be recharged and have discontinued R134a dehumidifiers in favor of the basically unfixable R410a and R32s, since with those the refrigerant costs about as much as a new dehumidifier. Even though I have seen HVAC people say R134a is the best refrigerant to use in one. The new models are all sold with 1 year warranties too and basically built to fail shortly after that.
Quite a racket :/ I looked all day yesterday for an R134a dehumidifier and every model I found was out of stock or no longer sold. Bummer
Don't get me started on their build quality these days :S I have 2 Midea dehumidifiers that are basically trash as they stopped dehumidifying. I've had one last decades in the past....the modern class are built to fail as you said. So disgusting. Quite the racket indeed.
@@coacks I have two GEs that died within 2 years each myself, basically trash. Fans run but don't collect water now. Both need a refrigerant recharge I am about 95% sure but they have unfillable refrigerant by design, right.
I gave up looking for an R134a and finally got an R410a 50 pt from Menards with a 3 year warranty, which is almost unheard of today. I see it basically as a 3 year dehumidifier. But that beats a 1 year!
@@c.rutherford Menards is American I presume. I haven't seen a 3 year warranty here or I'd buy one as well. I got a Danby from Costco that was significantly cheaper than the Midea. So if it dies I'll care less I suppose.
The compressor quite often takes a 5 minutes delay before switching on..
You tested the capacitor and said it was good, what did I miss that made you buy a new one?
@craigg1668 Unfortunately, a start capacitor can pass a micrometer capacitance test but still fail at full voltage. The capacitor did fail the ESR resistance test, but I missed getting that clip in the video. You can see how to perform the resistance test here: th-cam.com/video/kdFIARakavk/w-d-xo.html at about 1:40. The reason I suspected the capacitor was bad is because my compressor motor wasn't starting at all, and as soon as I replaced it, the compressor motor started vibrating/humming immediately. So if your compressor motor isn't starting, I would suspect a bad cap even if it passes the capacitance test. If the cap is bulging at the top or the terminals are corroded, even more likely that is your issue. Hope that helps, and good luck!
Really well done video! Many thanks!
I have a dehumidier from the 1970s that still runs, these new ones are throw aways and made that way on purpose which is sad. Great video but their just not worth fixing anymore.
Great video! Thanks.
I have a dehumidifier from brand James that has been working well until recently. Now, whenever I plug it in, the power LED starts flashing quickly and nothing happens. It doesn't turn on, no fan spins, no compressor kicks in, nothing. Any idea what the problem might be?
Excellent video, thanks 👍
I have a dehumidifier that’s not powering up… no power when it’s plugged in… what do you think is the problem…
Why doesn't the manual say anything about freon.. I have the same dehumidifier and the compressor is vibrating but not alot it also feels really hot to touch.. it isn't picking up water?
The copper tube running from the compressor to the cooling coils is extremely hot . Does this mean the compressor is bad?
hi, at 4:19 u measure the capacitor, gives 15MicroFarad AS IT WAS SUPPOSED. Then u changed it anyways. Why?
Unfortunately a start capacitor can pass a micrometer capacitance test but still fail at full voltage. The capacitor did fail the resistance test but I missed getting that clip in the video. You can see how to perform the resistance test here: th-cam.com/video/kdFIARakavk/w-d-xo.html at about 1:40. The reason I suspected the capacitor was bad is because my compressor motor wasn't starting at all and as soon as I replaced it, the compressor motor started vibrating/humming immediately. So if your compressor motor isn't starting, I would suspect a bad cap even if it passes the capacitance test. If the cap is bulging at the top or the terminals are corroded, even more likely that is your issue. Hope that helps and good luck!
unhopefully it passed the this test too. The compressor never starts, and when I opened it ,the compressor was very hot. Any ideas ? @@shaneperche-fixed-it
@@Grundewalt That could be a couple things but the most common is blocked coils. Do you have access to the coils and fins? If so, is there a lot of dust build up on them?
coils ? if we talk about the compressor , it is sealed. The fan has fins and it turns. I did the resistance test and I said the capacitor is alright. Then I re started the thing and I clearly heared the compressor starting. I waited and waited but even if on the display the humidity was lower, not a drop of water. I stopped it, and restarted. This time the compressor SEEMS working (the hum) but at some time it kinda changed the sound , like starting. From that moment in some minutes the compressor againt went nuts hot. The first time when I said it seemed working (but no water) the temperature of the compressor and the copper conduits were cool. If u have another idea...@@shaneperche-fixed-it
@@Grundewalt If the compressor is humming then your capacitor is probably ok. If it's getting nuts hot then check your coils and you see if you need to clean them. I found a good video here on how to clean the coils: th-cam.com/video/YntsdKFu2lA/w-d-xo.html The other issue is that you might not have enough refrigerant and in that case the system will need to be recharged. That was my second problem after I replaced the capacitor. i.e. The compressor started but the compressor got hot to the touch. So if your coils are clean, you will need to get a bullet valve (unless your model has a service port) and replace the refrigerant.
Great video
these videos should be called, easy fix for someone with absolutly every tools on earth and oubviously the knowledge
That is why, repairs are pretty expensive. But in most cases you pay for their knowlage.
very interesting thanks
Hi, what do i do if the compressor works but the dehumidifier still doesn’t drip water?
Donate it, then it will be someone else’s problem. JK that’s what happened to me😭
What do I replace if I over charged the unit when plugged it in?
Might not have been a bad idea to check for a leak with some soapy water.
Hi there how much does it cost to do that?
It depends on whether or not it's just the capacitor or if you also need to recharge the refrigerant. Capacitors run between $10-20. Bullet valves are between $15-20 and refrigerant can run between $50-70 depending on whether or not you buy it with a kit. The kits come with a pressure gauge which you'll need if you don't already have one.
I have an old Berns Air King DH 17 Dehumidifier and it worked good last year after I put a ball bearing in the fan motor to replace the bronze bushing that seized up about twice and year and had to be lubricated. But, now the coils are freezing up even when I take it out in 90 degree weather outside It has a relay and another round component on the side of the compressor but I don't know if they are both good. Someone tole me that this type of unit has to cycle the compressor off and on to keep the coils from freezing because it has no sensor in the air flow. Do you have any idea of what could be wrong with it?
Have the same dehumidifier but it works for 10 min then starts beeping like it’s full and light indicators on panel keep cycling threw… any thoughts or show me how to disconnect the alarm? Thanks
Do i have to use a analog meter to check resistance? I have used my meter to check microfarads and its good but compressor still wont run. Thanks
I use an ESR meter which measures the equivalent series resistance in capacitors. If you don't have an ESR meter and the compressor won't turn on, there is a very good chance your capacitor is bad.
That wasn't very much water for a 30-minute run? Never did see your gauge midway in the "blue".
Yea, I could have added a bit more as it was on the lower end of the blue, but it's still working today from that recharge so I haven't bothered to mess with it. As for the time it takes to collect water, I think it might depend on the humidity as sometimes it takes few hours to fill, and sometimes it takes all day.
Is it low on refrigerant, if the compressor runs and gets hot, but the copper pipe does not? Mine is doing this and its just a little over a year old! Runs but collects no water now. It says R410A on the compressor.
I'm surprised no hardware stores sell a bullet piercing valve for a simple solution to such a common problem. It seems the only option is to order online and wait a week :/
I'm looking at R410A and the canisters cost about as much as just buying a replacement dehumidifier. It also says it will no longer be available and sold at all after 2025 :/
Well isn't that nice. Apparently you can't tap off R410A with anything else? Just my luck I got an appliance that is unchargeable, and only ran a year. And this is my second one in a row that did this. GE dehumidifiers are junk, apparently.
Mine does the same
Interesting video. But you haven't fixed the leak, so you'll have to recharge repeatedly.
I'm sure you are correct but I am still using it almost 1 year later with no issues. It was sitting for 10-15 years before I started using it so I suspect it must be a very slow leak.
My dehumidifier is full of water but the water is not in the water pan and it not on the floor help !!!!!
Where did you get the stab in valve at for the dehumidifier at
So I guess we know why it’s best just to get rid of a faulty dehumidifier. They are not worth fixing.
I have the same dehumidifier and the problem is it doesn’t collect water. So can you let me know what’s the possible problem with the machine.
When you take off the back cover and turn it on, do you feel the compressor motor running? If you don't feel it shaking a bit with a low humming noise, you likely need to replace the capacitor. If the compressor motor is running and it's not collecting water, you likely need to add refrigerant.
My compresser is running but no water coming out
Does it get hot to the touch? If so, you might need to recharge the system with more refrigerant.
What pressure if compresor 134a gas If we want to recharge it ,can i know sir ?
I can do it!
You replaced a component without proving it didnt work. Suck it and see? Shame vuz everything else was going well. I suggest the video was edited to remove part of the recording.