I keep my gun cabinets in my small half basement. I keep an electric dehumidifier running full time, with a drain hose leading to a sump hole. It has worked great for several years, when I open the basement door, I can feel how much drier the air is. However, lately, I feeling humid air when I go down. The motor on the dehumidifier is running without complaint, there is no outward indication of anything gone wrong, just that the air is not dry anymore. Can these things just die on you, even though it is still running? I don't understand how that could be, but I can't deny what I feel in the air, and on my humidity/temperature gage, which indicates 60-65% humidity, not 35-40%. Any thoughts? Should I go to Walmart and get a new one?
electric dehumidifier life expectancy?
- Thread starter Ed333
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Check the large metal tube coil in the back of the unit and make sure it isn't iced up. Depending on a change of temp, this can happen and it will significantly reduce the effectiveness of the unit.
If it is iced up, shut it off and let the ice melt away and then restart it. Change the setting so it isn't quite as dry as your regular setting and monitor the coil periodically for any future icing.
If it is iced up, shut it off and let the ice melt away and then restart it. Change the setting so it isn't quite as dry as your regular setting and monitor the coil periodically for any future icing.
I have gone through 3 units. They seem to last about 3 years. My current one is a frigidaire 25pt that keeps blowing air, compressor gets hot but doesn't seem to run. I am looking for a good one. LG, Westinghouse, Frigidaire, all failed. Any ideas? Trying to dehumidify 300sq.ft.
Dehumidiffers are just a small a/c unit. They have a fan motor that will continue to run even if the compressor has died. Three years is about average life for these units. I agree that you should check for ice and/or dirt on the coil. The good thing is that we are heading into the best time of year to get a new unit. Most stores want to sell off the units to make space for winter heaters.
Check your owners manual to see if you have an air filter in your unit. They can get clogged and no air will travel across the coil, but everything else will seem to be working.
Titegroups
Member
If you have a really humid environment do yourself a favor and buy the 4yr warranty, it probably won't last that long.
Dehumidifiers
I bought a new one five years ago to replace the twenty year old one I had that was noisy.
I gave it to my father who still uses it, I have gone through four in five years now. they seem to last either one or two years. Google this problem and you will see that all brands are the same. the secret ? buy the extended warrantee, preferably from a place that will cover you if you lose your receipt, I can recommend Sam's Club if you are a member.
From what I can tell, they are all made in China , and they all fail.
I have two running all the time now, it is very humid where I live in Minnesota, I live right on the banks of the Mighty Mississippi.
Anyway , good luck , it is ten bucks well spent, I will soon get my second free one, and I have two bad ones at work that failed after one year. I want to try to get them fixed but no luck so far. Chris
I bought a new one five years ago to replace the twenty year old one I had that was noisy.
I gave it to my father who still uses it, I have gone through four in five years now. they seem to last either one or two years. Google this problem and you will see that all brands are the same. the secret ? buy the extended warrantee, preferably from a place that will cover you if you lose your receipt, I can recommend Sam's Club if you are a member.
From what I can tell, they are all made in China , and they all fail.
I have two running all the time now, it is very humid where I live in Minnesota, I live right on the banks of the Mighty Mississippi.
Anyway , good luck , it is ten bucks well spent, I will soon get my second free one, and I have two bad ones at work that failed after one year. I want to try to get them fixed but no luck so far. Chris
Clean them at least twice a year. I get a thin blanket of dust/lint from mine. The filter is just like a lint filter for a clothes dryer.
dentkimterry
Member
I had one from Sears that lasted 25 years although I had to replace the fan motor twice. The refrigeration system performed all those years. The new one I bought is made in China. Really pisses me off that you can't find an American one like I had. I know this China won't last..................
If it is at least 15 years old it may run forever, if it is within the last 10 years, it may last 2-3 years. Brand doesn't seem to make any difference.
Pretty sad situation. Used to be that you'd have to pay extra to get a good quality unit (made in USA). Now, it's almost impossible to find a good quality, made in USA appliance...
China, Mexico, and Korea stuff does not last very long, but they still want to charge you plenty. Have you looked at the prices of new washer/dryers, or refrigerators? Yikes!
I have had good luck with a made in USA Bosch dishwasher, but it was expensive. It replaced a piece of garbage, and expensive, GE Profile dishwasher that lasted only 3 years!!
I've been wanting to buy a dehumidifier for my basement gun room, but the ones I've seen in the stores look really cheap. I haven't had the heart to buy one...
China, Mexico, and Korea stuff does not last very long, but they still want to charge you plenty. Have you looked at the prices of new washer/dryers, or refrigerators? Yikes!
I have had good luck with a made in USA Bosch dishwasher, but it was expensive. It replaced a piece of garbage, and expensive, GE Profile dishwasher that lasted only 3 years!!
I've been wanting to buy a dehumidifier for my basement gun room, but the ones I've seen in the stores look really cheap. I haven't had the heart to buy one...
oldRoger
US Veteran
I have two 70 pint units running as I type this (I hope they are both running), my experience is about the same as mentioned above. I consider myself fortunate if I get two years out of them. I agree that brand seems to make no difference. I have reduced two units which failed to component parts, all made somewhere in China. I replaced the reloading room unit three times in one year.
I would be happy to pay for a high quality unit to save the aggravation of hauling units up and downstairs. If not happy I would be at least willing to pay more.
It is easy to test them here in FL, just take it outside, turn it down low, and if it is not producing volumes of condensate in short order it is ready for the recycler. Unless the fan fails there is not much that is repairable.
I would be happy to pay for a high quality unit to save the aggravation of hauling units up and downstairs. If not happy I would be at least willing to pay more.
It is easy to test them here in FL, just take it outside, turn it down low, and if it is not producing volumes of condensate in short order it is ready for the recycler. Unless the fan fails there is not much that is repairable.
