If this is the case, the overload switch will continue to flip even after resetting, and a technician will likely be required to pinpoint the cause. Disclosure: BobVila.com participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for publishers to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Or you can ask a professional electrician or technician to test the humidistat. The humidifier I purchased worked well for 5 years, but I just didn't know you can't repair. //s.eVar15 = ""; The bucket must be in place for the unit to drain. s.channel = "Service_Support"; Manufacturers carry replacement blades, which users can order and install, usually with the help of just a screwdriver. When this happens, unfortunately, its not an easy fix. Friedrich Air Dehumidifier, 50 Pint Capacity, Built In Drain Pump, Friedrich Air Dehumidifier, 50 Pint Capacity, Built In Drain Pump, Precise Humidity Control, Learn more how customers reviews work on Amazon. But hey it's a throw away culture anyway, right? The Unkillable Garden: 15 Veggies and Herbs That Will Thrive in Y 15 Easy Ways to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint at Home, The Surprising History Behind Spring Cleaning. By Glenda Taylor | Published Mar 30, 2021 6:25 PM. Other systems with pumps are available for less. After 4-5 years you just throw your Freidrich unit out. The same principle that results in a glass of iced tea sweating in the summer is at work in dehumidifiers. Reviewed in the United States on May 7, 2022. To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we dont use a simple average. So don't trust it when they say they can repair on their site and in the literature and warranty cards. The coil system seals tightly to keep the fluid in, but tiny cracks can form over time, causing the fluid to leak out slowly. If someone inadvertently turned up the humidity level on the dehumidifier, it might not be coming on because the rooms humidity level is not high enough. GE Appliances Service does not service dehumidifiers. Those familiar with testing electric currents can use a multimeter to test the humidistat for continuity (ohms). The evaporator coils on a dehumidifier remain cold because theyre filled with pressurized refrigerant fluid, and a compressor pumps the fluid continuously through the coils. RELATED: The Best Small Dehumidifiers for Use at Home or On the Go. If the compressor is struggling to operate or if heavy frost develops on the coils, the compressor can become overheated. If the dehumidifier is plugged in and the outlet is working, the problem lies within the appliance itself. You can still see all customer reviews for the product. After viewing product detail pages, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in. While youre at it, if you see lint and debris in the interior of the dehumidifier case, consider taking the entire unit outdoors and cleaning away the mess with compressed air, either from a can or from the nozzle end of an air compressor hose. Top subscription boxes right to your door, 1996-2022, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. If the dehumidifier doesnt make a sound when turned on, the overload switch might have flipped. If the dehumidifier has a drain line that runs to a floor drain, a full tank could indicate that the line has become kinked or is clogged. If a dirty or clogged grill is reducing airflow, unplug the unit, remove the grill cover, take it outdoors, and spray it clean with a hose. Oh wait that's why I purchased a dehumidifier in the 1st place! Download a copy of the Owner's Manual. s.prop5 = s.prop4; If the fan isnt pulling in the air, the dehumidifying process cant work effectively. Models made within the past decade or so might contain electronic control boards that can burn out and stop working. Only someone familiar with electronic circuitry should test a dehumidifiers wiring and electrical components. Just keep in mind, that the humidifiers Freidrichs makes are disposable. If the compressor overheated due to frost buildup, you can try resetting the overload switch (check the owners manual for location) once the frost has melted. The culprit could be a dirty fan or a broken fan blade. I say no. s.prop4 = s.prop3; When frost forms on the evaporator coils, it keeps the appliance from working efficiently. Found out that returns are at purchasers expense and then only if returned in the original packaging. Reviewed in the United States on July 24, 2022, The dehumidifier workerd quickly and efficiently, Reviewed in the United States on December 11, 2020. If the desired humidity level isnt too high, the problem could be with the humidistat. Unless the dehumidifier is a pricey, whole-house unit, its usually more cost-effective to buy a new dehumidifier. If comfortable checking inside the unit, unplug it and then remove the cover, then turn the fan blade by hand to see if either debris or a broken blade is keeping the fan from turning. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. RELATED: 5 Signs Your Home Needs a Dehumidifierand How to Select the Right One. 15 Products to Help You Warm Up Every Corner of Your Home. Reviewed in the United States on June 27, 2021. But the places listed for Chicago all said they wouldn't repair it. One place was a landscaping company and didn't know why they were listed on Freidrich's site. - to dry out my basement in my home. If the fan is in good shape, something could be blocking airflow into the unit. Bought it because of the pump, but the pump never worked. Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them. Without sufficient refrigerant fluid, the evaporator coils will not become cold enough to draw moisture from the air. If the component has gone bad, ordering a new one from the manufacturer and replacing it is a relatively simple task. s.eVar14 = document.title; s.prop3 = s.channel + "|Support Search"; Some users might opt to instead purchase a new unit at this point. A plumber or HVAC technician can recharge the coils with more refrigerant fluid, but the cracks can be difficult to seal, and the liquid could leak out again. // Manipulate variables If the humidistat no longer works, it cant turn the dehumidifier on. The fan in a dehumidifier doesnt blow air outinstead, it draws air into the appliance so the moisture in the air comes into contact with the ice-cold coils. Manually remove the collection tank, dump it, and then remove the drain line (it screws on like a hose) and ensure its not blocked. Most dehumidifiers come with a shut-off switch that turns the appliance off if the water in the collection tank reaches the top. This page works best with JavaScript. Depending on the existing dehumidifiers value, it might be more cost-effective to purchase a new unit. The dehumidifiers compressor is the core of the unit, and it circulates refrigerant liquid through the coils. If a broken fan motor is at fault, however, the fix is more complex. Some of the tests require that the dehumidifier remain plugged in during the test, so the best option in this case is to take the dehumidifier to a small appliance repair shop or have a technician come out and take a look. I bought a Tatso. Warm, moist air flows into the appliance where it comes into contact with ice-cold evaporator coils, causing the moisture in the air to condense and then drip down to a collection tank. Make sure the drain hose does not exceed 16 ft. RELATED: This is the Recommended Humidity Level at Home. No authorized repair in my area. Dont waste your money. (Boston) Friedrich said I could bring it to an authorized HVAC technician to have it checked and they would reimburse me up to $35. Expert advice from Bob Vila, the most trusted name in home improvement, home remodeling, home repair, and DIY. The humidistat is the actual component in the dehumidifier that turns the appliance on when moisture in the air reaches the preset level. Solved! I bought what I thought was a nice Freidrich dehumidifier (similar to this one) a few years ago and when it stopped working recently, I tried to find a place to reapair the unit, using the Freidrich website. Bought the unit in mid August 2021. Laughable if not so sad I'm out $400 for a unit which lasted 2 months. This could be as simple as lint, dust, or pet fur buildup on the grill that covers the fan. s.events = "event16"; Most dehumidifiers have an overload switch that will shut an overheated compressor down to keep from damaging it. A: Sorry to hear about your dehumidifier woes; while you might need to purchase a new one, theres also a good chance that something minor has gone wrong, and you might be able to fix it yourself. Disabling it will result in some disabled or missing features. Its a small module often located just beneath the dehumidifiers cover (check the owners manual for the exact spot). Good for the landfill and the environment, good for Freidrichs as they don't have to repair their own products and good for me because now my basement isn't as dry as it used to be. Once the coils are clear, turn the unit back on and turn up the temperature in the room to keep frost from forming again. Unplug the unit and lift the cover to check for frost. s.prop43 = "Responsive"; Dehumidifiers contain electrical components that can go bad, in addition to internal wiring that can short or come loose from connection terminals. var s_code=s.t();if(s_code)document.write(s_code); Ifyour dehumidifier has aninternal pump and is not draining the water, check the following: If the unit is still not draining then is not operating properly, please refer to the model's warranty located in the Owner's Manual. If you see it, leave the dehumidifier unplugged and allow the frost to melt, which can take a few hours, depending on how thick it is. Unfortunately, other problems can cause an overload switch to flip, and some of them are related to short-circuiting of the appliances wiring. Copyright 2022 Acton Media Inc. All rights reserved. A dehumidifier placed against a wall or next to an upholstered chair might not be able to draw in enough air. Your recently viewed items and featured recommendations, Select the department you want to search in, Reviewed in the United States on May 29, 2021. If it is and you cant easily remove the clog, replace the drain line. When the humidity rises above that level, the dehumidifier turns on and removes moisture from the air. Why Is My Outside AC Unit Not Turning On? These Friedrich dehumidifier models still seem to be the best quality, quiet with long lasting performance. Taking time to check the following will help pinpoint possible reasons for the dehumidifier not working and whether its worth repairing. If the unit is out of warranty and in need of a repair check with local servicers to see if they service dehumidifiers. However, if the room is cooler than 65 degrees, the moisture on the coils can turn to frost rather than condense and drain. Glenda Taylor, 5 Signs Your Home Needs a Dehumidifierand How to Select the Right One, This is the Recommended Humidity Level at Home, The Best Small Dehumidifiers for Use at Home or On the Go, 11 Ways to Make the Most of Your Towns Curbside Cleanup Day. Please make sure that you are posting in the form of a question. Before troubleshooting the appliance, check first to make sure its plugged all the way into the outletand then plug something else into the same outlet to see if the problem lies with the power. Most dehumidifiers allow the user to select the desired level of humidity in the roomtypically 30 to 40 percent. By October the pump had stopped working. The bucket mustbe full in order to start draining. Position the dehumidifier at least a foot away from walls, furniture, curtains, clothing, and other items. Replacing a fan motor is a job for a professional technician. Check to see that the desired humidity level is set no higher than 40 percent, and turn it down if it is. Is there really any one that is better? // Image call s.hier1 = s.prop5; It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.