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#1
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Dehumidifier with hose connection that actually works ("LG" brand from HD doesn't)
I just bought an "LG" dehumidifier from The Home Depot (yeah, yeah, I
know, buying from HD is always a mistake). The box claimed that it had a threaded hose connection, but when I opened it up, I discovered that what it has instead is a disconnected plastic pipe, about nine inches long, with threads at one end and narrower at the other end. To use a hose, you're supposed to (a) punch out the cut-out in the back of the dehumidifier about a foot from the bottom, (b) screw the plastic pipe into a hose, (c) insert the pipe into the cut-out hole in the back far enough for the other end to enclose the plastic pipe that the water drips out of, and (d) "lock" the pipe into place with a couple of plastic tabs sticking out of it. Of course, it doesn't work, for many reasons, including: * The plastic tabs are just barely enough to hold the pipe in place when a hose is attached to it and putting weight on it. You have to get everything Exactly Right to get it to stay, and even the slightest jostle can dislodge it. Furthermore, it's obvious that over time, the plastic tabs will mold to the position they're wedged into and thus stop applying pressure, at which point they'll completely stop holding the pipe in place. * The pipe is horizontal, which means that you need to tilt the humidifier slightly backwards to have any chance at all of water running into the hose, as opposed to running into the pipe and immediately running back out into the bucket beneath the water outlet. * The pipe attaches right where the water drips out, not at the bottom of the bucket, which means that there's no water pressure to force the water into the hose. As a result, it doesn't actually go into the hose; it instead drips back out into the bucket or (worse) finds some other avenue of escape and runs all over the floor. * The instructions claim that the hose should be kept completely flat but do not explain how exactly you're supposed to do that when the pipe is inserted into the back of the dehumidifier about a foot off of the ground. I don't think the dehumidifier has a manufacturing defect; I just think it's yet another example of a shoddy manufacturer attempting to graft a "feature" onto a product without caring that the design they've come up with won't actually work. If I had to guess, I'd guess that the hose connection method was poorly grafted onto an already finished dehumidifier design in the cheapest possible way. I've seen Usenet postings suggesting that I install a bulkhead hose fitting near the bottom of the bucket and run a hose from there. I'm sure I could do that, but I'd rather just buy a dehumidifier which has a proper hose draining design. Can anybody recommend one? -- Help stop the genocide in Darfur! http://www.genocideintervention.net/ |
#2
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Dehumidifier with hose connection that actually works ("LG" brand from HD doesn't)
I just called Sears to ask whether their Kenmore dehumidifiers are any
better. They said that the hose attaches above the bucket and uses an "adapter", which makes me suspect that it has many of the same problems as the LG dehumidifier. *sigh* -- Help stop the genocide in Darfur! http://www.genocideintervention.net/ |
#3
Posted to misc.consumers.house
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Dehumidifier with hose connection that actually works ("LG" brand from HD doesn't)
(Jonathan Kamens) writes:
I'm sure I could do that, but I'd rather just buy a dehumidifier which has a proper hose draining design. Can anybody recommend one? I inherited a Hampton Bay (a HomeDepot brand perhaps?) model HB50 dehumidifier with my current home that includes a threaded hose connection just above the built in tank. Screw on a standard hose, tape the lever switch as though there's a tank installed and off ya go. Best Regards, -- Todd H. http://www.toddh.net/ |
#4
Posted to misc.consumers.house
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Dehumidifier with hose connection that actually works ("LG"brand from HD doesn't)
On Tue, 1 Aug 2006, Jonathan Kamens wrote:
I just bought an "LG" dehumidifier from The Home Depot (yeah, yeah, I know, buying from HD is always a mistake). The box claimed that it had a threaded hose connection, but when I opened it up, I discovered that what it has instead is a disconnected plastic pipe, about nine inches long, with threads at one end and narrower at the other end. I encountered the same thing with the Home Despot LG low temperature model. I ended up putting the pipe in place and then putting a sheet metal screw through the plastic tab on the end so that you have to unscrew the screw in order to remove the pipe. Works OK, have not had the bucket fill up while I wasn't looking or the pipe leak all over the floor since my fix. I am sure the plastic will break given time and I will be back to square one. |
#5
Posted to misc.consumers.house
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Dehumidifier with hose connection that actually works ("LG" brand from HD doesn't)
My 30 pint Goldstar has a proper hose connection directly into the bottom
corner of the tank. So does my 30 pint GE. I don't use them with a hose, but they seem like they would work just fine and pretty much drain all the water out as it is condensed. -- Dennis |
#6
Posted to misc.consumers.house
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Dehumidifier with hose connection that actually works ("LG" brand from HD doesn't)
I have a related question.... With a sealed sump pit, what's the prescribed way of putting a hose into action for this duty? I assume cutting a hole for the hose, caulking aroun dit, and somehow forming the hose into its own P trap shape to seal the gasses into the pit would be the way to go? I have a dehumidifier right next to a sealed pit, but far from teh floor drain. -- Todd H. http://www.toddh.net/ |
#7
Posted to misc.consumers.house
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Dehumidifier with hose connection that actually works ("LG" brandfrom HD doesn't)
Jonathan Kamens wrote:
I just called Sears to ask whether their Kenmore dehumidifiers are any better. They said that the hose attaches above the bucket and uses an "adapter", which makes me suspect that it has many of the same problems as the LG dehumidifier. *sigh* The current Sears models are also made by LG. Check the reviews. Some people have reported excellent results, others aren't happy. |
#8
Posted to misc.consumers.house,alt.home.repair
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Dehumidifier with hose connection that actually works ("LG" brandfrom HD doesn't)
Jonathan Kamens wrote: I just bought an "LG" dehumidifier from The Home Depot (yeah, yeah, I know, buying from HD is always a mistake). The box claimed that it had a threaded hose connection, but when I opened it up, I discovered that what it has instead is a disconnected plastic pipe, about nine inches long, with threads at one end and narrower at the other end. Sears models are also currently made by LG. Other names may be as well. To use a hose, you're supposed to (a) punch out the cut-out in the back of the dehumidifier about a foot from the bottom, (b) screw the plastic pipe into a hose, (c) insert the pipe into the cut-out hole in the back far enough for the other end to enclose the plastic pipe that the water drips out of, and (d) "lock" the pipe into place with a couple of plastic tabs sticking out of it. Of course, it doesn't work, for many reasons, including: * The plastic tabs are just barely enough to hold the pipe in place when a hose is attached to it and putting weight on it. You have to get everything Exactly Right to get it to stay, and even the slightest jostle can dislodge it. Furthermore, it's obvious that over time, the plastic tabs will mold to the position they're wedged into and thus stop applying pressure, at which point they'll completely stop holding the pipe in place. * The pipe is horizontal, which means that you need to tilt the humidifier slightly backwards to have any chance at all of water running into the hose, as opposed to running into the pipe and immediately running back out into the bucket beneath the water outlet. * The pipe attaches right where the water drips out, not at the bottom of the bucket, which means that there's no water pressure to force the water into the hose. As a result, it doesn't actually go into the hose; it instead drips back out into the bucket or (worse) finds some other avenue of escape and runs all over the floor. To be fair, there wouldn't be any "water pressure" if the outlet was at the bucket bottom either, for the simple reason that if the water's immediately going out the tube, it's not collecting anywhere to create any pressure via pascal's law and gravity. I believe they put the outlet higher up rather than at the bucket bottom so that the humdifier could be used with a hose while sitting on the floor. If the outlet was at the bottom of the bucket, you would have to have the unit up higher to make room for the hose underneath. Also if the outlet was on the side of the bucket, some quantity of water would remain in the bucket at all times, leading to stagnant water, bacteria, mold problems, re-evaporating back into the air thereby reducing efficiency, etc. |
#9
Posted to misc.consumers.house,alt.home.repair
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Dehumidifier with hose connection that actually works ("LG" brand from HD doesn't)
Mine is built like that and it hasn't gotten dislodged. You don't have to
worry about the plastic fingers holding it in place wearing out in time because the crap dehumidifiers won't last long enuf for that to happen. A good dehumidifier cost $500 a decade ago. The current crop cost $200. If they last 3 years you are lucky. That is why they eliminated the 5 year refrigeration system warranty. "Fred" wrote in message ... Jonathan Kamens wrote: I just bought an "LG" dehumidifier from The Home Depot (yeah, yeah, I know, buying from HD is always a mistake). The box claimed that it had a threaded hose connection, but when I opened it up, I discovered that what it has instead is a disconnected plastic pipe, about nine inches long, with threads at one end and narrower at the other end. Sears models are also currently made by LG. Other names may be as well. To use a hose, you're supposed to (a) punch out the cut-out in the back of the dehumidifier about a foot from the bottom, (b) screw the plastic pipe into a hose, (c) insert the pipe into the cut-out hole in the back far enough for the other end to enclose the plastic pipe that the water drips out of, and (d) "lock" the pipe into place with a couple of plastic tabs sticking out of it. Of course, it doesn't work, for many reasons, including: * The plastic tabs are just barely enough to hold the pipe in place when a hose is attached to it and putting weight on it. You have to get everything Exactly Right to get it to stay, and even the slightest jostle can dislodge it. Furthermore, it's obvious that over time, the plastic tabs will mold to the position they're wedged into and thus stop applying pressure, at which point they'll completely stop holding the pipe in place. * The pipe is horizontal, which means that you need to tilt the humidifier slightly backwards to have any chance at all of water running into the hose, as opposed to running into the pipe and immediately running back out into the bucket beneath the water outlet. * The pipe attaches right where the water drips out, not at the bottom of the bucket, which means that there's no water pressure to force the water into the hose. As a result, it doesn't actually go into the hose; it instead drips back out into the bucket or (worse) finds some other avenue of escape and runs all over the floor. To be fair, there wouldn't be any "water pressure" if the outlet was at the bucket bottom either, for the simple reason that if the water's immediately going out the tube, it's not collecting anywhere to create any pressure via pascal's law and gravity. I believe they put the outlet higher up rather than at the bucket bottom so that the humdifier could be used with a hose while sitting on the floor. If the outlet was at the bottom of the bucket, you would have to have the unit up higher to make room for the hose underneath. Also if the outlet was on the side of the bucket, some quantity of water would remain in the bucket at all times, leading to stagnant water, bacteria, mold problems, re-evaporating back into the air thereby reducing efficiency, etc. |
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