I have a stand-alone compressor-type dehumidifier that runs and sounds
normal but doesn't extract humidity (no condensate is produced). Is it
possible to get them repaired, and if so by whom - a refrigeration
engineer? Is it likely to be economical (given the beast cost £100 and I
could get a new one for that sort of price).


--
John Stumbles

The floggings will continue until morale improves

On 11 Jan 2014 14:10:07 GMT
John Stumbles wrote:

I have a stand-alone compressor-type dehumidifier that runs and
sounds normal but doesn't extract humidity (no condensate is
produced). Is it possible to get them repaired, and if so by whom - a
refrigeration engineer? Is it likely to be economical (given the
beast cost £100 and I could get a new one for that sort of price).



Assuming that the ambient conditions are suitable and correct, then it
sounds as though the refrigerant has leaked out. Personally, I would buy
a new one, which would have a warranty. It might be different if you
were going to do it yourself.

--
Davey.

What gas do these things use nowadays?

Brian

--
From the Bed of Brian Gaff.
The email is valid as
Blind user.
"Davey" wrote in message
...
On 11 Jan 2014 14:10:07 GMT
John Stumbles wrote:

I have a stand-alone compressor-type dehumidifier that runs and
sounds normal but doesn't extract humidity (no condensate is
produced). Is it possible to get them repaired, and if so by whom - a
refrigeration engineer? Is it likely to be economical (given the
beast cost £100 and I could get a new one for that sort of price).



Assuming that the ambient conditions are suitable and correct, then it
sounds as though the refrigerant has leaked out. Personally, I would buy
a new one, which would have a warranty. It might be different if you
were going to do it yourself.

--
Davey.

On 11/01/2014 14:10, John Stumbles wrote:
I have a stand-alone compressor-type dehumidifier that runs and sounds
normal but doesn't extract humidity (no condensate is produced). Is it
possible to get them repaired, and if so by whom - a refrigeration
engineer? Is it likely to be economical (given the beast cost £100 and I
could get a new one for that sort of price).


I suspect the only cost effective repair would be a gas re-charge which
you might be able to get from someone who recharges car aircon. Someone
decent would probably give you a free check of the pressure.

On Sat, 11 Jan 2014 14:28:16 +0000, newshound wrote:

I suspect the only cost effective repair would be a gas re-charge which
you might be able to get from someone who recharges car aircon. Someone
decent would probably give you a free check of the pressure.

That's an idea, thanks. I tried a local fridge guy who I thought was good
but he's retired.



--
John Stumbles

If atheism is a religion then not collecting stamps is a hobby

On Sat, 11 Jan 2014 14:28:16 +0000, newshound
wrote:
I suspect the only cost effective repair would be a gas re-charge which
you might be able to get from someone who recharges car aircon

But if it's lost gas, presumably there's a leak somewhere, and a
re-charge would leak away too.

Fridges last for years without needing to be recharged after all, and
I assume dehumidifiers would use a similar compressor arrangement.

"Caecilius" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 11 Jan 2014 14:28:16 +0000, newshound
wrote:
I suspect the only cost effective repair would be a gas re-charge which
you might be able to get from someone who recharges car aircon

But if it's lost gas, presumably there's a leak somewhere, and a
re-charge would leak away too.

Fridges last for years without needing to be recharged after all, and
I assume dehumidifiers would use a similar compressor arrangement.

The gas could take years to leak out again, or it could take hours depending
on the size of the hole.
If the repair guy spots the leak he may be able to fix it, at extra cost of
course. He will guarantee nothing.
There may be more than one leak .................

On 11/01/2014 14:10, John Stumbles wrote:
I have a stand-alone compressor-type dehumidifier that runs and sounds
normal but doesn't extract humidity (no condensate is produced). Is it
possible to get them repaired, and if so by whom - a refrigeration
engineer? Is it likely to be economical (given the beast cost £100 and I
could get a new one for that sort of price).



If you have a Polish fridge repair shop near you maybe its worth fixing..

however screwfix have one on offer for £99 atm.

"dennis@home" wrote in message
b.com...
On 11/01/2014 14:10, John Stumbles wrote:
I have a stand-alone compressor-type dehumidifier that runs and sounds
normal but doesn't extract humidity (no condensate is produced). Is it
possible to get them repaired, and if so by whom - a refrigeration
engineer? Is it likely to be economical (given the beast cost £100 and I
could get a new one for that sort of price).



If you have a Polish fridge repair shop near you maybe its worth fixing..

however screwfix have one on offer for £99 atm.

Cheap for a Polish fridge repair shop is that.

On Saturday, January 11, 2014 2:10:07 PM UTC, John Stumbles wrote:

I have a stand-alone compressor-type dehumidifier that runs and sounds
normal but doesn't extract humidity (no condensate is produced). Is it
possible to get them repaired, and if so by whom - a refrigeration
engineer? Is it likely to be economical (given the beast cost £100 and I
could get a new one for that sort of price).

Need to determine the probelm first. Do you hear the compressor run, or only the fan?


NT

On Saturday, January 11, 2014 8:39:01 PM UTC, wrote:
On Saturday, January 11, 2014 2:10:07 PM UTC, John Stumbles wrote:



I have a stand-alone compressor-type dehumidifier that runs and sounds

normal but doesn't extract humidity (no condensate is produced). Is it

possible to get them repaired, and if so by whom - a refrigeration

engineer? Is it likely to be economical (given the beast cost £100 and I

could get a new one for that sort of price).



Need to determine the probelm first. Do you hear the compressor run, or only the fan?

oh FFS standby for the "expertise".... get ready to scour laybys for "common" parts.... see the wiki...
;))

Jim K

In article ,
writes:
On Saturday, January 11, 2014 2:10:07 PM UTC, John Stumbles wrote:
I have a stand-alone compressor-type dehumidifier that runs and sounds
normal but doesn't extract humidity (no condensate is produced). Is it
possible to get them repaired, and if so by whom - a refrigeration
engineer? Is it likely to be economical (given the beast cost £100 and I
could get a new one for that sort of price).
Need to determine the probelm first. Do you hear the compressor run, or only the fan?

+1

I've had one fail - it was a zener diode costing less that 10p on the
control board, which meant the compressor was never switched on (which
for this one has a 3 minute delayed start timer to prevent attempted
restart whilst the system still has any dynamic back pressure from
previous run).

What normally dies with old age is the fan motor bearings. The
refrigeration part is normally quite reliable, just like with modern
fridges. It's probably most vulnerable from being moved around and
being tilted off vertical whilst being moved or being started without
allowing the necessary standing time.

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

On Saturday, January 11, 2014 10:57:55 PM UTC, Andrew Gabriel wrote:
In article ,
writes:
On Saturday, January 11, 2014 2:10:07 PM UTC, John Stumbles wrote:

I have a stand-alone compressor-type dehumidifier that runs and sounds
normal but doesn't extract humidity (no condensate is produced). Is it
possible to get them repaired, and if so by whom - a refrigeration
engineer? Is it likely to be economical (given the beast cost �100 and I
could get a new one for that sort of price).

Need to determine the probelm first. Do you hear the compressor run, or only the fan?

+1
I've had one fail - it was a zener diode costing less that 10p on the
control board, which meant the compressor was never switched on (which
for this one has a 3 minute delayed start timer to prevent attempted
restart whilst the system still has any dynamic back pressure from
previous run).
What normally dies with old age is the fan motor bearings. The
refrigeration part is normally quite reliable, just like with modern
fridges. It's probably most vulnerable from being moved around and
being tilted off vertical whilst being moved or being started without
allowing the necessary standing time.


To save you time, the short answer is that if both fan and compressor run, yet no condensation, its BER (assuming a warm room not dry enough to bristle with static). If those 2 arent both running, who knows without a proper fault finding.

Re repair shops, I've long been more a fan of backstreet repairers where, at least last time I looked, some repairs were still economic. That was a while ago now. If you do go the professional repair route, I'd always insist on a free quote or walk away.

I've got a faulty dehumidifier sitting here now, a B&Q. Don't know whats amiss with it, and really havent got the time it would take, so this one's going to get dumped. Its a shame, but thats life sometimes. Not sure if its worth keeping the fan, I've got too much electronic crap already.


NT