dehumidifier shopping

RenegadeT

RenegadeT

no shirt,no shoes,no dice
Moderator
Joined
Mar 24, 2005
Location
Stokesdale-Greensboro
Our basement was a nice and cool 72 degrees, but a little humid, so we purchased a Frigidaire dehumidifier from Lowes. Within a few hours, the temp jumped to 77deg, kicking on the AC (thermo set @ 77). This dehumidifier is cranking out hot dry air. I realize this is just a mini AC unit, are there any models that dont pump out heat? I dont remember the one in my parents basement being hot, they probably bought it in from Sears in 1974...that sucker is still working.
Reading the owners manual, it even says "Warm dry air", which leads me to believe this unit is operating properly.
 
Last edited:
Your dehumidifier has two motors inside, both produce heat. Heating the air makes the air "look" drier because the relative humidity decreases as air temp increases. Your air conditioner removes moisture the same way as the dehumidifier but cools the air because the heat goes outside. Both air conditioner and dehumidifier actually remove moisture from the air condensing water vapor to water and draining it out side or into a bucket. Most air conditioners have much greater capacity to remove moisture than portable dehumidifiers.
 
update...
First, in my original post, I meant dehumidifier. We returned the superheater one to Lowes, picked up a Kenmore model that had better online reviews. I guess that was shortly after I created this thread. It lead a nice productive life albeit short, filled up the 70 pint bucket close to daily. Now this thing is not pulling any water out. The fan runs 24/7, not a drop in the bucket though. WTF do I check, I hate to pony up $2-300 for another one, only to have it die in 2 years. I pulled the back panel off, looks like a mini refrigerator, then the PCB cover and found some electronics. The capacitor "looks" good to me, I know when our AC cap blew, the endcap bulged out.
 
Regarding the problem - is the air it's blowing out as hot as normal? Some likely culprits would be low freon, or perhaps the drain line is plugged. If the fan is blowing it wouldn't be the cap.

For future reference, some of the more expensive units also have a temp setting where you can take advantage of the fact that it is basically a small heat pump and use it to change the temp of the room.
IMO if you are filling that much water daily, you might consider setting up a permanent drain line...
 
Tony...buy another 2-300 one elect to get the extended warranty. lol
 
Ron, that's the plan, just figured I'd see if I'm missing something.
I'm guessing the freon is gone. Everything seems to be working as it should, just there is no thermodynamic activity. Fan blows, compressor kicks on, radiator and filter are clean of debris.
I don't want to buy a more expensive unit. At Sears, I saw one with a built in pump, that was $400, a little too steep I felt. The way our basement is set up, there really isn't a good place for permanent drain line, without a ton of work.
 
RenegadeT said:
Our basement was a nice and cool 72 degrees, but a little humid, so we purchased a Frigidaire dehumidifier from Lowes. Within a few hours, the temp jumped to 77deg, kicking on the AC (thermo set @ 77). This dehumidifier is cranking out hot dry air. I realize this is just a mini AC unit, are there any models that dont pump out heat? I dont remember the one in my parents basement being hot, they probably bought it in from Sears in 1974...that sucker is still working.
Reading the owners manual, it even says "Warm dry air", which leads me to believe this unit is operating properly.
Click to expand...


Um.... That's exactly what they're designed to do. Its a 1500 watt heater.

Its "like" an AC unit, except that both parts are located indoors... So the heat rejection part of the cycle happens in your basement.
 
RenegadeT said:
Ron, that's the plan, just figured I'd see if I'm missing something.
I'm guessing the freon is gone. Everything seems to be working as it should, just there is no thermodynamic activity. Fan blows, compressor kicks on, radiator and filter are clean of debris.
I don't want to buy a more expensive unit. At Sears, I saw one with a built in pump, that was $400, a little too steep I felt. The way our basement is set up, there really isn't a good place for permanent drain line, without a ton of work.
Click to expand...

Remember you can always buy a separate in-line tank/pump like people use for sinks etc, something small and simple would suffice here.
But yes exhausting the water could be a pain, unless you have access to other options like a greywater line.
I've also seen people that build a place for them in the wall, and exhaust the heat back out a pipe out through the rim joist etc.

I'm in the process of finishing part of our basement now and really hoping I don't ave to ad one... we have great drainage and no humidity problems now... but you know how that goes... similar to you exhausting it would be a challenge
 
a small a/c type condensate pump with internal float can be had for around $50 and should pump it where you need it to go. (mine goes up 12' then horizontal ~45' then down and out.

knock on wood, we have zero humidity issues so far
 
BUMP

my 4yr old Frigidaire 30pt dehumidifier finally recently ran out of refrigerant (based on symptoms and internets). Bought a 50pt GE from homedepot last week, and boy did it work so good.... so good that the fan ran continuously regardless of RH setting and the full bucket feature failed to shut it down. Returned that thing last night.

Having read reviews from many of the units from HD and Lowes, I'm honestly a little concerned about purchasing any of their models. Any thoughts/input on the <$300 dehumidifiers? Needs to be 50+pt capacity.
 
air conditioning is dehumidification, gotta ask is your basement ties into your central system? if not the a return and supply added to your central a/c system will help most of your problem
 
boatedwagon said:
air conditioning is dehumidification, gotta ask is your basement ties into your central system? if not the a return and supply added to your central a/c system will help most of your problem
Click to expand...
my basement HVAC is tapped into the main level system, supposedly the main level had enough capacity for this. Right about now is about the worst time for humidity in our basement, not much AC or heat running.

So, FML...
http://www.greedehumidifierrecall.com/ProductEntry.aspx
I'll be shopping again soon.
 
Be aware of 2million dehumidifier recalled. They were made by Gree with lots of different names. Most small ones are made in China, made to last a year. Try to buy extended warranty. You have to spend 1k or more to get 5 year warranty. Look at yard sales or flea markets for older models they had thicker better tubing, it may need a fan motor but worth the trouble. Oh yea there are some better ones in the $ 800 price range but still have 1 year warranty. The Horizon is made in Broadway,NC.
 
Back
Top