Easy Dehumidifier Fix
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- Опубліковано 31 лип 2024
- Typical dehumidifiers stop working after a few years and here is how to fix them.
Refrigerant: The refrigerant is listed on the side of the compressor. Some are mixable. Some are not. Google your type and use the same or compatible refrigerant. All are available on Amazon.
Bullet Piercing Valve:
www.amazon.com/dp/B07W5PC7DC
Thermal Switch: Google your part number.
My god this video was one of those rare gems. Straight to the damn point without any stupid history. Plenty of cuts showing the pertinent information and how to actually fix it before falling into a coma from boredom. Bravo sir, bravo.
Exactly what I thought!!!
"For thousands of years, people lived in dank, humid houses." LOL
Not sure I'd call this "easy"... but thank you for the clear explanation and quick cuts! Wish more DIY videos were like this.
He lost me at voltage meter, lol
@@twatts1523 😆😆😆 Me too 🤔
One of the best diagnostic/fix-it videos on UA-cam, hands down. New sub earned!
Best fix it video on UA-cam. Lou has the perfect template. Function-symptom-fixed. Somebody pay this man.
Whether or not this helps me fix my dehumidifier, thank you for sharing. Fantastically clear, very helpful vids like these deserve 10k likes at a minimum.
Very easy to the point video for we inexperienced people, Thank You! Now if I just understood the 'technical words' I wouldn't be so nervous to try this fix. You just gained a like and a new subscriber.
Thank you so much! Same dehumidifier, same problem! The bullet piercing valve link in the description was really thoughtful, thank you!
WOW! Awesome video. Short and to the point. Everything I needed to know to get my Dehumidifier up and running again. BIG! Thanks
Thanks for taking the time to teach us your expertise with great kindness and devotion
I am so glad i found your video,never knew about bullet piercing valve. Thank you so much. Great video.
Best video on UA-cam for fixing a dehumidifier thank you
Great video. Straight to the point, yet informative. Well done.
The best video I ever see short and direct to the point👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
I can’t believe you were able to fit all of that in one video. We’re in amazing video!
Sir: You are a steely-eyed rocket genius. Great info and I knew nothing about the switch you replaced or that these units can be recharged. Thanks again.
All the other so so videos on youtube could learn from you how make a right to the point great video repair with no annoying music. Thank You
Went through about 50 videos before getting to yours. First one to fully explain which line is which for the refrigerant and which one you put the valve on. I was pretty sure I had the right line from doing a few fridges but wanted to make sure before I pierced the line.
Thanks so much. This is just what we needed to save hundreds of dollars replacing the unit.
Fantastic break down and explanation. Much appreciated.
God bless you Lou and your family! Enjoy your weekend.
You sure made it look easy :) thank you for sharing ^^ might try and do that for my own old dehumidifier
You just earned a like and a subscriber. This is quality content.
Very helpful. I wasn't aware they made piercing valves for refrigerant lines. Ordered one today. Will save $$ on my dehumidifier repair. Thanks a bunch!!!
It's a closed system though, so isn't there a leak somewhere?
@@LBizKid04 Yes. Those piercing valves aren't great either. Preferably, you would evacuate all of the refrigerant, solder in a proper fitting, and then vacuum and recharge it, but with these, it isn't really worth all of that. But just expect it to continue leaking, so you are going to have to keep filling it back up.
@@WalterKnox why do they leak?
@@LBizKid04 The way they work is that they have a small pin, which punches a hole in the copper tube, and there is a rubber o ring around where it punches the hole which gets pressed onto the copper tube. Originally, without the piercing valve, the system is 100% sealed and all of the fittings are soldered together (or brazed). but with the piercing valve, you are holding the pressure purely with a small rubber o ring, which very rarely seals 100%, so you will almost always have a slow leak. Piercing valves are really only designed for temporary use or evacuating a sealed system so you can then install a proper service port which is soldered in.
Although, in this case, there is already a leak in the system which likely formed due to corrosion or a manufacturing defect, and these appliances aren't worth the time or tools required to do the job "correctly", so a piercing valve is fine, just expect to have to fill it back up every now and then.
@@LBizKid04Another fun fact is that if the dehumidifier is designed for R-134a (which most of them are), you can use R-152a which is just the "canned air" which is used for dusting out computers. It is actually a gas which can be used as a refrigerant. It is a drop in replacement for 134, and cost a lot less, so if there is a leak and you have to fill it up every now and then, it will cost a lot less in the long run.
Wow! One of the best videos on youtube! Great job!
best video ever. This is what the internet should be all about. Thank you.
😀Thank you sir! I took mine apart and that was the problem, more specifically the wire connecting the thermal switch to the compressor as it was corroded off. I removed the old wire, cleaned the contact, soldered a new wire and end on it then I connected it back up and PRESTO! it works again! 😀
Thanks for sharing. I was wondering is that could be done and you just confirmed it for me. Is it still working well?
Yes, about a year later and it still works like it should. Well worth the effort. @@TriggaTreDay
I have an older unit that uses Refrigerant 22. They don’t even make that anymore. It still works at least. They don’t make them like they used to.
Bullet valve... Exactly the thing I've needed every 1.5 years when my dehumidifiers break. Thanks for the info. These aluminum units leak their refrigerant out after a year.
Thank u sir!!!! I been trying to find a video like this for an hour.
Good troubleshooting Lou!
Thank you sir for giving us the great information and to fixing it in the most cheapest way by us. It is soooo simple to do it.
Once again my sincere Big Thanks Again.
This is what you call a helpful video.
I'm glad I found this video. It is the help I need. Thank you.
You are a professional. I'm a wanna b thank you for making this video hopefully I can find someone to fix it.👍👍👍👍✌️
this was actually helpful, thanks! I may have accidently thrown out a dehumidifier a couple years ago. I didn't know about the piercing method for the pipes. I was looking for a fill port like on cars and assumed they intentionally made it not serviceable, whoops!
Of course they make it unserviceable. They don't want you to fix anything anymore. I love this hack
It's a closed system right? If so, isn't there a leak somewhere?
@@LBizKid04 That piercing adapter has a special seal that is supposed to keep it sealed. The piercing adapter stays on the dehumidifier after you are done. How long the seal properly seals the system is another question. My guess, not that long. That is why those systems are supposedly closed. Also, if your refrigerant is "low", you have a leak someplace in a closed system like this.
@@1McMurdoSilver thanks for the reply!
First, a very informative video. I bought a brand new Frigidaire dehumidifier early 2022 from BJ's. It was manufactured October 2021. We didn't buy a warranty. A couple of weeks ago, it gave EC error. I turned the power off and on and the error went a way. However, it would collect any water. I called BJ's but was told that the manufacturer warranty was for one year and because I didn't buy extended warranty, I have to pay for cost of repair. I then started looking online and one of the videos that I found very useful was yours. So, I followed the instructions in your video (every step) until I thought it would need refrigerant. Unfortunately, I didn't see anything on the compressor or other places that I researched to find out what kind of refrigerant if any the new Frigidaire uses in their dehumidifiers. I went ahead and added R-134a until it got to end of the blue zone. After a few hours, I saw a few drops of water in the bucket. It was clear that it didn't work. I noticed that regardless of the humidity in the basement, it shows 55 and never changes even after running it for 4+ hours (no water). I have another Frigidaire dehumidifier running s few feet from the one that doesn't appear to work and the bucket is full after a day or two. I hate the idea to get rid of what I paid $300+ just a year and half ago.
Any suggestions?
Is the humidistat thing broken?
I figured that might be the problem and replaced it a couple of weeks ago but it didn't work.
@@AR-wk8of hmmm, got it, thanks for replying
The newer units I have bought from HD are labelled that they use R-410a. Mixing car refrigerant with the R410a probably doesn't compress and evaporate correctly in the system they are touchy like that.
Thank you for such a clear to the point video
Great video. Totally digestible for a beginner like myself
i have this exact model of dehumidifier.. i'm now happy to see how my repair guy is going to fix it! lol everything about this DIY seemed scary to attempt as laymen. But thanks anyway! Thank you for teaching me I need a professional. lol
Excellent video,helped me a lot,Thanks...
Well done. Very helpful. Thanks!
Very cool! I didn't know they made things like those!
(You forgot to add a link to the description, though :) )
Just added. Thanks!
Did not know you could get puncture and replace refrigerant valves. Nice work!
Cool repair. Was going to attempt this, but most of the newer dehumidifiers use r410a rather than r134a. These 2 coolants are not interchangeable and r140a is extremely difficult to find for the DIYer and even if you can find it, a small can costs about as much as a new dehumidifier.
Hopefully an HVAC professional or engineer can weigh in on this. This is the conundrum right now. Curious is a purged 410a system would handle 134a.
Sounds like that was by design. Us diy’ers are clearly becoming a real problem for them. 😂.
Interesting I have two of these same model and design one is large and the other is a small version of it great video but how do I know what pressure to fill the freon to?
amazing and right to the information. Thank you!
Thanks for you very detailed instruction,but too much for me at 85!
Thanks for sharing. It helps!
Very well done! Thank you.
Well done. Thank you.
Great video !
wow! perfect tutorial
Fantastic thank u so much for sharing
Any update after a year , since putting the R-134a into a R-410a system........any update , ANY UPDATE.......still working or No ?
Grreat video! I have a 2016 dehumidifier. The thermoswitch is not where you show it. Looks like it is in a cylindrical unit in the electrical box area but not sure. My compressor works for a few minutes then turns off. Where would the thermoswitch be? I assume I will need to add more coolant (410a).
Thank you for this video!!
Excellent video thank you.
I found a broken bucket tab - how do I fix this?
thanks for the great video
This was beyond cool to watch..I didn't even need a repair, came across video after looking for filter. I bought mine from a yard sale so no instructions
Thank you Lou!
Thank you!
Great video
This is brilliant advice so thanks . I have a Ecoair DC 202 but have no clue how or which panels to remove to get to the compressor and refridge pipes, do you know or can you link me a diagram/service manual page to get the thing open. I have all the tools ready and the multi meter so any help would be fantastic .
Thank you dehumidifier guy
Great info Lou! And exceptionally well-done video! Thank you!
No to search and see if you mention what to do if the unit blows but gets blocked by ice build up! Help?
Thanks
Great video!! Hey Lou on my unit the fan works but I can hear the compressor cycle on for couple seconds then stop. Any advise?
My model machine takes R410A refrigerant, which has been discontinued for environmental reasons, is there some other type that I can use? My dehumidifier is a Delonghi DD30P
That little gas tap thing is amazing. I never knew they existed.
I have a water dispenser where the thermal overload keeps tripping every few seconds.
I tried to just replace it, but the same issue exists. I wasn't sure what to do beyond that.
I assume you mean HOT water dispenser? Probably a bad heating coil that is getting too hot.
You might try running vinegar through it. They build up calcium just like coffee makers. The tubes get restricted and the water can flow fast enough and that can cause overheating
@@HowToLou sorry I should have been clearer. It's a hot/cold water dispenser like you find in an office.
I guess many would call it the water cooler.
I don't use the hot mode, just the cold mode which uses the compressor.
Everything seems to be flowing okay.
Ok got it, so it cools the water. That should be just like the dehumidifier then. I would try exactly the same steps I did. Wire around the overheat sensor to get the compressor going. If you can’t feel it vibrate, it’s not running, and I guess it’s possible the compressor is dead, in which case the whole thing is junk. It’s probably not worth replacing a compressor. If you can get it going, and you’re not getting pretty hot on the hot side and pretty cold on the cold side, you probably need to add refrigerant. Honestly, that’s typically what happens to these things. The refrigerant slowly leaks out over years of time
@@HowToLou where does it leak out, a hole somewhere?
Video was so helpful! GREAT JOB!! I have 2 questions: First: How much r134a should you put in? Do you stay in the blue area on the guage? I am worried about putting in too little or too much. Second: Do all the coolant cans have the same top? I am wondering if the cans are interchangeable with the guage hoses. I was not able to find all three parts (bullet peircing valve, guage and r134a) sold together. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!
You add coolant slowly until the coils frost over, then more until they loose the frost, and you are done. I have the parts listed in the description of the video
Well done sir.
I have an old Berns Air King DH 17 Dehumidifier and it worked good last year after I put a ball bearing in the fan motor to replace the bronze bushing that seized up about twice and year and had to be lubricated. But, now the coils are freezing up even when I take it out in 90 degree weather outside It has a relay and another round component on the side of the compressor but I don't know if they are both good. Someone tole me that this type of unit has to cycle the compressor off and on to keep the coils from freezing because it has no sensor in the air flow. Do you have any idea of what could be wrong with it?
Good video Lou, I have a Kenmore 50, the high speed fan not working. Low speed works and unit otherwise works. I can't use the auto setting because when it calls for high blower speed the fan stops. I have to leave it on low speed. Any tips ?
Your video was great. I am trying to find the thermal overload switch with no luck. Any suggestions where to purchase it.
I have a whole house dehu that only has some of the coils that are cold? how can that be? It's fairly new and appears to be running but very little water is coming out :( why would only a few loops of the coil be cold and not the others? i've never seen that.
Thanks ! Any ideas on how to find the gas leak ?
Great video can I use r134 on r22 portable dehumidifier?
Thanks for the info!!!
What about adding R134a refrigerant when you don't know what refrigerant is already in there? I think R410a is in most. Some say you can't mix
Very helpful, sound advice in general but if you need to add refrigerant you should *not* be adding R134a as that is automotive refrigerant with a different chemical composition to the R410a used in most residential applications including in most dehumidifiers. Some older units use R22, so it's always best to check the label which is usually on the back of the unit and it'll say what refrigerant it takes and the total refrigerant capacity. These have a very small refrigerant capacity, usually between 5-10oz, so they are very easy to overfill and if you do it'll cause refrigerant pressure to be too high, wearing out and eventually damaging the compressor.
My Waykar brand dehumidifier uses R134a so really you need to check the label that's on the back of your humidifier...it's clearly listed there.
@@charlesquinn7622 I know, I mentioned in my comment to check the label. R410a is what's used in the overwhelming majority of dehumidifiers manufactured in the past decade, though. I know there's a few that use R134a, it's just not the norm.
@@deyeatdapoopoo7582 Just saw this video, can't find r410a in amount needed, can 134a be used instead safely or do you have a vendor recommendation for 410a
Great video , my compressor doesn't seem to vibrate but it just got so hot couldn't touch it?
My back getting tired replacing broken dehumidifiers yearly. GE, Hitachi, doesn’t seem to matter. Issue each time is low charge. Freon either completely gone or low and freezing bottom of the evaporator coil. Any advice. I have recharged a couple of them successfully but this should not be necessary. Mine are 410a not 134 as you showed. Small appliances, must evacuate and weigh in charge.
Wasn't this unit recalled? I have a soleus 45 pint dehumidifier that I just found out was recalled quite a while back. They are still refunding
Great video. Thanks!
How do you know how much refrigerant to put in? How do you seal the pipe after the bullet valve pumctures the pipe?
you are smart
Is the low side the line that doesn't get hot to the compressor?
my homeLabs dehumidifier has ice build up coming through the filter behind 😞 Any help?
I have an LG and the compressor runs and it’s blazing hot. Lower half of coil gets ice almost immediately 🥴
Excellent DIY video. My dehumidifier is less than 2 years old. The fan and compressor work, and the high pressure tube close to the compressor gets very warm - actually too warm to hold more than a few seconds. The hot side fins/coils do not get hot and the cold side fins/coils do not get cold. Only a small portion of the cold side tubing, just as in your video, will get cool. Does this mean I have an obstruction in the system, or do you think I just need to pump up the refrigerant? Thank you.
can we make it a portable ac ,or turn dehumidifier to a portable ac. baecause i think it has all components condensor ,evaporator , and compressor etc we need just to turn direction of both coils of heat nd cool??/
Thank you, Lou. Do you have a website? Where are the links for the parts/supplies for the fixes you talk about?
Dr. Mike
Question, my compressor is hot and my dehumidifier isnt collecting water
Amen, Brother !!!
But how do we get the covers off the newer units??
I think the refrigerant on mine is leaking. It still dehumidifies but there is a chemical odor around it when it's running. Do you have a repair for that?
Great video , very informative ....My dehumidifier is showing 410A how has the 134 been doing since its been almost a year...
I was wondering the same, they are not meant to be equal, but if the 134 is just 15-20% of total,(guessing from top off) I wonder if it matters.
Cheers!
was there need to refill again? if yes what is the frequency?
Do you have to seal the hole made by the bullet valve afterwards? If so how what do you use to seal it? Great video !
The bullet valve stays there forever and seals the hole