B&Q Dehumidifer no longer collects water

Bonking_Mad

Woke up this morning with condensation on the window's, on checking the dehumidifier in the bedroom, it's ceased to collect water, before investing in a new 1, does anyone have any suggestions on what maybe wrong with it?

jc808

I think it may have ceased functioning

MoneyMate

Sensible Answer . Have you checked the pipe into the collecting water bottle ?
May be blocked .

Bonking_Mad

MoneyMate wrote: »

Sensible Answer . Have you checked the pipe into the collecting water bottle ?
May be blocked .

Hello Money

Thanks for taking the time to answer, no I haven't, any idea how I do that?

MoneyMate

Bonking_Mad wrote: »

Hello Money

Thanks for taking the time to answer, no I haven't, any idea how I do that?

There should be a pipe that enters the recovery bottle that you empty then replace back into dehumidifier.
See if you can carefully clean out with pipe brush or similar, there may be some sort of panel that can be taken off, please look at manufacturers instructions if possible.
Take care and unplug from electrical supply B4 checking. :beer:

PheoUK

Is the air on the "out" side warm? The thing is basically an AC unit without the venting to outside, so air goes in and hits a cold side, condensates, goes through the other side and warms back up. In my experience anyway.

Bonking_Mad

It's one we have in the bedroom to soak up moisture in the air, very similar to this one:

http://www.ciao.co.uk/B_Q_Compact_Dehumidifier_WDH_610HA__7811198

Chunks

I don't have that model but one very similar. In my case, the damp air is drawn by a fan through the front of the machine where a removable filter collects airborne dust. The damp air passes through a cooled mesh arrangement (like a car radiator) where the moisture condenses and drips onto a channel below, through a short length of pipe into a removable collecting chamber at the base of the unit.

1) When the unit is switched on can you hear the fan running, with air blowing out the back of the machine)?
2) If yes, is there any moisture collected in the water tank at all?
3) Does your machine have a filter and have you cleaned it (ever)? It will be at the front of the machine behind the grill; mine has a little 'clip' that releases the from grill to access the filter.
4) With the filter (if you have one) out and assuming the machine runs, fire it up and check after 10mins or so. Switch off and unplug the machine. If the 'radiator' part I mentioned above is cold to the touch (keep your fingers away from any wiring - just in case!!!) it should also look sweaty...
5) if the unit is working and producing drips of condensate, is the pipe that drains into the collecting tank clear (not blocked with black gunk)?

Have a look at yours and try the above - post the results.

Obviously if the fan doesn't run (an no 'on' lamps etc. are lit) you may try replacing the fuse in the plug. If it doesn't work then it's probably more serious; you could try getting it fixed or bin it and buy a new one.

Bonking_Mad

Thanks for the in-depth advice.

Chunks wrote: »

1) When the unit is switched on can you hear the fan running, with air blowing out the back of the machine)?

Yes

Chunks wrote: »

2) If yes, is there any moisture collected in the water tank at all?

Yes, but very minimum.

Chunks wrote: »

3) Does your machine have a filter?

Yes

Chunks wrote: »

and have you cleaned it (ever)?

No

Chunks wrote: »

It will be at the front of the machine behind the grill; mine has a little 'clip' that releases the from grill to access the filter

I've removed the plastic filter at the front, but the metal grill (part of the machine) appears to be full of dust, I can't access it to clean it.

Chunks

Thanks for the feedback. I am not expert on such matters (just own a machine) but I would guess that the dust in the grill might be reducing the effectiveness. Second thought, like a car's AC unit, it might be leaking (very slow) causing a gradual loss of refrigerant hence reduced effectiveness.

I had my sons dehumidifier apart to reattach a wheel (fairly easy unscrewing job; make sure you save all the screws and take pictures along the way so you know where they go back. Don't leave it plugged in obviously)! You could get inside the casing and see if you can suck out the carp that's built up with your vacuum. I would clean out the machine and see if that works.

Good luck.

dave030445

have you put the bucket back in properly after emptying if not it will stop the compressor working. Hense it sounds like its working but isn't