Appliance Troubleshooting: Diagnosing a Fault in an Electric Dehumidifier

Step by step troubleshooting of a dehumidifier with an unknown problem. The assumption is made that you know how to safely use a multimeter to make basic tests. If you don't, lots of good tutorials exist elsewhere on KZbin.
BE CAREFUL! In addition to the considerable hazard presented by electricity, appliances contain parts that can reach high temperatures, store hazardous electrical charges and moving parts that can entangle, pinch or amputate body parts. Allow ample time for hot surfaces to cool, remove all jewelry (including watches and rings), tie back long hair so it cannot become entangled and do not wear loose fitting clothing. Be sure that power is locked out and clearly labeled to prevent accidents.
Always make as many tests as possible with the power turned off and disconnected.
You'll need some basic hand tools to work on any appliance. While you need not buy the best tools in the world, you should buy the best tools you can afford. Cheap tools wear out quickly and may become dangerous. This includes the selection of a multimeter.
This video was shot in early June of 2016. It turns out that replacement fan motors are surprisingly expensive! (And despite their high asking prices, few if any are actually made here in the US.) They still cost a while lot less than an entire dehumidifier, though.

[@Browningate]

DIY repair stories are always the best. I was one working on a little 36" Sharp LCD television and had bypassed the safety cutout on the inverter board in order to test it. To my surprise, the thing powered right up and seemed to work. Well, I stepped out of the room for a bit, and when I came back in, smoke was pouring out of the set (although it was still running)! A bad CCFL backlight plus an inverter that just won't quit leads to a most unforgettable smell and fascinating repair story.

[@2149091108rw]

can't get enough of your videos of all kinds tell the guys and family hello

[@GreenvortexKing]

We'll definitely need those dehumidifiers with all this summer heat.

[@1912RamblerFan01]

As for the condensor coil you mentioned around 5 minutes in, that style of coil is known as a spine-fin coil. It was developed by Trane/General Electric sometime back in the 1960s or 1970s. Carrier used in in the 1980s until around 1988 (they called it the "E-Coil.") Trane still uses it today.

[@jaykay18]

I have a Martin Industries "Sahara 20" dehumidifier, of a similar vintage. It also looks very similar. And lo and behold, it also had a bad fan motor, it was open circuit. I had no suitable motor, the only one I had spun the other direction. I had to modify the mount for the motor and drill new holes. I installed the blade on the shaft backwards to promote airflow in the proper direction. The shaft on the old motor was a larger diameter, so to mount the blades I used a hose clamp, and it's not out of balance either. It works to this day. I have several video on it if you're interested.

[@funny36ful]

Let's say a new motor costs 100$ and to rewind the old motor is 150$. The new motor doesn't have oil ports, showing its lack of quality. Getting the old motor cleaned up and rewound is actually a more economical and quality fix over time in this case.

[@2149091108rw]

lockout tagout is the word used to do disarm a circuit breaker the tag out disable the breaker is a note telling individuals what's taking place

[@spectrHz]

I don't think that metal band is a snap-ring, I'm pretty sure it is a small engine fuel line clamp. Snap rings usually are flat discs with two holes for prying apart.

[@2149091108rw]

lockout portion is padlock on the breaker box or switch box individual wants to access he's got to go to bill for the key

[@derekobidowski7574]

you should coat the terminals with some oil or some stuff you spray on automotive battery terminals to prevent future corrosion as these old vintage dehumidifiers use a hermetic recriprocating compressor i remember having a Fedders it lasted a log time my parents got it before i was born and it conked out the compresssor in the early 2000s before being replaced by a generic brand. most manufacturers noticibly Whirlpool they use a rotary compressor they are much noisier and annoying.. for the fan motor in yours its a shaded pole type meaning there is no device on the outside of it if its a Permanent Split Capacitor fan motor then there is a device called a run capacitor on the outside of it either an metal oval body or a solid plastic one. the reason why some fan motors stop working is there is a thermal fuse in them meaning if the rotor is locked not spinning it can overheat and pop the fuse then it won't work again . as other motors have an auto reset thermal device in them. allowing it to work again after the motor cools. on old motors with no thermal device it shorts out. cooks the windings and they short out and spark and the motor is no good. as FASCO motors are the best. as most of the new replacement motors are made in China. i had to replace a motor in a vintage Vornado Jr fan with a FASCO motor as the wires were shot, and the windings were loose. as all FASCO 3.3 inch motors have these spring clips on them the replacement FASCO motors are assembled in Mexico.

[@KrissBartlett]

Nice thanks Bill very interesting work couldn't you modify that mount on the other fan you have there ?

[@zx8401ztv]

The windings of that fan motor didnt look cooked or dead, so if you find the purchase of a new motor needs the sale of one of your kidneys, then a repair is still possible. Sometimes the cost of new parts can make you take another crack at the unfixable part, often with supprising results :-D. You would be supprised at things ive bodged...err modified :-D.

[@uxwbill]

Until tonight, the windings were probably OK. I figured it was the thermal protector that failed. I wanted to confirm that, so tonight I finally decided to see what it would take to get the motor apart. At first glance it looked pretty grim -- the bottom end bell (or plate) was tack welded to the motor body. Long story short, I basically destroyed the motor in the name of getting it apart, and while the thermal protector was mangled in the process, it didn't look obviously bad, and was definitely a self-resetting (as opposed to one-shot) type. Fortunately, I sourced what should be a compatible motor for about $30 last night. Biggest problem was the rotational direction -- most dehumidifiers seem to use a CCW motor while this one turns clockwise. If we were to swap notes, we might find there is a lot of common ground in the name of keeping things running. Sometimes it's the only way!

[@LakeNipissing]

23:51 - I find an easy way to get those lock rings off is by rotating them with a small rounded-jaw plier in one direction while at the same time easing it towards the end of the shaft. Basically in a spiral fashion. It should be totally reusable... always has worked for me. Prying it usually results in some of the tangs being bent useless, or turning inside out.

[@redneckbryon]

if your truly worried about not knowing how it goes back together while your waiting for part you can completely reassemble the unit and reconnect any wires you may forget it.

[@SuperSquart]

Low Pressure switch is under the black old tape with one brown wire going up the the low pressure line and one going down right hand side.

[@SuperSquart]

opps should have watched the whole video sorry lol

[@shadowrider460]

Great video. I would have expected to see a capacitor or two, especially for the compressor. Did the compressor have a cap. and I missed it? If it does, I hope it's not in the compressor shell.

[@uxwbill]

I think it's pretty rare to see a capacitor in a small dehumidifier. Nearly all that I've worked on utilize a shaded pole motor for the fan and an RSIR (resistance start, induction run) compressor motor. There's a PTC device on the compressor and as soon as it heats up, the start winding goes out of circuit.

[@victoryfirst2878]

The quality is job one at US factories back in the day. Nice work.

[@JohnSmith-xq1pz]

surly our UXWBill would never resort to bad language lol.

[@2149091108rw]

for instance Bill's working on the dehumidifier in outside parking lot C bill for reference

[@fredwatson441]

By getting your fingers beneath the center of the fan, and seeing as the motor is dead (not worrying about bearings), a quick little pop with a small ball peen on the shaft has dropped the motor on many like this for me.

[@brunoshow124]

I wonder if WC Wood was part of WCI (White Consolidated Industires) who manufactured many appliances such as air conditioners and dehumidifiers. I know they owned Frigidaire, Gibson, White-Westinghouse, Tappan, as well as a bunch more brands. The did make some things for Kenmore, but typically Whirlpool was the OEM for Kenmore. I know that WCI was bought out by Electrolux sometime in 2003 I believe.

[@uxwbill]

Prior to the WC Wood bankruptcy, I don't think there was any relation between WC Wood and WCI. After WC Wood folded in mid 2009, Electrolux may have been interested in acquiring the WC Wood business, though it isn't clear if they ever placed a bid. Earlier, Whirlpool had been another interested party in buying the WC Wood company and their name shows up in the final bankruptcy report as a potential acquirer. So, basically, I'd not be surprised if Whirlpool ended up with the remains of the WC Wood appliance business.

[@brunoshow124]

That seems logical. Thanks for the response.

[@Bluethunderboom]

Would you possibly try replace the Motor or replace the Thermal Cut-Out inside the Motor for this console that way you can reuse it again?

[@uxwbill]

Yes I will.

[@Minitrucker231]

G'day Bill, Bill here. Completely off topic here and I do apologize in advanced, how are the Silverado Classic and the big beast of a Caprice Wagon running for you?

[@jan-thorehol4786]

A big brand in dehumidifiers where I come from (Norway) is Wood's. I think its an Canadian brand. Do you have that brand in the US? I was really pleased with my unit until it got lended out to my ex an never returned. I will try to get one soon, have bought an old house with a dampish basement.

[@uxwbill]

The Woods company is mentioned in this video near the beginning. They were a Canadian company. Their products were typically sold under the "Edison" brand here in the United States.

[@zachz96]

+uxwbill, Do you remember the recall on Gree dehumidifiers because of them catching on fire?

[@uxwbill]

I never had one of those pieces of garbage, but I do remember the recall. I've even seen footage on KZbin of a recalled unit going up in flames.

[@MrGrummpy]

November of 2016 GD Midea Air Conditioning Equipment Ltd., of China recalled 3.4 MILLION dehumidifiers for possible fire hazards. These were sold under the brand names Airworks, Alen, Arctic King, Arcticaire, Beaumark, Comfort Star, ComfortAire, Continental Electric, Coolworks, Crosley, Daewoo, Danby, Danby Designer, Dayton, Degree, Diplomat, Edgestar, Excell, Fellini, Forest Air, Frigidaire, GE, Grunaire, Hanover, Homestyles, Honeywell, Hyundai, Ideal Air, Kenmore, Keystone, Kul, Midea, Nantucket, Ocean Breeze, Pelonis, Perfect Aire, Perfect Home, Polar Wind, Premiere, Professional Series, Royal Sovereign, Simplicity, SPT, Sunbeam, Sylvania, TGM, Touch Point, Trutemp, Uberhaus, Westpointe, Winix, and Winixl. I had one of those sold by Frigidaire. Honestly, I don't know if anybody makes a good, reliable dehumidifier any more. My dehumidifier was guaranteed for 3 years. It lasted 4 years. For better or worse the manufacturer will be sending me a 'replacement'. Only time will tell how long it will last. If you want to find if you have a recalled unit do a google search for 'Midea-Manufactured Dehumidifiers recall'.

[@nitrate92]

My old dehumidifier from 8 years ago, I don't even know if it works, or, even exists anymore.

[@victoryfirst2878]

The star clip on the motor shaft can be removed without damage by using a proper size wire that can go under the fingers. Sounds crazy but this has worked for me many times, but you need to have a few different wire sizes on hand. The solderless terminals that you had trouble with removing comes off real easy by using a straight blade screwdriver with a ninety degree bend. I believe they are called obstruction screwdrivers. Like the video so much that I will fix my own dehumidifier and not give the CHINAMAN a dime. CHINA just plain SUCKS and anything they send here is usually junk. When it comes to fan motors, the real old GE are the ones that have a fifty year rating. My neighbor has an old GE refrigerator box that is still working strong. The belt to the compressor has been changed for the second time. The unit was made in 1951, so seventy years service is just incredible. Would bet you that nothing made in CHINA could ever come that close. Thanks, VF

[@dmcintosh1967]

my dehumidifier is so old but works has no bucket overflow switch

[@uxwbill]

Run it until you can't fix it any more, because the new ones are junk.

[@davidonx159]

Oh hall yah, another one

[@bjorndethij]

get a box fan and ziptie it on

[@stevenhobbs3032]

maybe you could use a wrench to get that of The fan motor

[@Coolkeys2009]

By the way the largest appliance maker in the world is US owned Whirlpool.

[@nitrate92]

4th

[@thommycat2000]

FIRST

[@Hdogdog7]

Fifth

[@adammorris9495]

first

[@uxwbill]

Nope. Missed it by >THIS MUCH

[@nitrate92]

+uxwbill XD

[@adammorris9495]

+uxwbill dam that was my first ever comment after years of having this youtube account , wasted

[@uxwbill]

Well, that's hardly MY fault. :-)