Advice To A Friend On What Repair Repair Can Be Done On Her Dehumidifier. And In Comparison, Should You Purchase a Replacement Dehumidifier?

The following is a transcript of an email thread between Sitemaster Henry Gurr and Cassandra Fralix on the subject of a replacement dehumidifier.

Original Message

On Wed, Apr 26, 2017 at 11:38 AM, Cassandra Fralix wrote:
Henry,
Sorry to hear Pirsig died, a loss for lovers of reflective thought.

I hope everyone is well. We are perking along. I am trying to get a garden started and work on Columbia Friends programs. Jerry went to the Quaker Earthcare Witness steering committee. --Oh yea, we purchased a Bolt. It will probably be the last new car we buy--hope so anyway.

I was wondering if you had any suggestions on what is going on with our dehumidifier. The coils are not cooling so it is not pulling water into the pan. The fan and the compressor work; however, the compressor gets warm and shuts off after a short while. If you don't have time, I certainly understand.

I called the company and they told me there was nothing they could do since the warranty has expired--two years now and one year warranty.

It is a HiSense dehumidifier we bought from Home Depot. If you have any suggestions, I would appreciate it. I hate to throw it out so I thought I would ask to see if you could help. The dehumidifier was only 200 dollars, but I hate to discard it if it can be repaired. I have attached a photo of inside.

Thank you,
Cassandra

Response

'''My thoughts about repair versus replace, your non-functioning dehumidifier:
I ALWAYS am supportive of efforts to fix, and extend use of practically anything!'''
1) You say fan and compressor are running, so I assume they are at least trying to do their job, per normal:
2) Jerry can add his thinking to mine => Running compressor, getting hot might be the following reasons, that I can think of: Perhaps could be other reasons??

a) There is a Freon leak, and no cooling liquid. Costly to find, fix and re-charge the Freon. Require expert with equipment and likely $ more than a new one.

b) The compressor's ~pump, that pressurizes the Freon, is worn out, not easily fixable, and must replace compressor: Costly to do replacement and re-charge the Freon. Require expert with equipment and likely $ more than a new one.

c) There is some obstruction in I) the pipes (coils) that carry the cooling fluid, usually Freon. The obstruction most likely in a tiny place in the piping that is called a filter that gets plugged up, with shavings created by excess wear in the compressor's pump. ii)Or a place called the expansion orifice, just after the filter: It's where the Freon, goes thru a tight tiny place, then expands, and this expansion creates the cooling. (Sometimes this is a real boiling you can hear, in any refrigerator system, right after it turns off.) But this obstruction possibility, is only a guess, and a long shot: Cleaning this out would be costly to find, fix and re-charge the Freon. Require expert with equipment and likely $ more than a new one.

In ANY hardware problem situation, we are always weighting cost vs benefit vs alternates!! In other words:
Time, effort, materials, & $ cost VERSUS
Perceived gain, such as chance of successful fix, and that fix lasting reasonable years. VERSUS
Alternatives, which themselves are another weighing exercise. VERSUS
Alternatives (throwing $ at a new replacement), and then expecting a future of no problems, are NOT clear obvious answers

A good & well experienced repair person, can help with this weighing situation; Especially if green, caring, and willing to take the time. Such a person will have appropriate knowledge, which fix is easy enough, and chance of sufficient likelihood of success to justify, doing the fix. In case of your dehumidifier, repair cost of $40 - $50, would be max, versus purchase new replacement at ~ $150 to $200. But I have NO experience on what repair persons charge these days.

Internet Forums: Good discussion at this link: Apparently, dehumidifiers are made cheap, and are very prone to early failure. Thus => Using a small A/C, good idea: and if makes too cold, put it on the floor or over a sink, and use as a Dehumidifier, with the exhaust warms the room.
https://forum.allaboutcircuits.com/threads/dehumidifier-that-doesnt.103209/

If you are getting rid of your old one, I could use various control parts from it, in my Solar Recharged Desiccant Air Conditioner. Save for me? No need to re-assemble.
http://venturearete.org/ResearchProjects/ProfessorGurr/SaveEnergyGuide/AnncGurrDesignSolarRegenDesccAc

You may be interested in my recent search, and purchase, of a good dehumidifier: I used the Appliance buying procedure on my website, description and link below:

Step1: From Consumer Reports, At, I picked out this unit which happened to have a great price at Walmart: But they sold out (didn't want to admit), and canceled my order:
GE 50Pint Dehumidifier for Basements w/Drain White ADEW50LR $149.00

Step2: Very frustrated, I went to next best Consumer Reports Googled this:
Google above > Kenmore 50 Pint Dehumidifier KM50

This resulted in => $249.99 · Sears and $249.99 · Kmart

To find better price Googled again, but with Sears and 50 pints Kenmore Dehumidifier This resulted in a VERY good price for a resale of a new unit, but in an opened box. This happened to be near my sister’s farm, where I was going to any way!!
Kenmore 50-pt. Dehumidifier
Price: $119.93 Qty: 1 ... Pickup Location ... ... Store #1310
4900 Midway Mall, Elyria, OH 44035

MORAL:
If you see a deal, order quick before they sell out.
It pays to keep searching various ways.

YOU MAY WANT TO CONSULT MY WEBPAGE, WHEN LOOK FOR REPLACEMENT A/C OR DEHUMIDIFIER:

GUDANCE FOR: Buying an Energy Efficient Refrigerator: ((OR ANY APPLIANCE))
Tips, Suggestions, & Information Resources. Here is "Gurr's Green Guide" To Information Resources For Purchasing a New Refrigerator.

Although ultimately rewarding, the careful buying of a new fridge is a detailed and time consuming process. But the steps, once learned, apply to ANY other manufactured item purchases and all will go much faster!!!

You will see that the Steps Recommended” form a pattern, which may be applied to ANY purchase!!
Thus, in your search for a New Manufactured Item, of Maximum Value, please: just follow the example of the words below, but substitute for what you are looking for.
http://venturearete.org/ResearchProjects/ProfessorGurr/SaveEnergyGuide/EnergyEfficientRefrigeratorPurchasingInformation

Final message

Casandra & Jerry

Thanks for sentiments re Pirsig: Yes, he offers Quality persons lots to think about: For Quakers also!! It just occurs to me that ZMM is worth reading thoughtfully for 2nd 3rd 4th times!! And if you do, I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts! For personal reasons as well as for I need to understand the extent to which people see Persig correct, and worthwhile.

AND over coffee just now GPST: Pop = "Many of my recent conclusions re ZMM and Philosophy of Mind, are written up in a approx. concluding chapter, our most recent version of our Sarah Vinke Biography. Could I get you both to scan through it, and comment?

Good to hear re your your Quaker leadership activities.

Re: Your new car, you say Bolt, but must be the Chevy Volt, which I want to see some time, and compare re our Prius Hybrid, for long trips.

We expect to come to your CFM programs on 18 May: We can chat then perhaps assist with dehumidifier. I have various old computers (and cell (some smart) phones) I can bring to people such as Mike Richards, for spares, as desired.

File = WikiZmmqSaveEnergyGuideDeHuAdviCassFralix170429Rpg01