claas880
Well-known member
I second the oasis^^^^ its the best running dehumidifier I have ever had. I used to be stuck in the every 2 year rut also.
Every two years dead dehumidifier
- Thread starter rmanrman
- Start date
I am curious if it's the energy star rating requirements that are having the most impact on longevity, or if it's simply just poor build quality. Use the speedqueen washer example. Everybody loved them until they had to modify the construction to meet water usage standards, now they are getting poor reviews.
That begs the question, is meeting the energy star rating really that beneficial when so much energy and resources go into manufacturing, shipping, selling, and then disposing of the units after only a few years. Sure you might save some energy operating it, but how much other energy and resources are consumed manufacturing it?
That begs the question, is meeting the energy star rating really that beneficial when so much energy and resources go into manufacturing, shipping, selling, and then disposing of the units after only a few years. Sure you might save some energy operating it, but how much other energy and resources are consumed manufacturing it?
SouthLake
Well-known member
An LG unit that was 2 years old, caught fire and almost burned my parents house down. Total loss of lower level of the home, and a lot of damage upstairs. I believe the claim was around $250k. LG was sued by the home owners insurance and they won. My parents got their deductible back. You gotta be careful with these things. I will not run mine unless I am home and installed an additional smoke detector directly over it.
I had one and it was doing the same thing that caused a recall. Mine wasn't in the exact recall series serial #'s so all they would do is tell me to just stop using it.
What brand, if I might ask? I don't want to buy a manufacturer's products when given that type of advice.
The units had a defect ( several million)..........known issue and recalled. Number of dishwashers and coffee pots have a similar problem. Same with tool battery Chargers.
Do you watch your cloths dryer, refrigerator, water heater, furnace, Air conditioner, oven, dishwasher, lap top or phone charger or any other appliance?
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SouthLake
Well-known member
Do you watch your cloths dryer, refrigerator, water heater, furnace, Air conditioner, oven, dishwasher, lap top or phone charger or any other appliance?
You tell me... since you know best.
(and no this unit was not part of the specific serial #’s recalled)
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Just joined the site and don't see a rule against bumping old threads.
My roughly 10–year-old dehumidifier, a Frigidaire, finally died when the electronic controls stopped responding. But I had a problem prior to that which I haven't seen discussed anywhere. The bucket was held in place by a plastic clip on each side. These clips aren't spring loaded or serviceable in any way, but simply molded into the plastic. From so many bucket fills, bucket removals, and bucket replacements, the clips simply broke off! For the last couple years I'd been running the unit with a bungee cord holding the bucket firmly in place, else it beeps like crazy and refuses to run. My question is whether all sub-$300 units are designed this way? I swore for a couple years that I could find some stiff, flexible metal, drill a couple holes, and put them back in place, but in the end it wasn't worth the effort. Would greatly prefer to buy something with a better design.
My roughly 10–year-old dehumidifier, a Frigidaire, finally died when the electronic controls stopped responding. But I had a problem prior to that which I haven't seen discussed anywhere. The bucket was held in place by a plastic clip on each side. These clips aren't spring loaded or serviceable in any way, but simply molded into the plastic. From so many bucket fills, bucket removals, and bucket replacements, the clips simply broke off! For the last couple years I'd been running the unit with a bungee cord holding the bucket firmly in place, else it beeps like crazy and refuses to run. My question is whether all sub-$300 units are designed this way? I swore for a couple years that I could find some stiff, flexible metal, drill a couple holes, and put them back in place, but in the end it wasn't worth the effort. Would greatly prefer to buy something with a better design.
My problem too, except mine don't last more than a few months one was Soleus from Menards one was like amazon basic, both lasted about 3-4 months running a lot in my basement. The Amazon Basic model looked a lot like first one. In both cases fan is running, think they were 50-60 pint. I then bought a used one for $20 bucks, it has lasted the longest of all of them so far, about 5 months, smaller model.
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I'm in the same boat as everyone in this thread, I bought a larger dehumidifier in mid 2016 and it died this year. It started acting up last year so maybe I got basically 3 good years out of it and one not so good.
Luckily I didn't throw out the original one I had. I rolled it in place and it fired right up. This old humidifier is from the early 90s that came from my parents house and still running fine. It just wasn't as large as its "replacement". All metal cabinet with a mechanical dial, no plastic or digital display.
Luckily I didn't throw out the original one I had. I rolled it in place and it fired right up. This old humidifier is from the early 90s that came from my parents house and still running fine. It just wasn't as large as its "replacement". All metal cabinet with a mechanical dial, no plastic or digital display.
To add another data point on the continuing saga of failing piss poor dehumidifiers:
Menards no longer sells Soleus ……..they had a lot of trouble with the warranty and customer service of Soleus. As per an email they sent to me.
My Soleus died……..dies after one year. Called Soleus for warranty service, which, in reality means they a send a new unit. Could not get them to answer the phone or emails. Soleus even had a separate Menards service line…….that they never answered
.
Emailed Menards Corp……..they said in an email bring it back to the store exchange/refund.
Did that…..^^^^……….they exchanged to the new brand Pelonis. That one died the second year (thats this year, evap coil freezing up). They answered Phone and the email and said they would get back to me in 1-2 days. They never said directly……but……Menards is real short on dehumidifier inventory. So they (Pelonis) may not have inventory to ship ……but…….they emailed two weeks later a form to to take it back to Menards.
My Menards has no 30 and 40 pint units in stock.
Out of warranty:
Youtube has several videos on DIY service and troubleshooting. Couple of the guys say the real problem is thin tubing and cracking on the bent tubes…..units leak down in one year.
Some of the videos are real ****……….so filter the content carefully.
My shop has 10+ year old GE unit made in China that still hums along……knock on wood.
Menards no longer sells Soleus ……..they had a lot of trouble with the warranty and customer service of Soleus. As per an email they sent to me.
My Soleus died……..dies after one year. Called Soleus for warranty service, which, in reality means they a send a new unit. Could not get them to answer the phone or emails. Soleus even had a separate Menards service line…….that they never answered
.Emailed Menards Corp……..they said in an email bring it back to the store exchange/refund.
Did that…..^^^^……….they exchanged to the new brand Pelonis. That one died the second year (thats this year, evap coil freezing up). They answered Phone and the email and said they would get back to me in 1-2 days. They never said directly……but……Menards is real short on dehumidifier inventory. So they (Pelonis) may not have inventory to ship ……but…….they emailed two weeks later a form to to take it back to Menards.
My Menards has no 30 and 40 pint units in stock.
Out of warranty:
Youtube has several videos on DIY service and troubleshooting. Couple of the guys say the real problem is thin tubing and cracking on the bent tubes…..units leak down in one year.
Some of the videos are real ****……….so filter the content carefully.
My shop has 10+ year old GE unit made in China that still hums along……knock on wood.
428PI
Well-known member
I've had some leak freon and start freezing up the coil. Now I've had 2 units that are probably 3 years old and still going strong. Did have to replace the start capacitor on the 70 pint unit last year. The hose that drains quit working after 1rst year and have to use the bucket. Pump must be bad for hose drain. It was convenient while it lasted.
nadogail
Well-known member
Good and Cheap are mutually exclusive.
You can have Good, but it won't be cheap. If you buy Cheap, how can anyone make it good when you consider the costs of Labor and Materials?
You can have Good, but it won't be cheap. If you buy Cheap, how can anyone make it good when you consider the costs of Labor and Materials?
Bretny
Well-known member
If you are killing them every 2yrs why not buy the extended warrenty? Seams like you could save a few hundred bucks over spending $1k on a commercial unit and just hoping it would last longer.
The ones I am have dealt with have 3 factory warranty.
As my prior post explains the warranty is only as good as the manufacture and retailer.
The integrity and customer service of the retailer is the only hope when the manufacture bails.
Looking at the current dehumidifier brands they are all off brands here today gone tomorrow.
Menards has three brands in two years.
Often units have 1 year warranty and label retailer will not take the unit back after 90 days.
Sooner later the 3 year warranty will be hard to find with the track history of these brands.
Extended warranty………questionable at best. One year extension is often $25-$75. These units are often $100-140. 25-50% additional cost to buy insurance……..not a good value. Plus you then have to deal with a fly by night extended warranty company ?
The commercial units have a spotty service record……….so then your chasing $1000-$2000 instead $100-200
Altair Sinclair
Member
I've been using a desiccant dehumidifier here in the pacific northwest, near the coast... cool+humid rainforest, where the humidity spikes above 90% at sunset every single evening.
Works amazingly well. Really helps with allergies too. Model I got is the Ecor Pro. Make sure you get the model with FOUR duct connections, not three -- the three-port models are not pressure-neutral; they pull air in from outdoors as they expel the warm humid exhaust air, so you can only use them to deal with a moisture emitter inside the building (like flood remediation). The four-port models are more expensive but don't have this problem and can pull the indoor humidity level way below the outdoor level.
None of them are cheap, but it has been worth it.
kaymccampbell
Well-known member
Get a Santa Fe Compact 70. It'll set you back $1K. I've had one running nearly constantly for several years. It requires a drain, or an external condensate pump. It's made for harsh environments, like wet, cold basements and crawl spaces.
Buckaroo5
Well-known member
My Whirpool just went belly up after 4 years. I was relatively happy with that given my last couple only went two years. Dehumidifiers do **** these days (and not in a good way). The last two I have purchsed (one for my son and one for myself) have been Honeywell. They are more expensive - we'll see if they're any better.
I have a Honeywell DR65 that I never ducted like they want you too, It just sits on a shelf in my basement with a drain line to my laundry sink. It is over ten years old and runs fine. If you buy one through a heating contractor you get a five year warranty, versus one year if bought elsewhere. They are not cheap, pushing $1500.
Take it a part, clean the coil, oil the fan motor, it light be all it needs.
jmarkwolf
Well-known member
I have a 2-3 year old Mr. Cool mini-split in my Southeast Michigan 28ft x 30ft x 10ft detached shop with R19 everywhere. The air conditioning works great but I can't get the humidity below 65%. Always cool and clammy in there in the summer. And yes, the condensation tube is always draining outside.
nadogail
Well-known member
This topic makes me glad I don’t have the problem being discussed
BigGarage
Well-known member
Everything old is new again. I wouldn't belong to a site where you couldn't bump an old thread, sometimes it asks/answers the exact
question you have.
BigGarage
Well-known member
I had a new main electric panel installed in 2019 and decided to help protect it from the basements humidity with a dehumidifier. I bought this one https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B073VBWKJZ/?tag=atomicindus08-20.
I've used it for 4 summers so far but don't need it in Winter.
Dennis
I've used it for 4 summers so far but don't need it in Winter.
Dennis
mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I have two mideas that have been working great for 2.5 years now.
I put an aprilaire in my crawl space this past spring. It's been great but was just a hair more expensive.
I put an aprilaire in my crawl space this past spring. It's been great but was just a hair more expensive.
How is this holding up? I'm considering one of these for my crawl space and would love a real world review.
kaymccampbell
Well-known member
Still running. Just gotta remember to change the filters.
I have a cheapie Delonghi that I picked up when I worked for an electronics recycler about 14 years ago. We got a lot of consumer electronics that were shipping damaged. This dehumidifier was new, but the LCD display was broken in shipping. There was another identical unit that came in with smashed wheels/bottom, but the LCD was good, so I combined the two to make one good one. It's been running for 14 years now. I turn it off in the winter since my furnace keeps the basement dry when its running. But it's been running for 14 years worth of spring/summer seasons. I know it's still working because I can see water coming out the hose that leads to the drain.
My only ***** is that it's "computerized", so if the power goes out, even just a blip, it turns off and stays off. I have to go down to the basement and turn it back on, set the humidity level, etc. I miss the old one I had with the mechanical knob. If the power went off and back on, the dehumidifier came right back on where it left off.
My only ***** is that it's "computerized", so if the power goes out, even just a blip, it turns off and stays off. I have to go down to the basement and turn it back on, set the humidity level, etc. I miss the old one I had with the mechanical knob. If the power went off and back on, the dehumidifier came right back on where it left off.
I bought a Meacodry ABC which stopped working after 1.5 years. Received a new one per warranty, and that one stopped working after 6 months.
These things die so fast. The air is blowing, the filter is clean, but i assume the compressor just stopped working. Maybe a leak, who knows.
Really unfortunate they build these things with the intention for them to break down right after warranty.
Now i found a dehumidifier with a 5 year warranty. The catch? It's also an air purifier and comes with a HEPA filter. So to keep it running, you have to buy hepa filters. And of course those cost $25 each. So now they extended the life expectancy, in return for a subscription based model.
I wonder if i can buy a cheap filter on aliexpress and just cut it to size. I don't care much about purifying my air. I just need a dehumidifier to work.
These things die so fast. The air is blowing, the filter is clean, but i assume the compressor just stopped working. Maybe a leak, who knows.
Really unfortunate they build these things with the intention for them to break down right after warranty.
Now i found a dehumidifier with a 5 year warranty. The catch? It's also an air purifier and comes with a HEPA filter. So to keep it running, you have to buy hepa filters. And of course those cost $25 each. So now they extended the life expectancy, in return for a subscription based model.
I wonder if i can buy a cheap filter on aliexpress and just cut it to size. I don't care much about purifying my air. I just need a dehumidifier to work.
if you buy a real dehumidifier, like a whole house unit, they are both serviceable by hvac/refrigeration techs, and have standard air filters.
brianpgriset
Well-known member
Weird. I bought he cheapest large unit from my local big box store. No issues in 4 years and I really haven’t taken great care of it.
I‘m sure it’ll die now that I mention this.
I‘m sure it’ll die now that I mention this.
I just buy them when I find them at yard sales. Usually less than $20. I'm running a vintage JC Penney unit currently. I have a couple spares as backups.
DrinkMan
Well-known member
My 15 year old Whirlpool that was in the crawl space of our mountain cabin finally died and I just ran to the local WalMart and got a Midea because it was available. My expectations were that it would need to be replaced in about a year so I would need to go research what was a good one. Well, it has been over 5 years and it is still working. We have a hose connection so it drains outside and it runs quite a bit.
When the same cabin had a tree thrown through the roof during a tornado last year and the loft was soaked in water, I bought a pair of Midea dehumidifiers to dry it out. They ended up running non-stop for 8 months. I've decided to repurpose them to be installed in my basement garage at home and see how long they run.
I don't expect these low cost consumer units to be running this well for so long but guess I've gotten lucky. I also have a Toshiba in the basement garage in our coastal home that has been working for 3 years (humidity set at 55% so it runs quite a bit, southeast Georgia is very humid, especially when your house is on a marsh about 2 miles from the ocean).
I've just decided that buying them a WalMart, Home Depot, and Sam's is a gamble and I've somehow been lucky.