Cheap dehumidifier flooding.

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richms

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Topic # 198774 21-Jul-2016 23:09

I got a cheap dehumidifier from bunnings for the garage since it has hardiflex cladding which lets most of the moisture in it seems - this one - https://www.bunnings.co.nz/suki-dehumidifier-10l_p00222061

Anyway, twice now I have gone to the garage and the tank has been full to the point where it has switched off, but the dehumidifier is in a giant puddle of water that has come out from somewhere else on it.

Anyone had something like that happen? I suspect it is freezing up or something but dont care why, since it shouldnt be peeing water out all over the floor. If it was carpet then I would be looking at getting them to cover the cleaning costs of the wet carpet.

Richard rich.ms

mattwnz

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Reply # 1596579 21-Jul-2016 23:33

How old is it? I would take it back. That is damn cheap for a dehumidifier, but no good if it leaks. I suspect it has a hole somewhere in the tubing, as it would be working correctly if it is collecting water. You know when they stop working, when they stop collecting water, and need re-gassing, which is over $100 to get done.

richms

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Reply # 1596580 21-Jul-2016 23:38

It does collect water in the bucket, and it didnt do it for 2 weeks when it was in the bathroom before I got a better one for there which is why I suspect it may be a freezing issue in the garage. If its a one off then I will take it back for a swap, if others have had them do it I will get a refund and buy the more expensive one like I got for the bathroom.

Richard rich.ms

mattwnz

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Reply # 1596583 21-Jul-2016 23:43

richms:

It does collect water in the bucket, and it didnt do it for 2 weeks when it was in the bathroom before I got a better one for there which is why I suspect it may be a freezing issue in the garage. If its a one off then I will take it back for a swap, if others have had them do it I will get a refund and buy the more expensive one like I got for the bathroom.

I think it would be pretty poor it the garage, because they rely on the room they are in being warm. They also heat the room. So I would think the garage would be too cold to work well. But can't explain why it is leaking water unless water is condensing on the outside of the fins inside the unit. If that is the case I would stop using

linw

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Reply # 1596623 22-Jul-2016 07:58

Might also be an idea to test the bathroom one in the garage?

timmmay

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Reply # 1596629 22-Jul-2016 08:14

Why not just use an extractor fan?

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richms

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Reply # 1596885 22-Jul-2016 14:46

timmmay:

Why not just use an extractor fan?

Because air has to come in to replace it, and the problem is that outside is wet and muggy at this time of year because no sun gets to the ground near the garage to dry it out. Might be better when more gravel is down so its not just mud but also there is the loss of heat when using a fan vs the gains when using a dehumidifier.

Richard rich.ms

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Reply # 1596897 22-Jul-2016 15:02

Cold air is generally fairly dry because it has a lower capacity to absorb water. So while it feels wet and muggy to you, once you're just taking air without rain in it it can be quite dry. Exceptions for things like fog of course, and I could be wrong.

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MikeB4

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Reply # 1596928 22-Jul-2016 15:28

I feel it is being asked to do something beyond its capabilities. At the price it would seem to be a low capacity device. Garages will have a lot of water in them, such as poor water barriers, wet cars etc etc. I would suggest the best would be to find a way to air the garage.

On our garage the door has a gap at the bottom to allow air flow, unfortunately also the odd leaf will get in. We also have louver windows (grated) that are always open a bit.

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bfginger

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Reply # 1647962 9-Oct-2016 13:08

Cold air is generally fairly dry because it has a lower capacity to absorb water. So while it feels wet and muggy to you, once you're just taking air without rain in it it can be quite dry. Exceptions for things like fog of course, and I could be wrong.

Cold air is dry in terms of absolute humidity but outdoors air is frequently very damp in New Zealand in terms of relative humidity. Relative humidity is the relevant characteristic. Very damp air needs to be heated by around 8 or 9 degrees before it has relative humidity moderate enough to prevent mould and dustmite growth and feel "dry". Most garage doors are nowhere near being airtight and let plenty of outdoors air in as do some ceiling manholes.

Compressor based dehumidifiers don't work very well below around 18-20 degrees and much of their humidity lowering function will be from the heat they produce instead of actual water removal especially if they lack a defrost feature. Not all but some desiccant based dehumidifiers work well at low temperatures. This model was recommended by consumer

http://www.goldair.co.nz/product-catalogue/heating/dehumidifiers/8l-desiccant-dehumidifer-gd330

I think I saw that one being sold cheaply at Placemakers last year. You want something with a targetable humidistat or else it wastes energy by over drying.

PhantomNVD

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Reply # 1647968 9-Oct-2016 13:22

Looking at the advert, it has a 'continuous drain' feature, which you probably have on... a quick google says this is;

Almost all dehumidifiers are set up for continuous drainage. In the casing you will find an opening, a port, to which a hose can be attached. The water collected now flows out through the hose, instead of collecting in the bucket. If you look in the user's manual you will find instructions on how to fit the hose.

Obviously the water coming through the hose needs to flow into a drain or sump. The feed through the pump is by gravity alone so that drain needs to be below the outlet port in the casing. If the flow is unobstructed, and all "down-hill" the appliance drains continuously and you never have to worry about emptying the bucket again.

Because this is a gravity fed drain it is helpful to raise the unit off the floor by mounting it on wood or concrete blocks. If it can be mounted on a shelf a few feet above the floor so much the better.

richms

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Reply # 1647986 9-Oct-2016 14:20

No, its not the drain feature, it is freezing up over the coils, and the ice is blocking the path into the bucket so when it melts from the top down it runs over the ice and into the chassis of the dehumidifier.

Also it will run down and go inside the float that is supposed to switch off the dehumidifier when the tank is full. When the float (which is just a bowl) fills up it sinks and it will not stop even when the bucket is totally full and overflowing. I bought that one inside and ran it in the closet which is warmer than the garage and the same thing happened. Its just crap. I figured because the larger suki I had was really good that the small one would be too. I dont even think they are made by the same people.

Richard rich.ms

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Reply # 1648009 9-Oct-2016 14:58

Most of the refrigerant dehumidifiers (especially the cheap ones) really struggle when air temperature drops below 15 Deg C. They have issues with water sucked out of the air freezing on the coils. More expensive ones still struggle, but cope with things like defrost cycles, forcing higher fan speed etc.

For cold area dehumidifying a decetessent dehumidifier like this is the way to go. Power consumption is high, but (despite the low 8L per day rating) will outperform refrigerant based dehumidifiers in typical conditions (their rated capacity is based on 80% humidity in 30 Deg C temp, not something we experience in NZ).

I was thinking of getting one of those, running a hose from the discharge to the drain, and setting it on a time to run for say 5 hours in the small hours of the morning when power is the cheapest. (despite having a weathertight garage we still get mold on the walls)

richms

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Reply # 1648018 9-Oct-2016 15:00

Ive put my inside one in the garage and it is working fine to keep it dry. Even when it is cold they should still pull moisture out of the air, its just there isnt much to get out of it. Ive found another crack in the cladding of the garage that is letting moisture in. As is always the case it is behind something so really looking foward to having it reclad in something that isnt the thinnest crappiest fiber cement board I have ever seen.

Richard rich.ms