Dehumidifier Life Span

[Jerseyfix]

After trying to repair my whirlpool dehumidifier I determined with some great help from this site that the compressor is shot. I have ordered a new one to replace it. Is there anything that can be done to help maintain the life of one of these machines? I know keeping the filter is clean. I read somewhere that operating the fan at the highest setting will help maintain the life of a dehumidifier.Any truth to that? Thanks

[ACtechGUY]

Ignoring the fact that most everything is built like crap these days...................

The idea of prolonging the useful like of a dehumidifier by running the fan at a higher speed is kinda , well stupid. The point is for this device to dehumidify right? The most dehumidifing is done when you have a very cold evaporator coil. That is done by passing the smallest amount of air over the coil without it actually freezing up . COLDER coil = more humidity removed.

So we can assume that if there were a device who's whole purpose in life was to suck moisture out of the air , then maybe it was engineered , built and intended to operate at a very low coil temp with a low fan speed. My guess is the higher speeds are for those people who want to use the device as some sort of room fan.

Wait!! we are back to things being built like crap.... The device was intended to work at a low fan speed , if it did not last , It may have been flawed to start off with.

OR you may have just let it get too dirty and it is all your fault it broke. Hard to say................. I would go with flawed product if I were you .

Seriously, Just keep the evaporator/ condenser coil and all fans clean . It is as simple as that.

[Jerseyfix]

I have to agree with your assessment that these things are just junk. I am wondering has the ending of freon as the refrigerant made these things die sooner? But then if that's true would not refrigerators have the same problem? Seems like if there is a consistent problem with the compressors across all brands then something with that part has changed.am I right?

I am just ticked that I have to replace this thing every few years. I'm seriously considering a whole house unit the next time.