Leaking Frigidaire FDL60P11 Dehumidifier: Lessons Learned

[sgunther]

I had a 4 year old Frigidaire FDL60P11 dehumidifier flood the basement of a vacation home, it was left on automatic cycle targeting 45% humidity all the time and apparently over the last few months it started to leak water. It was direct connected into the drain line and water was coming from the bottom front of the unit. This particular unit is mechanical / refrigerative type. The evaporator has two main brackets on the outer edge, unlike every other surface in this unit the evaporator brackets do not appear to have been treated with a rust inhibitor and as such had a significant amount of surface rust from the water condensing. It appears that over time small particles of rust dripped off the evaporator with the water removed from the air and in turn collected in the drip tray and in turn down the drain tube. At the back of the unit there is a plastic water drain bracket that goes from the ~1/4 inch internal drain tube to an external ~1/8 inch tubing connection. The rust particles over time collected inside the water drain bracket and eventually completely blocked any additional water flow. The water backed up the tube, filled the drip tray and eventually flooded internally escaping through some small holes in the front of the frame. I cleaned out the lines and the water drain bracket and all is well again. I am considering taking a wire brush and cleaning off the rest of the surface rust and then applying a rust inhibitor and then remove the water drain bracket entirely and running a new ~1/4 inch line from the drip tray all the way to the drain connection but that will have to wait for another day.

Long story short, the material selection or quality control of materials expected to be in direct contact with water was lacking.

The First Look

Close Up Of the Evaporator

Drain Tray Sludge

Clogged Water Drain Bracket

Water Drain Bracket Size Change

[applianceman18007260692]

To prevent future flooding you ought to add a float switch to the machine. Water level gets too high it kills the power. The same kind they use in condensate drain pans.

[sgunther]

There is one in the collecton bin but since it is direct connected to the drain that is not in play. Are you recommending adding an additional auxiliary switch directly to the drip tray?

[RegUS_PatOff]

OR, if you could return the operation to the original Water Tank

(so that if it fills, the Float Switch would turn it OFF)

AND drill a hole in the Tank, add a Garden Hose Adapter ...

[sgunther]

OR, if you could return the operation to the original Water Tank

(so that if it fills, the Float Switch would turn it OFF)

AND drill a hole in the Tank, add a Garden Hose Adapter ...

I had not even considered that, great idea.