We just bought our dehumidifier a week ago. It seems to run only on short cycles starting up for a couple of minutes then shutting off for a few and thencoming back on. It is very annoying and doesn't seem right. What could it be?

assuming you have ck'd the water collection bucket full switch for proper seating , im sorry to say that short cycling on compressors are a sure sign of low gas pressure , and no its not easy to add more

Hi,
There are many reasons why a dehumidifier willnot work or collect water.
Here is a tip that I wrote to help people to figure out what is going wrongwith their dehumidifier

Dehumidifier is running but no water is in bucket

heatman101

This unit is designed with the intention of the fan running all the time. The compressor cycles on and off with demand, however the fan runs continuously to provide constant room circulation.

Hi,
I would return it as it sounds like part of the circuit is defective.
Anything like this should have built-in Historesis - so it will wait untill a limit is reached before turning on, but also turn off at a lower limit to prevent this wasteful short-cycling.

sounds like the compressor is seized.

yes cycles should be longer either that or the unit is keeping close to desired humidity. Also the unit is under sized 30 pint is for 400sqft. or 20 by 20 room. humidity should be 30/50 percent check your level desired room temp is 70 degrees but its a basemnt 60 works.

I have a Comfortaire BHD501 dehumidifier. A couple weeks ago I noticed ice building up on top of the unit,so I unplugged it to defrost. I plugged it back in and it worked until I noticed the "CH" "01" code. It would run a few seconds then shut off with that code showing. I took off the front of the unit and noticed rust on some of the metal parts. Then I took the cover off the circuit board for the front read out. I noticed corrosion on some of the solder points. When I looked closer at the plastic cover for the circuit board I noticed a small burn mark. The water from the melting ice must have run behind the cover and shorted out the circuitboard. At this point I don't know if new boards are available.

Normal 0 When you push the power button, the blower fan comes on. In a few minutes you should hear a second "click"--that is your compressor starting. Do you hear that second click?

Check if the fan is running by putting your against the grill in front or back of the unit.

If the unit is freezing up I suggest replacing the sensor assembly. Just replaced mine because the thermistor that is on the suction line went bad and would not send the reversing valve into defrost.