20 Most Recent Kenmore 54501 Dehumidifier - Page 6 Questions & Answers

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

=--==

Hi,
They do not give one...you would need to install one..

heatman101

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

;
'';

When the Bucket Full Light is on, none of the controls (other than the On/Off) will work. If you haven't
emptied the bucket, do so. Then make sure the bucket is reinstalled properly into the holder. Failure to do this will cause the Bucket Full Light to stay ON. While you have the bucket out, check the inside of it for a float valve. It may be stick in the UP position. If so, jiggle the handle to make it return to the DOWN position.

I hope this helped you and thanks for Choosing FixYa.

If it hasn't received routine maintenance recently, now is a good time.

There are 5 basic, but solvable reasons for what you described. Please pay particular attention to numbers 1 & 2.

1. The humidity extraction level is set to HIGH. Lower it to 32-35%. In you have an analog unit
set the humidity extraction knob on Maximum.

2. Air intake filter is dirty or clogged. Turn unit OFF, & Unplug the
Unit, before removing to inspect & clean it, if necessary. If washed,
allow filter to completely dry before reinstalling. DO NOT operate
the unit without the filter.

3. Obstructed air flow. Maintain a minimum of 12 to 18" of clear air
space around the entire unit.

4. Cooling coils are dirty and need to be cleaned. Use warm water & dish washing liquid to
clean the coils. Rinse and wipe dry. Apply a light coating of WD40 to the coils.

5. Ambient air temperature at floor level is between 40 - 60 degrees.
dehumidifiers do not work well between those temperatures
(Unless, you have a Low Temp Unit). This applies mainly to
where the air temperature at floor level is colder than at shoulder level
in basement applications. Raising the unit up off the floor,
onto a sturdy table, counter top, etc, that can handle the weight
of the unit, plus a full tank of water, will usually resolve this
problem.

If none of the above solves the problem, it may be a case of the compressor needs to be recharged with refrigerant gas or that the humidity condenser sensor has failed. These things usually occur in units that are 5 years old or older. It's rare in a unit younger than that. But, it can happen.

I hope the above helped you to troubleshoot and solve the problem. Please let me know and thanks for choosing FixYa.

THE FAN MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE OILING PORTS ON THE MOTOR. IF NOT, THE MOTOR NEEDS REPLACED. IF THERE ARE OILING PORTS ON THE FAN MOTOR, TRY SPRAYING SOME WD-40 IN THEM AND THEN ADDING SOME LIGHT MACHINE OIL TO THE MOTOR. THE OILING PORTS ARE SMALL HOLES AT EACH END OF THE MOTOR WHERE THE MOTOR SHAFT EXITS THE MOTOR HOUSING.

If the compressor and the fan are running but the coil is totally blocked then you will get no water production. Air needs to be continually moved over the cold coil to get the water out of the air. ---------------- This is what going on with your dehumidifier:----- The humidifier is only going to work properly in humidity levels of 35% or higher and temperatures above 42 degrees. If the ambient temperature is too low in the basement it could cause the coils to frost over and the unit will shut down and go into a defrost cycle. When it senses frost on the coils, the fan will shut off, the compressor will continue to run, and the hot gas valve will energize and reverse the hot gas flow until the frost is removed. Once the sensor is no longer sensing frost the unit will de-energize the hot gas valve and the fan will start and begin to dehumidify again. ----------------------- Click this link below for more details:--- http://howtobyme.blogspot.com/2011/08/kenmore-dehumidifier-turns-off-after.html --------- This should help.Thanks.Helpmech.

There are 5 basic, yet solvable reasons for what you described. Please pay particular attention to numbers 1 & 2.

1. The humidity extraction level is set to HIGH. Lower it to 32-35%.

2. Air intake filter is dirty or clogged. Turn unit OFF, & Unplug the
Unit, before removing to inspect & clean it, if necessary. If washed,
allow filter to completely dry before reinstalling. DO NOT operate
the unit without the filter.

3. Obstructed air flow. Maintain a minimum of 12 to 18" of clear air
space around the entire unit.

4. Cooling coils are dirty and need to be cleaned. Use warm water & dish washing liquid to
clean the coils. Rinse and wipe dry. Apply a light coating of WD40 to the coils.

5. Ambient air temperature at floor level is between 40 - 60 degrees.
dehumidifiers do not work well between those temperatures
(Unless, you have a Low Temp Unit). This applies mainly to
where the air temperature at floor level is colder than at shoulder level
in basement applications. Raising the unit up off the floor,
onto a sturdy table, counter top, etc, that can handle the weight
of the unit, plus a full tank of water, will usually resolve this
problem.

If none of the above solves the problem, it may be a case of the compressor needs to be recharged with refrigerant gas or that the humidity condenser sensor has failed. These things usually occur in units that are 5 years old or older. It's rare in a unit younger than that. But, it can happen.

I hope this help you troubleshoot and solve the problem. Thanks for choosing FixYa.

its low on refrigerant,this is normal after about 2-3 years use,it costs about $50-$125 to evacuate old refrigerant and seal and recharge system with new proper amount of refrigerant being it R134a or R22 freon

Hi and welcome to FixYa, I am Kelly.

You can get a new sensor here:
http://www.appliancefactoryparts.com/search/partinfo.php?partsID=282871&modelsID=119126
or
http://www.repairclinic.com/Kenmore-Dehumidifier-Model-58054501400-ID-698984-Parts
Thermistor PN: 6877A30013R other diagrams it is called a sensor assembly

Here is something to consider.... changing this part SHOULD fix the dehumidfier. However, if there is a problem on the control board it can give you the impression the sensor assembly is bad. 85% of the time it is the sensor that has failed.

Thanks for choosing FixYa,
Kelly

No, it may mean that you don't have the humidity extraction level set low enough. The lower the setting, the more humidity it will extract. Try setting the extraction level at 35%, to see if the compressor turns ON.

If yours is being used in a basement, the ambient air temperature at floor level is between 40 - 60 degrees. Dehumidifiers do not work well between those temperatures (Unless, you have a Low Temp Unit). This applies mainly to where the air temperature at floor level is colder than at shoulder level in basement applications. Raising the unit up off the floor, onto a sturdy table, counter top, etc, that can handle the weight of the unit, plus a full tank of water, will usually resolve this problem.

I hope this helps you further troubleshoot & solve the problem. Thanks for choosing FixYa.

namdara, there are 5 basic, but solvable reason for what you described. Please pay particular attention to numbers 1&2.

1. The humidity extraction level is set to HIGH. Lower it to 32-35%. If you have a manually
controlled model, turn the knob to Maximum.

2. Air intake filter is dirty or clogged. Turn unit OFF, & Unplug the
Unit, before removing to inspect & clean it, if necessary. If washed,
allow filter to completely dry before reinstalling. DO NOT operate
the unit without the filter.

3. Obstructed air flow. Maintain a minimum of 12 to 18" of clear air
space around the entire unit.

4. Cooling coils are dirty and need to be cleaned. Use warm water & dish washing liquid to
clean the coils. Rinse and wipe dry. Apply a light coating of WD40 to the coils.

5. Ambient air temperature at floor level is between 40 - 60 degrees.
dehumidifiers do not work well between those temperatures
(Unless, you have a Low Temp Unit). This applies mainly to
where the air temperature at floor level is colder than at shoulder level
in basement applications. Raising the unit up off the floor,
onto a sturdy table, counter top, etc, that can handle the weight
of the unit, plus a full tank of water, will usually resolve this
problem.

If none of the above solves the problem, it may be a case of the compressor needs to be recharged with refrigerant gas or that the humidity condenser sensor has failed. These things usually occur in units that are 5 years old or older. It's rare in a unit younger than that. But, it can happen.

I hope I was able to help you and thanks for choosing FixYa.

There are usually a couple of pieces of clear tape on new units holding the filter in place. Make sure those are removed.

Kassy, there are 5 basic, yet solvable reason for what you described. Please pay particular attention to numbers 1 & 2.

1. The humidity extraction level is set to HIGH. Lower it to 32-35%.

2. Air intake filter is dirty or clogged. Turn unit OFF, & Unplug the
Unit, before removing to inspect & clean it, if necessary. If washed,
allow filter to completely dry before reinstalling. DO NOT operate
the unit without the filter.

3. Obstructed air flow. Maintain a minimum of 12 to 18" of clear air
space around the entire unit.

4. Cooling coils are dirty and need to be cleaned. Use warm water & dish washing liquid to
clean the coils. Rinse and wipe dry. Apply a light coating of WD40 to the coils.

5. Ambient air temperature at floor level is between 40 - 60 degrees.
dehumidifiers do not work well between those temperatures
(Unless, you have a Low Temp Unit). This applies mainly to
where the air temperature at floor level is colder than at shoulder level
in basement applications. Raising the unit up off the floor,
onto a sturdy table, counter top, etc, that can handle the weight
of the unit, plus a full tank of water, will usually resolve this
problem.

If none of the above solves the problem, it may be a case of the compressor needs to be recharged with refrigerant gas or that the humidity condenser sensor has failed. These things usually occur in units that are 5 years old or older. It's rare in a unit younger than that. But, it can happen.

I hope this helps you to troubleshoot and solve the problem. Please let me know.

Well, we know the filter was playing a role in it.. Good job on cleaning that. Depending on where you have the humidity extraction level set, the fan could run all the time (It's direct drive. No belt). I suspect if you lower the humidity extraction level to 35%, you will see/hear water collecting in the bucket after about 30 minutes to an hour of operation.

Also, maintain at least 18" of clear air space around the entire unit.

In addition, if you're using this in a basement Ambient air temperature at floor level is between 40 - 60 degrees. dehumidifiers do not work well between those temperatures Unless, you have a Low Temp Unit). This applies mainly to where the air temperature at floor level is colder than at shoulder level
in basement applications . Raising the unit up off the floor, onto a sturdy table, counter top, etc, that can handle the weight of the unit, plus a full tank of water, will usually resolve this problem.

Hope this helped you to further troubleshoot and solve the problem. Please let me know.

There are 5 basic, but solvable reason for what you described. Please pay particular attention to numbers 1 & 2.

1. The humidity extraction level is set to HIGH. Lower it to 32-35%.If you have a manually controlled
uni, turn the knob to Maximum.

2. Air intake filter is dirty or clogged. Turn unit OFF, & Unplug the
Unit, before removing to inspect & clean it, if necessary. If washed,
allow filter to completely dry before reinstalling. DO NOT operate
the unit without the filter.

3. Obstructed air flow. Maintain a minimum of 12 to 18" of clear air
space around the entire unit.

4. Cooling coils are dirty and need to be cleaned. Use warm water & dish washing liquid to
clean the coils. Rinse and wipe dry. Apply a light coating of WD40 to the coils.

5. Ambient air temperature at floor level is between 40 - 60 degrees.
dehumidifiers do not work well between those temperatures
(Unless, you have a Low Temp Unit). This applies mainly to
where the air temperature at floor level is colder than at shoulder level
in basement applications . Raising the unit up off the floor,
onto a sturdy table, counter top, etc, that can handle the weight
of the unit, plus a full tank of water, will usually resolve this
problem.

If none of the above solves the problem, it may be a case of the compressor needs to be recharged with refrigerant gas or that the humidity condenser sensor has failed. These things usually occur in units that are 5 years old or older. It's rare in a unit younger than that. But, it can happen

I hope this helps you.

There are 5 basic, but solvable reason for what you described. Please pay particular attention to numbers 1 & 2.

1. The humidity extraction level is set to HIGH. Lower it to 32-35%.

2. Air intake filter is dirty or clogged. Turn unit OFF, & Unplug the
Unit, before removing to inspect & clean it, if necessary. If washed,
allow filter to completely dry before reinstalling. DO NOT operate
the unit without the filter.

3. Obstructed air flow. Maintain a minimum of 12 to 18" of clear air
space around the entire unit.

4. Cooling coils are dirty and need to be cleaned. Use warm water & dish washing liquid to
clean the coils. Rinse and wipe dry. Apply a light coating of WD40 to the coils.

5. Ambient air temperature at floor level is between 40 - 60 degrees.
dehumidifiers do not work well between those temperatures
(Unless, you have a Low Temp Unit). This applies mainly to
where the air temperature at floor level is colder than at shoulder level
in basement applications. Raising the unit up off the floor,
onto a sturdy table, counter top, etc, that can handle the weight
of the unit, plus a full tank of water, will usually resolve this
problem.

If none of the above solves the problem, it may be a case of the compressor needs to be recharged with refrigerant gas or that the humidity condenser sensor has failed. These things usually occur in units that are 5 years old or older. It's rare in a unit younger than that. But, it can happen.

I hope this helps you to solve the problem.

You very well may have the humidity extraction level set to High. Lower it to 32 - 35% and see what happens.

I think the problem may be caused by the humidity extraction level you have the unit set on. (i.e. It's set to high). Lower the humidity extraction level to 35%. This will allow the unit to run longer and extract more humidity, before it either shuts off, because the humidity level has been reached or the bucket is full and needs to be emptied.

Don't forget, the air intake filter should be cleaned regularly.

Hope this helped you. Please let me know.

Daniele, the drain hole or drain hole tubing, that that flows thru to the bucket may be clogged. To loosen & remove the clog, do the following:

1. Turn the Master ON/OFF Switch to OFF & unplug the unit.

2. Remove the bucket from the unit.

3. Using an 18" long plastic Zip Tie or something similar (NO wire coat hangers, though).That's appropriately sized to fit into the hole or tube. Carefully insert the Zip Tie in to the drain hole or tube and continue to insert it until you reach a bend in the tube. You must gingerly work it past this bend, until the Zip Tie bottoms out or you run out of usable Zip Tie. Slowly pull it back out while rotating (twisting) it, This will help dislodge any clogs. As you reach the inserted end of the Zip Tie, be prepared for some water to follow.

Completing the above, should dislodge any clogs and water will start draining back into the tank. Be sure that you have the humidity extraction level set on 35%, after you turn the unit back ON.