Humidity control isn't working - Kenmore 50 Pint Dehumidifier Electronic Controls Energy Star 50501

Verify the humidity reading with another device. Perhaps the humidity sensor is dirty or bad.

Another possibility is the switching device that runs the compressor and fan is shorted. If it's a mechanical relay, the contacts may have welded together, or if it's a solid-state relay, it's got a punch-through or meltdown in a device junction. My guess is it's a mechanical relay since you mention it used to click on and off and now you don't hear that. The relay may be on the control board, or it may be mounted separately - I don't have a photo or diagram of the inside of your model available.

See if this helps. It worked for me, but yours may be different. You can only change humidity levels when it's not in Cont. mode.

It isn't necessary you run it 24 hours a day. You can set it to be on for 2 or 4 hour intervals and then it Turns OFF. However, I am a bit concerned that you have the humidity extraction level set a bit high for a basement application. 50% is more than most basements need to be. Lowering it to 35%, will remove more humidity and eventually will run for shorter periods of time. It takes several days of operation for the dehumidifier to get the humidity under control.

If you have a floor drain in your basement, you can use a hose to daring the water, rather than having to empty the bucket daily (which is not that unusual). See your Owner's Manual on how to connect a 48" length of garden hose to the dehumidifier.

I hope this helped you & thanks for choosing FixYa.

There is probably nothing wrong.
When the device senses that it is too humid in the room, it turns on. Due to a slight error in its humidity measuring system, it switches on, then it realizes that it isn't humid enough to be on, and turns back off.
I have had several and have heard other stories of similar items behaving in this way.
Or, it is perhaps that the adjustment the machine wants to make in the humidity level is low enough that it only needs to be on for a second.
Nonetheless, check to make sure everything is working properly.

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

I have the same unit and found that a sensor that attaches to the evaporator and the attachment holding it to the coil rusted away. Made a new clip from copper tubing and now it works again.

Had a similar problem with Goldstar model DH305. A solution was already posted about cutting the two white wire going to humidity control, and it works until tray fills up (no control). However, if you want a complete fix which allows you to control by selecting humidity level go to the following site:
http://www.appliancefactoryparts.com/search/partinfo.php?partsID=282871&modelsID=&typeName=dehumidifier

Part number is 6877A30013L

Take cover off. First check the fuse on the circuit board. If it's blown replace it. That should get the motor running, the motor might be or is going out. If the motor is bad you'll have to replace the motor. If the fuse is good and the motor is good, unhook the wires on circuit board that go to the humidity control switch. If the unit comes on with the humidity control switch unhooked, you'll have to replace the humidity control switch. Sears has them for about $11.50. Hope this helps.

the control board is a very simple design and it is to signal and switch options like fan speed, power on/off, humidity up/down and sets the on/off run time. Like above the board does collect dust,but the true problem runs deeper.

My unit was stuck in run mode with the fan speed, humidity and run timmer non functioning. the unit worked and the power switch turned it on and off. The display said ON

I removed the front cover (two screws) and slight pressure on the side of the cover to remove it. This exposes the control board. The control board can be removed by removing the 6 screws on the board. the cable can then be removed by pulling out the multi-pin ribbon cable.

I diagnosed that only two of the 5 push button switched were functioning. There was also dust and mold on the board. This board is poorly protected from the moist air entering the unit and the constand moisture causes corrosion on the board, the switched seem to be the weak link.

By using a multi meter I noted that only the power switch and the humidity down button were making contact when pressed. Now it all came together. I could turn it on and off. and if you press the humidity down button to the lowers setting (ON) means run all the time.

I used a elecronic contact cleaner and sprayed it into each of the switches. I wiggled it around and blew it out with canned air. It took a few wiggles and blasts but all switched then made contact. I the board back on and tested all functions and it was like new. The contact cleaner should keep it protected for a while. The non functioning of the switches works both ways. They can stick on also. This would explain most of the other control problems. These switched are common and can be picked up at Radio Shack. On a do-it-yourself bananna scale it was a 2 for me, but I had the tools and the spray. I am not sure what sears gets for the PC control board,but this is the issue and if they were to address this the unit complaints would drop greatly.

If the humidity control is not listed, then it is part of the control module, which must be replaced as a unit.