Compresser does not engage?

with a reading of 66 to 67 % rh this is a bit low for normal rooms humidity , I cant see why you'd want to try to get it down to 55% unless its for a special purpose (drying paint?) , I get this question a lot from folks , what I tell em is if you set your airconditioner in your home down to 30 degrees would your house ever get that cold = "no " the houses ability to heat itself is greater than the a/c units ability to cool it (even if its properly sized) so why would you expect a small appliance like a dehumidifier to be able to do any different ? all you end up doing is over working the appliance and costing you extra money in lost power
the general excepted room humidity is 70% rh this is a industry standard ,that all appliances are designed to achieve , and yes as the room gets dryer it will extract less and less water from air

In order to look up the filter change procedure I would need the specific model number. However, filter changes or washing should be done regularly. Look for a very simple lift-out design that is washable in the kitchen or laundry sink. Soak in soapy water and rinse with spray nozzle.

As for the symptom "Blows out warm air" this is expected. The dehumidifier is less than 100% efficient, meaning that the energy that is used produces heat in the exhaust air. A 100% efficient design would still send all the heat energy of condensation (endothermic phase change) into the exhaust air. You should expect 1072 BTU per pint (1 pound of water). This is far more than the heat of crystallization (144 BTU per pound of ice) and therefore much more sensible when you feel the discharge air from the dehumidifier. Dehumidifiers typically operate in basements to both warm and dry the area where a sump pump may be operating to remove the water that seeps through the foundation. A dehumidifier is not a good idea for warm areas of the house. This will decrease the efficiency by increasing the temperature differential needed to get the evaporator coil below the dew point to cause condensation. The condenser coil will be much hotter than expected if the unit is operated in a warm humid room. Only air conditioners which discharge condensate and exhaust air to the outside of the structure should be used to cool a room.

There are 5 basic, but solvable reasons for what you described. Of these 5 you have already completed 2 of them.

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 further troubleshoot & solve the problem. Thanks for choosing FixYa.

Hi,the lack of water in the bucket, may be a result of the humidity setting on the unit being to high. Try setting the level at 45% or lower. Also, be sure there's adequate air flow around the unit itself. It should remain a minimum of 12' from a wall or furniture. 24" is better.

If the above doesn't solve the problem, try this at home test. Place the unit in the bathroom, turn it ON and set the level as low as possible. Turn the shower ON hot enough to generate steam. Do not turn ON the bathroom's exhaust fan. As you exit the bathroom, close the door. Wait 15 to 20 minutes, before returning to the bathroom. When you do, turn the shower OFF and allow the unit to run for several more minutes. Then check the bucket for water. If there is any sign of water in it, it's working fine. It was probably a case of the humidity level being set to high the first time.

If there was no water in the bucket, the refrigerant gas in the cooling coils and the compressor may need recharging.

Hope this helped your to troubleshoot and solve the problem. Please let me know. Thanks.

Several things can cause your problem:

Dirty or clogged air intake filter. Remove and clean the filter according to the Owner's Manual instructions.

Dirty coolant coils. Clean and dry the coolant coils.

The humidity extraction level is set to high. Lower the level to 35%

Not enough free air space around the unit. Maintain at least 12" of air space around the entire unit.

The ambient air temperature at floor level is to cold (between 40 - 60 degrees F). Raise the unit up off the floor onto something sturdy enough to handle the weight (including a full tank of water) and the vibration during operation. This happens frequently in basement applications.

Depending on the age of the unit, the refrigeration coolant may need to be recharged.

The humidity sensor has failed and needs to be replaced.

All of the above are where you start troubleshooting and hopefully solving the problem.

The lack of water in the bucket, may be a result of the humidity setting on the unit being to high. Try setting the level at 45% or lower. Also, be sure there's adequate air flow around the unit itself. It should remain a minimum of 12' from a wall or furniture. 24" is better.

If the above doesn't solve the problem, try this at home test. Place the unit in the bathroom, turn it ON and set the level as low as possible. Turn the shower ON hot enough to generate steam. Do not turn ON the bathroom's exhaust fan. As you exit the bathroom, close the door. Wait 15 to 20 minutes, before returning to the bathroom. When you do, turn the shower OFF and allow the unit to run for several more minutes. Then check the bucket for water. If there is any sign of water in it, it's working fine. It was probably a case of the humidity level being set to high the first time.

If there was no water in the bucket, the refrigerant gas in the cooling coils and the compressor may need recharging.

Hope this helped your to troubleshoot and solve the problem. Please let me know. Thanks.

It very well maybe, that you have the humidity removal set to high and it's not sensing any humidity to remove. For example, if you have it set on 65 - 70%, that's not how much humidity it's going to remove. It's the level of humidity it's going to maintain in your home. To remove moisture/humidity, the setting should be low, like 45%. As far as the fan running ... many units are designed that way, in an effort to help keep the air circulating and also to defrost the cools.

If you want to test the unit, to see if it's working properly. Place the dehumidifier in the bathroom and set it at 50%. Turn the shower ON and let it run for 20 minutes with the bathroom door closed and without the exhaust fan running. And check on it after 20 minutes. More than likely, there' will be water in the bucket.

Also, there's routine maintenance that should be performed regularly. Clean the air intake filter, clean and wipe off the the compressor coolant coils, and check for clogs in the drain line of the unit.

Hope this helps you troubleshoot and solve the problem. Please let me know. Thanks.

Keep in mind, that a dehumidifier only draws humidity from the air, if the level of humidity is higher than what the controls are set on. For instance, if you have the dehumidifier set on 65 to 70%, that's a high level of humidity to maintain in a house. If you have it set for 35 or 45%, that's a low level of humidity to maintain in a house. Which, generally is what you want to maintain in the hot, humid summer months. Also, it's not uncommon on some dehumidifiers for the fan to almost run constantly. It's designed to keep the air moving, in a effort to detect when the humidity level rises.

Also, a dirty air intake filter makes the unit strain to keep up and can't take in moisture as it should. So, if you haven't cleaned the filter no is the time to check and clean it. And while your at it, clean the cooling coils too. Since it sounds like this unit has been working hard for 2 weeks.

The easiest and best way to test a dehumidifier at home, to see if it's working properly. Is to place it in the bathroom and turn the shower ON and don't operate the bathroom's exhaust fan. Set the humidity level low (45%), turn the unit ON and close the door when you leave. Wait 15 to 25 minutes and check the water collection bucket. If there's water in it, it's working as it should.

For more information on the proper operation of a dehumidifier, go to the Tips section of Fixya and look up "Taking the confusion out operating a dehumidifier".

Hope all this helps you troubleshoot and solve the problem. Please let me know. Thanks.

Keep in mind, that a dehumidifier only draws humidity from the air, if the level of humidity is higher than what the controls are set on. For instance, if you have the dehumidifier set on 65 to 70%, that's a high level of humidity to maintain in a house. If you have it set for 35 or 45%, that's a low level of humidity to maintain in a house. Which, generally is what you want to maintain in the hot, humid summer months. I find it uncanny, that all 3 units are not collecting any water. So, it may simply be the case, that the humidity level on each unit is improperly set.

Also, a dirty air intake filter makes the unit strain to keep up and can't take in moisture as it should. So, if you haven't cleaned the filters on a regular basis, not is the time to do so. And while your at it, clean the cooling coils too.

The easiest and best way to test a dehumidifier at home, to see if it's working properly. Is to place it in the bathroom and turn the shower ON and don't operate the bathroom's exhaust fan. Set the humidity level low (45%), turn the unit ON and close the door when you leave. Wait 30 to 40 minutes and check the water collection bucket. If there's water in it, it's working as it should.

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

Hi,
There are many reasons for a dehumidifier to not work or collect water.
Here is a tip that I wrote to help people to figure out what is going wrong with their dehumidifier.

Dehumidifier is running but no water is in bucket
http://www.fixya.com/support/r4662409-dehumidifier_running_but_no_water_in

heatman101