Runs continuously My unit runs continuously. the bucket needs to be emptied about once a day, but the humidity in the space is till 60%. It seems that if it were working properly it would fill up faster and need to be emptied more frequently. any tips on what could be wrong

There is supposed to be an auto-shutoff float in the bucket to prevent overfilling of the bucket. You have either removed it or it is defective. The fact that it runs constantly has more to do with the humidity and the setting that you have the unit set to, Obviously there is adequate humidity in the space or the bucket would not fill. You need to look for, find, and repair the shut-off float, or, if possible, some units allow you to connect a drain hose either to the bucket or directly to the unit to drain the water to a drain. If you choose this option, remember that the hose must remain lower than the top of the bucket or it will not drain properly and the bucket will still overflow.

could you be mistaking the room humidity indicator for the time? reason I ask is on these one display units this happens more frequently than Id care it too , the one display shows both time and room humidity also set point humidity , the only way one can tell is on some models there is a tiny light that shows up next to labeled function , easy to miss It , also if your machine is sort of new (last few years) it has been decided that it's more efficient to let the circulation fan run all the time , regardless of room humidity . this makes it a little annoying (noise) but they do cycle the compressor to regulate the room humidity

The switch may not be the problem. However, a dirty or clogged air intake filter or the humidity extraction level set to high could be.

Turn the unit OFF & unplug it.
Remove and clean the air intake filter thoroughly. Be sure the filter is completely dry, before reinstalling. Never operate the unit without the filter in place.

After the filter is dry, reinstall it, plug the unit and turn it ON. Lower the humidity extraction level to 35%. If you have an analog unit (No LED screen) set the humidity extraction knob on Maximum.

And finally, be sure that the water collection bucket is installed properly and is not vibrating loose when the unit runs. It should fit squarely into it's holder, making contact with the bucket safety removal switch on the back wall of the bucket holder. When installed properly, it should not tilt down at the bottom of the bucket.

All of the above should solve the problem and you won't need to purchase a new switch. But, in the unlikely event, that you will have to. You will need to furnish the Brand Name of the unit and the Correct Model Number. As, they are not all the same.

Hope this helped you and thanks for choosing FixYa.

Norman, once the unit reaches the extraction level you have it set for, the unit will turn OFF automatically. However, depending on the humidity level in your home, it may take several cycles of running and emptying the bucket until it reached. After that, it should turn OFF, once the level is reached. Then when the humidity level rises above the setting it's on, it will start up again.

Since your unit is a Manually Controlled unit, there's no safe way to "rig' it to run on with a timer. The plug in wall timers are not rated high enough to handle the load of the dehumidifiers operation. Trying to use one, would fry the timer and possibly the dehumidifier.

If you want all the features you mentioned, you will need to purchase a new electronically controlled dehumidifier.

Several things can cause this problem. The leading one, is that the humidity extraction level is set to high. Lower it to 35%. One of the others, is a dirty or clogged air intake filter. Followed by obstructed air flow. You need to maintain at least a minimum of 12" clear air space around the unit. Also, most humidifiers struggle to operate correctly, if the ambient air temperature at floor level is between 40 to 60 degrees F. This will also cause the fan to run a lot if the unit is set in continuous mode, rather than a timed mode. And finally, if any doors or windows are open, the unit will run forever. Make sure all doors and windows are closed.

Here's an in home test to see if it's working properly. Move the dehumidifier to the bathroom. Plug it in turn it ON and set the humidity/moisture extraction level to 35%. Turn the shower ON hot enough to generate steam. Do Not turn the bathroom exhaust fan ON and close any windows that may be open. As you exit the bathroom, close the door. Wait 15 to 20 minutes before returning to the bathroom. Once you do, turn the shower OFF and allow the unit to run for 5 minutes more. Then check the bucket for any signs of water. If you find some, the unit is working as it should.

If you don't see any signs of water, the unit's compressor may need to be recharged with refrigerant.

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

ayke, this can be caused by several things: The air intake filer is dirty and needs to be removed and cleaned. The humidity level on the unit is set too high and should be lowered to 35%. The air circulation around the unit is obstructed. There should be a minimum of 12" free air space all around the unit. The air temperature in the room is to low for the unit to operate properly. Most dehumidifiers will not work well between 40 and 60 degrees F.

To do an in home test, move the unit to the bathroom, and start it with the humidity level set at 35%. Turn the shower ON hot enough to generate steam. Do Not turn the bathrooms exhaust fan On and close in windows in the bathroom. As you exit the bathroom, close the door. Wait 15 to 20 minutes, before returning to the bathroom. Then open the door and turn the shower OFF. Allow the dehumidifier to continue run for 5 minutes, the check the water collection bucket for any signs of water. If you see any water, the bucket is working as it should.

If you don't find any water in the bucket, the humidity sensor may have failed and/or the compressor needs to be recharged with refrigerant gas.

Hope this helps you to troubleshoot and solve the problem.

mempandora, the humidity level that you set on the unit may be to high. In which case the unit will only maintain that level, rather than remove any moisture/humidity. Lower the setting to 35% or minimal, if your unit does not have an LED display. In addition, the air intake filter probably needs cleaning and the coolant coils need to be wiped down and cleaned. The latter is the only part that will require some partial dismantling of the dehumidifier's cabinet. Also, it is imperative, to maintain a minimum of 12" clear air space all around the unit. And finally, the ambient air temperature at floor level may be affecting the operation. If the temperature is between 40 & 60 degrees F, the unit struggles to sense humidity. This is particularly true in a basement. As, the air at the floor is colder than the air temperature.

I hope this helps you to troubleshoot and solve the problem.

Part of the problem may be that you have the humidity level set to high. The fan runs constantly to move the air around. When the unit senses a humidity level higher than what you have it set for, the compressor turns ON. Once it's ON, if the humidity level is short lived, it turns OFF.

Try setting the humidity level to the lowest possible setting. Usually, that 45%. If the humidity level in you home is higher than that, the compressor should turn ON and run until either the bucket is full or the humidity level reaches 45%. If this doesn't solve the problem, turn the Master ON/OFF Switch to OFF and unplug the unit from the wall outlet for 12-15 minutes. Plug the unit bakc in, turn the Master ON/OFF Switch to ON and set the humidity level at it's lowest setting. Allow the unit to run until it cuts OFF and check the bucket for water. Hopefully that 12-15 minute time out allowed the unit to reset itself.

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

Wendy, it's probably because the humidity level on the unit is set higher than the humidity level in the house. Keep in mind, the humidity level you set the control to, is not the amount extracted from the air. It's the level you want it to maintain. The higher the percentage level, the more humidity stays in the house. The lower the percentage level, the more humidity it removes, until the lower humidity level is reached. Then the humidifier will automatically shut OFF and/or the unit shuts OFF, because the bucket is full. Once it's emptied and replaced, if the unit needs to continue to extract humidity, it will start running again.

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

It sounds as if the unit has lost it's refrigerant charge. Take to small appliance repair for confirmation, but it probably leaked out.