Humidistat stuck?

[yosri]

Hello,

I recently purchased a used Simplicity 38 pint dehumidifier. It works great for the most part and it is really removing the humidity from my basement. It would run for a few minutes and then stop, after a while it would run again then stop, and so on. It has a manual humidity level knob.

During the past day or two, I noticed that sometimes the dehumidifier would just keep on running, and it would not stop until I actually moved the humidity level knob to a lower setting. I then return the humidity level to what it was before, and the dehumidifier works normally again for a while. It's like the humidistat gets stuck and leaves the dehumidifier running. I've also had a similar problem on a small personal heater, but that one I had purchased new and it was showing that problem only after a few months of operation.

Is this normal, or is something not working right? Is there an easy DIY fix for this issue?

Thanks

[apwadmin]

Yosri,

Thanks for posting to the forum, and pasted below is a great starting point to check out before you move forward. We can't guarantee that this will solve your problem, but hopefully it might shed some light on the situation.

http://www.doityourself.com/stry/how...istat-problems

Thanks!

AP

[jeff1]

Hi all,

During the past day or two, I noticed that sometimes the dehumidifier would just keep on running, and it would not stop until I actually moved the humidity level knob to a lower setting.

Try leaving it when this occurs to see if the unit will get back into it's on and off routine on it's own...I have noticed humidifity levels in my area going from 30% one day to 80% the next day and that would certainly play havoc with the on and off routine.

jeff.

[yosri]

I suppose I can leave it a little longer this time to see what happens. I left for a half-hour last time when I knew it should have only been on for a few minutes. Humidity has been pretty steady in my basement, which is where this dehumidifier is located; I've been keeping an eye on my hygrometer. That's what makes me think there is something with the humidistat itself.

I'm not really great or confident with electronics, so I'm not sure I'd be able to repair this issue if I had to open the dehumidifier up. Is there some sort of outlet timer that can possibly be used to limit the running time of the dehumidifier in case it gets stuck again? My main concern really is power consumption; I'm not around all the time to monitor the dehumidifier to make sure it's behaving properly.

Thanks

Originally Posted by jeff1

Hi all,



Try leaving it when this occurs to see if the unit will get back into it's on and off routine on it's own...I have noticed humidifity levels in my area going from 30% one day to 80% the next day and that would certainly play havoc with the on and off routine.

jeff.

[jeff1]

There are many different types of timers...may or may not help, some are here...
http://www.homedepot.ca/catalog/timers/173167

jeff.

[yosri]

Thanks, I was looking at those and I think it may be a good solution in that it would ensure the dehumidifier doesn't run for too long if the humidistat gets stuck again. It would also work for my heater in the winter. Since my last post, the problem has not happened again (and I hope it stays that way).

Originally Posted by jeff1

There are many different types of timers...may or may not help, some are here...
http://www.homedepot.ca/catalog/timers/173167

jeff.

[jeff1]

Since my last post, the problem has not happened again (and I hope it stays that way).

Good, fingers crossed

jeff.