Looking for help with my dehumidifier

[Estam]

An Amana D965E dehumidifier, The compressor is running but the coils are not cooling. The compressor gets warm and I assume the lower lagged pipe is providing the cold to the upper coils. There is no cold and looking for what else to check before I take it in to get a recharge. Purchased on Craigslist and is a totally clean unit and looks like new and looks to have been used very little. Is there anything I need to check and is there a method to recharge myself? Many thanks for any suggestions.

 

[Paperdoc]

If this is still under warranty I'd contact Amana for replacement. I had exactly that problem with a dofferent maker's unit after less than one year. Unfortunately, the free replacement provided by the sellers did the same thing a year later. VERY likely the unit has lost most of its refrigerant charge. These units have NO connectors on them for amateur re-charging (unlike an auto AC system) so you really need specialized tools and skills. Take it to a pro if you think it worth it, but ask the price first!

 

[Estam]

Had a feeling that would be the answer, thought there might be a kit where you could do it yourself. Done many an auto a/c system and understand the principles and safety aspect, can't understand why dehumids don't have a simple connector. Then my other question would be is how do the pro's do it, do they have to cut into the line?

 

[mindless1]

I doubt there is much pro repair of small dehumidifiers. I saw an old listing for that one at $160, which is less than it would cost to get a pro out and fix it. I imagine what could be done is take the line off, make and tap a threaded hole to add a valve, clean the metal out of the line and reinstall, evacuate then fill. Somewhere in that process the leak would need found too.

 

[Paperdoc]

Actually, the process is very similar to what a refrigeraor repair tech does. If you check a fridge it also has no pre-installed connection points - only blanked off lines. When I had my problem I checked and an appliance firm said yes, they can repair dehimidifiers, but the price they estimated was similar to buing a new one of that model.

 

[drnickriviera]

Supco Piercing valve

Is all you need. They have different models for pipe size and pressure. I believe the one linked isn't rated for the high side on a R410 system, so just install it on the low side. If you are lucky then the unit will use R134 and all you would need is an adapter from the flare fitting.

 

[WilliamM2]

Supco Piercing valve

Is all you need. They have different models for pipe size and pressure. I believe the one linked isn't rated for the high side on a R410 system, so just install it on the low side. If you are lucky then the unit will use R134 and all you would need is an adapter from the flare fitting.

But the unit will still have a leak, and will just quit working again. Those piercing valves are known to leak as well.

 

[NutBucket]

Could always try stop leak. I wouldn't use it in a system I intend to use for a decade but in this case you've got nothing to lose.

 

[drnickriviera]

But the unit will still have a leak, and will just quit working again. Those piercing valves are known to leak as well.

Vs throwing the thing away and buying another cheap Chinese unit that will probably leak too? I'd charge it and see how bad the leak is, go from there.

 

[Estam]

Yes, I agree with all, good money after crap either way. It's a R410a system and the cheapest freon is $45 for 28.2 oz so buying a new one with warranty is looking better. This unit is so clean I feel I'm doing something wrong when running it. All the electronics work and the compressor humms perfectly so is there a way to prove it's the lack of freon that is the problem? Where can I find a small can of R410a? If I buy a stop leak, does that contain some freon or just goop?

 

[NutBucket]

If the compressor is humming one of the pipes should be hot and the old cold. If there's no temperature difference then there's no refrigerant. If the compressor was failing it would likely get super hot and blow a breaker/fuse.

 

[Scarpozzi]

I just bought a second dehumidifier for the house a few weeks ago. It's a 70 pint/day Insignia from Best Buy, but I may have gotten it through eBay...it ran $155 shipped I think. My other one is a 30 pint Kenmore and they have similar electronics.