Air Purifiers & Dehumidifiers Discussion Board

Kenmore Air Cleaner Mode437.85264 Fan Won't work

HelpUS903278 — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 23:06:10 GMT

that blows.

Kenmore Air Cleaner Mode437.85264 Fan Won't work

SHC-JennaL — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 14:32:02 GMT

Hi Kostersr,

Please check your inbox, located in the upper right corner by clicking your name, I would like to help you out.

Thanks,

Jenna

Kenmore Air Cleaner Mode437.85264 Fan Won't work

inquisitivemind — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 07:53:45 GMT

Only about one month old. It should still be under warranty. Call for warranty service or take it in.

Kenmore Air Cleaner Mode437.85264 Fan Won't work

kostersr — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 01:36:34 GMT

The unit is only about a month old. Everything lights up Ok. Fan indicator light shows that the fan is on. It doesn't matter which speed, the fan just won't work. Neither of the clean filter indicators show service needed. It was working fine yesterday and when I came home from work today, it was not running and I can't get it to work at all.

Dehumidifier Theory / Physics Question -

inquisitivemind — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 19:19:48 GMT

One thing you have not told me is the height of this building. The warmer drier air from the dehumidifier exhausts will rise to the top, and out through your vent, if open. Now should this height be considerable, say above 12-13ft I would anticipate that the air at the higher places would gradually warm up and that at the lower level stay relatively constant, humidity wise, that is.

The way you have described it it certainly seems that with more than 2 running you are beyond the point of diminishing returns.

Dehumidifier Theory / Physics Question -

Fixdit — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 19:02:27 GMT

Well -- 4th day with my evac window closed -- Temps are constant Outisde, Low 80's Day and Low Mid 50's Night.

No Difference in Volume of Water Removed.

Its a Shop -- and while well built and insualted -- Its not Hermeticly Sealed -- With a Family of 4 -- The front door opens and closes 50 times a day. Occasionally a Garage Door has to be opened.

Back to my Original Thought.

In weather, when an area of low pressure exists -- air from an area of Higher pressure rushes to it.

The Pool of Wetter air Outside ( wetter most of the day / days and night ) will always exist.

There is no way to not open doors etc if I am going to use the building.

If I ran 20 dehumidifiers ( Theory -- not actually considering it ) or 40 Dehumidifers ....

Would the area of Dried air inside just constantly be replaced pulling moisture in at a faster rate and be filling and emptying at the same rate ?? ( or a rate to a point of diminishing returns )

Seems that my humidity % with 2 is no different than with 5, Yet my Volume increases.

If you dug a Hole 50 X 100 Feet -- 15 foot deep next to a stream fed lake and ran a channel to my hole from the lake. The Lake would not perceptivly drop when the hole filled. If I took 100 Gallons a Day or 500 Gallons a day from the Hole, I would never see a difference in the level of the water in the hole. ( or the lake )

Shop = My Hole

Channel = Doors and Crevices

Lake = All the usually Wetter Air Outside

Thinking that, maybe going back to my best 2 machines that run Constantly, Keeping the others as Spares or setting them at Higher % so they only operate at times of higher Humidity might be more Cost / Energy Effecient and still not have a perceptable difference in Humitity.

Thanks for Looking

Dehumidifier Theory / Physics Question -

inquisitivemind — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 01:16:32 GMT

Very likely the temperature will rise. The thermal energy (heat) removed from the water vapour in the air to change its state to water has to go somewhere and with a deumidifier it goes back into the atmosphere around the machine. The air conditioner and dehumidifier both work on the same thermodynamic cycle the difference is that with the dehumidifier the thermal energy goes back into the room raising the temperature and lowering the humidity (in a sealed or almost sealed room) with an air conditioner the thermal energy removed from the water vapour is transfered to the medium used to condense the refrigerant. With domestic A/C units this is usually the outside air. In this case the air inside the room is cooled and the temperature lowered.

Hope this helps a little.

Dehumidifier Theory / Physics Question -

Fixdit — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 01:00:56 GMT

The 12 X 12 -- has a Fan Against it blowing air Out -- 9 Months of the year the window is Closed.

The building is 5600 Sq Ft -- so air conditioning is probably not an option --

When we first built the Building -- the first 3 years we noticed moisture on the floor would appear under stuff so we used sticker boards to keep everything off the floor. Since then even the most sensitive to moisture item and plastic items dont seem to have any sign. Its a 6 inch slab with Barrier.

Will Try Closing that air outlet window and see what changes -- we know the pattern and it should be quite easy to see if things change.

Thanks

Dehumidifier Theory / Physics Question -

inquisitivemind — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 23:46:28 GMT

Your 12x12 window with the fan is continuously drawing fresh, moist (humid) air in from leaks in the lower areas. With that quantity of air coming in no wonder you are not making progress in reducing the humidity level.

In my opinion you would be better off closing the upper window and using air conditioning to drop you humidity and temperature.

What do you do with the upper window in winter.

One other thing is unless there is a water vapour barrier below your concrete floor water will be permeating through the concrete.

Hope that is of some help.

Dehumidifier Theory / Physics Question -

Fixdit — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 23:28:39 GMT

Hello   --

I have a Large Stick Frame Concrete Floor Well Insulated but Metal Covered Building.
I'm in the Middle of Oregon so its Seldom REALLY Hot or REALLY Cold --

I constantly use Dehumidifiers.

During the Winter when we have a Woodstove Going we stay pretty Dry even though its raining frequently outside. I collect less water in the Winter than the Summer because of the Woodstove.

Temperature inside in the Winter with stove averages 60 - 70.

Temperature inside in the Summer averages 70 - 80 - occasionally 85 for extended hot period.

I used to run two. One in the front part of the shop and one in the back part. Usually set at 40% they run pretty constantly.   The Readout usually stays 50 or under.   We would empty about every 14 Hours.

During the Summer when its Sunny and Hotter Outside ( and inside )    -- the Dehumidifiers fill up faster than in the winter.

In the last few weeks I have found several Craigslist / Yard Sale Dehumidifiers.

Now I have 5 and thought I would really make some gains by running all in the areas of the Shop Simultaneously.

We are Still emptying about every 12 to 14 Hours but now ALL 5.    Percent stays about the Same.

Doors are Closed   ---- Windows Except One are Closed, Clear up in the peak of the Building is a 12 X 12 Window with fan attached blowing OUT.

Am I not understanding something ?   or at some point shouldnt I see progress and a lower inside humidity ??    Is there a point of diminishing return ?

Thanks

Odd Dehumidifier Problem -

inquisitivemind — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 00:38:31 GMT

My apologies I was taking it that your view on 001.jpg was from the back of the machine.

Now I have to agree that there are all sorts of air paths to the evaporator that do not pass through the filter screen and again I have to agree that the design does leave much to be desired.

Interesting thread thank you.

Odd Dehumidifier Problem -

Fixdit — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 22:47:23 GMT

Nope -- the fan is in the back and the air is sucked in thru the front grill, passes either thru if lucky or the easy path of flow is across the front of the Filter, straight up onto the back of the control panel, then down onto / though the fins, through the fan, and out the back.

The way its built the lint or debris COULD be trapped by hooking onto the front of the filter but if it doesnt, its natural path is up and over the top where it will lodge on the back of the Controls or down onto the fins.

Its definately how the lint mesh cloth formed on the front of the fins.

The machine is running now in a much cleaner envoronment than its previous home. Just some dust and occasional cat hair. Being familiar now with its disassembly will make cleaning it out once a year easier -- but it just bothers me wondering if its missing something not shown in the parts breakdown or just a poor design.

I have looked at building a Foam Rubber dam for it but WOW, lots of plastic fins to fit around and and odd shape to cut and fit. It would NOT be easy to make it acutally seal.

Odd Dehumidifier Problem -

inquisitivemind — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 08:53:22 GMT

I believe you may be in error in your assessment of the path of the airflow.

The Owners Manual for this machine is available at: -

http://www.managemylife.com/mmh/owner_manuals/15303/KENMORE-Dehumidifier-L0607456?brand_name_search=580.54351500++

This shows a rear grill, item 21-A in the exploded parts diagram, which you appear to have removed to access the evaporator, but the manual makes no mention of cleaning this grill or the evaporator fins.

The airflow is normally over the evaporator coils/fins and then over the condenser coils/fins, then through the fan, and then finally, exhausted. Some models have the intake and exhaust at the front of the machine but with yours the intake is at the rear, witness the requirement in the manual for 12-18 inches of clearance on ALL sides.

To verify this airflow take a tissue paper and, with the machine running, place it against the rear grill, it should be sucked onto the grill, then repeat at the front where it should be blown away.

The filter at the front of the machine does nothing to prevent dust/debris from collecting inside the machine.

The ones we have used in the past have all required some form of coil/fin cleaning, on a regular basis, that was not detailed in the manuals.

Hope this helps. Please let us know how you get on.

Odd Dehumidifier Problem -

Fixdit — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 22:56:19 GMT

Thanks Inquisitivemind -

Now Sucking Water Like a Champ - I can see what happened and why it happened but something still doesnt look right to keep the problem at bay.

When I took it apart -- I thought that the Evaporator had a Filter Cloth on it -- I started to pull it off and figured out that it was cloth, made from accumulated Lint.

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f19/Mstuf/Ebay/DehumidA001.jpg

It looked just like woven Cloth or handmade paper.

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f19/Mstuf/Ebay/DehumidA002.jpg

Cleaned up pretty Nicely

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f19/Mstuf/Ebay/DehumidA004.jpg

The Machine had been used in the laundry room in its past life. It had the Front Grill filter in it that didnt look too bad. The Intake Grill directs the Air Upwards -- But there is No Dam at the top to stop air and force it through the removable filter so it just goes up over the top and onto the back of the Control Panel and down on to the evaporator. This makes the Screen Filter virtually Useless. I have viewed the parts breakdown ( thank you for that link -- I didnt find it when I tried first ) and I see that there is no Stop or Dam at the top of the screen filter. Its a Half inch gap and the only thing that the screen catches is what hooks onto the screen as it passes by. I see that the screen is Bowed but even when pushed straight, the gap is still all across the top that allows the air to just flow over the top.

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f19/Mstuf/Ebay/DehumidA003.jpg

Should there be something there to stop that airflow -- and force it through the screen ? It doesnt appear in the parts breakdown.

Its in a much Cleaner environment now but even so -- the screen filter is doing virtually nothing.

Thanks Again for the Help --

Odd Dehumidifier Problem -

inquisitivemind — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 16:07:44 GMT

I am not familiar with that particular model but there are exploded parts diagrams available at: -

http://www.searspartsdirect.com/partsdirect/part-model/Kenmore-Parts/Dehumidifier-Parts/Model-58054351500/0582/0907000?pathTaken=&prst=0&shdMod=58054351500

which may prove helpful.

From your description I would agree that the refrigeration side of the appliance appears to be working satisfactorily and would guess that the problem lies somewhere in the condensation drain arrangement, item 12-A, on the above exploded diagrams. It would appear that 'something' is acting as a 'valve' (perhaps a piece of debris of some sort) when the compressor and fan are running.

I hope this is of some help. Please let us know how you get on.

Odd Dehumidifier Problem -

Fixdit — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 01:28:03 GMT

Hello and thanks for Looking -

I have owned several models of Dehumidifiers across the years   -- I just bought an older Kenmore 580.54351500 from a Yard Sale.   I know its Risky but it was cheap   and I CAN return it if I need to. But, I want it to work.    My best Dehumidifier is a 1970 that out sucks and out lasts all the other I have owned.

This is an Odd Problem that hopefully has a simple fix.   Logic says "the dehumidifier is working".

this model is older and has NO Features besides a humidity Control   - Hi/Lo fan selector - On/Off and a Bucket full indicator light.

The Fan Runs on both speeds    -- The Compressor Starts but it collects no water into the bucket when Running and I know moisture is there in the Air.

It Does NOT ice up.

I have cleaned Filter.

When I shut it off    -- water pours from the Drain Downspout.   Within Seconds.    Not Ice that Melts across 15 - 60 Minutes etc.

I tricked it to run with the Bucket out   - the bucket level switch taped down and a Cup under the drainspout so I can better witness what was happening.    I let it run for about an hour and no water was collected in the cup -- I released the bucket level button   and over an ounce of water poured into the cup.

What would cause it to only let its collected water go when its shut down ??

Odd -

Thanks for Looking - Any Help or Ideas Appreciated.

Dehumidifier and mold issues

ServiceLocally — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 17:27:41 GMT

Clothes dryer vent? Bathroom exhaust? Moisture is from somewhere.

I live in WA so we have dehumidifiers going because our outside humidity is always high. Might want to see how much renting one is for a couple of days and put it where the mildew is the worst. Then if it helps then you could buy one.

Where the carpets cleaned recently? Did they soak the padding? Even if the carpet feels dry the padding is like a sponge and will hold moisture for months.

Dehumidifier and mold issues

MRW5 — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 12:55:53 GMT

Hi Mike, thank you for the note - there are no leaks inside the apartment, we had that checked (plumber) - we had the A/C checked - coils, leaks, vents (twice), we checked insulation, everything - and we still cannot find the source.

I am open to any other suggestions!

Dehumidifier and mold issues

BigMike4511 — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 01:52:47 GMT

An air conditioning unit should remove most of the humidity from the air. I assume that the drain from the AC unit has been checked and it is clear and draining properly. A clogged drain will cause the humidity to be high in the house.

A dehumidifier will remove more of the humidity in the home, if the A/C cannot handle it.

If the house feels more humid than outside, you may want to look for a leaking pipe or the source of the humidity in the home.

Dehumidifier and mold issues

MRW5 — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 21:57:46 GMT

I recently moved into an apartment and continue to have high humidity.

The apartment has central A/C and I have had several A/C specialists out to check it but nobody found anything wrong with it. There is no mold on walls but condensation on windows and mold growing on shoes, clothing, pillows etc. We cannot find the source of the problem, we had A/C specialists, a mold specialist, a plumber and a general contractor and all of them feel the humidity and 'musty' smell, but nobody can find the source.

Will a de-humidifier be able to control and 'remove' the issue?