Hi All,

I just purchased a Danby dehumidifier from Costco & have the following
beefs;

- the fan is always on. Customer Service tried to tell me that it's
actually more energy efficient to run the fan constanly - an argument I
find somewhat demeaning.

- even the the humdity is lower then the set-humidity, the compressor
kicks in periodically.

I'd REALLY prefer a dehumidifier that "shuts down" when the desired
humdity level has been reached - can anyone advise if there is such a
product out there?

I just replace all the light bulbs in the house with compact floresent
sp? - I a little miffed that this dehumidifier will now such as much
power out of the grid as I'd though I was saving.

Thanks!

My preference is to let the normal diffusion of humidity handle this,
not the fan.

I don't believe that the corner of the bathroom with the dehumidifier
would be dry while the opposite corner is saturated. A dehumidifier
with "fan-auto-shutoff" might turn on & off a little more often, but I
choose the energy savings that come with having the fan & compressor
always off in the majority of time when the desired humidity has been
reached.

Joseph Meehan wrote:
> Paul wrote:
> > Hi All,
> >
> > I just purchased a Danby dehumidifier from Costco & have the following
> > beefs;
> >
> > - the fan is always on. Customer Service tried to tell me that it's
> > actually more energy efficient to run the fan constanly - an argument
> > I find somewhat demeaning.
> >
> > - even the the humdity is lower then the set-humidity, the compressor
> > kicks in periodically.
> >
> > I'd REALLY prefer a dehumidifier that "shuts down" when the desired
> > humdity level has been reached - can anyone advise if there is such a
> > product out there?
> >
> > I just replace all the light bulbs in the house with compact floresent
> > sp? - I a little miffed that this dehumidifier will now such as much
> > power out of the grid as I'd though I was saving.
> >
> > Thanks!
>
> I think the problem in part is they are using the fan to circulate the
> air and to get the more moist air past the humidity sensor. If you don't
> move the air the dehumidifier would not be very responsive.
>
> --
> Joseph Meehan
>
> Dia duit

"Paul" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed) oups.com...
> My preference is to let the normal diffusion of humidity handle this,
> not the fan.
>
> I don't believe that the corner of the bathroom with the dehumidifier
> would be dry while the opposite corner is saturated. A dehumidifier
> with "fan-auto-shutoff" might turn on & off a little more often, but I
> choose the energy savings that come with having the fan & compressor
> always off in the majority of time when the desired humidity has been
> reached.

Given the location of the sensor, it is very possible to have a large
variation in humidity. If there is enough of a draft or air movement, you
are somewhat correct. In a closed bathroom, there is going to be little
current to trigger the sensor, thus greater swings in humidity. Tolerable?
Maybe, but since you are so much in the minority the makers won't be taking
the added cost of that type of unit into consideration.

"Edwin Pawlowski" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:%G4Eg.1596$117.371@trndny09...
>
> "Paul" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed) oups.com...
> > My preference is to let the normal diffusion of humidity handle this,
> > not the fan.
> >
> > I don't believe that the corner of the bathroom with the dehumidifier
> > would be dry while the opposite corner is saturated. A dehumidifier
> > with "fan-auto-shutoff" might turn on & off a little more often, but I
> > choose the energy savings that come with having the fan & compressor
> > always off in the majority of time when the desired humidity has been
> > reached.
>
> Given the location of the sensor, it is very possible to have a large
> variation in humidity. If there is enough of a draft or air movement, you
> are somewhat correct. In a closed bathroom, there is going to be little
> current to trigger the sensor, thus greater swings in humidity. Tolerable?
> Maybe, but since you are so much in the minority the makers won't be taking
> the added cost of that type of unit into consideration.

This is just a guess, but my thought is that the moisture on the heat exchanger
and the output bucket would cause the unit to cycle back on too
frequently if the fan turns off when the compressor does.

Bob

On 14 Aug 2006 11:16:39 -0700, "Paul" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>Hi All,
>
>I just purchased a Danby dehumidifier from Costco & have the following
>beefs;
>
>- the fan is always on. Customer Service tried to tell me that it's
>actually more energy efficient to run the fan constanly - an argument I
>find somewhat demeaning.

Silly maybe, I don't know for sure, but demeaning? Don't take these
things personally.

>- even the the humdity is lower then the set-humidity, the compressor
>kicks in periodically.
>
>I'd REALLY prefer a dehumidifier that "shuts down" when the desired
>humdity level has been reached - can anyone advise if there is such a
>product out there?

I'll bet it isn't too hard to rewire this one (although I suppose that
voids the warranty.)

I had a room ac where the fan ran all the time, all night even it
cooled down during the night, and it was right next to my bed, to
boot.

All the wires inside had slide on connectors, so I just rearranged 3
of them. (two wires won't be enough, but iirc, you only have to take
off one end of each wire. In this case it took about 15 minutes. Of
course I had the whole thing in my head when I started, and I'm not
sure if you do or not.) I made it so the thermostat (in your case
the humidistat) controlled the power to the compressor and the fan,
instead of the fan current not going through the thermost. Make a
sketch of the way it was so you don't get lost, and so if you do need
service, and you probably won't, you can put it back the way it was
before you bring it back. Use a quality phillips head screwdriver so
you won't leave traces that you've been inside. (How else do they
know?)

Why the comprssor kicks in when it is not humid, I don't know. Before
you do the above, call them and make sure it is meant to do that.
Maybe yours is broken (although I don't think it would be able to do
that if they didn't provide a part to make it happenn.)

>I just replace all the light bulbs in the house with compact floresent
>sp? - I a little miffed that this dehumidifier will now such as much
>power out of the grid as I'd though I was saving.
>
>Thanks!

In article <(E-Mail Removed) om>,
(E-Mail Removed) says...
>
>Hi All,
>
>I just purchased a Danby dehumidifier from Costco & have the following
>beefs;
>
>- the fan is always on.


I have never had one that operates with the fan always on. I currently have a
Goldstar and a GE and they both shut off the fan. They come back on for a brief
period every so often to sample the air and and see if the compressor needs to
run.

--
Dennis

Thanks to everyone for the intelligent responses. I think this internet
thing is gonna be a hit.

Hmm...hadn't considered opening up the hood & doing some rewiring, but
I am somewhat of a tinkerer. I promise to post the result if I try it.

Based on responses it seems like I will NOT find a new dehumidifier
that turns the fan off when it's "resting", although geez, didn't the
old ones work this way?

The dehumidifier itself is currently in a small bathroom in my
basement, there is frequent traffic but no other circulation other then
the exhaust fan. Have already tried running exhaust fan constantly, but
that does not do the job.

My primary concern is energy consumption, although the dehumidifier
running constantly in the small bathroom is a mild annoyance to my
renter, and I really like to keep her happy.

I could put the dehumidifier in the furnace room (beside the bathroom)
- although I think to make the bathroom dry, it would mean "venting"
the bathroom to the furnace room somehow.

Does anyone know a good place to get energy consumption stats - I just
replaced nearly all my light bulbs with compact fluorescent. I'm not
really trying to save money, just to minimize my energy consumption.
(save the planet, not the money ;o)

Thanks

mm wrote:
> On 14 Aug 2006 11:16:39 -0700, "Paul" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
> >Hi All,
> >
> >I just purchased a Danby dehumidifier from Costco & have the following
> >beefs;
> >
> >- the fan is always on. Customer Service tried to tell me that it's
> >actually more energy efficient to run the fan constanly - an argument I
> >find somewhat demeaning.
>
> Silly maybe, I don't know for sure, but demeaning? Don't take these
> things personally.
>
> >- even the the humdity is lower then the set-humidity, the compressor
> >kicks in periodically.
> >
> >I'd REALLY prefer a dehumidifier that "shuts down" when the desired
> >humdity level has been reached - can anyone advise if there is such a
> >product out there?
>
> I'll bet it isn't too hard to rewire this one (although I suppose that
> voids the warranty.)
>
> I had a room ac where the fan ran all the time, all night even it
> cooled down during the night, and it was right next to my bed, to
> boot.
>
> All the wires inside had slide on connectors, so I just rearranged 3
> of them. (two wires won't be enough, but iirc, you only have to take
> off one end of each wire. In this case it took about 15 minutes. Of
> course I had the whole thing in my head when I started, and I'm not
> sure if you do or not.) I made it so the thermostat (in your case
> the humidistat) controlled the power to the compressor and the fan,
> instead of the fan current not going through the thermost. Make a
> sketch of the way it was so you don't get lost, and so if you do need
> service, and you probably won't, you can put it back the way it was
> before you bring it back. Use a quality phillips head screwdriver so
> you won't leave traces that you've been inside. (How else do they
> know?)
>
> Why the comprssor kicks in when it is not humid, I don't know. Before
> you do the above, call them and make sure it is meant to do that.
> Maybe yours is broken (although I don't think it would be able to do
> that if they didn't provide a part to make it happenn.)
>
> >I just replace all the light bulbs in the house with compact floresent
> >sp? - I a little miffed that this dehumidifier will now such as much
> >power out of the grid as I'd though I was saving.
> >
> >Thanks!

very interesting thank you - I will check this out. Home Depot, here I
come.

DT wrote:
> In article <(E-Mail Removed) om>,
> (E-Mail Removed) says...
> >
> >Hi All,
> >
> >I just purchased a Danby dehumidifier from Costco & have the following
> >beefs;
> >
> >- the fan is always on.
>
>
> I have never had one that operates with the fan always on. I currently have a
> Goldstar and a GE and they both shut off the fan. They come back on for a brief
> period every so often to sample the air and and see if the compressor needs to
> run.
>
> --
> Dennis

"Paul" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed) ps.com...
> Hi All,
>
> I just purchased a Danby dehumidifier from Costco & have the following
> beefs;
>
> - the fan is always on. Customer Service tried to tell me that it's
> actually more energy efficient to run the fan constanly - an argument I
> find somewhat demeaning.

I'd bet that no matter how many facts they give you, nothing would change
your mind. Yes, under many circumstances they are correct.

In article <(E-Mail Removed). com>,
(E-Mail Removed) says...
>
>very interesting thank you - I will check this out. Home Depot, here I
>come.


Not sure what the Depot carries, but I know I got the Goldstar at Walmart. By
the way, the Goldstar has superb accuracy, keeps the humidity within a few
percentage points, is continuously adjustable and is very easy to get the water
container back in. The digital GE goes up 5% at a time, although it works well
also. The GE water bucket is a pain, it is in back and takes 3 or 4 tries to
get it properly hung so the 'full' switch doesn't trip. Both have real hose
connections directly to the water container if you want to leave them hooked
up. From another dehumidifier thread a few weeks ago, some units just have a
goofy way to hang the end of the hose under the water spout.

--
Dennis