|
|
How to Make a Dehumidifier Empty
Automatically
by Donald Grummett
A dehumidifier is a very important device for those homeowners with a
damp basement. Dampness can lead to mold, mildew, and increased
incidence of allergies.
Unfortunately, a dehumidifier can be a real pain in the backside because
you have to keep emptying the water storage bucket. Simply getting it in
and out of the machine can be difficult. Getting the bucket to the sink
without spilling its contents can sometimes require the balancing
abilities of a juggler.
A better method is to add a drain hose to the dehumidifier so the water
drains by itself. This eliminates the dreaded trek to dispose of the
water.
Drain connection ----------
Firstly, make sure your dehumidifier has a threaded drain connection.
This is a threaded nozzle at the rear of the machine that empties into
the water bucket.
Remove the water storage bucket. You should see a threaded nipple
connection. A few models have a connection on the water bucket itself.
Either allows a drain hose (or a piece of a lawn hose) to be attached to
the rear of the machine.
Once a hose is attached the water drains into the hose. The hose can
then be directed away from the dehumidifier into a floor drain.
Above the sink method ----------
Not every home has a floor drain. Therefore, some consumers install the
dehumidifier above a sink to allow for easy draining. This does require
the installation of a wall bracket or shelf higher than the sink. The
water produced by the dehumidifier is then simply allowed to drain
directly into the sink or laundry room standpipe.
The above the sink method works but limits their usage to one area. Also
regular maintenance, such as cleaning the filter, becomes difficult.
Simply leaving the dehumidifier on the floor is more convenient. Plus it
allows you to quickly move it to others rooms, if required.
Drain hose method ----------
A better method is to take advantage of the threaded drain connection at
the rear of your dehumidifier. With a lawn hose added for draining, the
distance between dehumidifier and drain becomes virtually unlimited.
Remember water will always flow downhill. Therefore if the drain point
is lower than the drain connection on the dehumidifier, the water will
run down the hose.
Throughout this article the term ‘floor drain’ is used. If you have no
floor drain then an alternate can be used. Consider a shower stall
drain, a toilet, a sink, a sump hole, or a standpipe for a washing
machine. Although a floor drain is easiest, any of the other drains work
equally well. The fact that they are higher above the floor level simply
means the dehumidifier end of the drain hose will have to be raised
higher to compensate.
It sounds simple enough, but the dehumidifier may be in one part of the
basement and the floor drain another, with 50 feet of lawn hose between
them. Finding the correct height for each end is the whole trick. You
therefore have to determine their height relative to one another. This
in turn will be the secret to eliminate the need to empty the machine.
The simplest way to do all this and make your dehumidifier drain
automatically is the following:
1. Lay a drain (lawn) hose along the floor between a floor drain and the
dehumidifier. At the floor drain end insert the hose a few inches into
the drain. At the dehumidifier end locate the hose close to where the
dehumidifier will be operating.
2. Lift the dehumidifier end of drain hose up until it’s approximately
level with the top of the water storage bucket.
3. Pour water into the drain hose and have someone advise you if water
empties into the floor drain. If ‘yes’ proceed to step number 7.
4. If water backs out of the hose without flowing into the floor drain
the hose end is not yet high enough. Raise the hose a few inches and
repeat the process. Continue repeating until water flows out the floor
drain end of the hose. When it does make note of how high above the
floor level you had to lift the hose. This height is important.
5. To further refine the proper height add more water to the end of hose
while alternately raising and lowering hose. The prefect height is
slightly above the point where water backs out of the hose.
6. Raise the dehumidifier so that its threaded drain connection is above
the height determined in step number 4. If this requires the
dehumidifier being elevated off the floor do so temporarily, using
blocks or supports under the machine. A more permanent structure can be
constructed later.
7. Reconnect the drain hose to the threaded drain hose connection at the
rear of the dehumidifier.
8. To test, pour water into the drain trough pan at the rear of the
machine. On most dehumidifiers this is a small plastic trough or pan
just above where the drain hose is now connected. If your machine has a
rear cover remove it to gain access to the drain trough.
Pour water into the drain trough. It should run out the floor drain end
of the hose freely. If the trough overflows go back and start over at
step number 3.
9. Reconnect dehumidifier to electricity. Allow it to operate for 24
hours with the drain (lawn) hose connected. If it appears to be
operating properly, proceed to final step.
10. Construct a permanent stand to hold dehumidifier. Run the drain hose
along baseboards and secure. Secure drain end of hose into drain.
Your dehumidifier drain is now fully automatic. Every time the
dehumidifier cycles off the accumulated moisture will run into the drain
trough, down the drain hose, across to the floor drain, and down the
drain. No more having to empty cumbersome water storage buckets.
Lastly, you should make note on a calendar to clean or replace the
dehumidifier filter every month. This, along with some occasional
maintenance, will keep your dehumidifier working efficiently far into
the future.
About the author
Need answers about repairs
and maintenance of Household Appliances? With 30 years experience Donald
Grummett can help. Visit
http://www.mgservices.ca to learn invaluable information and read
more appliance articles.
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Donald_Grummett
|
|
