Folks, my wife and I were going over the manual again and one thing she found in there is that we should give the unit three to four days to maintain the desired humidity level. So, all this short-cycling might be normal at first. I also decided to put the fan speed back on high figuring maybe this would make some difference, but don't know. I think the big issue aside from the electricity this thing probably is using is the noise. Yeah, it is probably as loud as a window AC unit, which I guess basically it is and also it as I knew it would, raised the temp down here from a nice 69 to 73 degrees. Hopefully it will reach a balance where it can cool down a little and not short-cycle so much. I did also find in the manual that the two and four hour modes apparently allows it to run for either two or four hours and then shut off for the same length of time and then it will restart itself. Not quite sure the purpose for this feature. It is funny how the basement doesn't feel overly damp, but the place smells musty and it is a finished basement. I suspect the basement is poorly built because my folks have an unfinished basement, which is insulated and it does not feel damp at all. Probably to cure my problem, I'd have to tear out all the drywall and apply sealer and the like. That would be more expensive than running the dehumidifier. grin I sure would never get my wife to agree to that project. I think I will try calculating the actual energy use and try to figure what it will add to my bill. Well hey, any input appreciated and thanks for reading my ramblings. On May 10, 2009, at 5:43 AM, Scott Howell wrote:
> > > Folks, > > I found that our basement was running anywhere from 60 to 70% > humidity. I have a good deal of electronic and musical gear down here > and have to assume that based on the hygrometer, those numbers are > fairly accurate. Knowing that 60 to 70% humidity is not good for most > wood and electronics, I purchased a dehumidifier. I generally take > days if not weeks, but in this case there seemed to be few options, so > I purchased a LG. It is a 45 pint unit with a five year warranty. This > one cost $199.99 and a Kenmore at 35 pints cost $169.95. The question > I have is first this LG seems to short-cycle, it's on for 30 minutes > to 45 minutes it seems and then it shuts off for maybe 10 minutes or > so. Now we have not had it quite 24 hours, but in less than 12 hours > it has pulled the humidity level from 70% down to 51%. I don't know > how accurate the humidistat is in the unit or how accurate the > hygrometer is, but I guess an average will have to be figured. Now as > I sit here the fan was on a while, shut itself off, and now the fan > and compressor just came back on within five to eight minutes of it > being off. I did adjust the humidistat to 60%, which is still within > acceptable range. So, makes me wonder if the humidistat is to > sensitive. I hate to think this thing will short-cycle so much as to > really start costing me a lot of money in electrical use. Maybe the > humidity down here isn't as bad as the cost of electricity. grin. > Here are a few factors that might be a problem. I live in a split- > level house. So, there is no basement door, I had the unit over by the > outside door and I just moved it to the other side of the room closer > to the stairwell. Now recall I just told you it was off five to eight > minutes and came back on? It just turned itself off after five > minutes. I'll have to track how long it stays off this time. In any > event the question is what brands has folks had experience with, do > you find any difference with a unit that has digital controls over the > mechanical controls? ANy tips on the whole dehumidification process? I > just can't believe these things can short-cycle so much. I have to say > in just typing this message, it has cycled 3 times and I've been > working on this message for probably 10 minutes with a spousal > interruption. > > tnx, > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
