Humidity Control I have been using this unit with great success for just over two years, usually keeping the humidity control set at 55 - 65%. Just this week I wanted to decrease the setting from 65 to 60%, but there was no response when the decrease button was pressed. Only the increase button worked and now the setting is stuck at 70%! The unit is in the basement and the temperature is an even 68 degrees, in case that has anything to do with a solution. Thanks.

There could be several reasons why the humidity reading on the digital control is not accurate. Here are a few things you can try:

1. Calibrate the hygrometer: The first thing to do is to make sure that the hygrometer you are using to measure the humidity is calibrated correctly. You can check this by placing the hygrometer in a sealed container along with a wet sponge or cloth for a few hours. The hygrometer should read close to 100% humidity. If it doesn't, then it may need to be calibrated.
2. Check the humidity sensor: The humidity sensor in the incubator may be faulty or dirty. You can clean the sensor with a soft cloth or replace it if it is damaged.
3. Check the water level: Make sure that the water level in the incubator is sufficient. If the water level is low, the humidity will be low as well.
4. Check the ventilation: The ventilation in the incubator should be set to allow for proper air exchange. If the ventilation is not set correctly, it can affect the humidity level.
5. Check the room conditions: The room conditions, including temperature and humidity, can affect the humidity level in the incubator. If the room is too dry, it can affect the humidity level in the incubator. You may need to adjust the dehumidifier or add a humidifier to the room to maintain the proper humidity level.

What does the user manual say about this?

Verify the humidity reading with another device. Perhaps the humidity sensor is dirty or bad.

Another possibility is the switching device that runs the compressor and fan is shorted. If it's a mechanical relay, the contacts may have welded together, or if it's a solid-state relay, it's got a punch-through or meltdown in a device junction. My guess is it's a mechanical relay since you mention it used to click on and off and now you don't hear that. The relay may be on the control board, or it may be mounted separately - I don't have a photo or diagram of the inside of your model available.

There is some service that you can do ... Clean the filter and the cooling coils, regularly. Check the humidity level that you have the unit set on. It may be set to low and there's just not that much humidity in the air at this time, for it to collect. From what you said, it sounds like you may have it set on continuous cycle which could account for the lack of a lot of water in the bucket. In continuous run, the fan stays ON all the time. It's supposed to do that, so that the air is constantly moving and the sensor only turns the compressor ON, if it senses a humidity level 5% higher than what you have it set for. Try running the unit on a 1 or 2 hour cycle (if your model will do that) rather than continuous cycle.

Hope this helped you troubleshoot and solve the problem. Please let me know. Thanks.

If the humidity level is at or lower than 30%, the unit won't turn ON, until the reaches 35 - 40%. It's rare for the sensors to go bad. Just keep in mind, the dehumidifier is reading the humidity near the floor, not up at say, chest level. Humidity levels change every season, so this really would not be that unusual. Make sure that your clean the air intake filter regularly. Cleaning and wiping down the coolant coils would be a good idea, too..

Hope this helped you. Please let me know.

Wendy, it's probably because the humidity level on the unit is set higher than the humidity level in the house. Keep in mind, the humidity level you set the control to, is not the amount extracted from the air. It's the level you want it to maintain. The higher the percentage level, the more humidity stays in the house. The lower the percentage level, the more humidity it removes, until the lower humidity level is reached. Then the humidifier will automatically shut OFF and/or the unit shuts OFF, because the bucket is full. Once it's emptied and replaced, if the unit needs to continue to extract humidity, it will start running again.

Hope this helped you solve the problem. Please let me know. Thanks.

dehumidifiers do not have a temperature control, rather, they have a humidity control. usually you set the humidity control to go off when the level of moisture in the room reaches normal (approx. 25-35% winter;38-55% summer). Best way is to run it at full on for 1 to 4 days (until you know the moisture level is how you want it), then turn the knob until the unit goes off . This will be the ideal setting. Goodluck<Macgivor

the control board is a very simple design and it is to signal and switch options like fan speed, power on/off, humidity up/down and sets the on/off run time. Like above the board does collect dust,but the true problem runs deeper.

My unit was stuck in run mode with the fan speed, humidity and run timmer non functioning. the unit worked and the power switch turned it on and off. The display said ON

I removed the front cover (two screws) and slight pressure on the side of the cover to remove it. This exposes the control board. The control board can be removed by removing the 6 screws on the board. the cable can then be removed by pulling out the multi-pin ribbon cable.

I diagnosed that only two of the 5 push button switched were functioning. There was also dust and mold on the board. This board is poorly protected from the moist air entering the unit and the constand moisture causes corrosion on the board, the switched seem to be the weak link.

By using a multi meter I noted that only the power switch and the humidity down button were making contact when pressed. Now it all came together. I could turn it on and off. and if you press the humidity down button to the lowers setting (ON) means run all the time.

I used a elecronic contact cleaner and sprayed it into each of the switches. I wiggled it around and blew it out with canned air. It took a few wiggles and blasts but all switched then made contact. I the board back on and tested all functions and it was like new. The contact cleaner should keep it protected for a while. The non functioning of the switches works both ways. They can stick on also. This would explain most of the other control problems. These switched are common and can be picked up at Radio Shack. On a do-it-yourself bananna scale it was a 2 for me, but I had the tools and the spray. I am not sure what sears gets for the PC control board,but this is the issue and if they were to address this the unit complaints would drop greatly.

If the humidity control is not listed, then it is part of the control module, which must be replaced as a unit.