Dehumidifier Plan for wet house Scuppered!

[Jaeger_S2k]

It's been a long time but I never left, really.
Anyhows. Bought a damp house and investigating and planning restoration, some of it can't be done till spring/summer next year.
Needing a dehumidifier, long term. Didn't want the long cost of hiring so I bought one at auction.

That's right, it doesn't dehumidify! Bugger. So I want to fix it.

It's an ex-hire Calorex Porta-Dry PD300AJX. Specs are great as it'll operate at low temps (below 20 degrees).
Stripped the outer casing off and can't see anything that looks like damage, The fan works and the compressor runs.
I've got a vacuum pump, so thinking I'll test for leaks before doing anything else.
This area is completely new to me and I'm hoping I can find some help. There are no valves on the pipework, which would need to be added. Thankfully my soldering/brazing is good enough for gas so should be able to deal with that.
The question would be, what kind of value, from where is best, also looking for a vacuum gauge (a decent one but I'm not setting up as a refrigerant engineer).
The plan is to recharge, if it can hold a vacuum, with a car aircon in a can, style kit.

Does anyone have anything to input or am I just another crazy person?

I've looked at sending it back to the manufacturer base in Essex, then £75 just to look and £75 per hour to work on!
I'm sure with guidance I can work this out, it's just another machine I haven't got a relationship with.

 

[Roger440]

Why not just buy a couple of new domestic ones?

Ive got one of these. Its brought a damp, unlived in for a decade house, down to 50% humidity. Sure, its taken 4 months, but with an old building, you dont want to do it too fast.

Meaco DD8L Zambezi Dehumidifier

Advanced 8L desiccant dehumidifier for any sized home, garage, boat, conservatory or basement. Manage home humidity & dry clothes fast. Free next day delivery.

www.meaco.com

Its a dessicant based one, which ive found seem to be better, with the bonus you can use down to zero degrees, which a conventional one cannot.

Buy 2 if you have to.

 

[fizzy]

It's been a long time but I never left, really.
Anyhows. Bought a damp house and investigating and planning restoration, some of it can't be done till spring/summer next year.
Needing a dehumidifier, long term. Didn't want the long cost of hiring so I bought one at auction.

That's right, it doesn't dehumidify! Bugger. So I want to fix it.

It's an ex-hire Calorex Porta-Dry PD300AJX. Specs are great as it'll operate at low temps (below 20 degrees).
Stripped the outer casing off and can't see anything that looks like damage, The fan works and the compressor runs.
I've got a vacuum pump, so thinking I'll test for leaks before doing anything else.
This area is completely new to me and I'm hoping I can find some help. There are no valves on the pipework, which would need to be added. Thankfully my soldering/brazing is good enough for gas so should be able to deal with that.
The question would be, what kind of value, from where is best, also looking for a vacuum gauge (a decent one but I'm not setting up as a refrigerant engineer).
The plan is to recharge, if it can hold a vacuum, with a car aircon in a can, style kit.

Does anyone have anything to input or am I just another crazy person?

I've looked at sending it back to the manufacturer base in Essex, then £75 just to look and £75 per hour to work on!
I'm sure with guidance I can work this out, it's just another machine I haven't got a relationship with.

Does it kick in and sound like a fridge when running?
How long have you let it run for?
In cold dry air compressor types don't work that well. Peak capacity is quoted in tropical conditions - ie warm and humid. Cold dry weather they don't remove a great deal. Dessicant types are better in those conditions.
Leave it running for a good 24 hours before you condemn it!

 

[Rudi McAnichal]

Meaco DD8L Zambezi Dehumidifier

Advanced 8L desiccant dehumidifier for any sized home, garage, boat, conservatory or basement. Manage home humidity & dry clothes fast. Free next day delivery.

www.meaco.com

Buy 2 if you have to.

We have a Meaco DD8 and it has been excellent, but I have a feeling that the model name implies 8 litre/day, so the OP might need more than two of them to match the Calorex (hire company says it is rated at 53 litre/day). Having said that, two little Meacos that work will be a lot better than one dead Calorex.

https://www.mark1hire.co.uk/product/dehumidifier-large-pump/

 

[Jaeger_S2k]

This is cold wet air and the specs on the unit will work in 'cold rooms'
Dehumidifier features
Operation in temperatures down to 0°C

It does kick in and the compressor hums like a fridge. I'm getting no change in condenser fins temp from the start, with a probe and a noncontact thermometer.

 

[Erie Fred]

What is the refridgerant type ?

 

[addjunkie]

Id suggest you investigate desiccant wheel dehumidifiers, they dry a property out far more gradually, preventing all sorts of problems.
The larger commercial ones vent the moisture outside as vapor no emptying

 

[Gareth J]

I'd recommend, if you can justify the cost, to speak to a refrigeration engineers. They'll have the kit to recover refrigerant, pressure test, leak test and troubleshoot and refill.

However, unfortunately, unless it's a very high speck unit, that may cost more than the thing is worth

 

[voipio]

If the compressor can be heard to run, not just hum, then it sounds like either the refrigerant has leaked out or the compressor is faulty.

 

[Jaeger_S2k]

What is the refridgerant type ?

CFC free – Porta-Dry uses R407o

 

[reb78]

I'd be tempted to just try it somewhere warm first to see if the low temps are an issue?

 

[Jaeger_S2k]

I'd recommend, if you can justify the cost, to speak to a refrigeration engineers. They'll have the kit to recover refrigerant, pressure test, leak test and troubleshoot and refill.

However, unfortunately, unless it's a very high speck unit, that may cost more than the thing is worth

Contacted a local independent, he lives literally around the corner.
Left a message asking for help and advice, but he's not replied.
I made it clear this was a paying job but nothing yet, don't want to call at his address, it's obviously his home.
I'll try him again.

I'd be tempted to just try it somewhere warm first to see if the low temps are an issue?

That'd be nice, a warm place.

 

[fizzy]

This is cold wet air and the specs on the unit will work in 'cold rooms'
Dehumidifier features
Operation in temperatures down to 0°C

It does kick in and the compressor hums like a fridge. I'm getting no change in condenser fins temp from the start, with a probe and a noncontact thermometer.

Yes they will work in cold rooms. Just not as well as in warm and humid conditions.

 

[knighty]

You need 2 schrader valve fittings, one for each side of the compressor

Once those are on you need a set of gauges and some dry nitrogen to pressure test it (could use welding has tbh)

Fill with nitrogen, check for leaks, fix leaks, vacuum it out then fill with the exact amount of refrigerant.... Those small systems really need just the right amount in... You'll need the right gas and a set of scales to weigh it in


Also.... You're not allowed to do any of that without an f gas certificate (think gas safe engineer but for refrigeration)

 

[Jaeger_S2k]

You need 2 schrader valve fittings, one for each side of the compressor

Once those are on you need a set of gauges and some dry nitrogen to pressure test it (could use welding has tbh)

Fill with nitrogen, check for leaks, fix leaks, vacuum it out then fill with the exact amount of refrigerant.... Those small systems really need just the right amount in... You'll need the right gas and a set of scales to weigh it in


Also.... You're not allowed to do any of that without an f gas certificate (think gas safe engineer but for refrigeration)

Thanks, knighty,
Have every respect for the certified boys and girls.
I have installed gas boilers and waited for the certified engineer to do the final connection. So I hear you.

 

[CompoSimmonite]

Friend's insurer provided an industrial dehumidifier to dry out the house after a burst pipe in loft whilst on holiday. Did the job but cost a small fortune in electricity as needed to run 24/7 for weeks - luckily insurers covered that cost as well

 

[knighty]

Thanks, knighty,
Have every respect for the certified boys and girls.
I have installed gas boilers and waited for the certified engineer to do the final connection. So I hear you.

I do most of my own refrigeration work then an engineer I know comes and finishes off

he's a good engineer, but of course super busy... had some out before who were unless

 

[ukracer]

What about a chat with a local garage who refill car Aircon??

 

[Jaeger_S2k]

What about a chat with a local garage who refill car Aircon??

That was a route I thought of, I just need to do more homework and chat to the guys on the tools.

 

[Jaeger_S2k]

I do most of my own refrigeration work then an engineer I know comes and finishes off

he's a good engineer, but of course super busy... had some out before who were unless

Where do you recommend for fittings?