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PostPosted: Mon Apr 03, 2023 6:34 pm 
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Mahogany
Mahogany

Joined: Tue Apr 12, 2011 9:27 pm
Posts: 77
First name: Mark
City: Seattle
State: WA
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
I need a replacement drain pump tube connector for my dehumidifier. It has the brand name Whirlpool, and was purchased at Costco.
First, a Public Service Announcement:
In searching for the part, I have learned that the dehumidifier was actually manufactured by a company called New Widetech, and was sold under the brand names Haier, Idyliss, and many others.
I also found that +/- 2,0000,000 dehumidifiers manufactured by New Widetech are subject to a product recall due to the possibility of catching fire. Not a good thing, especially for luthiers.
Here is a link to the recall information:

http://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2021/Two-Million-Dehumidifiers-With-Well-Known-Brand-Names-Recalled-Due-to-Fire-and-Burn-Hazards-Manufactured-by-New-Widetech

[url]Two Million Dehumidifiers With Well-Known Brand Names Recalled Due to Fire and Burn Hazards; Manufactured by New Widetech | CPSC.gov[/url]

So anyone using a dehumidifier may want to check that out.

Based on the serial number, my own dehumidifier is not covered by the recall, so on to my question:
The part I need does not seem to be available anywhere. One end has male/male tubing connectors, and the other end has a foot that activates a switch for the drain pump. The attached PDF shows what the part is for, and I have attached a photo of the broken piece.
I did find a 3-D print file for the part on Thingiverse
[url]Comments for dehumidifier D5411-030-A-22 by WaFL_FPV - Thingiverse[/url].
I do not have a 3D printer. Does anyone know a vendor that I can send the file to and get the part made?
My other option is to try to repair the existing piece, see photo. It is marked “ABS” so it should be gluable, but I am uncertain whether the glue repair would be strong enough. My thought was to ream it out slightly and reinforce with small diameter metal tubing
If all else fails I can Rube Goldberg something…..


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PostPosted: Mon Apr 03, 2023 7:07 pm 
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Joined: Fri Jan 22, 2010 9:59 pm
Posts: 3592
First name: Dennis
Last Name: Kincheloe
City: Kansas City
State: MO
Country: USA
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Being in Seattle, you're surely surrounded by people with 3D printers :)

But I'd give a shot at welding the broken one back together first. ABS dissolves in acetone, so brush some of that on the broken surfaces until they get soft and sticky, and stick it back together. After that's had time to dry, if it doesn't seem strong enough you can use a soldering iron or piece of metal heated with a flame to rework the surface some more. If the dimensions aren't critical in the broken area you could also bulk it up with more ABS from any sacrificial object you can find. Make sure you have good ventilation though, ABS makes toxic fumes when melted.


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PostPosted: Mon Apr 03, 2023 8:46 pm 
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Koa
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Joined: Mon Oct 17, 2011 4:10 pm
Posts: 721
First name: Bob
Last Name: Gramann
City: Fredericksburg
State: VA
Zip/Postal Code: 22408
Country: USA
Focus: Build
Status: Professional
My Lowe’s has a set of drawers in their plumbing department with all kinds of little fittings both metal and plastic. If you decide to ream it out, you may find an appropriate fitting there or in some other plumbing department.

It looks like the switch extension just tells the humidifier that the hose is connected. So, if you din’t think you’ll forget and run it without the hose, youcould jam the switch on and just have to work the hose connection.


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PostPosted: Mon Apr 03, 2023 9:33 pm 
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Koa
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Joined: Thu Aug 31, 2006 11:42 pm
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Location: United States
First name: Tom
Last Name: Rein
City: Saline
State: Michigan
Focus: Build
The cutoff date is dehumidifiers made before September 1, 2017. I don't know of any Chinese dehumidifiers that last more than 3 seasons which kind of takes care of the issue in a different way, i.e. planned obsolescence.

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PostPosted: Mon Apr 03, 2023 10:15 pm 
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Mahogany
Mahogany

Joined: Tue Apr 12, 2011 9:27 pm
Posts: 77
First name: Mark
City: Seattle
State: WA
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Thanks for the responses.

I think I've got it worked out.

Internal diameter of the fitting was 1/8" or the metric equivalent. I had some brass tubing 1/8"ID 5/32"OD on hand. I got out a brand new 5/32" drill bit, and my beloved StewMac soft grip pliers...

Definitely and interference fit, but by chucking the tube in my drill, I was able to spin it into place and think the alignment looks pretty good. Tomorrow I'll look for my ABS cement (and hope it's not dried out).


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PostPosted: Mon Apr 03, 2023 10:23 pm 
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Mahogany
Mahogany

Joined: Tue Apr 12, 2011 9:27 pm
Posts: 77
First name: Mark
City: Seattle
State: WA
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
bobgramann wrote:
It looks like the switch extension just tells the humidifier that the hose is connected. So, if you din’t think you’ll forget and run it without the hose, you could jam the switch on and just have to work the hose connection.


Thanks for the suggestion. Yes, if necessary I would have pushed the foot in place and held it in with duct tape, and come up with some other fitting for the tubing connection. But I think/hope what I've got is going to work.


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PostPosted: Mon Apr 03, 2023 10:27 pm 
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Mahogany
Mahogany

Joined: Tue Apr 12, 2011 9:27 pm
Posts: 77
First name: Mark
City: Seattle
State: WA
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
TRein wrote:
The cutoff date is dehumidifiers made before September 1, 2017. I don't know of any Chinese dehumidifiers that last more than 3 seasons which kind of takes care of the issue in a different way, i.e. planned obsolescence.

:D :D :D :D :D
Hopefully you mean 3 seasons of use. Mine was manufacured in 2019 but has only been used for one year.


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PostPosted: Tue Apr 04, 2023 6:38 am 
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Koa
Koa

Joined: Thu Aug 31, 2006 11:42 pm
Posts: 698
Location: United States
First name: Tom
Last Name: Rein
City: Saline
State: Michigan
Focus: Build
Right. 3 dehumidification seasons, which in my area is about 5 months per year.

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PostPosted: Tue Apr 04, 2023 8:31 am 
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Joined: Wed Oct 08, 2008 11:36 am
Posts: 7375
Location: Southeast US
City: Lenoir City
State: TN
Zip/Postal Code: 37772
Country: US
Focus: Repair
I had a little Frigidaire dehumidifier last 6 1/2 years. Mine run 24/7 365 although they don’t run much in the winter. I do clean them thoroughly at least once a year. My latest, also a 70 pint Frigidaire, is just over 3 yrs old and seems to be doing just fine.

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These users thanked the author SteveSmith for the post: Pmaj7 (Thu Apr 06, 2023 11:13 am)
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PostPosted: Tue Apr 04, 2023 10:40 am 
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Koa
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Joined: Fri Jun 22, 2007 11:14 am
Posts: 1028
Location: Newland, North Carolina
First name: Dave
Last Name: Ball
I've had the same kind of luck as Steve--I put in my little Frigidaire dehumidifiers 6 years ago, run them 7x24x365 and they're still kicking. I also clean mine once or twice a year, and they don't run much in the wintertime.

The community where I live has a yearly "clean sweep week" where trash pickup will haul off anything you put to the street. Every year I see bunches of those small dehumidifiers put out for clean sweep, so maybe I've just been lucky.

Dave



These users thanked the author ballbanjos for the post: Pmaj7 (Thu Apr 06, 2023 11:13 am)
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