Dehumidifier fan won't shut off

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circlew

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I have a Frigidaire dehumidifier that's about 9 yrs. old that started acting up the other day. I pushed the power switch to shut the unit off, and the compressor shut off, and the indicator lights shut off, but the fan kept running. I waited about 15 mins., but it was still running. I unplugged it and waited a few minutes, then plugged it in again, and the fan started up without me doing anything else. I'm keeping it unplugged unless I'm right around it, as I'm afraid it might catch fire, especially after my neighbors big smoky mess last Summer. It has the electronic controls rather than the mechanical type. Anyone have any ideas what's up with it? I guess I'll have to buy a new one if it isn't something simple.
 
I'm guessing that's not normal for your machine. Mine only runs the fan when the compressor is running as well.. However new machines like the one Delonghi I bought for moms house a few years back,, the fan ran continuously by design.. I wasn't impressed. And on my mini split a/c,, same thing, the fan runs continuously as well.
 
Ours will run the fan only if it's in auto defrost mode- it cuts off the compressor and puts the fan to high, regardless of settings. Not sure if it will stay on once it's been turned off or not, and I can't check it because it usually only defrosts in the spring and fall when it's cooler in the basement. Ours is a SoleusAir/Gree 30 pint, about 4-5 years old. If you decide to replace it, we have been very happy with ours, never a problem and it typically runs nonstop all summer. Just clean the filter about every other time the indicator light comes on.
 
I just replaced mine this spring with a recent model Frigidaire I got almost new off CL.  The fans runs all the time. 

 

But once in while (every hour or so) it does shut off, like for a minute or two, and then turns back on.  No idea why it does this.  It's quieter overall than the 15 year-old one it replaced.

 

9 years isn't a bad lifespan for one, I read a Consumer Reports article that said many of the newer ones aren't lasting more than 3 or 4 years.

 

 
 
If it is electronically controlled, perhaps there is a relay on the board stuck in circuit closed position causing the fan to never shut off. Stuck relays often cause death of uninterruptible power supplies. You could see if a new board is available for it. If you know someone handy with electronics, they might be able to fix the board. Ham radio operator, perhaps.
 
In the past it has always shut COMPLETELY off when I pushed the power on-off button, so something must be stuck on it. There was a storm with lightning last week, so maybe that had something to do with it. I wish they would put a mechanical switch with a positive off on these machines.

I think I'll start looking for a new one in the next couple days.
 
I think the humidity sensor was bad on my LG-made Kenmore.  It would run for a little while if I set it on 40% setting but wouldn't keep the basement anywhere near where it should be.

 

The part was available and cheap, but at 15 years-old I just figured it had done its time.

 

Who knows, maybe a mistake, with a new sensor it might have outlasted the "new" one.  I actually bought it used off CL, but it was only a year old, like new, guy had sold his house, moving out of state.

 

 

 
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