Whynter ENERGY STAR RPD-411WG - PORTABLE DEHUMIDIFIER Manual

INTRODUCTION

How it Works
When the dehumidifier is started, the fan begins to pull moisture-laden air across the dehumidifying coils. The coils condense or draw moisture from the air, and air flows through the top louver into the room as dry, warm air. Moisture removed from air is collected in a drain bucket on the front of the dehumidifier.
The appliance is designed to operate between 41°F (5°C), and 96°F (35°C). The "Compressor" circuit has an automatic 3 minute time delayed start if the appliance is turned off and on quickly. This prevents overheating of the compressor and possible circuit breaker tripping. Make sure the drain bucket is fitted correctly otherwise appliance will not turn on.

Energy Saving Guide
This Whynter dehumidifier is an Energy Star rated appliance. Follow the guide below can help to get the best performance and efficiency from your dehumidifier.

• Do not cover the air intake and outlet.
• Do not place the appliance in front of curtains or drapes- to ensure they do not obstruct the air intake.
• Keep curtains, blinds or drapes closed during the sunniest part of the day.
• Close all windows and doors.
• Indoor relative humidity should ideally be kept between 35%RH and 60%RH depending on the ambient temperature.
• Make sure the appliance is on a hard and level surface.
• To prolong the compressor's life, please wait at least 3 minutes before turning the appliance back on after shutting it off.
• Inspect and keep the air filter clean by cleaning regularly.
• Perform routine maintenance.

OTHER ACCESSORIES:
20" Continuous/ Gravity Drain hose

PARTS AND CONTROLS

1. Power Button
   Press to turn the dehumidifier on and off
2. Mode Button
   Press to select the desired operation from Normal Mode and Continuous Mode.
   • Normal Mode
     In this mode, the unit will operate under normal fan speed. All of the mode indicator lights are off when Normal mode is in operation.
   • Continuous mode
     In this mode, the unit runs continuously until the water bucket is full. The humidity level cannot be set. The "Cont." indicator light will come on when this mode is selected.
3. + Buttons
4. - Buttons
   • Humidity Set Control Buttons
     The humidity level can be set within a range of 35%RH(Relative Humidity) to 85%RH in 5% increments. For lower humidity level, press the " - " button and set to a lower RH percentage value. For higher humidity level, press the " + " button and set to a higher RH percentage value.
   • Timer Set Control Buttons
     If Timer Button is pressed, use the " + " and " - " buttons to set the Auto Start and Auto Stop time from 0.0 hour to 24 hours.
     Energy Saver
     When the unit is running on normal operation, once the RH% is reached, the fan will still run continuously to avoid high start-up amperage which makes the unit energy-efficient. Please note that the fan may run continuously or shut off intermittently depending on the RH% and set humidity.
5. Timer Button
   Press to activate the Timer delay feature, in conjunction with the " + " and " - " Buttons.
   • Timer Delay Switch Off
     When the appliance is ON, press the Timer button to activate Auto-stop function and the Timer OFF light will come on. Set the desired time delay OFF hours by pressing the " + " and " - " buttons. The time increments are 1 hour up to 24 hours. When the delay time set has elapsed, the appliance switches off. To cancel the delayed switch off function, set the time to "00" or turn off the appliance.
   • Timer Delay Switch On
     When the appliance is OFF, press the Timer button to activate Auto-start function and Timer ON light will come on. Set the desired time delay ON hours by pressing the " + " and " - " buttons. The time increments are 1 hour up to 24 hours. When the delay time set has elapsed, the appliance turns on. To cancel the delayed switch on function, set the time to "00" or turn off the appliance.
   • Timer Delay Switch On and Off Sequence
     When the appliance is OFF, press the Timer button to activate Auto-start function and Timer light ON will come on. Set the desired time delay ON hours by pressing the " + " and " - " buttons. Once Timer Delay Switch On is placed, press the Timer button again to activate Auto-stop function and the Timer OFF light will come on. Set the desired time delay OFF hours by pressing the " + " and " - " buttons. When the delay time set has elapsed, the appliance switches off. To cancel the delayed switch off function, set the time to "00" or turn off the appliance.
6. Turbo Button
   Press to select either Turbo or Normal fan speed. Press the Turbo button to engage Turbo Fan mode. The Turbo light will illuminate. Press the Turbo button again to set the unit to Normal Fan mode. The Turbo light will turn off when Normal Fan mode is activated.
7. Check Filter Button
   The check filter light is a reminder to clean the air filter for more efficient operation. The check filter light will illuminate after approximately 250 hours of operation. To reset after cleaning the filter, press the Check Filter button and the light will turn off.
   Water Full Indicator
   The appliance will run continuously until the set RH% is reached or when the drain bucket is full. When the drain bucket is full, the Water Full indicator light will illuminate and the dehumidifier will stop operating. Remove the water in the bucket with two hands, then place the drain bucket back to it's proper position and the machine will start operating again.
   Auto Defrost Indicator
   In the event frost builds up on the evaporator coils, the compressor will cycle off and the fan will continue to run until the frost is evaporated. This happens when the appliance is operating in low temperatures (less than 53°F or 12°C), which affects the efficiency of the dehumidifier. When this happens, the Auto Defrost light will turn on and the machine will go into periodic defrost mode automatically. Defrost time may vary. If the dehumidifier freezes up, turn the appliance off for few hours and then restart. The appliance will not operate satisfactorily if the room temperature is below 41°F
8. Display
   The display screen shows a number of different indications depending on the selection function.

• Shows the set % relative humidity level from 35%RH to 85%RH.
• Shows Auto Start and Auto Stop time from 0.0 hour to 24 hours.
• After the option settings are completed, the display shows the approximate room humidity level in a range of 30%RH (Relative Humidity) to 90%RH.

Auto Restart
In the event of a power outage, appliance restarts at the previously set function mode and settings when power is restored (not applicable to Timer Function).

OPERATION INSTRUCTIONS

AIR FILTERS INSTALLATION
Your Whynter portable dehumidifier is equipped with a 2 in 1 silver-coated washable pre-filter combo. This washable prefilter removes large particles such as dust, pet hair and dander. The silver coating is designed to kill bacteria in the air and control the growth of microbes, such as viruses, fungi and spores.

NEVER OPERATE THE DEHUMIDIFIER WITHOUT THE FILTER

START OPERATION

1. Ensure that the appliance is connected to the power socket.
2. Make sure the drain bucket is placed in proper position.
3. Make sure filter is installed.
4. When the unit is turned on for the first time, if the bucket full lamp lights up, just pull out the drain bucket then push it back to the proper position.
5. Set the relative humidity level RH% by pressing the " + " and " - " buttons. We recommend setting the RH% to at least 10% lower than the current RH%.

POSITIONING THE UNIT

• This dehumidifier is intended for indoor residential applications only and should not be used for commercial or industrial applications.
• Place the dehumidifier on a smooth, hard and level floor strong enough to support the appliance with a full bucket of water.
• Do not attempt to roll the appliance over objects.
• Avoid placing the appliance in an area where the temperature will fall below 53°F. The coils may become covered with frost and may reduce performance.
• Do not place the appliance near clothes dryer, heater or radiator.
• Shut all doors, windows and openings to your target dehumidifying space for maximum performance.
• Allow at least 10" of air space on all sides of the appliance for good air circulation and 20" or more above the appliance.

NOTE:

• Dehumidifiers working in a basement will have little or no effect on adjacent enclosed rooms such as closets, unless there is enough circulation of air in and out of the enclosed area.
• If the appliance has been switched off and needs to be switched on again, allow approximately three minutes for the correct operation to resume.
• Select a suitable location and make sure you have easy access to the electrical outlet.
• Ensure the air filter and drain bucket are correctly installed before switching the appliance on.
• Be careful when moving the appliance with a full drain bucket.
• Ensure that the safety requirements and warnings detailed in this user manual are followed when operating this appliance.

WATER DRAINAGE INSTRUCTIONS

Using a portable dehumidifier requires that collected water be emptied frequently. Draining water from this unit can be done in 2 different methods:

1. DRAIN BUCKET METHOD
   1. The drain bucket can hold up to 10 pints of water. When the bucket is full, the compressor and fan will turn off, the Water Full indicator will illuminate, and a P2 code will be displayed.
   2. It is recommended to turn the unit off before removing the drain bucket.
   3. Grip the left and right handles of the drain bucket securely and carefully pull out the drain bucket. Do not put the drain bucket on the floor because the bottom of the bucket is not even which may cause the water to spill. See Fig.1 and Fig.2.
      
   4. Remove the water from the drain bucket and replace it back to the dehumidifier. The drain bucket must be installed properly and securely seated for the dehumidifier to operate.
   5. The machine will restart when the drain bucket is restored in its correct position. If the unit was turned off prior to the removal of the drain bucket, press the Power button to restore operation.

NOTES:

• When you remove the drain bucket, do not touch any inside parts of the unit. Doing so may damage the product and result to injury.
• Be sure to push the drain bucket gently all the way into the unit. Banging the bucket against anything or failing to push it in securely may cause the unit not to operate.
• Upon replacing the bucket, firmly push the bucket in place until it locks. There should be no gaps between the bucket and the dehumidifier
• When the drain bucket is removed, the unit will beep 8 times and the digital display showsP2. P2 is an error code that indicates that the drain bucket is removed or not positioned correctly. Make sure that the drain bucket is properly installed and the in right position.

2. CONTINUOUS / GRAVITY DRAIN METHOD
   Water can be automatically emptied into a floor drain by attaching the 20" continuous/gravity drain hose to the continuous/gravity drain outlet. To use gravity to drain your portable dehumidifier, it must be installed on a level surface or at least 12 inches above the ground, on a sturdy table or shelf unit. When using the function of continuous/ gravity drainage, your drain hose must be placed horizontally below the drainage hole. Avoid uneven ground and folding the hose.
   
   1. Remove the rubber drain cover from the continuous/gravity drain outlet at the back of the unit.
   2. Insert the continuous/gravity drain hose through the continuous/gravity drain outlet. Make sure the hose is securely fastened to prevent leakage.
   3. Direct the drain hose toward a drain or other suitable drainage outlet. Make sure that there are no distortions with the hose that may stop the water flow.
   4. Select the desired humidity setting and fan speed on the unit for continuous draining to start.

NOTE: When using continuous/gravity drainage setup, there may be some water collected in the water in the drain bucket

MAINTENANCE

Always turn off and unplug the dehumidifier before cleaning.

1. Cleaning the air grille and main unit
   • Use a damp cloth to wrap the main unit or use water and a mild detergent. Do not use bleach, chemicals or abrasives.
   • Do not splash water directly onto the unit. Doing so may cause an electrical shock, cause the insulation to deteriorate, or cause the unit to rust.
   • Use a vacuum attachment or brush to clean the air intake and outlet grilles.
2. Cleaning the bucket
   • Clean the bucket to prevent growth of mold, mildew and bacteria every two weeks.
   • Fill the bucket with clean warm water and add mild detergent to the water.
   • Dry thoroughly before reinserting the bucket to the main unit.
     NOTE: Do not clean the bucket in a dishwasher.
3. Cleaning the air filter
   To ensure the air intake is filtered properly and to assure that your dehumidifier runs efficiently, it is recommended to clean the air filter at least once every two weeks.
   • Use a vacuum cleaner or tap the filter lightly to remove loose dust and dirt.
   • Rinse the air filter under warm or cold running water (no hotter than 100F.)
   • Dry thoroughly before reinserting the air filter.
   • Reinstall the air filter and replace bucket securely.
4. End of Season Storage
   • After turning off the unit, wait 24 hours before emptying the bucket to allow excess moisture to drain into the bucket.
   • Clean the main unit, drain bucket and air filter as detailed above.
   • Cover the unit with the original plastic bag that came with the unit or any appropriate dust cover.
   • Store the unit upright in a dry, well-ventilated place.

TIPS ON WHEN TO USE YOUR PORTABLE DEHUMIDIFIER

If you have respiratory problems, asthma and allergies, your Whynter RPD-411WG portable dehumidifier is a great option for controlling moist environments. Creating dry air can keep indoor air pollutants at a more manageable level, especially when used in conjunction with an air purifier. Using your portable dehumidifier can help you save money in the long run because it uses relatively little power and can help furnaces and air conditioners operate more efficiently.

1. Excess moisture
   Indoor environments with excessive moisture can cause mold and fungus to thrive inside the walls and beneath the carpet. Many types of mold are potentially dangerous and can lead to health problems. The Whynter RPD-411WG portable dehumidifier reduces the amount of moisture in the air inside a home, which makes it far more difficult for harmful mold to grow. This portable dehumidifier is also effective for a small area, such as a hallway or bedroom.
2. Respiratory problems or allergies
   The Whynter RPD-411WG is a 40-pint portable dehumidifier which is perfect for larger rooms or areas in your home, including a living room or family room. If your home is musty, you will want to use your portable dehumidifier, especially if you have respiratory trouble or allergies. This unit can also help relieve symptoms by controlling the relative humidity inside your home and a good idea in general if your home has such underlying problems as a leaky foundation walls or inadequate ventilationor if you live in a humid area. By keeping the relative humidity indoors below 50 percent, you can keep allergy-inducing dust mites and mold from thriving.
3. Basements
   If you have a basement that is below-grade, you should use your Whynter RPD-411WG portable dehumidifier. This dehumidifier will help you keep the moisture levels in your basement down to manageable levels. By doing this, you can help keep your indoor furnace operating efficiently and even help eliminate minor standing-water problems. Your portable dehumidifier also can help keep furniture and valuables dry, and it will help keep electronics in proper working order.
4. Humid climates
   In humid climates, such as areas near a beach or large body of water, your Whynter RPD-411WG portable dehumidifier can help keep the environment in your home at a more comfortable level. While the actual temperature won't be affected, you'll sleep more comfortably and may actually save money, since your unit can keep the indoor humidity and, thus, your thermostat under control.

TROUBLESHOOTING

Many common portable dehumidifiers problems are easily resolved. Try the troubleshooting suggestions below to see if the problems can be resolved before having to contact the service department.

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS