How to Bypass the Humidity Sensor on a Dehumidifier

The humidity sensor on a dehumidifier measures the moisture content of air in a room. If the moisture content exceeds a certain level, the sensor signals to dehumidifer motor to activate and begin drawing water vapor from the room. If the sensor malfunctions the dehumidifier may stop working. Running a bypass on the sensor is a quick way to isolate the source of the problem. However, a bypass is not a permanent solution because the dehumidifer runs continuously in bypass mode.

Screwdriver set
6-inch length of 18-gauge electrical wire
Wire strippers

Instructions

- 1
  Unplug the dehumidifier power cord.
- 2
  Unscrew and remove the back panel on the dehumidifier using a screwdriver. Follow the path of the two wires connected to the switch motor near the bottom, moving upwards to locate the sensor, which is a 1-inch, black cube.
- 3
  Loosen the two screws holding the sensor wires to the switch, using a screwdriver. Each Y-shaped clip pulls out from under the screw head to release.
- 4
  Strip 1/2 inch of insulation from each end of the short lengths of 18-gauge wire.
- 5
  Wrap one end of the wire around a screw terminal and the other end of the wire around the second screw terminal. Tighten both screws.
- 6
  Replace the back panel with the screws and screwdriver.
- 7
  Plug in the dehumidifier. If it begins operating immediately, the sensor is defective.

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