Many thanx to all who offered advice. Given that, "dehumidifier makes
all the right noises", and that the Recycle guy agreed with the posting
that, "loss of freon is much less likely than compressor failure", I
gave up on this idea, and paid to have unit decommissioned.
kk

Dennis Couch wrote:

To test the motor, you will need a Multimeter. There are 3 terminals on the
outside of the motor.
1. check to see that none ohm out 0 to ground.
2. measure the resistance brom each terminal to the next. You will end
up with 3 different readings of which the two smaller should add-up
close to the value of the 3rd, if the motor is good.

If the motor runs, touch your hand to the tubing both leaving & entering the
compressor, one should get pretty gosh-dern warm (200 degrees +), the other
should be cool. Little difference means that the coolant may have leaked
away.

Dennis(Gauges are handy to have around)

"Ken Kennedy" wrote in message
...
I have an old dehumidifier that makes all the right noises, but does not
cause either of the outgoing or ingoing tubes to get hot or cold.
Perhaps the compressor is shot, or perhaps the (presumably) freon has
escaped.

If the latter case, I am contemplating cutting the tubes between the
compressor and the radiator coils, then having the compressor available
for the day I finally try a vacuum bagging.

Is there a simple, environmentally responsible way to determine if the
compressor is shot, or if the freon has escaped?
kk