I have a GE dehumidifier (Model #AHM65LKM1) in my basement. It's been working great for nearly 5 years, but recently has started leaking. I took the cover(s) off most of the way and cleaned out what appears to be a small drain hole that may have been plugged. Water that had pooled inside the unit appeared muddy. (This might be from dust in the air from when concrete was cut in the basement.) I cleaned it out as well as I could. I looked for cracks in the plastic, but didn't find any. Before I reassemble the thing to test it, can you tell me if there's anything else I should be considering that might cause a leak? I'd rather not go through putting it back together and then taking it apart again. Thank you for your help.

I think you are on the right track. Dusty air gets sucked up and clogs a lot of parts. Typically, warm air flows over the coils and water condenses on a drip tray-some older models just drop down. Does yours have a open deep tray or a bottle type collector? Make sure the drip tray hole is clear and that the collector does not have any holes or cracks. 99% of the collectors are plastic and can be resealed with a soldering iron. Good luck and hopefully no leaks.

My dehumidifier has a bottle-type collector. After cleaning out the drain, I reassembled it, but the fan wouldn't turn since it was held against the inside back of the unit. After 4 attempts at taking the dehumidifier apart and putting it back together different ways trying to correct the problem, I was only able to get the fan to turn with the back cover off. I ran it overnight that way, but it didn't collect any water. Very frustrating. Wish I could get a diagram of how it's supposed to be, but haven't been able to find one.

Your unit is extremely dirty. You will need to wash out the coils with alkaline coil cleaner and high pressure water. There is no other way to clean it. When it is dirty it is putting a lot of mold spores and the harmful gases they produce in the air. It can actually kill older people and babies. I live in a building where the maintenance man refuses to clean anything and we all got sick and it put me in the hospital. Even though I am an HVAC technician they would not allow me to clean it. We had to file a lawsuit to make them fix it even though it would save them half the utility bill. If your de-humidifier can be taken outside, do so, and clean it out well with coil cleaner. You can get the coil cleaner at an HVAC supply house along with thick rubber gloves, face shield and mask (NEVER use any cleaner or even wash out with water without a face shield and a good dust mask! To do so risk death.) Good luck and get that health risk cleaned.

Thank you for your suggestions. My main concern at the moment is how to reassemble the beast or there's no point in cleaning it further. If I get that figured out, I still can clean it thoroughly without fear of being unable to put it back together.

Look at this:

Thank you. I have this information, but need much more detail to reinstall the entire front and back of the unit over the coils so they fit snugly together and the fan can turn freely. I tried to accomplish that again last night and failed. The coils might not be in properly. Incidentally, the filter has been maintained and is like new. What I really could use is the service manual, but haven't been able to find one.

It's hard for me to understand you having problems re-assembling that unit because I have taken many of them apart and can do it in my sleep blindfolded. Just look carefully how things line up and remember it's supposed to be really easy since it's done on an assembly line. You have not lined up something or have something in the wrong screw hole. It really is easy. I wish you were in Jacksonville, FL.

How did this end up being so big??

I'm sorry, but I don't understand your question. By the way, I've taken the unit apart and put it back together at least 10 times and still can't figure out what the problem is. Maybe it was designed to shift in some way when I first disassembled it to discourage people from fixing it themselves. I'm an avid do-it-yourselfer and have never had a problem like this before.