Through extensive research we found that the most common reasons for your dehumidifier to ice up generally relate to:
- The temperature of your room
- Restricted airflow caused by blockage and debris
- Lack of maintenance, cleaning the filter, and other features of your unit
Full Answer
How to troubleshoot a dehumidifier that is icing up?
How to Troubleshoot a Dehumidifier That Is Icing Up
- Position the dehumidifier in an area where there is at least one foot of clearance around the unit in order to allow for proper air circulation during its ...
- Determine the temperature of the room by checking a nearby thermostat or by using a hand-held thermometer.
- Check the filter for dirt and buildup. ...
What causes an air conditioner to ice up?
Why Does My Air Conditioner Have Ice Build Up?
- Restricted Air Flow. The major cause of ice build up on an air conditioner is restricted air flow. ...
- Signs Your Evaporator Coil Is Frozen. As previously stated above, if your outdoor unit is a bock of ice, chances are so is your evaporator coil.
- Things Not To Do. ...
- Conclusion. ...
How to fix a dehumidifier?
How to Fix a Noisy Dehumidifier – Easy Steps
- Uneven Placement. ...
- Loose Nuts and Screws. ...
- Dirt Inside the Unit. ...
- Wobbling or Damaged Blower Wheel. ...
- Loose or Faulty Fan Motor. ...
- Worn Out Compressor. ...
- Dehumidifier Noise Output. ...
- Dehumidifier Noise You Can’t Control. ...
- Dehumidifier Noise You Can Control. ...
- Fix Your Noisy Dehumidifier and Improve Sleep and Concentration. ...
Why is my dehumidifier icing up?
How to protect your dehumidifier from future freezing up
- CHECK TEMPERATURE. The first point you need to do is inspect the air temperature setup on your dehumidifier. ...
- CHECK AIR FLOW. If the airflow is obstructed, your dehumidifier will certainly have a more difficult time eliminating the moisture airborne, and also this can lead to cold troubles.
- LOOK FOR DEBRIS AND BUILD-UP. ...
- CLEAN IT. ...
- TURN IT OFF. ...
Can I leave a dehumidifier on all the time?
Yes, you can leave a dehumidifier on 24/7. Most dehumidifiers are designed to run around the clock. However, your dehumidifier will stop running on...
How does auto defrost work on a dehumidifier?
Auto defrost is a setting that interacts with a sensor inside of your dehumidifier. Not every dehumidifier has this setting, but when they do, it i...
Do dehumidifiers work in very cold temperatures?
Dehumidifiers can work in rooms that are cooler, but they should not be placed in spaces that will be below 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Any temperature...
What should I set my dehumidifier to in the winter?
Winters tend to be drier than summers. You can set your dehumidifier a bit higher during the winter months, around 45-50%. During the summer months...
Do dehumidifiers work better in hot or cold rooms?
Dehumidifiers work best in hot rooms because they use cold coils to help condense the moisture from the air. However, as long as the room is above...
How To Fix a Dehumidifier That Has Iced Up Already?
If your dehumidifier has already iced up, then you need to take action to thaw it out and restore it to its working condition. The first step is to empty the tank. You want to make sure that no excess water remains.
Why does my dehumidifier freeze up?
The room temperature is one of the most common reasons why a dehumidifier can freeze up. Dehumidifiers need to be in rooms that have a room temperature of 60 degrees Fahrenheit or more. Anything lower than this amount will cause problems, and your dehumidifier may freeze up.
How to keep dehumidifier warm?
Try keeping your dehumidifier on a raised surface. The higher up your dehumidifier is, the warmer the air will be. Another tip is to cycle the dehumidifier. This means running your unit in cycles that alternate.
How long does it take for a dehumidifier to thaw out?
Let your dehumidifier thaw out by allowing the ice to melt. This will take approximately 12-24 hours. Make sure the ice has completely melted before moving on to the final step.
What is auto defrost?
Auto defrost is a setting that interacts with a sensor inside of your dehumidifier. Not every dehumidifier has this setting, but when they do, it is convenient. Once the sensor senses ice, it will turn off the compressor system within your dehumidifier. The fan typically stays on so that the room temperature air can help thaw the compressor.
What happens when a dehumidifier freezes?
When the dehumidifier is frozen, the humidity management system will no longer work. This system includes the sensor that determines how often the dehumidifier should run and at what speed.
What happens if you don't thaw your dehumidifier?
If you do not thaw your dehumidifier quickly, the ice may accumulate and eventually make its way to the fan motor. If the fan motor is surrounded by ice or touching ice, then it may cease working altogether.
What causes ice build up on a dehumidifier coil?
Running below the recommended temperature will cause ice to build up on the condenser coils. The only saving grace is the auto-frost mode feature that will shut down the compressor when the dehumidifier coils become too cold. 2. Faulty Humidity Sensor.
Why is my dehumidifier icing?
If the dehumidifier is spotless, running smoothly, yet icing still occurs, it is likely due to mechanical failure or electrical faults.
How does a dehumidifier work?
The dehumidifier begins by pulling damp air into the ventilation and passes to the evaporator coils for condensation. Water droplets will be drained out and stored in the reservoir or pump straight out via a hose. Dry air will then passes to the hot condenser coils and release out as mist to complete the cycle.
What is humidistat in a dehumidifier?
Similar to a thermostat, a humidistat is part of the electronic control module that monitors the ambient relative humidity level. It is very important as the dehumidifier anti-frost/ auto-deicing mode relies on the sensor signals to shut off the compressor to prevent an ice build-up.
Why does my bi metal thermostat ice?
A faulty bi-metal thermostat may lead to the icing of the coil particularly when the room temperature is low while humidity remains high. This could be due to wiring issues where the electrical contacts that power the compressor circuit is welded shut or a short circuit. Bi-metal thermostat reads and monitors the temperature of the evaporator coil. Without an accurate reading, the compressor will keep running and the de-icing of the coils will not happen.
Why is my dehumidifier not making a whirring noise?
If there is no whirring noise coming from the dehumidifier, a defective fan motor or blower wheel could be the blame. Fan motor/ blower wheel is vital component parts that facilitate airflow circulation and prevent the condenser coils from freezing up. A visibly clean air filter is a good sign of a broken fan motor as there is no air flowing through the grille. Additionally, dust, dirt, or debris could also impede the fan from spinning smoothly. This could result in broken or loose fan blades that further restrict the airflow output.
Why does my dehumidifier keep frosting?
A dirty filter clogged with dust, hair, and dirt can result in a frosted dehumidifier due to restricted air circulation. An air filter is there to trap dust particles in the air and protect the internal components. Alarmingly, most people didn’t realize there is a filter installed in their dehumidifier or didn’t bother to clean it. A poorly maintained filter could limit the airflow that pushes through thus continue to cause issues to the dehumidifier.
Why does my dehumidifier freeze?
The most common cause of frost and ice buildup on a dehumidifier is because the unit is operating in temperatures that are too cold. Many dehumidifiers are not equipped to run at temperatures below 65 degrees Fahrenheit. There are some models made for cooler basements that operate down to temperatures of 36 degrees.
How long does it take for a dehumidifier to stop frost?
If the dehumidifier is operating properly, this frost will disappear within about 60 minutes.
How to clean a Soleus dehumidifier?
If the filter is dirty, it will restrict airflow through the unit and lead to freezing. Soleus recommends lightly vacuuming the surface of the filter to remove dirt. The filter also can be washed in warm water if it is extremely dirty. Once clean, place the filter back in its compartment. Allow for the ice to melt and then restart your dehumidifier.
How to tell if a dehumidifier fan is faulty?
If the coils on your dehumidifier are icing up and you have verified that the ambient temperature is above 65 degrees Fahrenheit, then you may have a faulty fan motor. For proper operation, a dehumidifier needs to have an adequate amount of air blowing across the evaporator and condenser coils to prevent frost or ice buildup. If you feel little or no air coming through the grille area and the filter is clean, then remove the cover and check the fan area. Inspect the coils to make sure that they are not restricted with lint or dirt and clean them if necessary. Make sure that the fan motor rotates freely and that the fan blade or blower wheel is firmly attached to the motor shaft. Using caution, operate the unit in a fan only mode and observe the fan motor. If it hums but does not rotate or only rotates slowly then it is defective and will need to be replaced. If the motor does not rotate and does not appear to make any sound, it may still be defective, but will require further testing by someone who is comfortable with using a multi-meter and working with live electrical circuits.
Why is my evaporator coil iced?
A faulty sensor assembly may not correctly detect the relative humidity or evaporator coil temperature and cause the compressor circuit to stay energized too long, resulting in an iced over evaporator coil .
What happens if humidistat does not sense humidity?
If the humidistat does not sense the correct relative humidity or if the contacts stick closed, then the compressor will continue to run and the evaporator coils may ice over. With the unit unplugged, rotate the control knob and listen for the contact set to open and close, or use a multi-meter to check for continuity.
What temperature should a dehumidifier be?
If the coils on your dehumidifier are icing up and you have verified that the ambient temperature is above 65 degrees Fahrenheit, then you may have a problem with air flow. For proper operation, a dehumidifier needs to have an adequate amount of air blowing across the evaporator and condenser coils to prevent frost or ice buildup.
How does a humidistat work?
Also known as the humidistat, this device works like a thermostat except that instead of the internal electrical contacts being activated by temperature, this control operates by sensing the relative humidity level. The electrical contacts supply power to the compressor circuit and sometimes the fan motor circuit.
Why is it so hard to test a thermostat?
Testing the thermostat for continuity is difficult because it is dependent on temperature. If the evaporator coil is iced over and the bi-metal thermostat is making positive contact with the coil, then you should suspect that it is defective and needs to be replaced.
What is a defrost thermostat?
Some models of dehumidifiers are equipped with a defrost thermostat to de-ice the evaporator coils in conditions of high humidity or low ambient temperatures. The thermostat senses the evaporator temperature and, if it is too low, will interrupt power to the compressor but leave the fan running to blow air over the coils and melt the frost or ice.