We all know how irritating it is when your dehumidifier keeps shutting off -- at the worst time! But why does this happen? And what can you do to stop it? We have assembled some information about troubleshooting issues with your dehumidifier so that you can work out just what is going wrong and be sure that you can use your machine efficiently and economically.
Whether you are trying to get the moisture out of the atmosphere in a small flat or want to eliminate humidity in the middle of the hot season, go to this list, and you are guaranteed to find the response to your problem.
HOW DOES A DEHUMIDIFIER WORK?
Dehumidifiers, despite their low-tech, clunky appearance, are pretty complicated machines. It includes both hot and cold components and fans, coils, and many moving parts that could need servicing or repairing. A whole lot more complex than you think, right?
THE IN'S AND OUT'S
The unit works with a compressor to draw the air in from the room through a filter. This air then circulates over some cold coils that mean the water from the filtered air will float -- forming droplets that fall to the removable bucket. Once the air is moisture-free, it's reheated and then blown back into the room.
UNDERSTANDING YOUR DEHUMIDIFIER
Understanding how a dehumidifier works might help you work out why it's going wrong -- and fix it quickly. There are many videos on the internet, showing that in more detail about how the functioning components function, like this one.
HOW A DEHUMIDIFIER WORKS
SO WHY IS IT HAPPENING?
Lots of people don't realize it is the impact that temperature can have on your dehumidifier. If your room is too cold (usually below 65 degrees), you might see frost form on the coils of your dehumidifier. This essentially translates that rather than the moisture from the air condensing on the cold coils then drip into the bucket, the rings are too cold so that the water doesn't remain liquid and will freeze over the rings.
MOVE TO A WARMER ROOM
This can pose all sorts of problems in the device's internal workings. If you doubt this is true, then turn off the dehumidifier and then transfer it into a warmer area as you heat the space you will need to dehumidify up to over 65 degrees.
COULD BE THE FILTER
It could also be since the filter or mechanism on the dehumidifier is now clogged or broken. Additionally, this is easily fixed. Maintaining your filter clean and clear of debris can help your unit perform better and eliminate the risk of fires starting in your dwelling.
CHALK IT UP TO MECHANICS
The third most frequent cause of machines shutting off is mechanical flaws -- like the engine or electric components breaking down or getting overworked and overheated due to the port becoming blocked. We will cover some easy methods to check if you require spare parts later in the report.
KNOW YOUR DEHUMIDIFIER
There are two kinds of dehumidifiers -- mechanical or desiccant.
DESICCANT
A desiccant model utilizes a moisture-attracting material, such as silica gel, to extract the water out of the air.
MECHANICAL
Mechanical models (which we'll be focusing on) use a system of coils and fans.
There's a comprehensive buying guide from Air & Water that sets out the advantages and disadvantages of different units. It can help simplify things if you are on the fence.
CLEANING YOUR DEHUMIDIFIER
So, you've worked out that the device is looking somewhat clogged -- what is the safest and most effective way to clean it? A dehumidifier has many detachable components, and by carefully eliminating these and giving them a thorough clean, you can ensure that your unit is in tip-top shape. Before taking your device apart to make sure it's unplugged from the power.
HERE'S A NIFTY STEP BY STEP GUIDE:
HOW TO TAKE A PART AND CLEAN A DEHUMIDIFIER
When you've followed these steps, you can then reassemble the device and test it out. If everything appears to be running smoothly, then your problem should be resolved.
REPAIRING YOUR DEHUMIDIFIER
If cleaning your dehumidifier did not work, you might need a new motor or electrical repairs. Though your device is disassembled, check the fan motor and the blades by attempting to spin the fan by hand -- it should move freely and not hit any other part of the dehumidifier. There's a range of replacement parts available online, and there's also a simple video tutorial that takes you through step-by-step and teaches you how you can perform simple repairs on your unit.
HOW TO REPAIR YOUR DEHUMIDIFIER
CONCLUSION
There are some quick and simple steps to follow to ensure that your dehumidifier runs precisely the way it should all the time. Next time it freezes or stops just at the wrong moment, only run through this simple listing:
When you've gone through this troubleshooting info, you will have your back up And running right away.
