Nothing is more annoying than a dehumidifier freezing up and refusing to work. But why does your device keep freezing up in the first place, and how can you stop it?
Excess moisture in your home can damage furniture, cause mold, mildew, and dampness, as well as impact your family’s health conditions or small children. That is why it is important to have a functioning dehumidifier that works at all the right times to keep your home free from excess humidity.
Why Does This Happen?
There are so many factors that come into play here. However, narrowing down and assessing your environment can help us zero in on the issue.
Room Temperature
One of the most common reasons for your dehumidifier freezing up is quite simply the temperature of the room it is in. Most dehumidifiers work perfectly well at 65 degrees or above but if the air temperature is any lower than this you could see your dehumidifier icing up and this will stop it working. The air is brought into the unit via a vent and as it travels over cold metal coils the water in the air condenses and drops into a collect bucket or is pumped away via a hose. This all works fine while the temperature is high enough but if it is too cold the water freezes on the coils instead of condensing – leading to problems.
Air Flow
Another less common reason that might cause your dehumidifier to keep freezing up is the airflow through the machine itself. If the fan isn’t turning well or the condenser unit is blocked this could mean the air in your machine is not moving through fast enough. Regular maintenance should discover these problems and cleaning or replacing parts will fix them.
A Warning
If your dehumidifier keeps icing up don’t use it! If you continue to operate your dehumidifier while the coils are frosted, you could damage it even further. The motor or compressor unit will be forced to work harder and could get overwhelmed or even burn out. While you can troubleshoot a dehumidifier compressor that’s not working, you’d rather prevent the problem than risk having a faulty unit. So, if you suspect your dehumidifier isn’t working correctly – you notice the humidity is not dropping as it should or the unit is louder than normal – disconnect it and check to see if it needs maintenance.
What Can You Do to Stop It?
There are a few simple things you can do to defrost your dehumidifier and stop it from freezing up.
Check Temperature
Firstly, check your room temperature and make sure it is at the optimum for your unit’s operating instructions. To check if it is the air temperature, even if it isn’t below 65 degrees, place the unit up higher where there is warmer air or temporarily move to another room that is warmer.
Check Air Flow
If that still doesn’t fix the problem, then make sure the airflow is working well. Is the dehumidifier too close to a wall or ceiling? This can block the vents and stop air from getting in easily.
Check for Debris and Build-up
Check the fan and filter for any clogs or blockages, if these aren’t pushing air through smoothly it can lead to the dehumidifier icing up. And, depending on the air quality in your home or the area where the machine sits, you could have dust build up more frequently than the next person.
Clean It
And finally, give the coils a good clean. They might not be working correctly if they are dirty and this could lead to icing. There are some tips on what to do but remember to disconnect the power before doing any maintenance.
There are also some basic maintenance tips here if you find your dehumidifier still isn’t working correctly after the temperature is raised and the coils are free from ice. Check the fan and filter for any clogs or blockages, if these aren’t pushing air through smoothly it can lead to the dehumidifier icing up. And, depending on the air quality in your home or the area where the machine sits, you could have dust build up more frequently than the next person.
What to do When the Dehumidifier Ices Up or Freezes Up
Are There Any Products To Help?
Some dehumidifiers are built to withstand lower temperatures so if you know you are going to be placing it in a room where it will be colder (such as a basement or outbuilding) it is worth investing in a unit that will cope better with lower temperatures.
Kenmore and Frigidaire are two great brands that offer quality models that can help. By going with a trusted brand you can purchase with a bit of ease of mind and know that you have a strong warranty to back it up if anything goes wrong. Don’t cheap out when it comes to a machine that’s meant to do a big job.
Or if you only have a small space you want to reduce humidity in, then a desiccant dehumidifier might do the trick. These work by drawing moisture from the air using a synthetic material like silica gel. They are free from moving parts so will not face the same problems as a mechanical unit. However, these units need replacing more regularly and will not be as powerful as a permanent dehumidifier.
Conclusion
So to sum up, there are a few main things to look out for if your dehumidifier keeps freezing up. Check the temperature in the room to make sure it is not too cold. While some units are built to work in lower temperatures, most need to be above 65 degrees to work properly. You can also move the unit to a higher place, where the air is warmer.
If your room temperature is okay but you’re still having problems with your unit then check that air is able to flow through it smoothly – there are no blockages in the air vent and the fan is turning as it should.
Hopefully, this will solve your problems but if you have any more questions please comment and share below!
Last update on 2024-04-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The unit could be low on freon
Kenmore stinks! That is the one I have that is icing up. It is new, the air flow is fine and it is 80 degrees, so what else ya got?