How does a dehumidifier work?
A dehumidifier is an appliance that removes moisture from the air inside a room or basement, making it more comfortable.
Moist air enters the dehumidifier and crosses refrigerant-cooled coils, causing the moisture in the air to condense on coils within the machine. The moisture then collects in a drip pan or bucket for disposal, while the air passes through a warm condenser or heat recovery coil. The slightly warmed air exiting the dehumidifier is dry and warm.
Three things cause the dehumidifier to turn off:
The dehumidifier has a humidity control that you can set to regulate the amount of humidity removed from the air. When the dryness level is achieved, the dehumidifier turns off.
The dehumidifier turns off when the moisture collection bucket is full. The bucket must be removed and emptied before the unit will operate again.
The dehumidifier uses a de-ice control to turn off the cooling unit if the electronic control detects ice on the coils. After the ice melts, the dehumidifier turns back on.
Symptoms common to all dehumidifiers
Repair guides common to all dehumidifiers
If the humidifier sensor doesn’t properly detect humidity or evaporator temperature, install a new sensor assembly, following these steps.
If the dehumidifier doesn’t respond when you try to set it, follow these steps to replace it.
If the dehumidifier won’t power up because the control board has failed, use the steps in this repair guide to replace the electronic control board and fix your dehumidifier.
Articles and videos common to all dehumidifiers
Find out what’s wrong with your appliance by following a circuit.
Learn how to decipher symbols so you can buy the right part for your problem.
How to clean a dehumidifier for more efficient operation.