6 Ways to Fix A Dehumidifier Freezing Up

Dehumidifier freezing up while working is something that we would never expect to happen. But surprisingly, it is quite common in regions that often see a drastic change of temperature in day and night.

If you don’t know, most dehumidifiers freeze because they cannot work in temperatures below 65°F, as their coil may freeze up which prevents them from working. So before you continue reading this guide, check the temperature of your room.

We know that dehumidifier is for eliminating humidity, but it is not ideal for winters at all. If you live near a deserted area, it is not your fault that the temperature during the day is high and low at night, which is one of the few reasons why your dehumidifier is freezing up.

I am sure whatever I said above is going over your head, so to help you understand better, let’s get started.

Why Is your Dehumidifier Icing Up?

A dehumidifier works by pulling moisture out of the air and condensing it so that it can be removed. The dehumidifier absorbs this water vapor, which creates a slight amount of heat as a byproduct of the absorption process.

This heat starts to warm up the inner components of the dehumidifier, but if there isn’t a reliable method of removing the built-up heat, it can lead to dehumidifier freezing or dehumidifier iced up problems.

When this happens, you need to know how to fix dehumidifier freezing before it becomes a bigger problem.

Contents

1 The ideal working temperature for dehumidifers
2 Common Reasons That Causes Dehumidifier Freezing Up
3 How To Fix A Frozen Dehumidifier
4 Conclusion

The ideal working temperature for dehumidifers

Most dehumidifiers have an ideal working temperature between 70 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Since dehumidifiers are a summer-season appliance, a dehumidifier can’t freeze at a high temperature.

Dehumidifiers work by analyzing the humidity of the environment and by using the temperature sensor. If the sensor detects lower temperature levels, it will automatically stop working in most cases or start freezing up.

That being said, let’s see in detail why dehumidifiers freeze up.

Common Reasons That Causes Dehumidifier Freezing Up

1. A Lack of Drainage or Venting Option

Many dehumidifiers are designed to be vented to the exterior, but if your dehumidifier doesn’t have this option, it can’t get rid of moisture.

If you dehumidify in a room that lacks sufficient ventilation, then your dehumidifier freezing will become much more likely.

Suppose you dehumidify in a basement or other space that doesn’t have proper ventilation. In that case, your dehumidifier can run into dehumidifier freezing problems without being able to release the built-up heat.

This is why it’s important to adequately vent dehumidifiers even if they are placed where there isn’t a dehumidifier draining option.

2. Condenser coils need cleaning

Yes, condenser coils need proper cleaning to keep working. Like an air conditioner, coils must be appropriately cleaned to maintain the airflow. Open the back panel of your dehumidifier, thoroughly clean the coils, let it dry, and screw back the panel.

3. The dehumidifier is not set up properly

You must be wondering, “my dehumidifier is working fine, what do you mean by it is not properly set up?” Well, by that I mean, your dehumidifier is not set up for the changing room temperature.

Because most dehumidifiers stop functioning when the room temperature drops, you should check the settings and make sure everything is functioning properly. If not, turn off the unit, let it rest, and plug it back.

4. The dehumidifier’s mode is set incorrectly

The dehumidifier might dehumidify efficiently, but if it’s dehumidifying in a mode that isn’t suited for your needs or the humidity level in the room, then dehumidifier freezing could become a much more likely outcome.

If you want to avoid dehumidifier iced up problems, then dehumidify efficiently and dehumidify at the right humidity.

5. The dehumidifier’s filter is not clean

A dirty air filter can be problematic. We often forget to clean the filters of the air conditioners, humidifiers, and dehumidifiers.

This can cause problems in the device and affect its functioning, so the only solution here is to clean the filters. If the filter is wearing out, replace it with a new filter. Just make sure the new one fits your dehumidifier’s model.

6. Operating at lower temperatures (less than 65F)

If the temperature sensor detects a temperature lower than 65F, it will stop the dehumidifier automatically. This is because dehumidifiers are designed for collecting excessive moisture from the environment. If there’s no moisture due to the change in weather, dehumidifiers may freeze up and can be fixed by turning them off.

Note: Dehumidifiers are primarily used in summers because that’s the time when humidity levels are rising, don’t use a dehumidifier in winters. Otherwise, you will start to face several consequences.

Low humidity can cause several issues like chipped/cracked lips, breathing issues, sinus, and whatnot, so be careful.

7. The humidity sensor isn’t working

A faulty humidistat will fail to detect the temperature, and the dehumidifier will not cut off at all. This can seriously damage your appliance, and the only way to deal with this situation is to reach out to customer care if your appliance is still under warranty, otherwise, call a local technician.

8. Bi-metal Thermostat Error

The purpose of a bi-metal thermostat is to identify the temperature and control it. It is made up of two thin metal strips. If either of them stops working, it becomes difficult for dehumidifiers to analyze the room temperature and freeze.

Over time, these strips can get rusted and corrade, and the only way to fix them is to get them changed, which won’t be expensive. You can either change it at home or ask a technician to do it for you.

9. The blower wheel or fan stopped working

The blower wheel or fan helps to maintain air flow circulation and helps keep the condenser coils from freezing up. The fan motor may be jammed due to dust accumulation, or maybe a part of it is broken.

To find out if the fan motor is broken or not, turn off the dehumidifier for some time; once it is in a normal state, plug it in, and check the back panel to find out whether the blower wheel is working or not.

10. Not using the right dehumidifier for the job

If you’re using an oversized dehumidifier, then running it at low temperatures will lead to faster dehumidifier iced up problems.

The same can be said about undersized dehumidifiers – if you run them for long periods of time without enough humidity in the air, then they will become less efficient and dehumidifier freezing will become more likely. Ensure you use the right-sized dehumidifier in the right setting to avoid dehumidifier iced up problems.

Since we already know the most common reasons that cause the dehumidifier freezing problem, let’s find out its solutions.

How To Fix A Frozen Dehumidifier

1. Turn the dehumidifier off for a couple of days

If your dehumidifier has frozen up, however, you should leave it turned off for a few days. Let it thaw out, and make sure that your dehumidifier is in an area where the temperature won’t drop below freezing again anytime soon.

If this doesn’t work, then you can try these solutions below:

2. Make certain that the condensation drain is working properly

It’s possible that the condensation drain is clogged up or broken. You should ensure that this isn’t what’s causing your dehumidifier to freeze because if it is, then you won’t be able to solve your problem until you get a replacement draining system fixed in place.

3. Try restarting the dehumidifier

If your dehumidifier is frozen up, then you should restart it. Let it run for a few minutes or hours before you turn it off, allowing it to thaw itself out again. This is a good solution if turning your dehumidifier on overnight isn’t an option.

4. Keep the dehumidifier in a warmer room

If your dehumidifier is stored in a cold room, it will be more likely to freeze up. You can avoid this by moving it to a warmer area where the temperature won’t drop below freezing again anytime soon.

Make sure that you don’t turn on your frozen dehumidifier while it’s in a warm room, or you’ll have to deal with dehumidifier iced up problems all over again.

5. Empty the water tank completely

The tank doesn’t hold much water, so if your dehumidifier fills up and freezes before you can empty it, you may be headed for dehumidifier iced up problems.

Make sure you empty the tank every time it fills up if you want to avoid them altogether.

6. Drain your dehumidifier before storing it away

It’s not always necessary to drain your water tank if you’re going to turn your dehumidifier off for a long period of time, but if you do this before storing it away, then you’ll reduce the chances that your dehumidifier will freeze up while it’s turned off. It’s never a bad idea to drain your water tank regularly.

These solutions will help you to unfreeze your dehumidifier.

Conclusion

It’s easy to unfreeze your dehumidifier if you know how, but it can be just as easy to avoid problems in the first place by following these tips. If you’re not sure which solution is best for your specific frozen dehumidifier problem, then simply try them all out one by one until you find the one that works for you.