Dockside Chat - need some help w/ dehumidifier please!

so we've had a dehumifier running in our basement for about 5-6 years now and never had any problems with it. in about the last month, there have been several times that i noticed it was sitting in a puddle of water. i've checked the tank and the hose, which i have draining into my sump, and there are no leaks.

just the other day, i checked it again when i head water dripping and found there was chunks of ice the had formed inside just above the tank. the ice is melting down the insides and dripping on the floor...causing the puddle.

any ideas why it would suddenly start icing over? more importantly, is there any way to fix it?

thx!
jack

This happens to my dehumidifiers after a couple of years as well. I spend no time diagnosing the problem and simply replace them.

As a side note...which dehumidifier models do y'all use or recommend?

what type of unit? do you have a brand & model? are they descant or refrigerant units?

Many years ago I used to have an icing problem with the oooooooooooooooold a/c units in my office. The solution was to replace them but the boss was too cheap. What we did was shut them off until the ice melted then turn them on at a reduced setting. We also told the new people not to touch them...

Perhaps the fan in your d/h is cooling the vanes too much. If you power it back a bit you may be ok.

good luck!

thanks for the replies. we have a delonghi. not sure what model, but it supposedly has a 'low temp' mode.

not sure about descant or refrigerant unit. i'll have to check when i get back home tonight.

I would place it in a large tub and drill a hole in the back over the sump. If it still works.

check the air filter on the dehumidifer. It may not be getting enough air flow. Just a guess.

ohiost90 - 6/15/2007 4:16 PM check the air filter on the dehumidifer. It may not be getting enough air flow. Just a guess.



That's usually the problem.........

Icing is usually caused by low refrigerant levels or improper air flow over the coils.

Three things make a cooling coil ice up, a clogged coil (with dirt) or filter that cuts airflow, a fan that's not running, or low refrigerant.

thanks for the additional replies. the fan is running, but i have never cleaned the air filter, so that's prolly a good place to start!

not sure if i can add/replace the refrigerant in the model i have...need to find the manual i guess.