The coils on my dehumidifier are frosting over.

Appliance411 FAQ My Dehumidifier Coils are Frosting Icing Up Why http://www.best-dehumidifier-choice.com/dehumidifier-ices-up.html

Hello Friend, thank you for your question!

I see that you have frost accumulating on the coils of your Frigidaire dehumidifier, LAD704DUL. Typically frost appears on coils either because your dehumidifier has been turned on recently or the room temperature is too low. Sometimes this is normal due to refrigerant rushing through the coils and usually it disappears within 60 minutes. However, if your dehumidifier is not removing moisture, then at this point your dehumidifier may possibly been experiencing a sealed system issue. Is your appliance still in warranty? If so, you might want to reach out directly to the manufacturer to determine the coverage on your dehumidifier and the procedures to any potential remedy in that regard. Hope this helps! - Z

MIKE - I have the same problem...previously, there was NEVER any frost, and the unit worked just fine. Now, all of a sudden in the last week, frost has been forming...water no longer traverses thru the tube into the sink...and the unit is basically useless/

I think when the original person said "frost", they meant ICE!

Hi,

Here is a tip that I wrote that will help you understand why and what you cando with a dehumidifier that ices up.

Dehumidifier is Freezing up and not working

heatman101

Hi,

Here is a tip that I wrote that will help you understand why and what you cando with a dehumidifier that ices up.

Dehumidifier is Freezing up and not working

heatman101

If the coil is clean, then have a tech check for a low charge. This will cause the coil to freeze up. Humidifers are known to lose gas and owners aren't told this so end up buying new one and scraping the old one. Trust me on this. I have seen this many times. I repair high end machinery as my business.

Three possibilities for coils icing up.

1. Low ambient temperature in the area where dehumidifier is located. If so, shut down and de-ice it. Then move the unit to a different - (warmer) - location and start it up.

2. Heating element - (which cycles periodically to liquify frost on the coils and allow water to drain) - is malfunctioning.

3. Low refrigerant level in the unit.

Most dehumidifiers need warmer air to work properly. The temperature in a basement is usually 60 - 65F; too cool for standard models. You could buy a "basement" dehumidifier. They're designed to work at lower temperatures; some as low as 40 F. Costs are about the same as a standard dehumidifier; you just have to find it.

For a cheap fix, try this; it seems to be working for me.

Since the condensate coil (the one icing up) is cold, the air entering it is too cool and the condensate frosts up the coil. Additional condensate freezes to the frost and before you know it, you've got a block of ice. Since the air coming out of the front is very warm take a large piece of cardboard around 6' x 3') and form a V. Placed it in front of the dehumidifier so it channels some of the warm air back to the rear where it warms the moist air up before it hits the cooling fins. It's helped keep the ice down.

If you want something attractive, any screen that redirects some of the air back to the rear will work. Just leave the top open so it doesn't get too hot and the some of the drier air gets out into the room.

The following statement is a parameter for all dehumidifiers and some of the control issues may vary, but the theory is the same.

Most dehumidifiers have a "Frost Guard" mounted on the condensor coil. If frost accumulates on the condensor coil the frost guard turns the compressor off until the frost melts, then comes back on again. For the dehumidifier to work properly, the surrounding (ambient), temperature must be higher than 65 degress. This temperature allows the moisture in the air to condense on the coils and drip into the reservoir without freezing up on the condensor coil. Also, if the humidity is too low, (below 45%), the same condition will occur. So it will help to keep the parameters in mind when you have this issue.
If your model does not employ a "Frost-Guard" the condition you describe will avail itself when the above parameters are not met.
Simply unplug, or turn off the unit, until the above parameters are met or exceeded.


Thank you for your allowing me to advise you on this issue.

Dave E. (Illeagle)

expected? of course! this is not ur solution try draining all the water to the sewerage if u cant try to pump it out with a vacuum cleaner (that can pump water) or a pump then turn on the Dehumidifier every time it frosts turn it off untill it defrosts or u can heat up the basement with a bellower and the Dehumidifier wont frost