Why does my humidifier coils become iced up??Frost does not disappear after hours of running;.

Good Morning Friend,

I understand that the condensation is turning to ice on your Frigidaire dehumidifier, model# LAD704TDL. This can be a possible cause of your dehumidifier being turned on recently. This is normal, due to refrigerant rushing through the coil. Frost will usually disappear within 60 minutes. Another possibility is the room temperature is too low. All dehumidifiers will operate satisfactorily at temperatures greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. I ask that you please follow up with a comment on the post, at your convenience, to advise if further troubleshooting is needed or if your dehumidifier status has changed successfully. Hope this is helpful.

-Best Regards-
WP

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

The dehumidifier should be removing water at 66F 70%rh.

First make sure that the compressor and fan are running. If they are, then turn the dehumidifier off and unplug the cord from the wall outlet. Next remove the front cover from the dehumidifier. Examine the evaporator coil (about 1/2 way up) beneath the plastic heat exchanger and above the stainless steel drain pan.

If the evaporator coil is cold and completely covered with frost & ice, the defrost thermostat may be defective. Replace the front cover. turn the humidity dial to "off". Plug the dehumidifier in to the wall outlet and set the fan switch to on - the fan will run (no compressor). Run this way for one hour to defrost the evaporator. Now adjust the humidity dial to your desired humidity and keep an eye on the dehumidifier. If it freezes up again and does not automatically defrost, the defrost thermostat should be replaced. Call the manufacturer at 1-800-533-7533 for parts and instructions.

If the evaporator coil is (mostly) warm and free of frost and ice, it is likely that some of the dehumidifier refrigerant has leaked out. this type of service should be done by a (refrigerant) certified technician. Call the manufacturer at 1-800-533-7533 for help with this service.

If the evaporator coils behind the filters become too dirty condensation can be seriously ********. Check to see if the fins require any attention; they can be cleaned very carefully with a toothbrush and some water usually. If the buildup has become severe special chemicals need to be used on the unit- not something recommended the average person attempt. If the fins are clear check other airflow issues. Dehumidifiers generally need a period of 3 days to balance an area properly when functioning and sized appropriately.

According to your Owners Manual, the coils may start to frost at 60 degrees and the defrost sensor should turn ON and cycle periodically. However, the air temperature at the floor level in a basement, is colder than the air temperature by 5 to 8 degrees. So this may be causing the problem. In addition, if the air intake filter is dirty or clogged, the unit has to strain to keep up and will not function as it should.

If the unit is totally iced up, turn the unit Off and unplug it from the wall outlet. Allow is to thaw completely before attempting to clean the filter. You may want to put some old towels under it while it thaws. Once it's thawed, move it to a bathroom that has a shower. Plug it it in and set the humidity level at 45%. Turn the shower ON at a Medium hot temperature (enough to generate steam) and as you exit the batroom, close the door. DO NOT operate the bathroom's exhaust fan. Allow the unit to operate for 15 to 20 minutes, before returning to the bathroom. Then turn the shower OFF and check the unit for any frost and the amount of water collected in the bucket. If there is no frost on the unit and there's water in the bucket the unit is operating properly.

When you move it back to the basement, place it up off the floor on something sturdy, that can hold the weight and not be bothered by the vibration of the unit, when it's running. (ie a work bench, a counter top, etc.) Operate the unit as you normally do and monitor it for frost or icing up. And, whether or not the defrost sensor is cycling as it should. If you get no frost or just minor frost, it was the air temperature at the floor level, that was causing the problem.

Hope this helped you to troubleshoot and solve the problem. Please let me know. Thanks.

Turn the unit OFF and unplug it from the wall. Allow it to thoroughly thaw and remove the humidifiers cabinet to expose the cooling coils. Clean those thoroughly and coat with a very light coating of WD40. Reassemble the humidifier and turn it ON. Set your humidity control at 50% and allow the unit to run for at least one hour. Check for water collection in the bucket and for any signs of icing, after one hour. If water is in the collection bucket and no signs of icing, lower the humidity to 45% and continue. If you not any signs of icing, watch the unit, as you need to know if it automatically goes into defrost mode. The compressor should shut off, but the fan will continue to run until defrosting is completed. If it doesn't the auto defrost sensor has failed and will need to be replaced.
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Hope this helps you to troubleshoot and solve the problem. Please let me know. Thanks.

Not sure if you have set the level of operation correctly. It may be set to low.
In addition, have you noticed any frost or icing on the coils of the unit? If so, it's frozen up and you will have to allow it to thaw out completely, before restarting it. Also, the air temperature where you have the humidifier can affect it's operation. Especially, if the temperature is below 41 degrees. In addition, if the filter on the back of the unit is dirty, that will definitely affect the proper operation of the unit.

In case you have misplaced your Owners Manual, I have included a link to it. You can download and print it for future reference, if you so desire.

http://manuals.frigidaire.com/prodinfo_pdf/Edison/2020266A0072en.pdf

Hope all this helps you solve the problem. If all else fails, you can always contact Frigidaire Technical Service at 800-44-4944.

Dehumdifiers work by cooling a coil below the dew point temperature of the ambient air. When this happens frost or water will form on the coil. Most room dehumidifiers work with the room temperature above 65 deg F. It works well when the temperature of the room is 65 deg F or higher. But when the temp is below 65, it won't work because the coil does not reach the dew point.

There are cold temperature dehumidifiers that are designed to work in colder environments such as basements. They can work in a environment as cold as 40 deg F. Check your owners manual to see what type of humidifier you have to see what is the minimum operating temperature for you unit. Hope this helps you.

I believe a dehumidifier is supposed to operate in temps above 60 degrees. Even though your house is warmer than that, the air entering the dehimidifier may be getting into that range due to it being on a basement level etc. This is perfectly normal and is not a malfunction with your humidifier.

Your options are to either place the dehumidifier closer to a heat source in order to keep the air which is entering warmer. (I've even heard of someone placing a light bulb in front the unit during winter to warm the air slightly as it enters). Because the dehumidifier's coils get cold in order for it to collect moisture from the air, if they are freezing, giving the unit a rest for a few hours every few hours may allow the coils to thaw in between and prevent them from reaching freezing temperatures while running. You could use a timer to accomplish this, but you'll want to insure that it's a commercial grade timer in order to handle the electrical draw that the dehumidifier requires.

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