My LG Dehumidifier's fan does not seem to be operating. The filter is clean, the motor runs, but no air circulates through the machine and no water collects in the bucket. I bought it on 10/22/2006.

A dehumidifier works in a similar way to an air conditioner, cooling the air that passes through it so water vapour will condense and collect into a container.

If the fans are working and air is circulating through the unit but no water is being collected the internal refrigeration system probably has a fault...

Capacitor
If your dehumidifier is no longer pulling water from the air and you have verified that the ambient room temperature is above 65 degrees Fahrenheit, then the unit's compressor may not be running. The compressor is the pump that circulates the refrigerant through the evaporator to extract moisture from the air. There is a capacitor in the compressor circuit to help the compressor motor to start and if the capacitor has failed then the compressor won't run. If the compressor doesn't run or if the overload device continues to trip, then you may have a defective capacitor. An accurate diagnosis can be determined by a qualified person using special test equipment.
Overload
If your dehumidifier is no longer pulling water from the air and you have verified that the ambient room temperature is above 65 degrees Fahrenheit, then the unit's compressor may not be running. The compressor is the pump that circulates the refrigerant through the evaporator to extract moisture from the air. There is a device in the compressor circuit called an overload and it is used to protect the compressor motor from damage. If the overload has failed then the compressor won't start. If you have verified that the compressor doesn't run, then you can test the overload for continuity with a multi-meter. A common cause for the overload to fail is from operating the dehumidifier on long or undersized extension cords.
Fan Motor

If your dehumidifier is not making water and you have verified that the ambient temperature is above 65 degrees Fahrenheit, then you may have a faulty fan motor. For proper operation, a dehumidifier needs to have an adequate amount of air blowing across the evaporator coils to prevent frost or ice buildup. If you feel little or no air coming through the grille area and the filter is clean, then remove the cover and check the fan area. Inspect the coils to make sure that they are not restricted with lint or dirt and clean them if necessary. Make sure that the fan motor rotates freely and that the fan blade or blower wheel is firmly attached to the motor shaft. Using caution, operate the unit in a fan only mode and observe the fan motor. If it hums but does not rotate or only rotates slowly then it is defective and will need to be replaced. If the motor does not rotate and does not appear to make any sound, it may still be defective, but will require further testing by someone who is comfortable with using a multi-meter and working with live electrical circuits.
Electronic Control Board or PCB Assembly

If your dehumidifier is no longer pulling water from the air and you have verified that the ambient room temperature is above 65 degrees Fahrenheit, then the unit's compressor or fan motor may not be operating. The compressor is the pump that circulates the refrigerant through the evaporator, and the fan motor blows air across the evaporator coils to extract the moisture. On some modern dehumidifiers an electronic control board, often called the PCB, is used to control the compressor and fan motor. The control board has sensors connected to it that monitor the relative humidity and when the level is higher than the control setting, the control board will activate relays to turn on the compressor and fan motor. If you have an electronic control model and the compressor or the fan is not operating, then the electronic control may be at fault. A voltage test, using a multi-meter at the output relays, would be required to help in the diagnosis as well as confirmation that the sensors are operating normally.

John, there are 5 basic, yet solvable reason for what you described. Please pay particular attention to numbers 1 & 2.

1. The humidity extraction level is set to HIGH. Lower it to 32-35%.

2. Air intake filter is dirty or clogged. Turn unit OFF, & Unplug the
Unit, before removing to inspect & clean it, if necessary. If washed,
allow filter to completely dry before reinstalling. DO NOT operate
the unit without the filter.

3. Obstructed air flow. Maintain a minimum of 12 to 18" of clear air
space around the entire unit.

4. Cooling coils are dirty and need to be cleaned. Use warm water & dish washing liquid to
clean the coils. Rinse and wipe dry. Apply a light coating of WD40 to the coils.

5. Ambient air temperature at floor level is between 40 - 60 degrees.
dehumidifiers do not work well between those temperatures
(Unless, you have a Low Temp Unit). This applies mainly to
where the air temperature at floor level is colder than at shoulder level
in basement applications. Raising the unit up off the floor,
onto a sturdy table, counter top, etc, that can handle the weight
of the unit, plus a full tank of water, will usually resolve this
problem.

If none of the above solves the problem, it may be a case of the compressor needs to be recharged with refrigerant gas or that the humidity condenser sensor has failed. These things usually occur in units that are 5 years old or older. It's rare in a unit younger than that. But, it can happen.

Hope this helps you to troubleshoot & solve the problem. Thanks for choosing FixYa.

Hi,

The most common cause of frost and ice buildup on a dehumidifier is because the unit is operating in temperatures that are too cold. Many dehumidifiers are not equipped to run at temperatures below 65 degrees Fahrenheit.
To fix this problem, Position the dehumidifier in an area where there is at least one foot of clearance around the unit in order to allow for proper air circulation during its operation. Close all windows, doors and other outside openings to make sure your unit isn't attempting to remove moisture from areas outside of the immediate room. Determine the temperature of the room by checking a nearby thermostat or by using a hand-held thermometer.

Check the filter for dirt and buildup. Unplug the unit from the electrical source and check the filter by opening the filter compartment. If the filter is dirty, it will restrict airflow through the unit and lead to freezing. Soleus recommends lightly vacuuming the surface of the filter to remove dirt. The filter also can be washed in warm water if it is extremely dirty. Once clean, place the filter back in its compartment. Allow for the ice to melt and then restart your dehumidifier.

There are several reasons this may be happening. The 2 primary reasons are the humidity extraction level is set to high. Lower it to 35% . The lower the setting, the more moisture/humidity is extracted from the air. The higher the setting, the less if any moisture/humidity will be extracted from the air.
On most humidifiers the fan runs almost constantly while in operation. The idea is to continually move the air around and when the unit senses a rise in humidity, above what you have it set on, the compressor will turn ON to extract that humidity.

The 2nd thing that causes the problem is a dirty of clogged intake air filter. Which is easily solved by removing and cleaning the filter. Which should be done at least every 2 weeks, while the dehumidifier is in operation.

I said there were 2 reasons. Actually, there is a 3rd. Not enough clear air space all around the dehumidifier. A minimum of 12" should be maintained during operation.

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

Hi, Sounds like the fan quit....could be the board or the fan motor ...check for power at the motor...
There are many reasons why a dehumidifier willnot work or collect water.
Here is a tip that I wrote to help people to figure out what is going wrongwith their dehumidifier

Dehumidifier is running but no water is in bucket

heatman101

You may have the humidity setting to high. Try lowering it to 45%. Or if yours doesn't have an LED Screen, set it for minimum. Also, check and clean the air intake filter, if you haven't already. Keep in mind, most dehumidifiers have a fan that may seem to run constantly, but the compressor doesn't turn ON. The fan is circulating air, in a effort to detect humidity levels that are higher than what you have the humidity removal set on.

Hope this helped you.

Your unit has a sealed system leak. The sealed system is warrantied for five years. Check your owners manual for this info. You will need your receipt and to call an authorized LG warranty dealer to exchange it.

Your dehumidifier has a circulating fan that draws the room air over the coils. If there's no air movement out the front or back of the unit, the fan motor may be burned out or stuck, or the fan blade may be broken. If so, you need to replace the fan motor or the fan blade.

Dehumidifiers have only a few components, and operate on the same principle as a refrigerator, freezer, or air-conditioner.
Components Residential dehumidifiers have a cooling system made up of these primary components:

• The compressor is the quiet motor (engine) of the cooling system. It's the black, football-size component at the bottom of your dehumidifier. The compressor runs as long as the dehumidifier humidistat (the humidity-sensor) calls for a reduction in the humidity.
  
  
• The condenser is a series of finned tubes, similar to a radiator. It's usually near the circulating fan.
  
  
• The evaporator is located near the back of the dehumidifier, right above the water-collection container. It also resembles a radiator or a coiled-up set of tubes. When the dehumidifier's humidistat senses increased humidity, it cycles on, which starts the compressor and circulating fan.
  
  
• The circulating fan circulates the air over the evaporator and condenser coils.
  
  

Principle When the unit runs, the circulating fan and compressor also run. The fan continually draws room air over the evaporator coils, which are cold, and then over the condenser coils, which are warm. Because the evaporator coils are cold, the moisture in the room collects on them--just as the outside of a glass of icy liquid "sweats" on a warm, humid day. When the moisture on the coils increases, it drips off of the coils into the collection container.

The air then flows over the warm condenser coils and out into the room. This process removes water from the air and, because of the heat from the fan motor and compressor motor, the exiting air is somewhat warmer, as well as dryer.