Dehumidifier coil keeps icing

[definenredefine]

This has happened before, and I cleaned the filter, vacuumed the coil (as best I could with the plastic...um...guard in front of it), and emptied the water bin (it's hooked up to drain, but I figured this wouldn't hurt and I think I read you're supposed to do that in this situation?). Those steps worked before, but don't seem to have worked this time. Now the coil ices up pretty frequently.

I should note that the weather has been pretty bipolar lately - from 60s-70s and pretty humid to 40s-50s and pretty dry, all within a couple of days. I don't know if that's part of the problem.

Only other thing I can think of is maybe the drain hose is clogged? Any other thoughts?

It's a honeywell portable dehumidifier, if that helps.

 

[Alkali Ike]

The most common causes are insufficient airflow, which might be due to a clogged air filter or the blower not working right; and running it in a room that's "too cold". Seems that the definition of "too cold" is 65 degrees or below. Also the unit needs plenty of clearance from wall and other solid objects so they don't obstruct airflow.

Thank you Google!

 

[buldog5151bass]

Temperature. People seldom need to run a dehumidifier when it gets cooler, which is when it tends to ice up.

 

[definenredefine]

The most common causes are insufficient airflow, which might be due to a clogged air filter or the blower not working right; and running it in a room that's "too cold". Seems that the definition of "too cold" is 65 degrees or below. Also the unit needs plenty of clearance from wall and other solid objects so they don't obstruct airflow.

Thank you Google!

This is what I found as well. I already cleaned the filter and vacuumed the coil. There's a split AC unit maintaining a temp of at least 70F. I can't maintain the distance cited owing to the small room. The manual said it needs about 12 inches, but it's only about 6 inches from the closest wall/object. However, this hasn't really been a problem until recently.

Temperature. People seldom need to run a dehumidifier when it gets cooler, which is when it tends to ice up.

Usually the dehumidifier cuts off below a certain temperature because the relative humidity is low as well. I have it set to maintain 45% (I think that means it maintains a range of 40-50%), so when it's below that goal it'll turn off. The problem has been when it warms up around here. I live in coastal NC so even though it's winter, we'll have days that are between 60-70F, and it'll get more humid as well. So, for example, this morning it was 41F; yesterday it was like 60.

At this point, I think the drain hose might be clogged (it's like 5 years old...) Anybody have any idea about whether that could be causing the problem?

 

[Wasnex]

ACs ice up when they are low on Freon. I assume the same is true for a dehumidifier. Not sure it is possible or economical to service a stand alone dehumidifier.

If the drain is clogged I would expect it to either fill the internal reservoir or possibly overflow if it doesn't have an auto-sense.

Based on reviews I have read, consider yourself lucky if you got 5 years out of it.

 

[definenredefine]

ACs ice up when they are low on Freon. I assume the same is true for a dehumidifier. Not sure it is possible or economical to service a stand alone dehumidifier.

If the drain is clogged I would expect it to either fill the internal reservoir or possibly overflow if it doesn't have an auto-sense.

Based on reviews I have read, consider yourself lucky if you got 5 years out of it.

No idea about freon. As for 5 years, not quite - this is the second one. First was replaced under warranty when it decided it didn't like working for me anymore.

 

[Wasnex]

No idea about freon. As for 5 years, not quite - this is the second one. First was replaced under warranty when it decided it didn't like working for me anymore.

A lot of reviews seem to suggest the portables don't typically last much longer than about two years. Mine is older than that. It worked fine into the fall. Who knows if it will work in the spring .

 

[Winslow]

Not sure it is possible or economical to service a stand alone dehumidifier.

Based on our experience with them, it is not; As with so many other small appliances of the era, the economics and mechanics of their manufacture basically make them "disposable." They really aren't even made to be serviced.

A lot of reviews seem to suggest the portables don't typically last much longer than about two years.

That's also what we've found. We typically do pre-emptive replacement of our dehumidifiers roughly annually, and a portable "room" AC unit we use upstairs every 2-3 years, depending on how it performs.

 

[wagdog]

They make low temperature dehumidifiers. I need to dehumidify into November in my basement and my old unit would ice up beginning in October. I bought a low temp unit (works to low 40’s) and it’s made all the difference.

 

[fhm555]

The place I used to live in was built in a spot cut out of a hillside, effectively putting three walls of the bottom floor underground. In summer we ran a dehumidifier in one room that was bound by dirt on 2 sides and stayed damp in summer. i built a stand in front of a window in there and sat the dehumidifier on it, then ran the drain tube through the window frame where it emptied into a small area prepped with river rock and white sand. We were there for a while and bought a dehumidifying unit every 3~4 years. I talked to someone about a larger permanent install and I don’t recall the price, but I remember doing the math and I could buy like 15 or so of the unit I was using, and the room was mostly an overflow storage so we decided to just keep on keeping on.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Or you could put a humidifier in one end and a dehumidifier at the other end and let them fight to the death. . .

 

[Alkali Ike]

If it has both a HEPA filter and a "coarse" filter, make sure both are clean. It's easy to overlook the HEPA filter.

 

[definenredefine]

They make low temperature dehumidifiers. I need to dehumidify into November in my basement and my old unit would ice up beginning in October. I bought a low temp unit (works to low 40’s) and it’s made all the difference.

I took a peak at the manual, and apparently the one I have is good into the low 40s as well.

If it has both a HEPA filter and a "coarse" filter, make sure both are clean. It's easy to overlook the HEPA filter.

The filter on this thing looks like window screen on a plastic frame. There's nothing else between it and the coil. This is good advice but I don't think there's a HEPA filter.