HVAC Contributor
Dehumidifiers are frequently seen in homes, especially in areas with high humidity. If the compressor on your dehumidifier has been cycling on and off, you might be wondering what to do.
Here’s what you should do if your dehumidifier decompressor periodically turns on and off:
- Check the evaporation pad on the pump humidifier.
- Drain the tank.
- Examine the refrigerant liquid.
- Make the electrical connections better.
Home Uses For Dehumidifiers
Controlling the humidity levels in your home could be challenging. Changing humidity levels can be uncomfortable and even harmful to one’s health.
Dehumidifiers are used to remove extra moisture from the air if humidity levels are high. During humid summers, they help to manage humidity in damp environments such as basements, enclosed spaces, and garages.
While some homes only occasionally experience moisture issues, others must continually deal with them. The advantages and significance of utilizing a humidifier at home are listed below.
Defends Against High Humidity
High humidity levels might damage your home’s structural integrity. Over time, moisture damage to your home’s support beams may cause warping, cracking, or even splitting.
Because of the excess moisture in your home, mold may start to grow on the walls and rust may cover metal fixtures. A dehumidifier is a cost-effective way to keep your home from deteriorating over time and provide a better living environment for your family.
Aids In Mite Reduction
Dehumidifiers are crucial for improving the overall indoor air quality of your house. The humidity levels of the air themselves are used to determine the quality of the air in your home in addition to the quantity of toxins you may or may not be breathing in.
Even while an air purifier is unquestionably the most effective way to remove various dangerous substances from the air in your house, a dehumidifier does play a vital role in improving the quality of the air there.
Causes Of Your Dehumidifier Compressor’s Frequent On/Off Cycle
The following are some causes of your dehumidifier’s erratic operation:
1. Defective Float Switch
Most dehumidifiers contain a shut-off switch that turns the apparatus off when the water level in the collecting tank reaches its maximum level. If the dehumidifier’s drainage line attaches to a floor drain, a full tank may be an indication that it has become kinked or obstructed.
Repairing A Float Switch
- To fix the float control on the dehumidifier, look at the float and open the top cover.
- Make sure the floating pole is straight and tight, and that the float is clean.
- As you clean the float, watch that the rod doesn’t flex.
- Moving the float will reveal the activation level of the float switch. Adjust the switch as necessary to achieve the right level of activation.
- Check to see whether each electrical connection on the float switch is securely fastened.
2. Extremely High Humidity
Even if you unintentionally increased the humidity level, the dehumidifier may not be operating if the ambient air humidity is too low. Ensure that the goal relative humidity is not set at a level higher than 40%.
How To Deal With High Humidity
With most dehumidifiers, you can often set a room humidity level between 30 and 40% to deal with high humidity levels. When the humidity level surpasses that threshold, the dehumidifier turns on and removes moisture from the air.
3. Humidistat Problem
Your humidistat might be to blame if your compressor frequently turns on and off. When the air moisture level reaches the predetermined level, the humidistat in the dehumidifier turns on the device.
It is a little module that is frequently discovered directly below the dehumidifier’s lid. If the humidistat is broken, the dehumidifier cannot be used.
Repairing A Humidistat
To fix your humidistat, take the following actions:
- The humidistat cables should all be identified and severed.
- Make use of a multimeter to test the humidistat. Only the on mode should be used; the off mode is not permitted.
- If necessary, swap out the humidistat for a suitable replacement part.
4. Refrigerant Level Low
A cold condenser coil is in touch with warm, moist air as it enters the device, causing the moisture to condense and eventually drip into a collecting tank.
If the temperature falls below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, the humidity on the coils may freeze rather than condense and drain.
How To Address The Low Refrigerant Issue
The condenser coils of a dehumidifier contain compressed refrigerant fluid. To keep the coils cool, a compressor pumps air continually through them.
The coil system’s tight seal keeps the fluid inside, but over time, there could be damage that would cause the fluid to gradually leak out. If there isn’t enough refrigerant fluid, the evaporator coils won’t become cold enough to remove moisture from the air.
An HVAC expert’s knowledge is required when handling refrigerant fluid. To have your refrigerant refilled, you would need to hire one.
5. Electrical Connections That Are Faulty — Fan Not Working
Dehumidifiers feature electrical components that could malfunction in addition to internal wiring that could short out or come loose from connecting connections. Models from ten or more years ago may have electronic control boards that burn out and quit working.
The fan of a dehumidifier draws air in rather than expels it, allowing water vapor to come into contact with the cool coils. If the fan isn’t bringing air in, the dehumidifying process can’t be successful.
How To Handle A Defective Fan
Your compressor may cycle on and off due to a dirty fan or a damaged fan blade.
Why Doesn’t The Dehumidifier Collect Water While It Runs?
There could be a number of reasons why your dehumidifier is not capturing water. For you to see what’s wrong, the majority of dehumidifiers will display an error code.
The float switch can be blocked, or perhaps the drain line is obstructed, as potential causes. Less frequently, it can be the result of a dirty dehumidifier coil or air filter.
How Can A Dehumidifier Sensor Be Cleaned?
Due to its extreme sensitivity, a dehumidifier sensor should always be maintained clean. Its sensitivity might be impacted by dirt and dust, which would cause a malfunction. Here’s how to effectively clean it without endangering it further.
- Turn off the electricity to the dehumidifier first.
- Remove the panel after removing the screws holding the front plate in place.
- Remove the sensor unit from the central control panel by first removing the mounting screw for the humidity sensor.
- Use a cloth moistened with rubbing alcohol to clean the sensor, and then let it air-dry.
- After the humidity sensor has been replaced and screwed into place, the main panel should be put back in and fastened.
- Launch the dehumidifier and monitor it closely. If the sensor doesn’t appear to be performing any better, seek help from the dehumidifier’s manufacturer.
How Is A Dehumidifier’s Refrigerant Charged?
Not all dehumidifier refrigerants require charging. It used to be usual practice to buy a refilling kit and complete the refill. However, in more recent times, getting your refrigerant replenished requires getting in touch with an HVAC company.
The chemical to replace your refrigerant will be given to you by them. There are a few portable dehumidifier refrigerant exceptions, though. These dehumidifiers run on their own and are fueled by internal batteries that run out after a set amount of time.
How Can A Dehumidifier Sensor Be Replaced?
The amount of moisture in the air is recorded and reported by dehumidifier sensors. Your dehumidifier’s performance could be impacted by a damaged sensor. Here’s how to swap out a broken one:
- Switch off the power and remove the power cord from the wall outlet.
- Remove the bucket from the dehumidifier case’s front.
- Eliminate the air filter.
- Get rid of the front screen.
- Remove the back panel.
- Take off the top cover.
- Remove the sensor.
- Replace the sensor with this one.
- Reassemble the dehumidifier using the screws.
- Set the power back on.
How Much Does A Dehumidifier Repair Cost?
Repairs for dehumidifiers often cost $50 to $200. While many issues may be fixed by homeowners themselves, more sophisticated issues should be handled by an HVAC professional. Dehumidifiers and compressors frequently experience hardware failures, thawing, drainage obstructions, dirty coils, and other problems.
In Summary
You ought to be able to fix any problems you might be having with your dehumidifier compressor using the advice in this article. To prevent fire threats or other mishaps, always seek HVAC specialists for more complex difficulties.
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