Dehumidifier freezing up

[Samper]

Well now that the holidays are upon me and I have no money my dehumidifier decides to start acting up. I'm not sure why but the coils are freezing every time I turn it on no matter what the setting is. I've read that a lightbulb by them and a fan blowing through will help keep this from happening but IMO it shouldn't be happening in the first place. Never did before. Does anyone else have any suggestions to alleviate the pain of having to replace one? If it comes to that who uses what?

[Poseidon]

Is the temperture in the room lower then normal? Some dehumidifiers have a minimum temp that they are effective too...

[Samper]

We keep it around 72 in the winter and 70 in the summer. It's extremely old so I should have been expecting a problem. I figured out that is an estate dehumidifier by whirlpool but I can't find a model number anywhere on or inside it.

[Samper]

I called whirlpool and they are having me run a test on it. They had me to put it in the bathroom and run hot water through the shower until it steams up real good. Turn the dehumidifier on and see what happens..so I'm doing so and will call back when I know. Hopefully I can resolve this without ordering parts but the lady seemed doubtful.

[Poseidon]

Hmmm..... Well that is certainly not very cold. ESPECIALLY in the bathroom with a hot shower. I think a new unit will be around $100 or so Chuck, might be worth it to buy one.

[DonW]

She's low on freon. Low pressure is going to give you cooler temps on the cooling side coils. Does it have defrost cycle?

Don

[Samper]

Mike you may be right.

Don this thing is ancient.....I think Columbus had one in the hull of the Nina. It doesn't have a defrost cycle but is there a way to recharge them? It takes a #22 refrigerant.

[DonW]

You can recharge it but you have to cut the service tube, weld on a service fitting for your gauges to connect. Evac the system add oil and recharge. Easy! Now if you cant do it yourself its going to cost you about $200. Cheaper to get a new one

Don

[scooterman]

Mine would freeze up when the humidity in the room was too low for the unit, if you run it in the bath with the shower steaming it up & it is working then you don't need to run it when it freezes up. If not then Yup it is low or time for repair or replacement, a good on will cost as much as a window unit or slightly more. I know one thing also, too dry isn't good, you should keep a room with around 70% humidity or more to be comfortable, dryer like in the cold days is a waste trying to dehumidify the room.

[Samper]

The drain line of our washing machine shook off the other day and completely flooded our condo in a matter of minutes. I went out and bought a new whirlpool Whirlpool AD75USS 70 Pint Electronic Dehumidifier - AD75U and man does it work well. Most likely overkill for my application but with a 40 dollar difference between it and the one under it I figured why not. It has great reviews. I put a few space heaters around to get the humidity up and have been running it every since. I'm amazed at how fast a shop vac and a good dehumifier can dry things.

[garethjones]

It happens sometimes temperature goes below the recommended rating for the dehumidifier...