You may be aware that a dehumidifier is a machine that is used to reduce the humidity level in a particular area. However, sometimes you may run into a problem with the unit blowing cold air. And when you have a dehumidifier, the last thing you want is for it to blow cold air.
There are various factors that can make your dehumidifier blow cold air. For instance, it could be that the temperature of the room is too low, too high humidity level, or even due to the settings of the unit.
This article will cover some of these possible causes in detail, and provide more information on why this occurs as well as how you can try to resolve the issue. Otherwise, a dehumidifier blowing cold air is a very common problem and as a homeowner, you want to make sure that everything is running right.
Table of Contents
Why Is My Dehumidifier Blowing Cold Air?
Frozen Coils
If the coils in your humidifier are frozen and the unit is unable to defrost itself, the air coming from the machine will be cold. This usually occurs when you run the humidifier at too low temperatures.
To prevent this from happening, consult your dehumidifier’s manufacturer recommendations as to what temperature range is ideal for your model. You may also want to opt for commercial dehumidifiers that offer low-temperature operation.
Faulty Compressor
The compressor is key to effective dehumidification as it helps circulate the coolant to create condensation. If your compressor is broken, moisture won’t be removed from the air as it passes through the device.
You’ll know it’s time to check your compressor when you notice your dehumidifier emitting a clicking sound or if you see less water collected in the tank than usual. If you think your compressor is broken, it’s important to get it checked out right away.
Delaying the repair will put additional stress on other parts of the unit, and could cause further damage and more costly repairs. If you think there may be an issue with your compressor, it’s important to get your device checked immediately.
Defrost/ On Fan Settings
Depending on the model of the dehumidifier that you have, your dehumidifier might enter defrost mode automatically when it reaches a certain internal temperature. This will cause the unit to stop dehumidifying the air and instead, only circulate cold air. If your dehumidifier is only running in fan mode, switch it back to dehumidify mode to resume normal operation.
Desiccant Dehumidifier
If you have a desiccant dehumidifier, you may notice that it blows cold air to absorb moisture and only starts using warm air to absorb water. If that’s the case, then there’s nothing wrong as long as the humidifier is collecting water. It is perfectly normal.
Too low Temperature
In case the inside temperatures are too low, then your unit will only be able to heat the air up by a small margin (around 10-15 degrees). If the dehumidifier is constantly drawing in cold air, you’ll only see a slightly warmer exhaust. If your dehumidifier is continuing to collect water, then the cooler air is normal.
Broken Dehumidifier
A damaged float switch, clogged drain pipes, dirty air filter, dirty coils, malfunctioning capacitors, or a bad motor fan may cause your dehumidifier to not work. Repairs include cleaning/changing air filters and coils, replacing capacitors, and replacing the motor fan.
Should the Dehumidifier Blow Hot or Cold Air?
In most cases, humidifiers are not expected to blow cold air. So if you realize that your unit is blowing hot air, don’t worry- it’s perfectly normal. Dehumidifiers produce heat as part of the dehumidification process. Therefore the temperature of the air coming out of the unit should be 10-15F higher than the ambient temperature.
However, if you suspect that your dehumidifier is blowing out too much hot air, then something may be wrong. One possibility is that the unit is not properly ventilated. If the unit is not properly ventilated, the coils can freeze, which will cause the dehumidifier to blow out cold air.
As mentioned, there are other few things that could be causing your dehumidifier to blow out cold air instead of hot air. One possibility is that the unit is low on refrigerant. When a unit is low on refrigerant, the compressor has to work harder to cool the coils, which can cause the unit to blow out cold air. Another possibility is that the room humidity is too high. If the humidity isn’t being lowered by the dehumidifier, it may start blowing out cold air.
If your dehumidifier is blowing out cold air, try these troubleshooting tips:
- Check the water level. If it’s too low, that could be the reason why the unit isn’t working correctly.
- Make sure the humidistat is set to the correct setting.
- Clean the coils and filter. A build-up of dirt and dust can cause the unit to work less efficiently.
Dehumidifier Blowing Cold Air and Not Collecting Water
Again, the main problem associated with humidifiers that blow cold air and not collecting water is frozen coils. If your specific model does not have an auto-defrost feature, consider letting the unit defrost first to see if it can go back to operating normally.
Suppose your humidifier is not rated for operation at lower temperatures, and you run it below 65F. In that case, it will not be able to perform as expected and will, in turn, blow cold air simply because it is unable to defrost itself.
Final Worlds
As an essential home appliance, a humidifier blowing cold air is a more common problem than you might think. When this happens, consider troubleshooting a few fixes as discussed above. Some of the most common include frozen coils, the outside temperature is too low, desiccant dehumidifier, etc. It could also be that your humidifier is broken and need to be replaced.
