When you live in a damp climate, it feels muggy all summer and extra cold in winter. A dehumidifier that keeps shutting off without doing the job is worse than having none at all. Don’t ignore a malfunctioning dehumidifier. When it seems like the device is clicking on and off too much, or you can feel that the air isn’t getting drier when it should, you have a faulty dehumidifier. Alternately, you could have a unit that is too small to handle the level of humidity in your home. Either way, turn it off and stop wasting power. Leaving your broken dehumidifier running won’t change the humidity in your home. I’ve lived in moist climates for years and used many different dehumidifiers to cope with the climate, so I’ll explain why they sometimes keep shutting off. It’s crucial to keep your equipment in good repair and make sure it gets regular maintenance.
Why does my dehumidifier keep shutting off? Your dehumidifier is shutting off because it’s not reading the humidity level properly. The sensor or thermistor may be faulty. Have a specialist make repairs, or you can ask for a replacement if you got a warranty. However, it’s important to make sure you don’t let the unit run while it’s broken, as this can cause high electric bills and even damage the machine further.
Do Dehumidifiers Shut Off Automatically
You plug in your dehumidifier, but it keeps shutting off automatically. Is that normal, or do you need to return it to the shop? No one wants to pay for a defective product. Moreover, it’s important to remove some excess moisture to prevent mold growth in many climates.
The good news is that your dehumidifier is supposed to turn itself off. When you buy a dehumidifier, it has a factory setting. This is the automatic amount of moisture it is going to remove from the air.
Luckily, you can reset many dehumidifiers for more or less water in your air. Regardless, all humidifiers have a sensor. When that sensor says it has pulled enough water out of the surrounding air, it will shut off.
By doing this, your dehumidifier can control the humidity around it. Moreover, if it didn’t have this function, it would waste power, dry the air more than necessary and fill up too quickly.
Additionally, most dehumidifiers have an automated cutoff for the water basin. When they reach a certain level, the machine will cut off to prevent spillage. Both these cutoffs are beneficial and necessary for proper dehumidification.
An Alrocket Dehumidifier from Amazon will keep a room drier. With a thousand-liter capacity, this two-point-nine-pound portable device can pull a stunning sixteen liters of water per day out of the air. Better still, at a mere thirty-nine dB, it’s extremely quiet, so you can run your Alrocket while you sleep. Plus, the one-touch switch and easy to remove and dump water collection tray make this device perfect for a home or office. To read the excellent Amazon reviews, click here.
Why Does My Frigidaire Dehumidifier Shut Off After a Few Minutes
Like any other Dehumidifier, your Frigidaire should automatically off. So long as it is operating normally, this is nothing to worry about. Stopping before it removes more humidity than desired is a built-in feature and not an issue.
However, when your Frigidaire dehumidifier shuts down too often or seems not to be working, you may have a part malfunction. Like all electrical equipment, this can happen from time to time.
According to PartSelect, “If your dehumidifier keeps shutting off, the issue may be with the humidity control or humidistat. This dehumidifier part detects the air’s humidity level and signals the compressor circuit to cycle on when necessary. If the humidity control is not reading the humidity level properly, it will signal the compressor to shut off before the desired level is reached.”
The thermistor can also be the culprit in a humidifier that doesn’t run properly. A professional repair person can diagnose and fix the issue, or you can attempt a DIY if you’re reasonably certain you know which part stopped working.
In some cases, other part malfunctions can cause a shutdown. For example, many modern electrical devices have a cutoff that powers them down if the components get too warm. Doing this prevents your machine from accidentally burning out.
More importantly, a heat cutoff can help prevent electrical fires. Never try to force your dehumidifier to run if there’s a problem.
How Do You Fix A Dehumidifier Sensor
A dehumidifier that keeps shutting off may need a new sensor. Fortunately, this is a relatively quick and simple repair you can do at home with the right parts. Although ‘repairing’ the sensor takes more skill, you can swap it for a new one.
Before you begin, make sure you have unplugged the unit and removed the water collection and filter. This will make it easier and safer to replace the part. Follow the steps below to replace your sensor.
- Remove the front grille and back panel. You will probably need to remove a few screws to get the parts off. Make sure you keep track of the pieces your remove and where they go.
- Take off the outer case.
- Disconnect the wire harness from the control board completely. Never yank on these delicate parts, but rather finesse them one at a time to prevent damage to the control unit that powers your dehumidifier.
- Remove the wire harness from the collection bucket float switch.
- In the copper sleeve on the side of the evaporator coil, you will find the thermistor. Remove that as well.
- The humidity sensor is in the evaporator fins, so take that out along with the whole sensor assembly.
- Take your new sensor assembly and carefully replace the old one.
- From here, you reverse the process. Push the humidity sensor into the fins and the thermistor into that copper sleeve.
- Reconnect the wires to the collection bucket float switch and electronic control board.
- Finally, replace the outer case, back panel, filter, front grille, and water collection bucket.
Is There a Reset Button On a Dehumidifier
Most dehumidifiers do not have a reset button. When your dehumidifier is shutting off, but you don’t want it to, you may need a full reset. Typically, you can accomplish this by unplugging the unit and letting it rest for one to two minutes before plugging it back in.
Some models may have a reset, in which case, use that instead. Alternately, some dehumidifiers only have an on or off option. If you need more functions than your model possesses, consider upgrading for better control.
Grab a Pro Breeze Electric Mini Dehumidifier for your bedroom or small apartment. At a mere two-point-four pounds and eleven inches high, this device fits into any space. Not only does this model have an automatic shutoff, but it also has an LED indicator to let you know when it needs to be emptied. You’ll love how durable and easy the Pro Breeze is to use. Since it can handle a hundred and fifty square feet, you can even take your Pro Breeze on vacation and use it in an RV or hotel room. Have Amazon deliver to your door by clicking here.
How Do I Get My Dehumidifier To Run Continuously
Naturally, when your dehumidifier shuts off automatically, you may wonder how to make it run all the time. While curiosity is normal, you should not do this. A dehumidifier that is constantly running is likely broken.
Your dehumidifier should only operate when the moisture in the air is over fifty percent. Below that, it may be unable to extra the necessary moisture. Furthermore, some moisture in the air is both expected and healthy.
If your dehumidifier is running properly, but your air is still overly moist, then it may not be the machine to blame. It’s important to know how much space you have, and how much space your device can handle. It could be that you need more dehumidifiers in other rooms or a larger unit to handle your needs.
Cleaning your air filter can also aid in proper function. When too much dust and particulate matter gets trapped, it clogs the intake. This can cause the machine to run longer than necessary with less effect. Ultimately, this will wear on your machine and cause it to burn out sooner.
I recommend a self-regulating Lonove Dehumidifier from Amazon. These highly efficient machines can keep your home’s humidity level below forty-five percent, and the built-in shutoff prevents overflowing and wasted energy. You’ll appreciate the accurate sensor, which turns on your dehumidifier any time the moisture reaches fifty percent to keep you comfortable. Best of all, this unit has upgraded thermoelectric Cooling Technology, which doesn’t use a compressor. That means it’s quiet and energy-efficient. Learn more by clicking here.
Final Thoughts
When a dehumidifier stops working, it’s annoying, and the clicking off is downright infuriating. Hopefully, you’ll never need to worry about it, but if you do, then it’s time to unplug your unit. Whether you fix the sensor yourself or have a pro do the repairs, there’s no point in running a dehumidifier that can’t tell when to shut off.
Rather than wasting power and time, take a look at your sensor. Sometimes it’s as simple as pet hair or some other small blockage in the way.