Why does my dehumidifier blow hot air?
3 Key Takeaways:
🚀 Dehumidifiers naturally produce heat as a result of the dehumidification process.
🚀 When the room’s moist air passes through the reheating coil, hot air is naturally produced and released back into the room.
🚀 The ideal operating temperature for refrigerant dehumidifiers is between 70 to 90 degrees F. If your dehumidifier is producing too much heat, you should check for a lack of airflow.
Read more on why does a dehumidifier blow hot air.
Dehumidifiers are a great invention. Keeping humidity levels under control has been possible in the way in which dehumidifiers work. Finding the right dehumidifier will always change the situation in your humid room. You will no longer be battling the problems that arise from excess moisture in your house. A dehumidifier draws excess moisture from the air and keeps the relative humidity under check.
Due to several factors, this dehumidification process might not be effective in your house. If you notice that the air temperature in your room is higher and there is too much hot air coming from the device (like exhaust air), it is time for service. You have to do a thorough check if the dehumidifier works effectively, removing moisture, rather than being a heat source in the living space. If your device constantly radiates humid air, it is time to dig deeper.
Let us find answers to your question ‘Why does my dehumidifier blow hot air?’, and what can be done from your end with a dehumidifier blowing hot air.
Why is hot air coming out of my dehumidifier?
A dehumidifier blowing hot air is nothing new or an issue of concern (unless it is very hot air above the set limits). When the room’s moist air passes through the reheating coil, hot air is naturally produced. This hot air is released back into the room.
As a result of the dehumidification process, the unit can remove moisture and hot air from the room. However, it also sends ack warm air into the room. Remember, warm air and not humid air. This is normal. If your dehumidifier is blowing out cool air into the room, it requires attention. An air conditioner has the duty of blowing cool air or cold air into the room, not dehumidifiers. There could be a mechanical problem with the unit.
This is what happens on your device. Moist air enters the dehumidifier and undergoes a process of condensation. The moisture from the air is removed when the refrigerant condenses the air that entered the unit. The water droplets from condensation are collected in the bucket and the cold air is heated and sent back to the room.
Do all dehumidifiers create heat?
Yes, all dehumidifiers do! Apart from the result of the function; dehumidifiers or any machine that is run continuously radiate naturally produced heat.
This heat will seem less when it is a large room and come across as too much heat if it is a small room.
What temperature should the air be coming out of a dehumidifier?
It has been recorded that the ideal operating temperature for refrigerant dehumidifiers is between 70 to 90 degrees F.
Try checking these 6 things if your dehumidifier is producing too much heat
a. Lack of air flow
Dehumidifiers are devices that are designed to work in areas with good air flow. If your dehumidifier is blowing too much hot air, poor air flow can also be a reason.
Objects too close to the unit that is blocking the air flow can make dehumidifiers work harder, leading up to overheating. Within the same room, just change the location of the dehumidifier. Place the unit in the center of the room to check if there is an improvement. The device constantly radiates hot air still? Arrange for a service team to rule out any mechanical problem.
b. If dehumidifier has a refrigerant
Just like air conditioners, dehumidifiers also need a cooling cook or refrigerant that will cool down the ring or surface over which the air passes. Removing moisture from the air via condensation happens here, and the water droplets fall into the drip pan or bucket.
If the dehumidifier’s compressor or motor is running hot, the unit will also be hot. There are dehumidifiers that come with error codes to hint that the device is out of refrigerant or overheated.
Dehumidifiers without a refrigerant will run continually without shutting down automatically. If this happens, turn off the dehumidifier and call for a service person to take a look at the refrigerant leak. Most people will have the unit recharged with the refrigerant to fix the issue.
c. If unit is hot
Is there too much heat coming from your dehumidifier? There are several factors that can explain why your unit is heated. When it becomes obvious that the comfort level in the room is not normal and the device is overheated, most people rush to the manual to check what is wrong or they turn off the unit. This is a good step since most dehumidifiers will just need some time to cool down from a stressed compressor. An overworked compressor can cause the unit to seize up, hence pay attention to it.
Here are a couple of reasons why the unit is hot:
1. Faulty internal electrical components that need replacement
2. Some mechanical problem in need of service
3. Issues with the fan motor or compressor
4. Using a small dehumidifier for a larger room, overworked beyond capacity
5. The control board is hot from some electrical issue.
6. Most dehumidifiers nowadays generate error codes for their issues. If your dehumidifier does that, check what could be the concern to fix it.
d. Broken dehumidifier components
As it goes with any device for that matter, broken components of the dehumidifier will hinder the unit from maintaining the humidity level in the house, there will be a drop in how much moisture they extract from the air, and you will have a dehumidifier blowing hot air.
e. Tray is full
A dehumidifier blowing hot air into the room can sometimes also result from a full bucket. Most dehumidifiers will turn off automatically when this happens, but when they do not it leads to problems. If there is a malfunction in the fan mode, the unit keeps working even after a full tank.
In this case, the air drawn into the unit is warmed up even before it gets to cool down. Hence the unit will be blowing hot air into the room and will not lower the humidity level either. For cases like this, turn off the device, drain the tank, clean it up and, then run it again.
f. Wrong humidity settings
The relative humidity of living space will keep differing. It is recommended that you keep a close watch on the thermostat and humidistat to ensure that they are set to maintain the temperature and humidity to suit your comfort level.
Dehumidifiers will blow out heated air when they are overworked. When dehumidifiers are not set to the right humidity settings in line with the room, this will put pressure on the device.
FAQ Section
1. Should I run my dehumidifier on low medium or high?
You can set your dehumidifier to 30% to 60% for the comfort range you desire. The target that most of the people hit is 45%. To keep away dust and dust mites from thriving, you can set dehumidifiers to 50% and below.
2. Are dehumidifiers a fire hazard?
All electronic appliances are fire hazards when they are not handled with care. If there is any serious electrical issue, temperature fluctuations that aggravate the problem, too much heat from the machine that is neglected, a mechanical problem that is swept under the rug, etc., your dehumidifier can definitely be a fire hazard.
Models that were manufactured between 2003 to 2013 have been recalled, after having been labelled as unsafe. The recent models are greener, environmentally safe, and also advanced to be user-friendly and safe.
3. Should you close windows when using a dehumidifier?
Yes! It is not a great idea to have temperature changes and fresh moisture coming in via the open doors and windows continually, while your dehumidifier works to lower the humidity in the room. Cold or warm temperature or air; either of these blowing into space is going to hinder the performance of the device.
Always keep the windows and doors closed when you run a dehumidifier for the best results. Whether you run the dehumidifier for humidity and moisture control, or you run it to keep away dust, dust mites, mold, mildew, and other allergens- keep the windows closed no matter what the purpose is.
4. Should you use a dehumidifier year-round?
Just like the climate and temperature change all year round so does the humidity. Adjust the humidity settings on the humidistat and thermostat accordingly to maintain the desired level for that particular climate.
Be it a small dehumidifier or a large one; they cannot run below 60% be it in any climate. This will cause the coils to freeze up.
5. What brand dehumidifier should you buy?
Based on the level of moisture and humidity control you need, pick the size of dehumidifier your space needs. Is it a small dehumidifier or a large whole-house dehumidifier? After this, you can go through the best brands and the features they contain.
Homelabs is one of the most sought-after dehumidifier brands in the USA.
Wrapping Up
With this, we have reached the end of the post. Hope you have found the answer to your question, ‘Why does my dehumidifier blow hot air?’. Let us know about how you handled a dehumidifier that blows too much hot air. Also check our website for more detailed reviews on latest dehumidifiers.
About The Author
Olivia — a self-confessed air quality addict — is a home climate enthusiast, fresh air advocate, and someone with deep personal experience and knowledge about mold extermination. Her work was mentioned in countless notable humidity publications. Previously she was an editor at Mold Remediation.