A dehumidifier is simply a lifesaver device if you live in a hot and humid area. It offers you a superb plug-and-play option that lets you control the moisture level in your indoor space for the perfect living ambiance and comfort.
Usually, a dehumidifier is designed to serve you years. However, at times you might see it not working properly. Mostly, you can get concerned when the dehumidifier starts blowing hot air. So, people ask, “Why does my dehumidifier blow hot air?”
In the first place, it is normal for the dehumidifier to blow hot water as long as it dehumidifies the indoor air perfectly. The dehumidifier has a motor to generate power to soak the added moisture from the air and condensate it to store in the tank reservoir. As the motor and fan of the dehumidifier work constantly, you will see hot air blowing from it.
Nonetheless, you should be concerned when the dehumidifier fails to remove the extra moisture from the air and still gets warm and blows hot air. These signals a malfunctioning dehumidifier, and you need to take quick actions to prevent further damages.
Thus, we will today discuss the possible causes of dehumidifier blowing hot air and its solutions. So, you won’t have to go to mechanics and pay additionally for the device.
Why Does My Dehumidifier Blow Hot Air?
Firstly, you should know that a dehumidifier will blow hot air and release heat in the environment mostly because of its design. Also, the way a dehumidifier works releases hot air in the surrounding.
It happens as the air it collects from the indoor space passes through a heated coil. The heat from the coil will evaporate the moisture and collect it in the tank reservoir through a condensation process. Since the air passes the hot coil, it gets heat. Naturally, when this air comes back on the room surrounding, it remains slightly hotter than the room temperature.
Thus, if you stay too close to the dehumidifier, you can feel the hot air released from it. There’s no need to worry about it. In fact, if you see a dehumidifier releasing cooler air instead of blowing hot air, you need to be concerned about it seriously. It suggests that the dehumidifier isn’t working properly.
Therefore, if someone asks you if it is normal for the dehumidifier to blow hot air, you should answer it affirmatively. The working process of the dehumidifier is responsible for heating the air.
Nonetheless, at times, a dehumidifier might become unusually hot due to improper settings of both the cooler and the humidistat, due to malfunctioning fan and coil, etc. We will discuss them in the next sections.
But before we jump into finding the cause of the unusual heat generation of the dehumidifier, let’s check its working process briefly. It will help you know why the device is causing heat and solve them even without visiting a mechanic.
How Does a Dehumidifier Work?
A dehumidifier has several parts that combine to help the device work perfectly. Firstly, it uses the fan to draw the humid air from the indoor space. After that, the hot and humid air will pass through the coil inside the dehumidifier.
The coil will condense the water from the air and separate it. The air then passes to the next phase. But, the moisture from the air slowly condenses and turns into water. Then, it slowly starts dripping into the tank reservoir of the device.
As the air passes the coil, it gets heated. Then, the device will release it back into the surrounding. As the exhaust air is heated, you will find the device blowing hot water if you stay close to it. However, you won’t notice any major change in the room temperature due to the hot air released unless you sit too close to the device.
The dehumidifier heats the air before releasing it into the environment to remain drier for an extended period. So, you will enjoy better humidity control inside the room. Also, it helps cut the cost since the dehumidifier needs to work less.
What’s more, as the dehumidifier blows hot air, it turns the condensed moisture into vapor and helps the device eliminate moisture better and faster. So, there’s no need to worry if you experience hot air blowing from the dehumidifier. It’s natural as long as the dehumidifier works properly to remove humidity from the indoor space.
But, if the heat generation of the device is too much than its recommended level, you should check and find the actual causes of the dehumidifier getting heated. Moreover, the pint dehumidifier for the garage may blow hot air due to the extra workload in the garage and basement.
Why Is My Dehumidifier Producing Too Much Heat and How to Solve It?
It is normal for a dehumidifier to release 3°F to 5°F. However, it won’t affect the room temperature much since the hot air will get back to normal within minutes. However, it gets worrisome when the dehumidifier releases too hot air.
It might happen due to the following reasons. So, let’s jump into finding the actual reasons, and we will also suggest their troubleshooting.
Is There Any Weird Sound?
When you experience too much heat coming out of your dehumidifier, you should immediately look for any abnormal and weird sound. Usually, dehumidifiers will release little to no sound and operate mostly under 30db noise level.
Thus, when you see increased noise from the device, it surely suggests something is wrong inside the device. It might happen due to malfunctioning motor, loose screws, and fault compressors. Mostly, a dehumidifier with a thermostat will continuously take the reading of the compressor temperature. When it senses too much heat in the compressor, the thermostat will stop the compressor from working. It does so to prevent damage to the compressor.
Consequently, the device will not operate properly and won’t dehumidify the room appropriately. Also, when the thermostat gets faulty, it will fail to sense the temperature increase. As a result, the thermostat continues working.
Although removing moisture from the room air is good, it can permanently damage the compressor with increased heat. And replacing the dehumidifier compressor isn’t any cheap and easy process.
So, when you sense too much heat production from the dehumidifier, try identifying the cause of the weird sound. Usually, you should check the thermostat and look for any loose screws. Also, call a dehumidifier mechanic and maintain the device to get rid of the enhanced temperature problem. It also improves the device’s performance.
Wrong Setting of The Humidity Level
When installing the dehumidifier in a room, it should work with the standard settings. Also, the humidity level of a room is linked with its size. Thus, you need to find the room size correctly and get the dehumidifier accordingly.
If you put a dehumidifier in a larger or smaller room than the device’s capacity, it will fail to work properly. When you put the dehumidifier in a too-small room, it will soak more moisture than required. So, the room will become too drier and warmer to the hot air it blows in the surrounding. Similarly, when you put the dehumidifier in a larger room than its coverage and capacity, it will try to work extra. It will put too much pressure on the dehumidifier.
Therefore, it will try to soak the moisture. Thus, its stress on the device will also cause too much heat in the air.
Moreover, dehumidifiers come with different settings for the humidity level. These are usually high, mid, and low humidity settings. Running the device in high humidity settings for too long will easily increase the temperature due to the extra workload.
Moreover, running the thermostat at low settings for too long may also cause hot air release in the environment.
You should get the right dehumidifier for your room size to avoid such inconveniences. For instance, if your room size is 250 square feet, you should choose a dehumidifier with 200-300 square feet coverage, not less or more than it.
Finally, you should set the thermostat and dehumidifier’s humidity level properly. Ideally, you should maintain the relative humidity level of your indoor space between 40%-50%. So, when you put the device’s humidity level below 40% or 30%, it releases too hot air and makes the environment too dry.
Malfunctioned Defrost Settings
Another major cause of the dehumidifier releasing too hot is its faulty defrosting system. You find an automatic defrosting system when you look at the dehumidifier’s condenser. It removes the frost that is blocked inside the condenser.
When the defrosting system fails or malfunctions, it will force the condenser to work more than it requires. Thus, it puts mechanical stress on the defrosting device and condenser simultaneously. So, it generates too much heat.
Note that you won’t find the dehumidifier in all the dehumidifiers. If your device has one, you need to check it. Call a mechanic to fix the defrosting system. If it still fails to work properly, you will need to get a new dehumidifier.
Malfunctioning Coil and Cooling System
When you live in too high-humid conditions and run the dehumidifier for too long, it stresses the device’s coil and cooling system. Also, running the device for an extended period will make the coil dirty.
As a result, it will get heated easily as its dirt blocks the temperature. What’s more, when the machine works in high-humid conditions, the coil has to remove more moisture from the air. It means the machine takes more workload than its capacity. Neither of these conditions is preferable for the health of your dehumidifier.
Thus, you should keep the dehumidifier in good condition. For this, never run the dehumidifier for 24 hours. Usually, a dehumidifier takes 20 minutes to 2 hours to start working. Also, you don’t need to run the machine for more than 12 hours.
You should run the dehumidifier for 2 to 4 hours at a stretch and leave it to cool off after that time. In this way, run the device 2 to 3 times each day during the summertime. It will control the relative humidity level in your room from 30% to 50%.
Also, you should maintain and clean the dehumidifier coil regularly to stop dust from building on it. For this, you should follow the user manual of your dehumidifier and clean it accordingly. When you disassemble and clean the coil, be careful not to damage it. Thus, we suggest you clean the coil gently with a brush and improve its performance.
Placing the Dehumidifier in A Congested Place
You should put the dehumidifier in an open space. If you put the device in a too-tight space, it will have a problem receiving and releasing the air in the environment. Thus, the condenser and the fan of the machine will have an extra workload.
Consequently, insufficient airflow will force the dehumidifier to release hot air. These devices work with proper and sufficient airflow. So, you should place the dehumidifier in a place with sufficient airflow. You can consider placing the dehumidifier in the center of the room. It helps the machine to receive enough airflow ad work properly.
If you can’t place the dehumidifier in the center of the room, at least ensure the device has enough airflow to work properly. It will help it generate less heat and keep the room temperature comfortable.
Final Words
A dehumidifier is supposed to release slightly hot air during the moisture condensation process. Thus, you should check the dehumidifier’s user manual to find the expected hot air release from it. Also, it shouldn’t be a matter of worry as long as your dehumidifier is working properly to remove the extra moisture from the room interior.
So, why does my dehumidifier blow hot air than its expected level? When you see too much heat coming out of the machine, you must check its condenser, thermostat, humidity settings, and even the defrosting system. When the thermostat or condenser of the dehumidifier stops working, you need to either replace these devices or get a new machine.
