If your dehumidifier is blowing cold air, it may be a cause for concern. But what are the reasons that cause it?
Your dehumidifier is blowing cold air because the coils are frozen, the internals on your dehumidifier are broken, it’s on fan or defrost mode, the outside temperature is too low or you may have a desiccant dehumidifier.
Below you’ll find out how to troubleshoot your dehumidifier blowing cold air and more.
Let’s get started.
Why is My Dehumidifier Blowing Cold Air?
1. Coils are Frozen
If your coils are frozen and your dehumidifier is unable to defrost itself, the air coming from your dehumidifier will be cold. This happens if you run your dehumidifier at too low temperatures.
Check your dehumidifier’s manufacturer’s recommendations as to what temperature range is ideal for your dehumidifier. You can also look into commercial dehumidifiers that offer low-temperature operation.
2. Dehumidifier is broken
If your dehumidifier is broken, then it will no longer be able to create hot air during the dehumidification process. You can troubleshoot a few different fixes from checking the float switch, drain pipes are clogged, air filter is dirty, coils are dirty, faulty capacitors and poor motor fan.
You can find more solutions if your dehumidifier is not working properly.
3. On Fan or defrost mode
If your dehumidifier is on fan only or defrost mode, then the air coming from your dehumidifier will be cold. Your dehumidifier can work without dehumidifying the air, resulting in cold air coming out of it. Defrost mode may also turn itself on depending on the type of dehumidifier you have.
Once the dehumidifier senses it’s at a certain temperature internally, it will trigger defrost mode. Let your dehumidifier run through the auto defrosting process and it should return to normal. If it’s on fan only mode, switch it back to dehumidify mode.
4. You have a desiccant dehumidifier
A desiccant dehumidifier works differently in that it blows cold air to absorb moisture and only starts using warm air to absorb water. This is perfectly normal, and as long as your desiccant dehumidifier is collecting water, nothing is wrong.
5. Outside temperature is too low
If the temperature inside is low, then your dehumidifier will only be capable of heating the air so much (around 10-15 degrees). If your dehumidifier draws cold air, the exhaust air will only be slightly warmer. If your dehumidifier continues to collect water, then the cool air is normal.
Should the air coming out of a dehumidifier be hot or cold?
If you think your dehumidifier blowing hot air is an issue, it’s not. Dehumidifiers naturally produce heat, as it is part of the dehumidification process. The temperature should be around 10-15F higher than the ambient temperature.
If you suspect that too much hot air is being produced from your dehumidifier, then something may be wrong.
Why is my dehumidifier blowing cold air and not collecting water?
If your dehumidifier is blowing cold air and not collecting water, the main culprit is frozen coils. If your dehumidifier has an auto-defrost feature, let your dehumidifier defrost the coils and it will go back to operating normally.
If you’re running your dehumidifier below 65F and it’s not rated for operation at lower temperatures, then your dehumidifier will not be able to dehumidify the air and will blow cold air as it cannot defrost itself.
What temperature should the air be coming out of a dehumidifier?
The temperature coming out of a dehumidifier should be between 70 to 90 degrees F. If your dehumidifier is as cold as an air conditioner, then that’s a sign that something is wrong.
Why does a dehumidifier make the room cold?
Dehumidifiers remove humidity from the air, which will make the room feel colder. If you’ve ever been to a humid location, then you know how hot, humid air can feel. Once that humidity is removed from the moist air, it makes for a much more enjoyable environment.
Final Thoughts
If your dehumidifier blows cold air, it can be a sign that the coils are frozen, it’s a desiccant dehumidifier, the outside temperature is too low and your dehumidifier may be broken.
If your dehumidifier is blowing hotter air than normal, that is an entirely different problem that you should address.
