dehumidifier broken?

[hsiaspam]

I need to know if my dehumidifier is working properly or not. The output seems to be very low for how long it runs, just a cup or so after 1 day. I've had it hooked up to a hose into my sump well for 2 years so I don't know how much is normal, but I seem to remember it filled up the reservoir overnight when I first got it 2 years ago.

I removed the front panel and saw that the top coil is freezing up while 4 coils down it remains at room temp, more or less. I've seen condensation on the outside top of the unit past several days. The frost is on the coil from the top coil back to a small black plastic part. With the panel off, it ran for several minutes and I did not see any condensate driping down except for a few drops in between the fins.

I don't know the temp in the basement, but I'd have to say it's over

65F since it's about 75 outside. Anyone with any insight is appreciated.

[morenuf]

No expert here. But I had a similar problem with freezing and large amounts of ice on my dehumidifier coils (don't recall now if it was winter or summer but unit is located like yours in a basement).

I just put a cheap timer on it and it turns off 2 hours out of 24 to allow for thawing and I have not had that particular problem since.

Otherwise mine seems okay (>5 years old). Like you I have a hose draining to a floor drain so I don't know about quantity of water removed each day.

Good luck.

Morenuf

[Don Young]

A partially frosted and partially warm coil is commonly caused by a low refrigerant charge. You probably need to have it looked at by a refrigerater repair shop.

Don Young

[Art]

Is it a Sears Kenmore 70 pint dehumidifier? Throw it in the garbage unless repairs are covered by warranty. They are junk.

[hsiaspam]