Dehumidifier Question

Low freon, or reduced air flow.

Some models have a temp sensor that shuts off the compressor if the coil starts to ice.

Buck,

The most common cause: A unit that is nearly 20 years old and has never been cleaned. Dirty fins=reduced air flow=icing. Google should help you locate many references to sites telling how to clean the unit. It is extremely easy.

Second most common cause: Low refrigerant due to a leak. This is often a cheap and easy problem to fix IF you have the equipment and knowledge to do the repair. However, paying a pro to fix it is going to be a waste of money. You certainly own an R-12 unit, and the retail cost of having the Freon-12 installed is a great down payment on a new unit. Add in the service call/bench charge, labor charge, piercing valve(s), and brazing the leak and you have a lot of money spent on fixing a unit that is 2 decades old. Plus, you are going to owe the tech money even if the repair is more than you decide to spend.

You may have found your excuse to buy a new unit. They aren't really all that expensive.

Good luck, Gideon