If you bought a dehumidifier recently and it continuously ices up you more than likely were not told that if your basement is cool, like under 65 degrees, you need a low temperature dehumidifier to dehumidify the air in your basement.
A low temperature dehumidifier is just that, a dehumidifier that works efficiently in lower temperatures. When the temperature in your basement is consistently lower than 65 degrees your normal temperature dehumidifier will ice up and end up costing you more money in the long run because it is not running efficiently.
We use dehumidifiers in the summer to decrease the level of excess moisture in our homes in the hopes our homes will feel more comfortable. A dehumidifier can do that very well but if it is not the right kind of dehumidifier then you will not get your home as comfortable as you might want it because you are always having to turn the dehumidifier off to let it defrost.
Most dehumidifiers operate very effectively in rooms or spaces that are at 65 degrees of warmer. They take the warm, moist air in and it condenses on the coils that are full of refrigerant so they are cool. The condensation then drips down into the collection tank. The air is then rewarmed before it gets blown back into the room
If the temperature is colder in the space you have the dehumidifier in the cooler air will not condense it will just freeze on the coils and if this happens the dehumidifier is no longer working and is wasting your money.
An easy way to get you to understand how a dehumidifier works is to take a cold can of pop outside on a hot, humid day. See how the outside of the can gets wet? That is condensation and that is the basic premise of how your dehumidifier works. Let that can sit for a while and you will see that the condensation will drip down under the can and you will then have a puddle.
Other dehumidifier features that you may like are self programmable settings and direct drainage to the floor drain. With the direct drainage to the floor drain you will not have to lug the heavy bucket from underneath the unit and risk spilling the water that has accumulated in there.
A dehumidifier is not just used to decrease humidity and make us more comfortable. It can also help dry areas out so that mold and mildew doesn't grow and cause increased allergy symptoms. If you have allergies then you know what I mean. Mold, mildew and even dust mites like warm, moist areas to live and thrive in. When you dry out the air these allergens can't grow and make you miserable.
So, if you need to decrease the amount of excess moisture in your home and your dehumidifier is always freezing up on you, go talk to someone about replacing that one with a low temperature dehumidifier.
