Whirlpool Dehumidifier Doesn't Cycle Off

Reservoir

• When water fills your dehumidifier’s reservoir to a certain level, it triggers a sensor that shuts off the machine. You should see the reservoir begin to fill unless your unit empties directly into a drain. Your dehumidifier’s reservoir may not contain enough water to trigger the sensor that stops the mechanism. If water is spilling out and your machine does not shut off, the water pan or bucket that acts as a reservoir may be improperly aligned. If the machine is running and the reservoir is filling, your dehumidifier is working, and a high level of humidity in the air may be responsible for the unit failing to cycle off. Otherwise, you may have a defective unit.

Settings

• Check that you have not accidentally moved the unit’s controls to the “continuous run” setting. When the humidistat is set too high, your dehumidifier tries to create very low humidity air. You don’t want to remove all of the moisture from the air. Humidity is necessary for people to feel comfortable and for the condition of wood furniture. While you are checking the setting, inspect the coils. Icy and dirty coils can also cause your unit to run constantly.

Temperature

• The relative humidity in your home varies with the outdoor temperature. During cold weather, the air holds less moisture. At temperatures above freezing, 40 percent indoor humidity is acceptable. At temperatures between 32 and 20 degrees Fahrenheit, aim for 30 to 40 percent relative humidity. At temperatures below 0, you want to achieve a humidity level of 20 to 25 percent.

Humidity

• If you keep your windows open, your machine may continually struggle to treat air that is constantly being replenished or replaced with more humid air, particularly during times of high outdoor humidity. Relocate your dehumidifier to one of the rooms of the house known to generate more moisture, such as the kitchen, bathroom, laundry room or basement, and keep nearby windows closed while it is in use. Central heat and air conditioning help lower humidity, so you may not need to use your dehumidifier at the same time these systems are on.

Defect

• If you have a Whirlpool dehumidifier that does not cycle off, it may present a fire danger. In January 2002, Whirlpool issued a recall for approximately 1.4 million units sold from February 1997 through December 2001. These dehumidifiers have front-mounted water buckets and serial numbers starting with QG, QH, QJ, QK and QL. If you own one, you should stop using it immediately and unplug it. These units are in danger of overheating and catching on fire. The company is repairing these dehumidifiers at no cost to the customers who purchased them. Repaired units bear a black dot adjacent to the serial number.