Why do dehumidifiers turn off and stop collecting water? This is something that callers ask us over and over again. I think that once someone has invested in a dehumidifier they want it to collect water on a daily basis and they are disappointed when it stops collecting water. Before I explain why the dehumidifier not collecting water is perfectly normal lets switch to another piece of equipment that we use in the house that we have a greater understanding of – our central heating.
An explanation – with the aid of the central heating example.
When we set the thermostat to say 22°C our radiators become hot, if we were to put our hands on the radiator later and found it to be lukewarm or cool then we would not think that the radiator is faulty, we would just accept that the room temperature is up to 22°C and the radiator has been turned off by the stat. We know that when the room temperature drops the radiators will turn on again and they will once more be hot to the touch.
Back to the dehumidifier and the same thing is happening, albeit in reverse. You select your set point and the dehumidifier dries the air down to this point, when the relative humidity falls below this level the dehumidifier stops working. When the relative humidity rises again the dehumidifier will turn itself on and start to collect water again.
Hopefully that makes sense and you now know why your dehumidifier sometimes stops working.
Products featured: dehumidifiers
313 responses
Hi,
Yesterday I purchased a meaco dd1 dd 8 litre Zambezi dehumidifier for use in my 9×6 metre unheated garage as my existing Honeywell dehumidifier was icing up at low temperatures.
When I went out this morning to check, the Zambezi was off, with a C3 code showing.
I switched it off at mains and back on and it is currently working again.
When I left garage last night, the temp showing was 4 degrees c, and rh was 72%.
Outside temperature last night was -1, -2 deg c.
I understood that the desiccant dehumidifier would be better job for my unheated garage, Hoping residual heat would stop inside dropping below 0 deg c, but should I expect the Zambezi to allow my, although unheated but well insulated garage to drop down below freezing and stop working?
Have I got a faulty unit or does it not operate at freezing or below?
Justin,
Thank you for contacting us regarding your DD8L Zambezi and the C3 code you see on the digital display.
Due to the recent freezing cold weather where the temperature has dropped below 1 degree C, this has caused the error code of C3 to occurred on the DD8L Zambezi. C3 on the DD8L Zambezi is not a fault, it is caused by the low temperature. The Zambezi’s operating temperature is from 1°C to 37°C. When the unit’s operating environment’s temperature falls below 1°C, C3 will appear on the LED screen on the DD8L Zambezi, this is because the heater is now
designed to rest after 4 hours of running and when it does the temperature drops inside the unit, this will triggers the NTC sensors. The C3 code will go away when the temperatures increase again.
No domestic units will allow the heaters to run continuously. Resetting the machines and starting them up will turn the heaters back on, which in turn will warm the internals up, and the C3 will disappear.
We hope you’re able to see the above in practice.
Kind regards,
Omar@Meaco.
I have a Maeco 20L. Have a extract hose fitted which drains to a bath tub, but the internal Maeco tank fills and the unit switches off. It is not draining via the hose. What is the issue. Is there something that needs to be cleaned or unblocked ??
James,
Thank you for your message!
Ensure that the hose is securely attached to the dehumidifier and it not loose.
Check the hose for any kinks or blockages that might be obstructing the flow of water.
If the hose is dirty or has buildup inside, it may need to be cleaned. Use warm water to flush it out, making sure it’s clear.
Ensure that the hose is positioned downward and is not higher than the outlet on the dehumidifier, as this can cause drainage issues.
If you’ve tried these steps and the problem persists, please get in touch with our customer service team.
Kind regards,
Omar@Meaco.