Dehumidifier displays EC and stops dehumidifying
Safety Warning
This repair may involve working with high voltage components or water connections. Always unplug the appliance before removing any panels.
If you are not confident in your ability to perform this repair safely, we strongly recommend contacting a professional technician.
Possible Causes
How to Fix / Troubleshooting
Safety: Unplug the unit. Do not attempt to open or recharge the sealed refrigeration system yourself.
Steps:
- Basic reset: Unplug for 10 minutes, then plug back in. If EC returns quickly, continue.
- Check environment: Ensure room temperature is within the operating range (typically 41–95°F / 5–35°C). Extremely low or high temperatures can trigger EC on some models.
- Clean filter and coils: Clean the air filter and vacuum dust from the intake and exhaust. Poor airflow can cause abnormal coil temperatures.
- Inspect for icing or no cooling: With the bucket removed and grille off, run the unit briefly and feel the evaporator coil. If it never gets cool or only a small section cools, the sealed system may be low on refrigerant or restricted.
- Sensor check: Inspect the evaporator thermistor for secure mounting and intact wiring. Replace if visibly damaged.
Important: EC often indicates a sealed system problem. Only an EPA-certified technician should check for leaks, repair the sealed system, and recharge refrigerant. In many small dehumidifiers, sealed system repair may not be cost-effective compared to replacement.
Repair Difficulty
Required Part
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