No defrosting

[retro-man]

I have a Maytag Dehumidifier model #M7DH65B2A. It is about 5 years old. This year it has stopped defrosting. It is a self defrosting unit that can be used in cooler basements. It just keeps running even though it is one huge ice cube on the coils. You have to shut it off and put a fan infront of it to melt it down. I have an identical unit upstairs which I have exchanged with the one downstairs. This unit still defrosts on its own. The other is now upstairs where it stays warmer and cycles on and off more frequently. Is there a sensor that is supposed to shut the compressor off and the blower to high to defrost automatically?
Thanks
Jon

 

[toggleswitch2]

Yes. Looks just like an A/C thermostst and bulb. You may want to make sure it is till affixed to (i.e. very near ) the coil.

In my Whilpool all it did was shut off the compressor when the coil was frozen.

 

[retro-man]

Toggles!! I noticed when I took it apart this year to clean it there was a small wire type with a plastic part at the end that was laying in the drip tray in the dehumidifier. This must be the piece that should be against the cooling coils. I will take it apart soon and maybe wire wrap it to the coils to see if thats the problem. Thanks for the info.
Jon

 

[a440]

Hello Jon,
I had a Maytag / Fedders that did the same thing. You might be on target....
My "wire" fell and it would freeze up during temps under 70 in the house.
I replaced this unit with a LG that was a little kinder on power consumption. A very interesting thing is that when the LG model goes into defrost you hear a solenoid snap, and it does a reverse of the freon to defrost. Works very well and is very fast.
I have two in our house. One near the showers and one near the music room where my pianos are. They both do an efficient job at keeping the humidity away!
Let us know if your find works.
Brent

 

[a440]

Sorry Jon....

I should have added that when I did fix the wire on the Maytag / Fedders....it did the trick.
It worked fine.
Hope it works for you.
Brent