Why is my dehumidifier drawing too much moisture

Your dehumidifier’s meant to keep your home comfy by removing excess humidity. But if it’s pulling out too much moisture, you might end up with dry, itchy skin, static shocks, or even cracking wood. Not exactly cozy! Let’s dig into why your dehumidifier might be overdoing it and how you can fix it.

The information in this article may not apply exactly to your specific appliance model. For the most accurate guidance, it’s best to check your manufacturer’s documentation or reach out to us if you have any questions.

Why your dehumidifier’s making the air too dry

If your dehumidifier’s going overboard and sucking out too much moisture, you could be facing as many headaches as if it weren’t doing enough. Not only can it make your home uncomfortable, but it might also mess up wooden furniture or your beloved guitar. Figuring out what’s causing the over-drying is key to getting things back to normal.

1. Humidity settings are off

If you’ve got your dehumidifier set to a humidity level that’s too low, you might end up with crispy, dry air. Most dehumidifiers let you pick a relative humidity (RH) between 30% and 50%. If you set it too low, like below 35%, the dehumidifier keeps chugging along until it hits that number, which can leave the air uncomfortably dry.

A lot of folks think that drier is always better, but that’s not really the case. Air that’s too dry can mess with your sinuses and even make wood floors or furniture shrink and warp. Plus, running the dehumidifier nonstop isn’t great for your energy bill. Aim for a sweet spot around 40%–50% to keep things comfy.

2. The humidity sensor is acting up

If the humidity sensor (sometimes called a humidistat) isn’t working right, your dehumidifier might think the room’s more humid than it actually is. That means it’ll keep running and running, drying out the air way too much. The sensor’s job is to check the room’s humidity and tell the unit when to chill out.

Think the sensor’s on the fritz? First off, test it to see if it’s doing its job. Grab your owner’s manual, it should tell you how to test the humidity sensor with a multimeter set to measure resistance (ohms). You’ll want to compare the sensor’s readings to what the manufacturer says they should be. Remember, don’t use continuity testing here; it won’t give you the precise info you need. If the readings are off, you might need to swap out the sensor.  

3. Dehumidifier is too big for the space

If your dehumidifier’s got more capacity than the room needs, it might suck out moisture too quickly, leaving the air bone-dry. The capacity, measured in pints per day (PPD), tells you how much humidity it can remove. Stick a 70-pint unit in a tiny bedroom, and it’ll drop the humidity faster than you might want.

Most manufacturers have sizing charts to help you pick the right dehumidifier for your room size. If your space is small and not super humid, a big unit might be overdoing it. Matching the dehumidifier to your room’s needs helps avoid over-drying and saves on your electric bill, too.

4. Continuous run mode is on

Some dehumidifiers have a “continuous” mode that keeps them running non-stop, ignoring the humidity setting you’ve picked. That can be handy in a super damp basement, but in normal conditions, it might dry out the air too much. If your dehumidifier seems to be going overboard, check if continuous mode is on. You might need to turn it off so the unit can cycle properly based on your set humidity level.

How to fix your dehumidifier

If you’ve realized your dehumidifier is going overboard, don’t worry. Here are some steps you can take to get things back to normal.

Step 1: Adjust the humidity settings

It’s a good idea to use a small hygrometer (a humidity gauge) to double-check the humidity levels in the room. If there’s a big difference between its readings and your dehumidifier’s display, the sensor might be off.

1. Find your dehumidifier’s control panel. Most have a display showing the current and target humidity levels.
2. Bump up the target humidity to somewhere between 40% and 50%. If you had it set really low, like 30%, raise it a bit and see how it goes.
3. Over the next few days, watch how often the dehumidifier kicks on and off. If things feel better and the dry air symptoms ease up, you’ve nailed it.

Step 2: Check out the humidity sensor

1. Unplug your dehumidifier. Safety first!
2. Find the humidity sensor or humidistat, usually near the control board or air intake.
3. Carefully disconnect any wires or connectors attached to the sensor.
4. Use a multimeter set to measure resistance (ohms) to test the sensor, following the steps in your owner’s manual.
5. Don’t use continuity testing here, you need precise resistance values.
6. If the readings aren’t within the range specified by the manufacturer, the sensor might be busted.
7. If it’s faulty, get a replacement that matches your model. Need help finding the right part? Check out how to find your appliance’s model number.
8. Install the new sensor just like the old one, making sure all connections are snug. Plug it back in and see how it goes.

If your humidity levels are back to normal, congrats, you’ve fixed the problem! Keep your settings around 40%–50% to avoid over-drying.

Step 3: Turn off continuous run mode

Not only does this help with the dryness, but it’ll also save you some cash on energy bills and reduce wear and tear on your dehumidifier.

1. Look at your dehumidifier’s control panel to see if continuous mode is on. It might be labeled “Continuous,” “Auto,” or something similar.
2. If it’s on, switch it off. On some models, you might need to press a button until it switches back to the set humidity mode.
3. Let the dehumidifier run based on your chosen humidity level instead of going nonstop.
4. Watch how it operates now. If the air feels better, continuous mode was probably the culprit.

Step 4: Make sure you have the right-sized dehumidifier

Having the right-sized dehumidifier helps you remove excess moisture efficiently without over-drying the air. Plus, it can help lower your energy bills.

1. Measure the room you want to dehumidify, length times width gives you the square footage.
2. Check the manufacturer’s recommendations to see what capacity (in pints per day) you need for that size space.
3. If your dehumidifier is way too big for the room, you might want to use it elsewhere or adjust the run times and humidity settings.
4. Keep an eye on how things are going. If the air still feels too dry or the unit doesn’t cycle off much, you might need to get a smaller model better suited for the space.

Bringing comfort back home

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