A dehumidifier is a crucially important appliance for a home experiencing high moisture in the air; it can help reduce the relative humidity indoors. However, at the time, it can get loud and noisy, and things start to change. As a result, you start getting sleep and concentration problems, mainly if your unit is located near or in your bedroom and you run regularly. So, assuming this is why you’re reading this post, how do you fix it?
The first step to fixing a noisy dehumidifier is to troubleshoot the problem. You want to make sure you know where the noise is coming from and its leading cause before proceeding with the fix. The main parts that make a dehumidifier noisy are the faulty Blower Wheel, Fan Blade, Fan Motor, and Compressor.
Usually, a dehumidifier will make some noise when operating. If you’re a first-time user, you might want to get used to the operation noise before you can say your dehumidifier is noisy. However, if you have used it and it produces annoying noise that makes you uncomfortable, takes away your concentration, or interrupts your sleep, then this post is for you.
What You Need to Know About Noisy or Loud Dehumidifier
Most people run into one of the common issues when using a dehumidifier in the unit producing too much noise.
And since the best time to run it is at night, a noisy dehumidifier can take away your sleep or concentration, especially if yours is near your home office or bedroom.
And since most people don’t know how a dehumidifier sounds, most users ignore the warning signs. They don’t know that if the unit is making rattling, clicking, or buzzing noises, it’s a sign it’s running into problems.
Are dehumidifiers noisy? And even though they produce some sound during operation, it doesn’t have to be noise since some of the sound produced is much of white noise.
Some models are near-silent – they operate discreetly without interfering with your sleep. Investing in a model with quiet or eco mode can make your home ultra-silent. But, you will have to use some extra money upfront and save some in the long run.
How to Fix a Noisy Dehumidifier – Easy Steps
There is a list of reasons why your dehumidifier operation might get louder than usual. Differentiating them can help you fix the problem.
I will take you through the common parts that could be causing the loud noise, the type of noise produced and advise you on the best action you can take to fix these problems.
Uneven Placement
If your dehumidifier produces a clicking, vibration, or rattling sound, you might have placed it on an uneven surface.
Fixing the problem is easy. First, find an even surface or adjusts the legs so that the dehumidifier sits level on the ground and straight.
Loose Nuts and Screws
If your dehumidifier has loose nuts and screws, the sound might be the same rattling, clicking, and vibration noise.
Check the unit for any out-of-place nuts, screws, and any other part that might be producing the noise. Also, it ensures all the unit’s covers are tightly closed.
Dirt Inside the Unit
Another reason your dehumidifier might be producing excess noise is dirt gathering inside it. If there is some dirt in its internal parts, it could impede its regular operation.
You want to make sure you clean or vacuum it right away. The top cover should pop right up when you press the plastic snaps to give you enough access to the interior for cleaning.
Make sure you turn off the unit and unplug it from the wall socket before you can open it. That takes away the risk of getting electrocuted.
If your model has air filters, cleaning them as you clean the unit. You can use a spray bottle with clean water without detergent. A soft-tip cleaning brush can help you reach the tiny spaces inside the dehumidifier.
Wobbling or Damaged Blower Wheel
Open the front cover and try turning the dehumidifier blower wheel using your hand. Does it spin freely? Is it rubbing against the unit’s fan housing? If yes, then your dehumidifier blower wheel needs replacement.
If the wheel is turning okay but wobbles, the motor shaft might be loose. If that’s the case, tighten the blower wheel or replace it.
The wheel might be okay, but it might be physically damaged. For this case, replacing it is the only solution.
Loose or Faulty Fan Motor
If it’s none of the above problems making your dehumidifier noisy, it could be that your unit’s fan motor is loose or faulty. Try and turn the fan blades with your hand to make sure it spins freely and not rubbing against the unit’s housing.
If that’s the problem, get a Phillips screwdriver and tighten the fan motor. Make sure you place it at the center. If the fan is okay, use a multimeter to ensure it’s getting enough power.
The fan might be running, but it will strain if the motor isn’t getting enough power, thus causing unnecessary noise.
If your dehumidifier fan motor is defective, contact the manufacturer for a new replacement.
Fan Blade Rubbing Against Fan Housing: try turning the fan blade using your hand. Is it rotating freely, or is it rubbing against the housing while turning? If that’s true, it’s faulty and needs replacement.
Fan motor shaft wiggling: if the fan motor shaft is loose, it will wiggle as it rotates. Even a slight shaft move can cause issues to the fan blade.
If it’s loose, use a Phillips screwdriver to tighten the screws. If no improvement to the fan blade wiggling, replace it.
Worn Out Compressor
When the compressor starts to wear out, the normal dehumidifier noise gets amplified. That is when you start hearing some cracking sounds that weren’t there when the unit was new.
And since the dehumidifier compressor is designed to last for years, when a problem arises, the best action is to replace the whole unit – replacing the compressor might not be a cost-effective move.
Dehumidifier Noise Output
Some dehumidifiers can make a lot of noise even when there is no problem. For example, if you troubleshoot your unit and find none of the above issues, the noise output of your dehumidifier might be the reason you feel like it’s noisier. Some of the loud noise by such models are easily controllable, but some aren’t.
Dehumidifier Noise You Can’t Control
Compressor noise: every model produces compressor noise. However, some models make louder compressor noises than others. So again, it depends on the model you buy.
Exhaust location: a dehumidifier will be louder depending on the position of the fan exhaust. It can be either at the top or on the side. The top exhaust is the loudest since its noise is multidirectional.
Intake location: when air enters the dehumidifier, it’s passed through the air intake grill before getting cleaned by the filters. The process does also creates some noise.
CFM: The dehumidifier’s airflow (CFM) is another noise factor you can’t control. The higher the CFM, the louder the humidifier.
Dehumidifier Noise You Can Control
Fan speed: the unit’s fan speed is another source of the dehumidifier’s loud noise output. Lowering the dehumidifier speed can help reduce the unit’s raw noise output.
Distance between you and the dehumidifier: if you place the dehumidifier near you when you sleep, it will feel louder. It’d be best to put it far away from you to reduce the audible raw noise.
Fix Your Noisy Dehumidifier and Improve Sleep and Concentration
Generally, a humidifier will produce some operation noise. Depending on the model you have, the noise could be as mere as white noise, or it could be something disturbing. Controlling the fan speed and placing the unit further away from you can help reduce the noise. But, be careful not to assume some unusual noise that might be signaling a problem. Troubleshoot the noise and then use the tips I have provided here to fix it. Good Luck!
