How I Cleaned a Dehumidifier - Deep Cleaning Moldy Coils, the Bucket, and the Filter

[@rossmilburn7838]

Nice job, Phil - tremendous attention to detail, and very clear voiceover. My dehumidifier is used to dry clothing in a small room, but the fabric fibers, plus fungus, seem to partially block the drain pipe, causing water to miss the reservoir and land on the floor. I will try to emulate your solutions, if I can - so, thank you!

[@BudgetPhil]

Thank you.

[@lauralewis5129]

I'm drying clothes also...I'm planning to fix my dryer but I'm having trouble finding the door latch... blessings to you and yours

[@nonelost1]

Dude, you really went to town cleaning that dehumidifier! You did what 99% of us would never do. Kudos to you! One thing I might add though is that if the air gets that dirty in your shop, you should also wear a mask while working in your shop.

[@BudgetPhil]

Thank you. The air quality isn't always bad in my shop, but when I'm sanding something and making a lot of dust then I do wear a mask. Wish I would always remember to turn off the dehumidifier before the air gets dusty though. The pre-filter material sure helps.

[@whyskyd]

This video is the opposite of videos that bring a sense of calm over you, like the video of washing a dirty rug. I think it's the narration that makes the difference. Bad joke apart, incredibly helpful video for me. I have the same model, 12-ish years old. Never imagined it was something that needed cleaning. I mean who makes them like that? Mine is not sucking water as well as it used to so i checked and found ice where water drips out into the bucket. I can confirm it's not that cold in my basement because i have another unit, 2 years newer model, gulping water like a whale in comparison. The only recommended solution on the internet i could find was cleaning the coils. Never thought it would be such an undertaking, and thankful i found your video. Wish me luck as i'm about to embark on this mission.

[@BudgetPhil]

I know what you mean. I've looked for other dehumidifier models that are easier to clean but couldn't find much. I have an older dehumidifier that is much much easier to clean but it's too inefficient. Hard for me to believe that manufacturers make them this way now. Thank you for sharing your experience.

[@h4ngman]

The Ice forming is normal. Dehumidifiers work by cooling the air in the radiator fins to condense and collect the moisture. In principle, it's really not much more than a fridge with a fan running air through it. Mine was icing up when it was new and running well but stopped as the airflow got obstructed over time

[@donoh3909]

They can make them easy to clean, but then half of their customers wouldn’t just buy a new one …. Basically the same idea as planned obsolescence

[@bigmotter001]

Nicely done. A good reminder we all should be more attentive to the ongoing maintenance of household items. Thanks for posting and take care!

[@BudgetPhil]

Thank you. I'll certainly be paying more attention to it from now on.

[@fransieber6475]

Phil - You need to post these as comedy videos. Your delivery is hilarious. Dryly describing electricity flowing through your heart made me spit take my coffee. I appreciate repair and restore videos, but your voice is my favorite. Thanks for showing us that buying a new dehumidifier is the right decision - at least for me. I'll be watching again when I need a boost.

[@joeljahnke9000]

From someone who has attempted this, this was an incredibly thorough and thoughtful video. Disassembling cleaning and reassembling a dehumidier is a gargantoun task even if you have the right tools. Living in a very wet climate, and with poor air quality, these consumer grade dehumidifiers just aren't ment to deal with dust. Whatever the case, your video is a great example of exactly what this task requires. Obviously these consumer grade dehumidfiers are not ment to be disassembled, maybe even intended on getting dirty and replaced. Thank you for all the work you put into this video.

[@BudgetPhil]

Thank you. It really does seem like the designers never thought about cleaning the unit.

[@suzannebinsley5940]

I have an old dehumidifier and a 100+ year old house. I had put a little clorox in the bottom to kill anything in the tank and tried Odoban sprayed on the filter before running it. My furnace died and had sprayed my house with dust and contaminants. I never imagined I could get at the coils! Thank you for an informative video.

[@suzannebinsley5940]

I didn't have all the gear to do what you did so I used a spray bottle of water and a spray bottle of enzyme cleaner in the front grill. I used a fan to dry it after. I didn't pull it apart. It ran much better afterwards.

[@BudgetPhil]

You're welcome. The pre-filter material that I now use really helps to keep the coils clean. It needs to be changed every couple months or so, but has made a huge difference.

[@Xoletta]

WOW! What! I had NO IDEAAAAAA an UNPLUGGED appliance could KILL YOU!!! What a great video! I was just about to take mine apart, so this just might have saved my life.

[@BudgetPhil]

I was surprised to learn that also. Thank you for the compliment.

[@allseeingeyezz]

mines been unplugged for six months. do you think i still have to worry? been putting off cleaning this overcomplicated unit

[@BudgetPhil]

I would still take the same precautions shown in the video because that capacitor can theoretically store its charge for quite a while. It may have a circuit to drain the charge after the dehumidifier is unplugged, but I wouldn't trust my life with such a circuit.

[@TheYear2525]

To be fair there are *usually* discharge resistors connected to capacitors that can be dangerous, else for some appliances you could get a shock from the plug itself. Actually I did get a little shock from a plug like 2 times in my life. I was probably very fast to touch the terminals after unplugging, not giving the resistor enough time to discharge some capacitor. *However* I wrote "usually" in bold because you can't be sure they went out of their way to implement these resistors, and for some reason some designs traditionally don't have one. Like the main capacitor from photo flashes. Even these throw away cameras you could buy before the digital revolution of photography, had a flash module and I did get quite an unpleasant shock from one of them, assuming it was discharged because it wasn't used in quite some time. So better treat those big capacitors like little death nuggets unless you definitely *know* they are discharged. I don't know if I would short a motor capacitor like in the video. That could lead to a really loud bang and partially melted terminals/screwdrivers. The safe method is to do it via an appropriately specked resistor.

[@StKnightis64]

Great video. I have the same model, and have been noticing a funk about it. Time to dive in. Your filming of the disassembly will help.

[@BudgetPhil]

Thank you

[@MachoImmigrant]

I got the same exact unit and I have never done that detailed, sprayed water in and vacuumed. But, yea, what you did makes that unit like NEW and probably is running efficiently. I have an old style foam ac unit filter on front as pre filter that attaches via Velcro, it helps ALOT. Good job. Mine neeeeeeds cleaning but like you, I RRREALLLY am dreading that task 😫

[@BudgetPhil]

That foam AC filter probably works better than the filter cloth I use. And I like the concept of attaching the filter with Velcro, sounds much nicer looking and more convenient than the tape I used. Thank you for the good ideas.

[@MachoImmigrant]

@@BudgetPhil glad to be of help with the good idea !

[@nanoceramics2747]

you have educated me to how important it is to keep your filter clean. What you did I would not attempt as I do not have your expertise

[@BudgetPhil]

The pre-filter material I now use makes a big difference. I just need to change it every couple months or so.

[@Poppykat9866]

Thanks Phil. I really needed to know how to clean my dehumidifier, but also your voice and cadence was so soothing. Came here to service my dehumidifier, stayed for the ASMR

[@BudgetPhil]

You're welcome. Happy to help. Thank you for the kind words.

[@davidbanner9851]

I found the deadpan voice and the discussing every little minutia strangely relaxing🤷‍♂️😅. Personally, i would have just bought a new one and improved my inspection/cleaning routines for the new one, going forward. (But that would have deprived us of this masterpiece video, i know)😂

[@erinvirtue5590]

Ok so I started this before watching this video and didn’t disconnect any electronics except the circuit board where the buttons are (I covered it with a ziplock bag) but I didn’t unplug anything. I just sprayed hvac solvent right to the coils and even touched it with my bare hands at one point haha glad I’m still alive!

[@BudgetPhil]

They really should make dehumidifiers like this easier to clean.

[@CmdrDarklighter]

I used a fabric cleaning gun, which is used in the dry cleaning industry for spot removal. I have several around for cleaning mineral specimens, and it worked amazingly well on the coils and fins. I took a chance , and just unplugged the unit, carefully but thoroughly sprayed from the entry side from top to bottom, and repeated until the runoff in the bucket was clean. The odor was like sewer gas before cleaning, seems good now.

[@BudgetPhil]

I've never used a fabric cleaning gun but it sounds fun. Thank you for the tip

[@sesleri6457]

Why does this sound like one of those readings of a civil war journal you'd hear on history channel lol

[@BudgetPhil]

Why not?

[@RyanMuir-o3k]

I have the same model and it is a nightmare. Mine is much more slimy and matter with cat hair. Im afraid of breaking a line so i have yet to separate the coils from each other. Im glad i found your video.

[@BudgetPhil]

Safety goggles or a face mask can be used to help protect the face when servicing those pressurized coils. They really made this unit hard to clean.

[@AriannaAyers]

Vacuum the intake, and exhaust daily. You can use a 3M Filtrete pre-filter carbon filter meant for air purifiers on the intake, and the same brand filter on the exhaust.

[@BudgetPhil]

Thank you for the tip.

[@adamconnell5965]

Do not get rid of it! I have two of these... the newer ones are TERRIBLE. I have not killed mine in 10 years but my parents have been through multiple others. As long as it still works DO NOT GET RID OF THEM. BTW... a shot of viper foaming coil cleaner every so often goes a LONG way. I take them outside and remove the hose connection and tank and literally hose them out. As long as you don't get water into the control panel you're basically good to go after they sit in direct sunlight for a while with a fan on it. I am seriously debating permanently removing the stupid grill and or making it attack magnetically/velcro. Really no kidding these things are beasts and a dream compared to the new units you can can at most stores. I use my personal one for drywall work if that gives you any idea... you can tape and mud and prime an entire bathroom in a day with one of these. If you think you might ever want another one get it now. I bought my parents one about 3 years ago and this model was still being sold. Just keep it in the box or whatever. I went to service both of their other "new" ones and they wound up getting scrapped. They literally had refrigerant leaks and one constantly iced over no matter what and I wasn't about to tap/evac and recharge that pile. Viper foaming coil cleaner... get some asap. It's a trade secret weapon. I've never seen another coil cleaner come close in one pass. Foam it, blow air into the coils to get it into the back a bit, don't forget about gravity 😉 and then I hose it out. Also on the tank, drill two access holes for the two screws covered by the clear plate and thank me later. It's a dumb design, but light-years ahead of anything newer. Do not use high pressure water BTW... as weird as this sounds there is a thing called a clean stream shower attachment that works PERFECTLY for servicing these... it's made for butt stuff... but a friend had one one day and I bought one after using it(for not butt stuff lol). Its got 1/2 fpt for a shower hose but an adapter works for garden hose. Just look it up... it will make way more sense when you see it. Lol

[@adamconnell5965]

BTW the "clean stream" can be found on Amazon for like $15 and the viper cleaner runs $15 a can but it goes a LONG way. The clean stream puts out a nearly laminar gentle "beam" of water and it's made of silicone rubber and flexible. I use it to clean delicate stuff like coils. The laminar flow holds together even at very low volume... I've never taken them down as far as you did, but thanks for doing so... this gives me the confidence to attempt this. If you're thinking about adding a real filter the Honeywell HPA filter may work. I'm still up in the air on whether it would be worth the work. 6% -12% H202 (use legitimate fucking protection with anything over 3%) 12% will hurt you. It's about like muriatic acid in reaction time with skin. You've got 10-30 seconds to get running water on any skin. I learned the hard way lol 6% isn't that bad and 3% is pretty harmless. It's diluted by weight not volume BTW. I don't use 12% on anything other than legit black mold. Just let it do it's thing and it will evaporate off. Rinse once dry if needed, but whatever is left is dead. H202 in the tornador is actually genius... I've never even opened mine. Sorry bout the rant, but you're bravery on such a deep clean has inspired me! They're indispensable when they're clean and running like they should.

[@BudgetPhil]

Great info. Thank you for your advice.

[@NDpendentconnection]

Wow, that was very informative. Thank you Adam

[@DippyDyes]

Awesome video! Thank you so much. Our dehumidifier was almost as bad, just no slime. I love the prefilter recommendation. And I'd second the commercial coil cleaner recommendation. Our local Ace Hardware had the Frost King brand. I used a whole can on our dehumidifier. Thanks again!

[@BudgetPhil]

You're welcome. Commercial coil cleaner seems like a great idea to me. I'll be sure to try some next time I need to clean some coils. Thank you for your support and the recommendation.

[@candidatezero4703]

"Sweet, same unit I got. Wondered how to clean it." Few minutes later. "Oh no..."

[@BudgetPhil]

It's kind of like the designers of the unit didn't know about dust in the air.

[@pantloaded]

Haha i googled How to Deep, clean a humidifier. And this was the first video that popped up. And it's the exact same one i have. What a bitch to take apart. Made to never be worked on by the consumer

[@BudgetPhil]

Hard to believe it was designed this way. Seems like dust in the air was completely off the designers radar.

[@r.duroucher225]

What a great video. Thank you for your generosity in sharing your expertise. I have one of these units and cleaned the bucket before seeing your video. I couldn't believe how the tank was designed. At least partial disassembly is needed to clean out a bucket and even then it can't be properly cleaned. An absolutely idiotic design. I then saw your video and I now understand what's needed to clean this unit. Unbelievable.

[@BudgetPhil]

Thank you. I hope companies that make these types of dehumidifiers are learning.

[@InTheMeanTime...]

From my research I have found out that ammonia is the only product that kills every stage of mold. Putting a dish of ammonia near the intake while running the machine every week or so should help to keep mold from growing inside the dehumidifier. Or putting a small amount in the collection pail would probably work as well.

[@amjmmint4786]

I appreciate the breakdown, not many videos cover this deep into an appliance. I was given a unit, thought it was a humidifier (in Florida, essentially useless) and was getting ready to do a teardown. Running the model number, it's a DEhumidifier, a moisture farm. The survivalist in me sees this as a water generator should normal sources become contaminated, And the learning begins. So far I've removed the plastics and filter and they're set out to get rained on as that's clockwork free rinse. I'm adopting this unit so like you, I'm expecting to do a thorough cleaning, it's coming from a filthy place and I don't operate like that. Thanks for the reminder to mind and discharge the starter capacitor, it's been off for a while, but the muscle memory will serve me well when I do the routine service of the unit [should it run]. My coils aren't a moldy mess, but I intend to clean them up before use, and sterilize the unit. If it doesn't sell I'll probably keep it vacuum sealed in a trashbag, store it with the emergency hurricane supplies, if not for drinking water, then for flood response. (I'm assuming if the unit is clean enough and resterilized before use it could be used this way, maybe after another boil, if anyone knows about this I'd be interested in any input. I imagine if hooked up to power, the unit placed outside is capable of producing near-potable water I could pour through a carbon filter?). I hear these things are prone to shorts fires, so going through and pre-mitigating those risks was already on my mind. The pre-filter was a good idea, I'll remember that or see if there are alternatives.

[@BudgetPhil]

Thank you. I've used the water collected from the dehumidifier to water plants and to moisten compost piles, worked great. I think I would be willing to drink the water if it was filtered enough or boiled, or both. If I could get the coils clean enough and a better pre-filter, then I bet the water would be okay straight from the unit. But I don't know for sure.

[@DustinJohnsonPC]

Wonderful video. I would definitely wear a good mask and do it outside. About 1/4 of people are highly sensitive to mold and would get pretty sick around this. Also, I just bought a Midea dehumidifier from Sams and it looks basically the same, probably made by the same factory. And it has a removeable grill.

[@BudgetPhil]

Thank you. In retrospect, I wish I had worn a mask. It was pretty bad. That removable grill on your new Midea unit sounds like an improvement to the design of these things. Maybe some manufacturers are trying to make modern dehumidifiers that are easier to clean now.

[@maxaltenkirch1022]

thank you, this really helped me clean my moldy dehumidifier

[@BudgetPhil]

You're welcome

[@jenniferahakes]

Your commentary and voice reminds me of the audio book for Old Man And The Sea. Also top notch video of this process. Going to have my son give it a go.

[@BudgetPhil]

Thank you.

[@Cyberia1993]

Thank you for showing how to do this. I appreciate this so much. Good explanations too. Thank you !

[@BudgetPhil]

You're welcome. Thanks for the compliment.

[@mngrrl]

Do you have any suggestions on how to get to the coils easier to clean? Or most likely need to go that deep in taking it apart? Mine isn't bad, but I'm noticing a smell and some black chunks coming out of the hole that feeds into the reservoir tank. Thanks!! Great details!

[@BudgetPhil]

I know what you mean. Taking the thing apart to that extent just to clean it is more inconvenient than it probably should be. Haven't been able to figure out a way to clean the dehumidifier without disassembly though. I assume, based on its design, that the manufacturer didn't intend for the unit to be disassembled and cleaned by the consumer. If I find an easier way that works, I'll post a video about it. Thank you for sharing your experience.

[@TheYear2525]

Thanks for the hint with side panels! My device is triggering the FI when I plug it in and when I put it in a plug that has no FI it's popping the fuse, but only when the compressor eventually starts. I Suspect some moisture in there *somewhere* ? Don't know why it suddenly does this. Although, a squished power cord might fit the symptoms better and would also be the most vulnerable part, since I keep walking over it. I'm no stranger to taking things apart, but with these devices which have big plastic panels you never know what intricate method keeps you from opening it. I was close to pulling my hair out, then I did a search, found your video and hoped the solution would be universal. I *did* suspect the side panels sliding out towards the bottom, since there were some "stops" designed into them. But I underestimated the sheer force this took and also the hidden pressure point: they also had latches at the top that, once snapped into place, would keep the side panels from moving back down. I was lucky that the first panel's latch kinda failed to hold on. The second latch would only let go when I pressed inward hard and simultaneously tapped on the panel. They really don't want you in there, I guess xD . EDIT: I think the compressor is stuck. Everything inside looks like new, the power cord is not shorted, the fuse pops the the compressor is supposed to start. Getting it out would be a hassle. Also not sure if there is actually something you could force the piston with, since these compressors are pretty much encapsulated. :( That whole device isn't that old, such a bummer.

[@BudgetPhil]

Yeah, it's a shame when things break so early. I bet you 're right about the compressor. Thank you for sharing your experience

[@keithscott1490]

Also focused a vacuum to a smaller hose to clean running unit because problem of dry and stubborn was then wet and loose ,recommend shop vac because it also suck out the water”learned the hard way”. If your bag is full and ready to change, it makes no difference to change after the job.

[@BudgetPhil]

Thank you for the advice

[@WhyDoYouThink]

I was really hoping it would be easier to access the coils. I think i would struggle to put it all back together

[@BudgetPhil]

It was definitely a challenge for me. Not sure if I would do it again though. Taking video of the disassembly was very helpful during reassembly, but it was still harder than it should be for something that gets moldy and requires occasional cleaning.

[@anotheronechance]

I have a danby dehumidifier similar setup...its blowing out the smell of mold. Ive been using it for personal home use for about 3 years now. So workshop or personal doesnt seem to matter. These things seem to collect moldspores and theres no way im doing what you did to clean it. So i guess im going to have to buy a new one. Such a shame.

[@BudgetPhil]

Some manufacturers now put pre-filters on these types of units that actually work for dust. I suggest looking at dehumidifiers with good pre-filters. That's what I'll be doing next time.

[@mngrrl]

I have this unit, brand new June 2020 I use in my lower level that is finished and clean. The past two years I've noticed a mold smell but wasn't sure where to start. Thanks!

[@catgratefulgirl5977]

Thanks so much for your dry humor and thorough vid.

[@BudgetPhil]

You're welcome

[@r1273m]

I'm in the UK and have a dehumidifier very similar to yours but badged Electrolux. The performance has dropped off seriously and the "Clean filter" warning light stays on even after removing and cleaning the filter. I don't think I have the ability and/or determination to strip it down as you did. I'm sure the cost of returning it to the manufacturer and having it serviced would be prohibitive, maybe time to put that money to a new unit. Thanks for uploading a superb video.

[@BudgetPhil]

Thank you for the compliment. I came close to buying a new dehumidifier. They really are hard to clean when designed like this.

[@yvonnechristmas2616]

Excellent, your video n explanation is very clear n through. Very helpful, Thank you.

[@BudgetPhil]

You're welcome. Thank you for your feedback

[@moonasha]

my last dehumidifier stopped working because it clogged up with pink slime. These things are terribly designed from a user service perspective... it's gotta be on purpose.

[@BudgetPhil]

I agree. There are several different manufacturers that make dehumidifiers like this. Seems like they might be a fire hazard once they get clogged up, but I'm not sure.

[@julionavas5626]

Hi. Got the same model. In my particular case the fan was not working. After disassembly the equipment and reach the fan, it got a part of the case with heavy corrosion, specifically the part that is contact with the holding base where it is mounted. This base is stained with rust. Any idea why this happen?ed. Maybe some water from the condenser is accumulating there. Any of how this can be avoided. Thanks in advance for any comment

[@BudgetPhil]

There was some water in the bottom of my unit as well, but it hadn't rusted yet. I think the drain for the coils that leads to the tank was partly blocked and it overflowed into the bottom of the unit. I clean that drain occasionally now with a small piece of wire to help avoid the blockage. Hair seems to be the main reason mine gets clogged, but a piece of thin wire , like a twist-tie for example, with a hook bent on the end helps me to fish out the blockage when that happens.

[@NDpendentconnection]

Did your homemade prefilter cause the dehumidifier to extend the amount of time for removing the same amount of water from the air than without it? Thanks for sharing.

[@BudgetPhil]

No, I don't believe so. I didn't notice any change in it's efficiency after installing the pre-filter, but I do need to make sure and change it every 3 months or so. It gets pretty dirty and then it really does start to reduce the efficiency of the unit.

[@NDpendentconnection]

Thanks for your reply...

[@dsmith2858]

Great video! Have you found a model that allows for easier cleaning yet? If so would love to know make/model. Picked up this exact unit free this morning! Cleaning is done, I will assemble tomorrow and test it out.

[@BudgetPhil]

Thank you. I haven't found a replacement that's easy to clean yet, but I have seen some newer models with pre-filters that look promising. The A/C window unit filter material has been working well for me, just need to change it once every 3 months or so. There may be a washable filter material available.

[@sunshine3914]

@@BudgetPhilIDK, but I think upholstery bottom liner / dust cover work just as well. Not sure of the cost bc somehow I’ve amassed quite a bit, both black & white, from estate sales & even an entire roll from a wedding they had used to line the aisle.

[@BudgetPhil]

That's a good idea, I want to try that. Thanks for the tip.

[@Aydansmamma]

Great video! Makes me wonder how dirty mine is. Lol

[@BudgetPhil]

Thank you

[@ranger178]

they make a cleaner just for air conditioner coils you might try that just spray on then rinse off might not work with all that dust but will probably kill mold and such.

[@BudgetPhil]

Thank you for the tip

[@cmcg1190]

will pressing the power button with the until unplugged discharge the stored electricity? This works with electronics and computers, so maybe it's worth a shot.

[@BudgetPhil]

I doubt it. That might work for the capacitors on the control board, but probably not the start capacitor for the motor. Even if it could work, I would still safely short the terminals together in order to discharge the start capacitor and test it with a multimeter to be sure. It's not worth the risk. I'm not sure what the safest way to discharge that capacitor would be. I assume the dehumidifier has a circuit that drains the capacitor when it's unplugged, but I don't know. And I wouldn't trust that circuit anyway.

[@darrellw82]

What about the sludge build up in the hose coming out into the tank?

[@BudgetPhil]

That passage wasn't very dirty on my dehumidifier this time, because I had to clear it out earlier in the unit's life.

[@davidk4682]

Excellent video, thank you. What kind of air compressor were you using?

[@BudgetPhil]

Thank you. I used a portable 20 gallon air compressor for this project.

[@JanuleexD]

Soooooo my filter panel looks less dusty than this, but it has some kind of dust in a consistency like wet sand. Do you think it is also mold? Should I be worried or just wipe it out and put it back😢

[@BudgetPhil]

I'm not sure. If it doesn't smell like mold, then that may be a good sign that it's not moldy.

[@carolynvose3979]

Excellent detail! Thank you.

[@BudgetPhil]

Thank you

[@klaudo9100]

great video, lots to see and to learn

[@BudgetPhil]

Thank you

[@donoh3909]

You’re hired. This is way too much of a pain in the ass for me. Actually… If I had a garage, I wouldn’t mind doing most things, but apartment living sucks

[@cindya.7907]

Hi! I'm hoping you might help answer a question for me. We tore our dehumidifier apart it didn't look nearly as bad as this one did but it was bad. We gave it a very good, but we did not separate the coils and it smells mildewy still. I'm afraid to separate the coils because I'm afraid of breaking them in two. Where we are living the moisture inside the house is crazy it's at 70%. Because the house was built in 1910 and has a dirt floor basement. And we are running the dehumidifier inside the house itself where we live. I'm afraid if it still smells mildewy that will be putting mold spores in the air. Is my thinking correct? In the landlord just seems to think that we should open the window. But if it's humid outside opening the window isn't going to make it less humid inside, if anything it will make it worse. What are your thoughts? Should we run it anyways or is there something we can do to put like a filter over where the air comes out of the dehumidifier? Because I really hate to buy another one, and we're searching for a place so we can move, but until then we're stuck.

[@BudgetPhil]

Another viewer mentioned a product called viper foaming coil cleaner. I believe it's just sprayed on the coils, allowed to soak, and then washed off with a garden hose. I've never used it but I think it was made for cleaning air conditioner coils. The coils on the dehumidifier may not need to be separated if using a foaming spray and a garden hose, but I don't know. The coils on my dehumidifier weren't attached to one another but were secured around the edges. After removing the retainers, they came apart easily. Need to be careful not to break the refrigerant lines though. I think you're right about it putting out mold spores if it still smells. I don't know of any filter that can be used on the outlet, but the A/C filter material I installed on the intake does a great job of keeping the coils clean. It just needs to be changed regularly.

[@audreyborgheiinck5178]

You are probably in a toxic home. If it smells like mildew, that’s your sign. It’s best you try to move ASAP.

[@adamcota7439]

I bought a used dehumidifier, been running it about a week or so. Went to clean the filter and noticed the coils behind it completely caked in a mostly dry black substance. Once I took it apart there was moist black areas on the coils as well. How bad is it that it's been running in my house? Is it mold or maybe sludge?

[@BudgetPhil]

I don't know. It's good that you checked the coils. I bet they can be cleaned. But if it's like mine, it may be a rather time consuming task. Thank you for sharing your experience with a second hand unit.

[@audreyborgheiinck5178]

Yikes! After finding mold in my home and doing a deep dive on how dehumidifiers circulate spores into the air I would never use a secondhand dehumidifier. After I stopped, using my dehumidifier in my home my daughter, and I stopped breaking out and rashes. This was a new unit I purchased and had ran in my home only.

[@nicolaslafleur8344]

Felt like I was listening to an anime, bro has got a voice to be a VA 😂

[@enmiredbythelazy4401]

Using Borax as the cleaning agent should help, mold isn't a fan of boron. Fungus in general hates the stuff.

[@BudgetPhil]

Thank you for the tip

[@TheGlantzs]

Just wow. Thanks for this! Nice work.

[@BudgetPhil]

Thank you

[@willfreethemfreethem7671]

This shit looks crazy I don't even have the same brand so I don't even know if I wanna even attempt something like this lol

[@BudgetPhil]

Yeah, it was bad.

[@patrickmcmanus1360]

Pretty sure that after the initial white plastic cover comes off, that you have enough access to clean it almost perfectly. The front grill needs to be very gently wiped or better sprayed with water delicately to wash off dust. Doing it in the tub works. That's all I did and it works like new. Wait until it dried and reassemble. You're good to go. Basic easy procedure. The front metallic grill cleaning is crucial. Delicacy is the name of the game. All the extra disassembly is unnecessary.

[@BudgetPhil]

I wouldn't have been able to clean the backside of the coils if I only removed the cover panels. Seems like that method would be fine for cleaning off dust, but I had to remove mold, dirt, debris, hair, and other stuck on gunk. Spraying from the front side of the grill would have pushed the moldy dirt and hair further into the coils. If I had cleaned the unit much sooner, I believe the approach you suggested would have worked. But I waited way too long to clean it. Thank you for your input.

[@patrickmcmanus1360]

@@BudgetPhil If was an interesting video for sure. Normally (if you clean it regularly like you say or have an air cleaner) the front grill cleaning is sufficient since the dust really stays near the front on the grill in my experience. I have two different brands and when I cleaned them both the dust doesn’t push through. Also, as someone who had lived in moldy houses, that doesn’t look like s normal amount of mold even for not cleaning it for years. If you have it in a crawspace that’s probably normal, if it’s in your house you should check for water damage. Mold is really bad for you health.

[@BudgetPhil]

Yeah, it was a lot of mold. Thank you for your concern. I would have freaked out a little if the dehumidifier was used in the house, but it was used in my workshop. A lot of different kinds of dust and debris flies around in there from time to time so I should have realized it was going to happen.

[@selwyn13]

Great video but can u add the model number so people can find this video easily for those who have this same exact dehumidifier. Also when u r rinsing the coil, or making your Dawn soapy water do u have to use Distilled water?

[@BudgetPhil]

Thank you. I'll put the model number for the unit in the description below. I used tap water because the dissolved solids in our water is only about 250ppm. If the mineral content of our water was much higher, then I would have rinsed it with distilled water. Thank you for the helpful suggestion and the great question.

[@adamski101]

I'd be sending that unit to the garbage. Even after cleaning it still won't be 100% and how often does this intensive cleaning need to be done?

[@BudgetPhil]

I know what you mean, there's probably no way to get all of it clean without extreme measures. Got all I could see though. My dehumidifier needs to be cleaned once every few years. The A/C window unit filter material I showed towards the end of the video has done a great job of filtering the air and keeping the coils clean. I need to change that material once every 3 - 4 months.

[@mngrrl]

I felt like i could do thus until the discharge part, ehh not so sure on doing that! Would dirty coils make the same unit blow warmer air than normal? (Not as dirty as yours was, inside house w no pets dirty)

[@BudgetPhil]

Yes, I believe so. My dehumidifier was blowing much warmer air when it was dirty. Kept getting hotter and hotter during the months just before cleaning it, until it began to struggle taking moisture out of the air.

[@youtbe999]

Excellent video! It's nice to see that there was no rust anywhere inside your dehumidifier. How old is it?

[@BudgetPhil]

Thank you. I believe it's around 12 years old.

[@adpeace2181]

Model DH25 25 pint dehumidifier with coils and hose bucket

[@JackWalton-l4b]

I don't think any filter is going to capture dust as efficiently as the wet surfaces of the evaporator coils. They will always get dirty, even in clean homes. Dust in homes is mostly skin cells, and that feeds the mold.

[@BudgetPhil]

Yeah, those coils definitely make good air filters when wet. The pre-filter material I now tape to the inlet of the dehumidifier significantly reduces the dust and hair entering the unit, but it will still need to be cleaned again someday. The amount of dust and hair the pre-filter collects in a couple months is surprising to me. Makes me think about air quality

[@konstantine381]

Im just gonna try to blow it clean outside with a leafblower. Maybe when storing my new one in the summer I’ll wrap the thing in a bag taped up or something cos that dust just clogs the coils and fins so much.

[@custerranch]

If it has mold on the inside, a leaf blower won't do anything but spread mold spores

[@BudgetPhil]

A/C window unit filter material has been really helpful for me. It's been keeping the coils fairly clean. Just need to replace the filter material on the dehumidifier every couple months.

[@jerimo9]

Don’t know if I can get to them on my Tosot dehumidifier but I’m going to try to get to the coils. I know that’s where my mold smell is coming from.

[@BudgetPhil]

Seems like most of these types dehumidifiers were never intended to be cleaned.

[@lauralewis5129]

Great job. Did you find a dehumidifier that's easy to clean? I have an older dehumidifier that leaks... any ideas on why it leaks? Ty

[@BudgetPhil]

Thank you. I have yet to find a new dehumidifier this size that's easy to clean. All of the designs I've looked at seem to have a similar problem. But I'll keep looking. My dehumidifier has also leaked a couple times. It was caused by some dirt and hair blocking the drain port to the reservoir on both occasions. I used a thin, easy to bend, piece of wire with a small hook bent on the end to fish it out the first time. Needs to be easy enough to bend so that if the hook gets caught inside the unit it can be pulled out without damaging anything. The second time I just blew compressed air through the drain hole. I don't know what the correct way to do it is.

[@lauralewis5129]

@@BudgetPhil THANK YOU SO MUCH 👍 Blessings to you and yours

[@llt8101]

My old one started leaking all the time but it was leaking for somewhere under the bucket, down near the wheels, is that where your dehumidifiers leaked from?

[@BudgetPhil]

Yep. The water drained down to the bottom of the unit and came out near the wheels.

[@llt8101]

@@BudgetPhil That might be what was wrong with that machine. The clog was in the part going into the bucket, in yours?

[@keithscott1490]

After doing the same on a much more serviceable model. Added a custom cut out section from a furnace filter , a little duct tape , wha la la. They are specifically designed to prevent that very problem.

[@BudgetPhil]

A cut-out piece of furnace filter is a good idea. The AC window unit filter material I used at the end of the video works really well so I'm sure a piece of furnace filter would also. I need to change the filter about every 3 or 4 months but it's keeping the coils much cleaner. Thank you for the tip

[@ameliezonou3055]

Help a lot , thx .

[@BudgetPhil]

You're welcome

[@TheStigma]

nice work. Having mold grow in this thing is a nightmare for airquality as it sprays the spores everywhere . not just into your lungs, but also infecting any other place in the shop that is moist enough to let it sprout - leading to new problem areas. Your more robust intake filter should help a lot I think. The mold needs some organic material in addition to moisture, so if there isnt a dust buildup it shouldnt happen. Its a good idea to not let water sit in the tank though. I wonder if its safe for materials to use a mold biocide as a last-step disinfection. I would assume so. You cant avoid mechanical cleaning when its this bad, but misting the area with something that can kill any remaining spores would be nice. Definitely not bleach though. That oxidizes aluminium quite harshly.

[@BudgetPhil]

Thank you for the compliment, and for your input as well.

[@realscreen7735]

HI Phil, why can't we use vinegar?

[@BudgetPhil]

Vinegar can be used, but it may cause corrosion to some metals if it's not completely rinsed off. I avoid using it on intricate metal parts that are difficult to clean if I think I won't be able to rinse it all out of the tight, inaccessible spots.

[@konstantingrathenskon2015]

are you allowed to lay it down? the compressor has oil in it. if passed to elements it will not work

[@BudgetPhil]

It can be laid over, but it needs to be in the upright position for several hours before use to allow the oil to drain back down to the compressor. I vaguely mentioned it in the video, but should have put more emphasis on it because it's pretty important.

[@huttone]

very well done !

[@BudgetPhil]

Thank you

[@Grotomode]

Manufacturers should be forced to make those parts toolessly removable... Mold is a serious health hazard...

[@BudgetPhil]

I agree

[@Damianosdm]

Guys this is all the filters these machines have? I got a juro pro Crystal 30lt wi-fi and it has a huge car air conditioner filter, charcoal filter and this one on the video. I thought they weren't enough but I keep watching videos and these machines have only this small filter.

[@BudgetPhil]

I agree. The filter that came with this unit is not even close to adequate.

[@Damianosdm]

@@BudgetPhil exactly. As for the filter I was talking about it's Hepa 13

[@BudgetPhil]

That's good to know. Thank you for sharing that information. I'll be looking for a dehumidifier like that when the one I have fails.

[@Damianosdm]

@@BudgetPhil thank you sir!

[@zachariahstillwater]

Amazing!

[@BudgetPhil]

Thank you

[@freespeechorgetsilenced]

I just cleaned mine. Anybody else have like 5 extra screws and have no idea where they go.

[@BudgetPhil]

I've experienced that a few times. I try to organize fasteners during disassembly using cups and bags but it still happens occasionally.

[@ytQrash]

I had some screws fall down and get underneath the large black cylinder at the rear of the unit. I partially reassembled the internal sections enough to permit turning the whole thing upsidedown over a bathtub (plug the drain first!). After a bit of gentle shaking the missing screws fell out.

[@maryshipman8021]

3

[@jeffcole1914]

😂 we all have loose screws

[@nicholashall9]

Great job!!

[@BudgetPhil]

Thank you

[@radiumlollipop]

Crap. I feel defeated before I begin. It’s tempting to just buy a new one, and I’m sure it’s what is intended by manufacturers.

[@BudgetPhil]

I agree. The manufacturers of these types of dehumidifiers really let us down. In my opinion, it's one of the worst designs I've ever seen for a product that requires periodic cleaning.

[@julionavas5626]

got a video of dissasembly procedure? A miss the way of remove the serpentine

[@BudgetPhil]

Sorry, that's all I have

[@jameslund221]

It’s not for a car, there’s no serpentine belt.😮

[@tlyon1903]

I know your pain of cleaning I use my dehumidifier outside to collect drinking water, so it's very important for me to keep it clean

[@TheJesseGuerra]

Did the unit have an extended life of use after the cleaning captured in this video???

[@BudgetPhil]

Yes, the dehumidifier is still working fine to this day. The pre-filter material really helped keep the coils clean. It will probably need another cleaning though someday, if it lasts.

[@BigBusinessP84]

This video is 100% being narrated by Bill (Nick Offerman) from The Last Of Us! Aka Ron from Parks & Rec

[@rokcestnik8761]

Ok. I will just buy a new one.

[@BudgetPhil]

I completely understand. That may be the last time I clean one of those

[@nancycordero-severance7661]

I would place the enitire unit (after removing bucket, screen, and panels) into a large tote. Then place a jar of water into the tote, place 5 chlorine dioxide tablet into the jar. Cover the tote air tight. The CD tablets in the jar of water will form a Gas.....that KILLS /destroys mold. Make sure to let unit sit in tote with CD gas for 24hours😊. Then wipe unit clean. Wear gloves, mask and use disposable cloth/paper towels.

[@BudgetPhil]

Thank you for the tip.

[@tullgutten]

4 months !?? Think you need a serious hepa air cleaner in the room and clean all the walls, floors, roof and things around. I havent cleaned mine before today and is where just a little dusty and from hair and concrete (in basement) and it lookes almost new and better than yours after cleaning 😅

[@BudgetPhil]

Yeah, my workshop gets fairly dusty sometimes. I put an air purifier in there and it does help.

[@Ratchet2022]

It was ten years for him he said. He checked the pre-filter after 4 months I think.

[@michelleahlstrom9408]

Sheesh. I'm not smart or patient enough to do this. I have the exact model shown in this video.

[@BudgetPhil]

I wish they designed the dehumidifier to be cleaned by the consumer. Seems like there should be dehumidifiers that can be cleaned relatively easily. I looked for another design a couple years back, but couldn't find one.

[@michelleahlstrom9408]

@@BudgetPhil They're all made like this now? I suppose they think we're going to just pitch it and get a new one.

[@BudgetPhil]

I think you're right

[@llt8101]

@@michelleahlstrom9408 I know. That's so frustrating!

[@GrandpaDon69]

you need a respirator more for this job than eye protection lol

[@BudgetPhil]

I think you're right. Had good airflow though the shop that kept the air fairly fresh, but a mask would have been a good idea.

[@housbinpharteen7445]

10 years? buy a new one