A dehumidifier is a handy appliance when it comes to taking the moisture out of the air. But like most appliances in your home, dehumidifiers can also accumulate dirt that can hinder their efficiency. In this post, we'll guide you on how we've discovered to best clean and maintain dehumidifier coils so that you and your family can breathe easier. Let's get started!
To clean the coils of your dehumidifier, follow these steps:
- Unplug the dehumidifier and drain all water from storage.
- Disassemble the dehumidifier.
- Remove the hose attached.
- Remove any superficial dirt using a coil brush or a toothbrush.
- Spray cleaning agent.
- Scrub again to completely remove dirt and grime.
- Rinse the coils under warm water.
- Dry the coils using cloth and air dry.
Now you know the steps on how to clean the coils of your dehumidifier. Let's dive into particular detail on each of those steps, shall we? This will not only help you better understand the cleaning process, but you will also be able to prolong the shelflife of your appliance. Keep on reading!
A Step-By-Step Process
1. Unplugging And Draining All The Water
Unplugging the dehumidifier should always be the first step when you're cleaning it. This not only prevents you from getting electrocuted but also prevents any unnecessary damage to your dehumidifier.
Then afterward, remove all the water from the dehumidifier. The dryer the unit is, the better. Failure to remove all the water could lead to moisture build-up and, inevitably, dirt and grime build-up in hard-to-reach areas.
Another benefit of drying the unit as much as possible before cleaning is that it exposes all of the build-ups so that you know which specific part needs a thorough cleaning. This makes your cleaning experience easier and will also lessen the cleaning time.
2. Disassembling The Dehumidifier
The coils are usually located at the back of the assembly behind a plastic panel. Depending on your dehumidifier brand, the plastic panel that covers the backside of your unit can be easily removed using a screwdriver.
Disassembling the unit also lets you see all the other parts that need cleaning. Parts like filters and fan blades also need regular cleaning and maintenance to work efficiently. Make sure to also replace the filters if they are already worn out.
3. Remove The Hose Attached
The hose functions as a channel that pushes the air over the coils when the dehumidifier is running. So make sure to detach it from the inside of the unit and clean it as well.
However, take note that not all dehumidifiers use a hose. Some brands use a reservoir instead. If yours have a reservoir instead of a hose, be sure to clean that thoroughly.
4. Removing Any Superficial Dirt
After you have already disassembled the unit and removed the coils, it's now time to start scrubbing. A brush is used for this specific purpose called a coil brush. We recommend you buy one as it makes the scrubbing part easier.
Click here to check out this Coil Brush on Amazon.
A regular toothbrush can also work if you don't have a coil brush at hand. Be sure to scrub up and down the coils to remove any superficial dirt that has built-up. This preliminary scrubbing makes it so that the following steps will become easier.
5. Spray Cleaning Agent
After you have removed any superficial dirt, you have to spray the coils with a cleaning agent next. For coils, the best cleaning agent to use is a foaming solvent. It can seep into the nooks and crannies and loosen up the dirt and grime.
Click here to check out this foaming solvent on Amazon.
If you have used or have seen anyone use a WD-40 to get rid of rust, then you know already how a foaming solvent works. They're identical in how they work. Once you have sprayed the coils, make sure to give it a few minutes to work its magic before scrubbing again.
6. Scrub, Scrub, & More Scrubbing
After spraying the coils with foaming solvent, you will see that all the heavy build-up of dirt and grime starts to loosen up. It's time to start scrubbing again. Make sure to scrub every portion of the coils but be careful not to damage other important components.
7. Rinsing Using Warm Water
After all that hard work you put into scrubbing the whole coils, it's now time to rinse all the dirt off. Because of the foaming solvent doing its magic and you doing all the hard scrubbing, all that dirt will be gone after rinsing.
If your coils still have some leftover mold, spray some bleach on the affected area and let it sit for a few minutes. Then afterward, rinse again thoroughly using warm water.
If you have one of those dehumidifier brands where the coils are rigidly attached to another electrical component, use a sponge when rinsing. Soak a sponge in warm water and squeeze it into the coils while gently avoiding the other critical components.
8. Drying The Coils
Now, this is the final step. After all that scrubbing and rinsing, it is finally time to dry your dehumidifier coils. Using a soft cloth, dry all the parts as much as possible. Get all the nooks and crannies that you scrubbed earlier.
Now we know that it's not unlikely that there will be some spots that won't be reached by a cloth alone. You can let it air dry for at least 30 minutes to get all the moisture out before reassembling the unit. Once air drying is done, do a quick check if all the parts are undamaged and make sure no dirt remains.
Finally, reassemble the dehumidifier and just plug it in. You have completed the cleaning of your coils. Congratulations!
How To Keep Your Dehumidifier In Mint Condition
Keeping your beloved dehumidifier in its most optimal state can only do you good. Dehumidifiers have a lot of health benefits and maintaining your unit for a long period guarantees that.
Keeping your dehumidifier in its mint condition only involves a few straightforward tasks.
Inspect The Coils
You always have to inspect your coils for any debris or dirt build-up. The coils are one of the most important components of your unit and keeping them clean ensures that your dehumidifier will function properly.
Replace Or Clean Filters Regularly
If you use your dehumidifier regularly, it is advised that you clean the filters once a week. If you spot some damage or excessive wear and tear on the filter itself, it is best practice to replace them immediately before using the dehumidifier again.
Remember, the filters protect the critical components of your unit from foreign debris. Neglecting to take care of your filters can make your dehumidifier pretty inefficient.
Empty Water Tank Daily
This may sound like a hassle, but removing the water in your dehumidifier daily is important. You don't want the tank to overfill and cause a multitude of problems in the long run. It can also encourage the growth of bacteria and mold, which is not that nice.
Clean Water Tank Regularly
This goes hand in hand with the emptying of the water tank part. It's the one always in contact with water. Therefore, it's the one that should be cleaned the most often.
After every time you empty the water tank, it is best to also check the water tank itself for any dirt or mold build-up. to prevent the growth of bacteria in your water tank, use a small amount of bleach or a cup of white vinegar.
What Are The Health Benefits Of Dehumidifiers?
Humidity is the moisture in the air around us. Because of different geographic locations and air qualities, some places tend to have high humidity compared to other places. Both situations can bring discomfort and inconvenience to some people.
Dehumidifiers do their job by removing or minimizing the humidity in an enclosed space. And there are a lot of health benefits associated with owning a dehumidifier. These are:
- They help reduce allergy symptoms.
- Dehumidifiers can help control or prevent asthma attacks.
- It can reduce mold and mildew growth.
- Prevent unwanted damp odors.
- Reduce pest-related issues.
- Protect household items.
- Improve comfort
To Wrap It Up
Dehumidifiers are a marvel of technology. They are easily accessible and are relatively cheap due to the wide array of brand choices in the market right now.
However, the most important thing is how you maintain yours. All those simple steps in cleaning your coils can make all the difference in the long run. So remember, take care of your dehumidifier and it will take care of you in return.
If you found this post helpful, you might also like our other posts on our website:
What Should The Humidity In My House Be?