If your home doesn't have air conditioning, it may rely upon a dehumidifier to reduce uncomfortable, muggy humidity in room air.

A dehumidifier uses refrigeration principles the way an air conditioner does, but it doesn't cool the air--in fact, it warms it slightly. It is a box that contains cold evaporator coils, warm condenser coils, a fan, and a reservoir or drain to catch water (see illustration).

The fan blows moisture-laden room air over the cold coils, where water condenses and drips into the pan or drain. The drier air then blows across the warm coils and back into the room.

Although a dehumidifier does not cool the air, it makes it more comfortable because it decreases the humidity. But a dehumidifier does not function well under about 65 degrees.

A dehumidifier's fan must have electric power, the evaporator coils must contain a proper charge of refrigerant, and the controls must work properly for the dehumidifier to operate.

In the same way that a thermostat controls a heater or air conditioner, a dehumidifier is cycled off and on by a humidistat that measures a room's humidity.

Many dehumidifiers have a float switch that prevents the unit from spilling over with the water that has been drawn out of the room air.

Sometimes this switch goes bad and must be replaced. Nine times out of ten, a problem with a dehumidifier can be traced to electrical parts--not to the compressor.

If you (or a repairperson) discover that the problem is being caused by the compressor and the unit is out of warranty (most have a 1-year limited warranty), strongly consider replacing the unit rather than trying to have the compressor repaired.

If you're thinking about having the unit repaired, be sure to ask for an estimate.

Unless it is designed to drain automatically, a dehumidifier should be emptied fairly often during hot and muggy or damp weather--sometimes as often as once a day. In humid, damp climates, a dehumidifier's reservoir can pull as much as 50 pints of water from the air a day. Failure to keep your dehumidifier's reservoir clean and dry will just contribute to the moisture problems you're trying to solve.

Consider a dehumidifier's reservoir capacity if you are buying a new one: larger capacity reservoirs work more efficiently and have to be emptied less often than smaller ones.

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