How a Dehumidifier Condenser Works

A dehumidifier condenser is responsible for warming the air before it is released back into the environment after a dehumidification cycle. When a dehumidifier is activated by the appliance’s humidistat, refrigerant gas is compressed into a hot liquid, which is then cooled within the evaporating coils, causing water to condense. The job of the condenser is to return the refrigerant to liquid form, warming the evaporator coil and the air that passes over it.

How a Condenser Works with the Cycle

A dehumidifier condenser plays a unique role in the dehumidification process, but a thorough understanding of this role can only be achieved if one grasps the lager process. When signaled by the humidistat, the circulating fan in the dehumidifier draws in humid air. This air then passes over the evaporating coils, which attracts the water molecules in the air and turns them to condensation. This water is then released into the reservoir, at which point it is disposed of. At this point the condenser kicks in.

Regulating Refrigerant Temperature

The most common household dehumidifiers operate by way of a refrigeration unit, and a condenser plays an important role in managing the temperature of the refrigerant. When the dehumidifier is turned on, a device called the compressor rapidly heats the refrigerant, which is then depressurized and cooled by the evaporator (which causes the condensation on the coils, as mentioned above). As a natural reaction to this step, the refrigerant expands as pressure is released. It must then run back through the condenser in order to be returned to its liquid form.

Air Warming

The key role of the condenser pertains to the temperature of the dehumidifier’s airflow. After the water vapor in the air has been extracted and deposited in the reservoir bucket, the remaining air must be returned to the room—but not before it is treated by the condenser. Specifically, the refrigerant reheated by the condenser also rewarms the coils, which in turn causes the remaining air to be simultaneously warmed and dried by the condenser. At this point, it is returned to the room, and the dehumidification cycle begins again.

Defrost

The dehumidifier condenser also plays a role in the defrost function of the dehumidifier. This function comes into play if a dehumidifier is turned on in lower temperatures (though generally, it is not advisable to turn on the appliance if air temperatures are below 65 degrees in most models). The defrost system will reverse the flow of air that has already been warmed back through the condenser, which has the effect of speeding up the reheating process of the evaporator coil. This means that the coils will be less apt to freeze over, since they will remain cool for a shorter period of time.

A dehumidifier condenser is the component that really sets a refrigerant dehumidifier apart from an air conditioner. The two appliances actually function in the same way, and in fact, an air conditioner will also effectively dehumidify the air. A dehumidifier, however, is not supposed to change the temperature of the room. As a result, the condenser works to rewarm the air so the air temperature stays relatively constant.