My dehumidifier keeps blowing the circuit breaker. It has never done this before - 3 years.

It sounds like there are other items on that circuit and the total load is a little above the circuit breaker rating. If not then probably the start relay is not dropping out.

If when it's running it dims the lights in the room or entire house, The circuit breaker for the receptacle it's plugged into, is not a high enough amperage to carry the dehumidifier and whatever other electrical appliances that are on the same circuit. OR if your house is hold enough (1970's era), it may have aluminum wiring and its overheating .

If it's blowing the Main Circuit Breaker for the entire house and not just the circuit breaker for the receptacle it's plugged into, Stop using the dehumidifier immediately!!! Have an certified electrician check your home's circuit breaker panel and wiring. This could be a dangerous situation.

Hi,
The compressor is bad... this pulls too much current and blows the breaker...

There can be many reasons why a dehumidifier will not work or collect water.

Here is a tip that I wrote to help people to figure out what is going wrong with their dehumidifier

Dehumidifier is running but no water is in bucket
http://www.fixya.com/support/r4662409-dehumidifier_running_but_no_water_in

heatman101

Hi,
The compressor is bad...

There are many reasons for a dehumidifier to not work or collect water.
Here is a tip that I wrote to help people to figure out what is going wrong with their dehumidifier.

Dehumidifier is running but no water is in bucket
http://www.fixya.com/support/r4662409-dehumidifier_running_but_no_water_in

heatman101

Hi,
If you are blowing the breaker then you are pulling way to much current on the startup or you have a short in the unit...
either way you probably will be much better off by replacing the unit with a new one... they do not cost enough that it is worth sinking hundreds of dollars into fixing an old one...

http://www.fixya.com/support/r4662409-dehumidifier_running_but_no_water_in


heatman101

Hi,
The compressor is bad and is causing the circuits to trip....

Here is a tip that I wrote about that problem...

http://www.fixya.com/support/r4662409-dehumidifier_running_but_no_water_in

heatman101

the outlet that you have the dehudifier plugged into has too many items plugged in on the same circuit and when the compressors kicks in it draws more amperage than the breaker load can hold thus popping the breaker either remove some electrical apliances from that circuit load or plug in elsewhere

your problem may be within your dehumidifier or it may be within the circuit breaker itself. I just replaced a faulty breaker this morning for a customer.

plug the dehumidifier into another plug which you are sure is working and also sure is not on the circuit you have been using. [turn that breaker off and you will know what it controls
.

if the problem is the breaker, replace it. if the problem is the dehumidifier look for a poor connection, a bare wire touching the frame of the dehumidifier, a fryed wire, etc. good luck.

What else is on the same circuit? Have you added any other appliances on that same circuit that were not on it before?

If no>>>you probably have a short in the unit, and it is grounding out>>>tripping the breaker before it starts a fire.

Also, check the breaker, they can go bad.

I would try to find an outlet on another circuit to see if maybe the problem is definately your dehumidifier, if it trips again then you know it is...If not then call an electrician..