The fan runs good. Cool air comes out the front of the unit but it doesn't condense any water. Someone told me I need to add refrigerant. Does that sound possible?

the condenser (air intake) is blocked, most likely with dust, and the fan isn't passing enough air flow. either the fan is overworking and making noise or the compressor is overheating. if it can't cool down, the evaporator (cold coil) won't get cold enough to collect condensation. unplug the unit, take it outside, open the front, and hose the condenser down. if you can see light through it, it's ok. if not, spray some simple green degreaser on it and hose it down again after about 5 minutes. if you have a stiff bristled brush, use that, too.

check to see if the fan is blowing across the condenser. there should be warm air blowing out the back. if there isn't, the fan may need to be replaced so the heat exchanger can cool down. may be running too hot. also check the condenser in the front to see if the air flow is blocked with dust. if so, change the filter if it has one. if there is cool air blowing, the compressor may not be turning on.

clean the condenser in the front or the filter if it has one. no air flow to cool it down will result in overheating and no condensation collection across the evaporator coil.

It sounds like what you hear working is the fan. The unit also has a compressor; if the compressor is bad or the freon is gone, the fan will run but the coils wont cool to remove moisture from the air.

If the machine's compressor runs when you switch it on, then turn the machine on maximum and let it run for an hour or so. Then check the coils in the back with your hand. If they are not getting cold at all, then there is a significant problem with the refrigeration process in the unit. It may have developed a leak and allowed your refrigerant gas to escape, or there may be another internal problem with the compressor. Either way you would need to have it serviced by a fridge technician, or more likely just replaced with a whole new unit since both options can potentially cost about the same.

If the unit runs normally and the coils are getting cold, then make sure they are not totally icing up which will impede the unit's performance. Also make sure that the room is warm enough. A dehumidifier will not work properly if the ambient air temperature is too low. Basically, the warmer and more humid the room is, the better they work. Add heat to the room if necessary to improve the unit's performance.

You can click on the following link for a general operating and troubleshooting guide with additional tips on effective dehumidifier operation:

http://www.allergyconsumerreview.com/dehumidifier-advice-troubleshooting.html

Hope that was helpful. Thank you very much and good luck.

Hi,

The coils you see on the back of your dehumidifier are the evaporator. When the unit runs, the coils get very cold. As the fan draws the room air over the coils, the humidity in the air condenses out of the air onto the cold coils. But, if the temperature of the air the fan draws over the coils is too cool, the humidity that condenses out of the air freezes on the coils. To remedy this problem, you can try any of these: Warm up the room the dehumidifier is in. Put the dehumidifier on a sturdy table (the room air is coolest near the ground). Turn the unit off until the room warms up.

Good luck.

Sounds like the unit may be dirty or the fan is not moving enough air. Most Dehumidifiers do not have a defrost cycle. Air is drawn over the evaporator where moisture condenses and drops out, the air then passes over the condenser where it is reheated. The cool air helps cool the high side lowering system pressures and improving efficiencies. If the filters etc are clean and all the ducts and shrouds are in place and it still freezes you probably have a bad fan motor or possible a small refrigerant leak.
Good Luck,
Gilshultz

make sure the front vent/filter is clean and free of debris. if there is not sufficient airflow across the condenser coil (front), it will not cool down. if it does not cool down, it won't remove the water from the air.

You may also want to check the coils and make sure they do not have dirt or dust on them. If they are clean you may have an issue with the refrigerant level which will cause the coils not to cool properly. For that you will want to contact LG. There could be an issue with the compressor also. LG backs alot of their models with a 5 year warranty. Contact them and let them know about your issue. Make sure you still have your reciept. Here is their contact number:

1 (800) 793-8896

By condenser I assume you mean the compressor is running. Is there ice forming on the front coil?