Do Dehumidifiers Have Freon in Them?

It’s a question you may not have thought to ask. Usually when the topic of dehumidifiers comes up the attention is focused on humidity and lowering those levels. Then the subject changes to "does a dehumidifier have Freon or not."

To find out the answer to that question, just continue to read our article. It gives you the facts so you with your dehumidifier.

Do Dehumidifiers Have Freon?

You may be surprised to find out that dehumidifiers work in a similar way as air conditioners to use. If you have been asking the question “is there Freon in dehumidifiers?” Then the correct answer would be yes there is.

But not in all of these devices. There are other dehumidifiers that do not use Freon and if you want to avoid the hassle and regulations that come with using that gas, you can check those options out when you get the time.

Whether they have Freon on or not is minor compared to how it works in solving your humidity issue.

Do All Dehumidifiers Have Freon?

The answer to this question is no. The absorption models do not use Freon in their moisture removal process. They use a series of filters to squeeze the excess humidity out of the air coming into the device and then return dry air to the room.

But there is a clarification that has to be made. Since January 2010, in America, manufacturers have been banned from using Freon on different refrigeration systems including air conditioning and dehumidifiers.

That ban started with the original Freon gas and then manufacturers were given until December 2019 to end the use of other versions of this gas, R-12, R-22, and R-502. R-22 was the last to go.

You may still get the normal Freon varieties if you can import them from those countries who have not banned their use or manufacture.

How do I Know If My Dehumidifier Has Freon?

Older models are a bit easier to decipher as they predominantly use freon as a cooling agent. So if you've got one of those vintage machines humming in your basement, chances are it's loaded with good old freon.

But the plot thickens when we talk about modern dehumidifiers. Many of them have transitioned away from using Freon due to environmental concerns. They now use more eco-friendly alternatives like R-410A or R-32.

Here's where your user manual becomes your best friend - it usually mentions the type of refrigerant used in your specific model. If not, a quick call to customer service or even an online search ought to clarify things for you!

How to Tell If a Dehumidifier Needs Freon?

One of the first ways to tell if your dehumidifier is low on freon is if your ambient temperature is not going below 70. First, you need to check the filter and the fan and if they are in top working condition, then your dehumidifier is in need of more freon.

But, there is a word of caution here. Not all dehumidifiers can be recharged and only those devices that can cool the air at the same time as removing the excess moisture can be recharged.

The way to check to see if your unit can be recharged or not is to check the owner’s manual that came with the dehumidifier. This is the only way you can add freon to a home dehumidifier.

Before all the new regulations came into effect, it was easy to recharge your dehumidifier and air conditioner. All you had to do is go to your local hardware store and purchase a recharge kit. These kits had all the instructions you needed to do it yourself.

Once you had the kit, you just hooked it up to the dehumidifier and the kit would add more freon to your unit. Unfortunately, scientists said that freon was hazardous to the ozone layer and the kits were on their way out soon after.

If your dehumidifier needs recharging, you now have to pay extra money and have a HVAC specialist do the work for you.

Can You Repair a Dehumidifier Freon Leak?

The first thing you need to do is determine if there is a leak and your dehumidifier is losing freon. One way to check is to locate the cooling coils and you may have to remove the cover to do this.

When you put your hand on the cooling coil and feel that it is not cool, then the freon has leaked out. Or you can use an electronic sniffer, or leak detector, and place it near your dehumidifier. If it is leaking the detector will tell there is a leak but it may not tell you exactly where that leak is.

Next, you can use ultra violet dyes to locate the specific area where the leak is. A technician usually has these dyes and they add it to your system. Then they use a black light to see where the dye is escaping from your device. The drawback here is that the dyes may damage your compressor.

A final way to check for a leak is the old fashioned soap and water trick tire companies use to find the leak on tires. Coat the area with soap and water and wait to see if bubbles start to appear. Once they do you know where the leak is.

After you find that your dehumidifier is leaking and where the leak is, call a professional to handle the repair. They have the experience, knowledge and the tools to make the repair. Duct tape may not always handle the repair efficiently.