P1 error with GE dehumidifier

real_aurgathor

I have an older GE dehumidifier, and while it *does work* to some degree, it often displays “P1” for no obvious reason.

I started it last night, and after nearly 12 hours its tank was about ⅔ full, but it was showing P1 with all buttons disabled except “Power”. Turning it off/on with the Power button would not clear P1. After emptying the tank and powercycling it by unplugging it started up fine, but then it threw P1 within 30 mins or so.

Anyone has any experience with GE dehumidifiers? According to a cursory search, P1 normally means that the tank is full, but that has never been the case.

egeezer

real_aurgathor
Perhaps a failed limit switch?

real_aurgathor

Well, it can be intermittent, but not failed due to the symptoms. But even that, a power cycle should have little effect on a temporarily malfunctioning limit switch.

OzarkEdge

real_aurgathor

Google Search AI offers some things to consider.

real_aurgathor

OzarkEdge

Well, I took another look – I can’t see anything obviously wrong with it. However, last night it collected less than half of the water it did before. 🙁
It’s not particularly warm here, so it may be just ice build up, but they either should’ve had a separate error code for ice buildup, or, or put in some window or observation port that would allow the end user to see that.

AMDUSER

real_aurgathor Check the filter, and clean it…
https://www.justanswer.com/appliance/a2hec-small-ge-dehumidifier-code-p1-not.html

ThirdShifter

Several GE dehumidifiers have been recalled due to fire hazards, with reports of overheating and fires associated with these units. If you own a GE dehumidifier, check the model number against the recall list and stop using it immediately if it is affected.
https://www.cnet.com/home/kitchen-and-household/over-1-5m-dehumidifiers-recalled-for-fire-hazards-check-your-model-number/

real_aurgathor

AMDUSER Check the filter, and clean it…

Will check it later [need to figure out how to get to it]; however, it is not particularly likely. This morning I was more or less around it for over 3 hours while it was running, and it never threw a P1. Since P1s are normally seen after 8 - 12 hours of unattended operation overnight, methinks icing is the most likely culprit. As the weather gets warmer, they should disappear if they are really caused by icing.

real_aurgathor

real_aurgathor Will check it later [need to figure out how to get to it];

Today I cleaned the filter – it was somewhat dirty, but not excessively so.

Started running it with a freshly cleaned filter – P1 in about 45 mins. 🙁
Powercycled, restarted – P1 in about 30 mins. 😠

In any case, this conclusively proves that it’s not a dirty air filter.

before:

after:

real_aurgathor

Today I was right where the dehumidifier was running, and it kept switching back and forth between dehumidification (well, showing the humidity) and P1 like every 15 - 20 minutes or so. However, I noticed when it was showing humidity, its exhaust was slightly warmer than the surrounding air, and when it was showing P1, it was slightly cooler.

One possible explanation is that it was cooling down the “coil” initially while running the compressor, and then it was just blowing air through the coil during the P1 phase. Not sure if it would work properly with the cover removed, but that would be one way to find out for sure.