GE Dehumidifier Troubleshooting (Step-by-Step Guide!)

Living with allergies can be quite a struggle. When there’s a lot of pollen in the air, you retreat indoors and turn on the GE dehumidifier, hoping it will get rid of the irritants and make it easier for you to breathe.

A stuffy nose, a scratchy throat, and red eyes can make you miserable in your own home. It’s hard to nip allergies in the bud when your dehumidifier is not functioning properly.

So you can find relief from allergies, we’ll show you how to troubleshoot your GE dehumidifier. We’ll also give you a few tips to keep it running at peak efficiency.

What are the most common problems with GE dehumidifiers?

Here are the most common problems you’ll experience with GE dehumidifiers.

• The dehumidifier won’t start.
• The dehumidifier can’t reach proper humidity levels.
• The dehumidifier runs too much.
• The dehumidifier is leaking water on the floor.
• The dehumidifier won’t drain.

Let’s delve into these common issues, understand why they happen, and learn how to resolve them.

How to Troubleshoot a GE Dehumidifier

If your GE dehumidifier isn’t functioning properly, there are a few solutions that you can try before requesting professional services. You can troubleshoot the most common issues through routine maintenance, correct installation, and proper usage.

The dehumidifier won’t start.

A dehumidifier won’t start because of a loose connection, poor installation, or perhaps an overloaded circuit. Luckily, you can troubleshoot the problem yourself.

We will show you how to restore power to your GE dehumidifier in a few simple steps. 

Causes	Solutions
Unplugged or Loose Connection	• Plug the GE dehumidifier into a dedicated 3-prong wall outlet.
Tripped Circuit Breaker	• Turn off all the lights and unplug the appliances connected to the tripped circuit breaker. • Locate the circuit breaker that keeps tripping. • Flip the switch on the circuit breaker to the OFF position. Wait for a few seconds and flip the switch back to the ON position. • Plug in the GE dehumidifier and confirm that it has power and is functioning properly.  • Plug in other appliances and lights one at a time to test if they are working correctly.
Full Water Bucket	• Turn off the dehumidifier and unplug the power cord. • Remove the bucket and dump the water inside. • Fill the bucket with a little bit of clean water and mild detergent. Swirl the solution around to clean it. • Empty the bucket and rinse it thoroughly. • Slide the bucket into the dehumidifier. Install it properly to prevent performance issues. • Restore power to your unit.
Poor Installation of Bucket	• Remove the bucket from your GE dehumidifier. Then, slide the bucket into its proper position. • Once the bucket is in place and secure, restore power to your dehumidifier.

Unplugged or Loose Connection

If your GE dehumidifier won’t turn on, your first concern should be the power supply. You need to check if your appliance is even plugged in.

Believe it or not, your power issue might just be a loose connection or a simple case of forgetfulness, which you can resolve in a matter of seconds.

Solution: Plug the GE dehumidifier into a dedicated 3-prong wall outlet. Have the outlet checked by a licensed electrician to confirm that it is properly grounded.

Tips: • As much as possible, don’t use extension cords. If you must use one, choose a UL-listed, 14 gauge, 3-wire grounding type extension cord.  • GE also strongly discourages the use of adapter plugs. If it is necessary, you can temporarily connect a UL-listed adapter to a 2-prong wall outlet. • To disconnect the power plug from the adapter, hold the adapter with one hand and pull the power plug with the other. This prevents damage to the adapter ground terminal.

Tripped Circuit Breaker

Does power keep going off in a specific part of your house instead of the entire household? You most likely have a tripped circuit breaker, which is also why your GE dehumidifier won’t start. 

Each circuit can only carry a certain electrical load. If your electrical demand exceeds that limit, the circuit will trip to protect the electrical system and the appliances connected to it.

Solution: To reset a tripped circuit breaker, follow these steps:

• Step 1: Turn off all the lights and unplug the appliances connected to the tripped circuit breaker.
• Step 2: Locate the circuit breaker that keeps tripping. The switch would be out of place when a breaker trips.
• Step 3: Flip the switch on the circuit breaker to the OFF position.
• Step 4: After a second or two, flip the switch back to the ON position.
• Step 5: Plug in the GE dehumidifier. Confirm that it can turn on and operate properly.

Wait for a few minutes and check if the circuit trips. Then, plug in other appliances and lights one at a time to test if they trip the circuit.

If the circuit does trip again, the appliance or light may have faulty wiring. We recommend contacting a licensed electrician who can help you resolve the issue.

Quick Note: Never plug multiple high-amperage appliances into a single outlet to prevent the circuit from tripping. To avoid electrical overloads, major electrical appliances like air conditioners, fridges, and dryers should have their dedicated circuits.

Full Water Bucket

GE dehumidifiers remove excess moisture from the air and collect the water into a bucket—unless you set up other drainage methods. When the bucket reaches its maximum capacity, your unit will automatically turn off.

Since the bucket is quite small, you should empty it at least once per day. Once emptied and installed properly, your dehumidifier will turn on and run again.

Solution: To remove and clean the water bucket in your GE dehumidifier, follow these steps:

• Step 1: Turn off the dehumidifier and unplug the power cord.
• Step 2: Pull the bucket out and remove the water inside. Always support the bucket with both hands when you’re emptying it to prevent accidents.
• Step 3: Partially fill the bucket with clean water and mild detergent.
• Step 4: Swirl the solution around to clean the bucket.
• Step 5: Empty the bucket and rinse.
• Step 6: Slide the bucket into the dehumidifier. Install it properly to prevent performance issues.
• Step 7: Restore power to your unit.

Poor Installation of Bucket

Did you recently remove or clean the water bucket of your dehumidifier? If the bucket isn’t installed in its proper position, your unit will not operate.

Not to worry, this means there’s nothing wrong with your dehumidifier. To restart operations, all you have to do is install the bucket properly.

Solution: Remove the water bucket from your GE dehumidifier. Then, slide the bucket into the unit, making sure it is installed in its proper position.

Once the bucket is in place and secure, restore power to your dehumidifier. It should turn on and operate again.

The dehumidifier can’t reach proper humidity levels.

Your GE dehumidifier is designed to maintain a set humidity level in your space. If your appliance is taking too long to remove moisture in the room or is unable to reach the humidity level, your unit might need a bit of troubleshooting.

Take a look at the most common reasons why your GE dehumidifier can’t reach proper humidity levels. 

Causes	Solutions
New Installation	• Operate your GE dehumidifier continuously for 3 to 4 days to remove excess moisture in the room and maintain the ideal humidity level.
Unideal Location	• Place the GE dehumidifier in an enclosed space where the temperature doesn’t drop below 41°F (5°C).  • Close all windows, doors, and other openings to improve the performance of your unit.
Incorrect Sizing	• Check the pint capacity of your dehumidifier and confirm that it is adequate for the room it’s in. • Opt to get a unit that can maintain preferred humidity levels in your space. • Check with your local dealer for a better recommendation.
Wrong Settings	• For drier air, press the arrow down button and change the settings to a lower percentage value.  • For damper air, press the arrow up button and select a higher percentage value.
Dirty Air Filter	• Turn off the dehumidifier and unplug its power cord. • Hold the filter edge and pull it down to remove it. • Clean the filter in warm, soapy water. Then, rinse it thoroughly. • Wipe it dry or let it air dry for several minutes or hours if needed. • Press the Filter Timer button to turn off the Clean the Filter light. • Reinstall the filter. Restore power to your dehumidifier.

New Installation

Do you have a new GE dehumidifier? If it is taking too long to remove the excess moisture in the room, it is completely normal. 

Newly installed dehumidifiers need extra time to dehumidify the air, walls, and other objects in the room. After 3 or 4 days, your unit should be able to remove excess moisture in the room and maintain the ideal humidity level.

Solution: Set the control to 5 or 6, then operate your GE dehumidifier continuously for 3 to 4 days. If there’s still excess moisture, set the control to a higher setting. 

Unideal Location

A GE dehumidifier operates by drawing in damp air through the condenser where it is heated before it is released through the front grille. To increase the efficiency of your unit, you must place it in an area with good air circulation.

Solution: Place the GE dehumidifier in an enclosed space where the temperature doesn’t drop below 41°F (5°C). Close all windows, doors, and other openings to improve the performance of your unit.

Here are other tips to help your GE dehumidifier function smoothly.

• Place the dehumidifier on a smooth, level floor that can support the unit with a full bucket of water.
• You can use the dehumidifier in areas with excessive moisture, such as the kitchen, laundry room, or bathroom. However, you must keep it away from the dryer.
• Close all the windows and doors to boost the efficiency of your dehumidifier.
• Maintain about 12” to 18” of space around the unit for better ventilation.

Incorrect Sizing

One of the essential factors you need to consider when you’re buying a dehumidifier is its size. If your unit is oversized, it will cycle on and off, preventing it from maintaining the proper humidity level in the room.

Pint capacity refers to the amount of water the dehumidifier can extract from the area for 24 hours.

Solution: To make sure your GE dehumidifier can adequately dehumidify your space, identify the moisture level of the room. Look at the recommended pint capacity below, then pick a unit that can match that.

Location	Moisture Level	Pints
Bathroom	Damp	40
	Very Damp	50
Basement	Damp	40
	Very Damp	50
	Wet	50
	Extremely Wet	70
Bedroom	Damp	30
	Very Damp	40
Living Room	Damp	30
	Very Damp	40

Wrong Settings

Various factors affect the humidity level in your home, such as the season, ventilation, and temperature. Thus, you might need to constantly monitor or change the dehumidifier’s settings to match the needs of your space.

GE dehumidifiers have different settings that let you manage the humidity level in your space. Older models use a control knob, while newer models have a display where you can select the desired humidity level in percentages.

Quick Note: Set the relative humidity level of the dehumidifier between 30% to 50%. For the summer months or those in humid climates, keep the humidity level in the 50% range for a manageable utility bill.

Solution: For drier air, press the arrow down button and change the settings to a lower percentage value. Press the arrow up button and select a higher percentage value for damper air.

Dirty Air Filter

Located behind the front grille, the air filter in your GE dehumidifier traps dust, dirt, and other irritants to improve indoor air quality. You must clean it regularly to prevent dirt from building up and blocking the airflow.

Not to worry, your dehumidifier will notify you when the filter needs changing. The Clean the Filter light illuminates every 250 hours of operation, then you can reset it once you’ve replaced the filter.

Solution: To clean the dirty air filter on a GE dehumidifier, follow these steps:

• Step 1: Turn off the dehumidifier and unplug its power cord.
• Step 2: Hold the filter edge and pull it down to remove it.
• Step 3: Clean it in warm, soapy water. Then, rinse it thoroughly.
• Step 4: Wipe it dry or let it air dry for several minutes or hours if needed.
• Step 5: Press the Filter Timer button to reset the Clean the Filter light.
• Step 6: Reinstall the filter once it is fully dry.
• Step 7: Restore power to your dehumidifier.

The dehumidifier runs too much.

If you are running the GE dehumidifier too much, but it still can’t remove the excess moisture from the space, there are a few possible culprits. Leaving the doors and windows open is a common mistake, which you can easily resolve.

However, if your dehumidifier’s pint capacity might be inadequate, you can opt to exchange it for an appropriately-sized unit. 

Let’s delve into these issues and figure out the best solution for your case.

Causes	Solutions
Incorrect Sizing	• Confirm that your dehumidifier’s capacity is adequate for the room it’s in. • If your unit is undersized, opt to have it exchanged for an appropriately-sized unit.  • Check with your local dealer for a better recommendation.
Open Windows or Doors	• Close all the windows and doors while your GE dehumidifier is running.

Incorrect Sizing

Dehumidifiers are categorized based on their capacity to remove moisture within a 24-hour period, which is measured in pints.

If the GE dehumidifier is undersized, or it’s too small for the room it’s supposed to dehumidify, your unit will run too much. It will still be unable to maintain proper humidity levels in the room.

Solution: Confirm that your dehumidifier’s capacity is adequate for the room it’s in. Or, check with your local dealer for a better recommendation.

Location	Moisture Level	Pints
Bathroom	Damp	40
	Very Damp	50
Basement	Damp	40
	Very Damp	50
	Wet	50
	Extremely Wet	70
Bedroom	Damp	30
	Very Damp	40
Living Room	Damp	30
	Very Damp	40

Open Windows or Doors

Whenever you’re using the dehumidifier, you must keep all the windows and doors closed. This is to prevent excess moisture from the outside from seeping into the room that’s being dehumidified.

Simply put, the continuous flow of air into your space will be counterproductive for your dehumidifier. It only reduces the efficiency of your unit, making it harder to dehumidify your room.

Solution: Close the windows and doors to ensure that your GE dehumidifier is operating at optimal conditions. 

The dehumidifier is leaking water on the floor.

There are three ways to remove the water inside the GE dehumidifier—using a hose, a bucket, or a drain pump. You must know how to do it correctly to prevent leakages and spills on your floor.

Learn about the different methods to remove collected water from your dehumidifier. We will walk you through all the steps to prevent any leakages.

Methods	Problem	Solutions
Using a Bucket	The hose is connected.	• Turn off the dehumidifier and unplug the power cord. • Pull the bucket out and pour the water out. • Partially fill the bucket with clean water and mild detergent. Then, swirl it around to clean the bucket. • Empty the bucket and rinse. • Slide the bucket into the dehumidifier. Install it properly to prevent performance issues. • Restore power to your unit.
Using a Hose	The drain hose connection isn’t secure.	• Turn off the dehumidifier and unplug it.  • Remove the bucket and empty it if water is inside. • Use a pipe cleaner or a baby bottle brush to clean the drain and the hose. • Thread the hose into the drain nozzle. • Cut off any excess hose. Attach it to the floor drain, keeping it above the water line. • Reinstall the bucket.  • Restore power to your dehumidifier.
Using a Floor Drain	The drain plug has been removed while the hose isn’t attached.	• Reinstall the drain plug on your GE dehumidifier.

Using a Bucket

A GE dehumidifier has a detachable bucket that collects the water that is extracted from the air and environment. The water bucket must be emptied at least once per day and cleaned every few weeks to help prevent mold, mildew, and bacteria from building up.

If you want to remove the collected water using the bucket, you shouldn’t attach a hose to your dehumidifier. This will cause water to leak on the floor.

Solution: To remove and clean the water bucket in your GE dehumidifier, follow these steps:

• Step 1: Turn off the dehumidifier and unplug the power cord.
• Step 2: Pull the bucket out and remove the water inside. Always support the bucket with both hands when you’re emptying it to prevent accidents.
• Step 3: Partially fill the bucket with clean water and mild detergent.
• Step 4: Swirl the solution around to clean the bucket.
• Step 5: Empty the bucket and rinse.
• Step 6: Slide the bucket into the dehumidifier. Install it properly to prevent performance issues.
• Step 7: Restore power to your unit.

Tips: • Never remove the bucket when your GE dehumidifier is running or if you just turned off its operations. This may cause water to drip from the drain pan. • Don’t connect the hose to the dehumidifier when you’re using the bucket to collect water. If you do, water will go through the hose instead of the bucket. • Regardless of the drainage method you choose, the bucket must be installed properly in the dehumidifier.

Using a Hose

Aside from the bucket, you can drain water from the GE dehumidifier using a garden hose. It allows collected water to continuously drain through a floor drain. 

One of the common causes of a leak in a dehumidifier is a loose hose connection. If the hose doesn’t attach properly, you can secure the connection using the rubber washer at the end of the hose.

What you’ll need:

• Garden hose 
• Pipe cleaner/brush

Solution: To attach a garden hose to a GE dehumidifier, follow these steps:

• Step 1: Turn off the dehumidifier and unplug it.
• Step 2: Remove the bucket and empty it if water is inside.
• Step 3: Use a pipe cleaner or a baby bottle brush to clean the drain and the hose.
• Step 4: Thread the hose into the drain nozzle.
• Step 5: Cut off any excess hose and attach it to the floor drain. Make sure the hose is above the water line.
• Step 6: Reinstall the bucket. 
• Step 7: Restore power to your dehumidifier.

Tips: • Avoid using an old garden hose. • Don’t push the hose too far into the floor drain. If the hose is touching the water, your dehumidifier can’t drain properly. • Straighten out any kinks and bent areas on the drain hose.

Using a Drain Pump

The APEL70 and APEH70 dehumidifier models have built-in drain pumps that enable you to drain water from the bucket. Once the bucket is full, the pump automatically pumps water to a drain.

When the hose isn’t attached to your dehumidifier, don’t remove the drain plug to prevent water from getting accidentally pumped onto the floor. 

Solution: Locate the drain plug on your GE dehumidifier. Look for it near the drain hose connection, or refer to the user manual for guidance.

Confirm that the drain plug is installed properly. If it isn’t, reinsert the drain plug to prevent leakages while the drain hose isn’t attached.

The dehumidifier won’t drain.

Are you using a hose to drain the collected water from your GE dehumidifier? If your unit isn’t draining while the hose is attached, here are the likely culprits:

• The hose isn’t attached properly to the dehumidifier.
• The hose is too long.
• The hose is damaged or too old.
• The hose is pushed too deep into the drain.

You must cut the hose short so it can drain water out of the dehumidifier straight onto the floor drain. Then, install the hose downward at a steep angle so that it can drain.

If you slip the hose too deep into the drain that it touches standing water, your dehumidifier can’t drain the collected water. You should keep the hose above the water line to promote better drainage.

Solution: To attach a garden hose to a GE dehumidifier, follow these steps:

• Step 1: Turn off the dehumidifier and unplug it.
• Step 2: Remove the bucket and empty it if water is inside.
• Step 3: Use a pipe cleaner or a baby bottle brush to clean the drain and the hose.
• Step 4: Thread the hose into the drain nozzle.
• Step 5: Cut off any excess hose and attach it to the floor drain. Make sure the hose is above the water line.
• Step 6: Reinstall the bucket. 
• Step 7: Restore power to your dehumidifier.

Quick Note: Make sure the end of the drain hose has a rubber washer that seals the connection and prevents water from leaking out of the hose. You can tighten this connection using pliers.

Frequently Asked Questions

---