My dehumidifier compressor is suddenly very loud
Home Nura guide — category: Smart Dehumidifiers
Diagnosis
A dehumidifier that has gotten noisy is more likely to have an unsteady base, a clogged filter or frost on the coil than a failing compressor. A metallic rattle or a hum that keeps getting louder over time, however, deserves a closer look.
Possible causes
- Unit not level or sitting on a hard floor — compressor vibrations travel into the floor and amplify the noise.
- Clogged air filter or dirty fan — air flows poorly, the motor strains and the hum gets louder.
- Frost on the coil or bucket not seated — parts rub, click or strain every time it restarts.
- Worn mounts or compressor — the sound turns dull, shrill or knocking, especially after several years of use.
What to do
- 1Unplug the dehumidifier, make sure it stands level and set it on a rubber mat or anti-vibration pad.
- 2Remove and wash the air filter in lukewarm water, then dust the grilles and the back with a vacuum and a soft brush.
- 3Empty the bucket, push it back in firmly until it clicks and make sure no panel or cover has worked loose.
- 4If you see frost, turn it off and let it defrost at room temperature, then restart it in a warmer room.
- 5After any stop, wait 3 minutes before turning it back on, and if the noise continues, don't open the refrigerant circuit: contact the manufacturer.
Repair or replace?
If the noise remains after leveling, cleaning and defrosting, and comes with weaker performance or repeated shutdowns, the compressor is probably near the end of its life. Out of warranty, replacing the compressor costs nearly as much as a new dehumidifier.
If you're replacing it
Smart Dehumidifiers: the picks from our buying guide
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Best overall
Meaco Arete Two 20L
Rated at 42 pints (20 L) a day, with a 10-pint (4.8 L) tank, a HEPA filter, Wi-Fi with Alexa and Google Home, and a reputation for low energy use and quiet running.
Photo: © Meaco
- View on Amazon →
Best value
Comfee MDDF-16DEN7-WF
Rated at 34 pints (16 L) a day, with Wi-Fi and Alexa support, a laundry mode and continuous drainage in a compact entry-level body.
- View on Amazon →
Best for bedrooms
Xiaomi Smart Dehumidifier Lite
A small unit rated at 27 pints (13 L) a day, with a quiet sleep mode and Xiaomi Home app control, ideal for a bedroom or bathroom.
Photo: © Xiaomi
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Other common problems in this category
These issues affect the same type of appliance — each one comes with a diagnosis and the steps to take.
- Smart DehumidifiersMy dehumidifier bucket barely fills up anymore
- Smart DehumidifiersHow much power does a dehumidifier use when running continuously?
- Smart DehumidifiersThe coils on my smart dehumidifier frost over and it shuts off
- Smart DehumidifiersMy smart dehumidifier says the bucket is full even though it's empty
Frequently asked questions
Check the manufacturer's warranty first: how long it lasts and what it covers vary by brand and model, so read the terms for yours and keep your proof of purchase. If you bought it new in the EU, a two-year legal guarantee also applies (Directive (EU) 2019/771), covering defects present at delivery, whenever they first show up.
If you're still within the seller's return window, a return or exchange is usually the fastest fix. After that, go through the manufacturer's support team: it handles warranty claims and can often repair the unit even after the warranty has run out. Either way, keep your proof of purchase.
Our public methodology lowers the Nura Score /10 of any model in our Smart Dehumidifiers guide whose recurring failures show up in owner reviews. A model that breaks down too often never makes it to the top, whatever the brand.
Generally, yes, if you stick to routine maintenance: cleaning, replacing a gasket, recalibrating. Irreversible changes to the hardware are what can cause problems, so read your warranty terms before you open anything up. Anything the manufacturer's manual walks you through is the safe zone.
Your proof of purchase, the exact model name and a record of the symptom: photos, a short video, the sound it makes and any error code. Note when the problem started and what you've already tried. With all that in hand, support can pin down the problem much faster.