This is an independent guide. DehumidifierTips.com is not affiliated with Midea. Everything below comes from Midea’s own manuals and support pages, or from CPSC, and is linked so you can check it.
The recall that probably matters more than your fault code
In November 2016 the CPSC announced a recall of roughly 3.4 million dehumidifiers manufactured by Midea — plus another 850,000 in Canada — because they can overheat, smoke and catch fire. There had been 38 reports of smoke and fire and around $4.8 million in property damage.
The catch is that most of the recalled units do not say Midea on them. Midea builds dehumidifiers for a very long list of other brands, and the recall covers 51 brand names:
Airworks, Alen, Arcticaire, Arctic King, Beaumark, Coolworks, ComfortAire, Comfort Star, Continental Electic, Crosley, Daewoo, Danby, Danby & Designer, Dayton, Degree, Diplomat, Edgestar, Excell, Fellini, Forest Air, Frigidaire, GE, Grunaire, Hanover, Honeywell, Homestyles, Hyundai, Ideal Air, Kenmore (Canada), Keystone, Kul, Midea, Nantucket, Ocean Breeze, Pelonis, Perfect Aire, Perfect Home, Polar Wind, Premiere, Professional Series, Royal Sovereign, Simplicity, Sunbeam, SPT, Sylvania, TGM, Touch Point, Trutemp, Uberhaus, Westpointe, Winix and Winixl.
| Detail | Verified |
|---|---|
| Recall number | 17-024, announced 2 November 2016 |
| Sold | January 2003 – December 2013, $100–$300 |
| Capacities | 25, 30, 40, 50, 60, 65, 70 and 75-pint |
| Hazard | Can overheat, smoke and catch fire |
| Remedy | Replacement unit, or a partial refund if made before 1 October 2008 |
| Check your model | recallrtr.com/dehumidifier or 800-600-3055 |
CPSC does not publish a model-number list for this recall, so there is no table to scan. You identify your unit from the nameplate sticker on the back — brand, model number, pint capacity and manufacture date — and enter it at recallrtr.com. If your dehumidifier is a decade old and came from any of those brands, it is worth five minutes.
Two smaller Midea-built recalls also exist, both for a compressor that can short circuit: 11-088 (GE models AHK30LK, AHW30LK, AHM30LK, AHK40LK, AHH40LK, AHM40LK and Professional Series PS78303) and 14-164 (GE ADKW30LN with serials starting AT1, DT1, FT1 or GT1). Both are free repairs.
Not related: Midea’s 2025 recall of 1.7 million U and U+ window air conditioners is a mold-exposure issue on air conditioners, not a dehumidifier fire recall. The two get conflated constantly.
Midea dehumidifier error codes
| Code | Meaning | What to do |
|---|---|---|
P2 | Bucket full, or not seated correctly | Empty it and reseat it squarely |
Eb | Bucket removed or out of position | Reposition the bucket |
AS | Sensor fault — see the warning below | Unplug, replug; call support if it persists |
ES | Evaporator temperature sensor error | Unplug, replug; call support if it persists |
E3 | General unit malfunction | Unplug, replug; call support if it persists |
EC | Refrigerant leakage detected | Not a home repair |
E0 | EEPROM parameter error (commercial DP series) | Not a home repair |
One code, two meanings. Midea’s FAQ and the MAD-series manual define AS as a humidity sensor error. The commercial DP-series manual defines the same code as an indoor room temperature sensor error. Both are Midea documents. So if you are chasing AS, check which manual covers your actual model rather than trusting a generic table — including this one.
The two codes worth trying yourself are P2 and Eb. Both are bucket-position problems, and a bucket that is a few millimetres proud of its seat will read as full or missing. Take it right out, check nothing is caught behind it, and slide it fully home.
Resetting a Midea dehumidifier
Unplug the unit and plug it back in. That is the only reset Midea documents, and it is what its manuals prescribe for AS, ES and E3.
There is no button-combination reset in any Midea source. If you have read about holding two buttons for five seconds, that is not from Midea.
The specs behind most complaints
| Spec | MAD series (household) | DP series (commercial) |
|---|---|---|
| Compressor restart delay | 3 minutes | 3 minutes |
| Operating range | 41–90°F (5–32°C) | 41–95°F (5–35°C) |
| Auto-defrost | Yes | Yes |
| Filter light | Flashes at 250 hours | 250 hours |
Midea states it plainly: “After the unit has stopped, it can not be restarted in the first 3 minutes to protect compressor operation.” That single sentence explains most reports of a Midea dehumidifier that “won’t turn back on”.
On frost, the MAD manual says the compressor cycles off and “Auto Defrost function will run automatically”, and the DP troubleshooting table lists frost on the coils as “This is normal.” Press the Filter button after cleaning to clear the light and restart the 250-hour counter.
Manuals and support
- Support with model search: midea.com/us/support
- Dehumidifier FAQ: midea.com
- Phone: 1-866-646-4332, Mon–Fri 8am–7pm ET, Sat 9am–4pm ET
- Finding your numbers: model is on the silver nameplate on the back; the serial is the 22-digit number on the white barcode sticker
Frequently asked questions
What does P2 mean on a Midea dehumidifier?
The bucket is full, or it is not sitting in the right position. Empty it, then take it fully out and reseat it squarely — a bucket that is slightly proud of its seat reads the same as a full one.
What does AS mean on a Midea dehumidifier?
A sensor fault — but which sensor depends on your model. Midea’s FAQ and household MAD-series manual say humidity sensor; the commercial DP-series manual says indoor room temperature sensor. Try a power cycle first, and check the manual for your specific model before ordering any part.
How do I reset a Midea dehumidifier?
Unplug it and plug it back in. That is the only reset Midea documents — there is no button combination. Allow 3 minutes before the compressor restarts.
Is my dehumidifier a recalled Midea unit?
It might be even if it is not branded Midea. CPSC recall 17-024 covers about 3.4 million units sold under 51 brand names between January 2003 and December 2013, including Danby, Keystone, Honeywell, Frigidaire, GE, Arctic King and Perfect Aire. Check the model number from the nameplate on the back at recallrtr.com/dehumidifier.
Why won’t my Midea dehumidifier restart immediately?
By design. Midea builds in a 3-minute delay after the unit stops, to protect the compressor. The fan may run in the meantime. Wait it out before concluding anything is wrong.