Can I use a portable air conditioner/dehumidifier as a dehumidifier in the winter at cold temperatures?

Question

My portable air conditioner can also be used as a dehumidifier. I can use it in the summer/spring both as air conditioner as well as dehumidifier, and it works really well as a dehumidifier under hot weather. The brand and model is as follows: De Longhi Pinguino PAC N82. In the summer it works perfectly well as a dehumidifier. However, I don't know whether it can be used in the winter at low temperatures -let's say 0-5 degrees Celsius. Can I use a portable air conditioner/dehumidifier as a dehumidifier in the winter at cold temperatures?

Let me also explain how the air conditioner/dehumidifier works. The humidity of the apartment (that is captured by the dehumidifier) is expelled outside the apartment through a plastic hose. Moreover, and in contrast with most dehumidifiers, my air conditioner/dehumidifier does not store the humidity in a bowl in the form of water; indeed, as explained above, the humidity is not condensed in the form of water and is expelled outside the apartment through a plastic hose.

Moreover, I also would like to ask another question: In the case that the air conditioner/dehumidifier should not be used with cold weather, which is the threshold of the temperature under which I should not use it as a dehumidifier?

Answer 1

A portable ac unit can dehumidify in the winter but the problem will be when the temps are below 62 F you risk icing the evaporator coil and possibly damage to the unit.

If the coil ices then it will not be effective because of the coil being blocked at the temps you list.

Many portable ac units are capillary tube controlled or no true active component to reduce the chance of icing (check your machine if 62 or even higher is the minimum temp you risk damage). I would say NO as it could damage the unit. I also agree with Jim that low humidity is usually the issue in cold temperatures.