A lot of people associate living in a humid environment with feeling uncomfortable, icky, and just gross. With all of that sweat coming out, it's not surprising that humidity can be something that people struggle with.
With the use of a dehumidifier, you can control your air quality and help prevent problems such as mold and mildew from developing inside your home.
But, the dehumidifier also uses a lot of energy which has a real environmental impact. In this article, we're going to go through the real costs and benefits of dehumidifiers and provide you with a few tips for making a decision about whether or not you should invest in a dehumidifier.
What is a Dehumidifier?
A dehumidifier is a device that removes water from the air. You can think of a dehumidifier as a glorified fan with a filter. As the fan blows air across the filter, it sucks water droplets out of the air and collects them in a bucket at the bottom of the machine. The more humid your local climate is, the more often you need to empty that bucket.
In order to relieve discomfort caused by high humidity, people often invest in a dehumidifier. There are three main types of dehumidifiers: Refrigerant, desiccant, and whole-house dehumidifiers.
Do They Use a Lot of Electricity?
Dehumidifiers work by removing moisture from the air. The use of a dehumidifier is often necessary in humid climates or during the summer when rooms are hotter and more humid.
They use electricity which might be an issue if you live in a place where power is expensive. Although you might think that the machine consumes a lot of power, however, dehumidifiers actually do not use more power than your air conditioner and since they keep the air in your house dry, you will save on heating costs.
Also, they can lower mold and allergy symptoms and help prevent the growth of bacteria and other microorganisms that thrive in humid environments.
Real Costs of Running a Dehumidifier
Given the recent dry weather, many people are thinking about employing a dehumidifier to help with the moisture in their homes. Do they use a lot of power?
It depends on how often you run your dehumidifier and the model you have, but typically most models use between 5 - 15 kW per day when they are running. A typical household uses 25 - 40 kW daily for an entire house so it's not very different from using that kindle or laptop as far as being energy saving is concerned!
Benefits of Using a Dehumidifier
Many people are unaware of the benefits of using a dehumidifier. A dehumidifier does not just remove excess moisture from the air but also other things such as allergens and bacteria.
The best time to use your portable or whole house (with venting) dehumidifiers will be in the summer months since this allows them more ventilation on hot days because there would otherwise quickly become too much humidity inside during summertime heat waves which can cause damage like mold if left untreated long enough.
Here are some benefits of running a dehumidifier in your house:
Reduce mold and mildew
Mold and mildew in the home is one of the most common sources of allergies and asthma. Mold will grow in an environment that has abundant moisture, darkness, and lack of air circulation.
The accumulation of mold can lead to respiratory problems such as sore throats, runny noses, sinus congestion, and difficulties breathing. It is important to prevent mold from taking root by reducing humidity levels and removing excess moisture from your home with a dehumidifier.
Improve indoor air quality
Your home is supposed to offer a respite from the outside world, but if you're noticing that it feels stuffy and smells stale, then your indoor air quality may be the culprit. The good news is that running a dehumidifier can actually help improve your indoor air quality with minimal effort on your part. A few hours of operation each day will do wonders for keeping those pesky allergens at bay!
Reduce the risk of respiratory illnesses
With the winter months coming to an end, spring brings with it a new set of risks. While we may be sipping lemonade and enjoying the last of the sunshine, the arrival of warmer weather brings with it a greater risk for catching respiratory illnesses such as Bronchitis, Asthma, and Upper Respiratory Tract Infections (URI). With spring also come allergies and more often than not pollen counts are high in this time period.
Having a dehumidifier running in your house can help reduce these problems by creating comfortable humidity levels inside which will keep you breathing easier throughout all those allergy attacks!
Prevent damage to property
It is not uncommon for people to buy a dehumidifier for their house in order to prevent damage caused by dampness and excess moisture. The type of damage that most commonly includes problems such as rot on wood furniture or plastering; mold growth inside walls (particularly around kitchen appliances); rotting timber due primarily water leaking behind exterior doors during heavy rainstorms causing severe weather-related structural issues with some wooden buildings after years have passed since they were built.
Also, possible mildew formation within carpeted areas which causes potential health risks if an individual inhales it. A dehumidifier plays an important role in drying out spaces thus reducing these types of damage to surfaces and materials affected by them all together.
Drawbacks of Using a Dehumidifier
Most buildings need to maintain a certain amount of humidity in the air, typically between 30% and 50%. If this level is not achieved, items can dry out or grow mold. While there are some drawbacks to using a dehumidifier, it is worth the cost due to its ability to lower your cooling bill by an average of 20%!
The most common drawback is that running a dehumidifier continuously in your living space can cause dry skin, itchy eyes if it is set at the wrong humidity levels (too high).
Another drawback of dehumidifiers is that they may be too noisy for children’s rooms as they sleep so you should place them on low settings which will only run when needed rather than constantly have their room dehumidified all night long.
Should I Install a Dehumidifier?
Dehumidifiers can help people stay comfortable in their homes. A dehumidifier also offers a cleaner and more comfortable indoor environment for families with pets and children, as well as those who suffer from respiratory illness, asthma, and allergies. Adding a dehumidifier to your home can be one of the best ways to increase comfort during the summer months.
Plus, it’s pretty easy — just plug your dehumidifier into an electrical outlet and you're ready to go!
Final Words
Do dehumidifiers use a lot of power? No, not really. If you are using an electric portable dehumidifier, they will run off of AC power (i.e., the same kind of power you plug your toaster into). Most portable dehumidifiers consume less than 600 watts per hour on average.
With the help of a dehumidifier, you can maintain a comfortable living environment inside your home so the benefits of having one definitely outweigh the costs.