How Long Should a Dehumidifier Run Per Day?

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It can get hot and sticky when you live in a very humid region, it can become very hot and moist in your home. If you do not have an air conditioner or dehumidifier this can present a problem for you.

While air conditioners can be expensive, a good dehumidifier will make your room or home a lot more comfortable and easier to be in. The big question is how long should a dehumidifier stay on. Keep reading to find out the answer.

How Long to Run Dehumidifier?

Like most appliance related questions, the answer is that it depends. There are many factors involved that guide you in operating your dehumidifier. The humidity level is just one of those factors.

Other factors include running costs, unit capacity as well as water tank capacity and room size. All of these factors need to be taken into consideration when you buy a dehumidifier and turn the unit on.

how long should a dehumidifier run per day

How Long Should a Dehumidifier Stay on?

There really is not set time limit on this issue. You can run it for as short as an hour or as long as 24 hours. It all depends upon you and your situation. However, the experts state that 12 hours a day is a good time frame to operate your dehumidifier.

That measurement is just a guide and should be adjusted according to the unit’s features, room size and how moist your room is. You can go longer if the room is really humid and the indoor air quality is low.

When is the Best Time to Run a Dehumidifier?

There are 2 good times to run your dehumidifier. The first ideal time is when the humidity levels are over 50% and that can be at any time day or night. The second ideal time is between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. when electrical use is at a minimum.

Then if you are looking for a time of year, late Spring, all Summer and early Fall are the times when you will need to use your dehumidifier the most

Can You Leave a Dehumidifier on All Day?

Yes, you can but there are some facts you have to be aware of. The water tank only collects water until it is full. Then the auto shut off will turn the unit off. You will need someone to be home to empty the water tank in order to keep your home at optimum relative humidity levels.

Also, you should leave it on when you live in a region that has excessive humidity levels.

Tips on Running Your Dehumidifier

Here are some key tips to help guide your dehumidifier use. Many of the tips are common sense and not that hard to do.

  • Keep all the windows and doors to the room shut while the unit is working. This cuts down on having more humidity enter the room and also keeps your dehumidifier from being over worked.
  • The amount of water the unit collects depends on how much moisture is in the room. The water collection gets less when the humidity gets lower.
  • The type of dehumidifier you need needs to be rated for the square footage of the room or rooms it will be placed.
  • To save on energy bills, run your dehumidifier overnight. The rates should be lower as fewer people are using the electrical supply overnight.
  • The total amount of time you run your dehumidifier is up to you. You can run it 24 hours a day or 12 hours a day or somewhere in between.
  • Picking up a dehumidifier with the continuous drain feature will save you time and effort. You won’t need to empty the water bucket.

Final Thoughts

It will take a little practice to set your dehumidifier to run the right amount of time for your region of the country. Do some test runs to see which amount of time is perfect for you, your home and humidity situation.

Once you get that nailed down, you and your family can enjoy life at home a lot better. Just make sure to buy the right unit for your home.

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My name is Justin Williams. I am the founder and blogger at TheDehumidifierExperts.com (read more about us). I was an allergy sufferer and that is also the reason why I began my trek to finding the best dehumidifier for my own personal health issues. All of the dehumidifier top picks on the site were put through their paces by Lance Perez - our dehumidifier researcher. He put each one through a series of tests to see how well they performed. Then, our editorial team compiled the insights into articles and published them.

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