These appliances have a lot of benefits by lowering the condensation and mold buildup in your home. Of course, when using them, more electricity is required.
So, how much electricity does a dehumidifier use? This will mainly depend on the specific model you choose yet you can expect that getting one will help you save more money in the long run. In summer is common to spend $15 to $40 but if your dehumidifier runs a lot it can exceed $50.
Why Do You Need a Dehumidifier?
If you don’t use a dehumidifier, your house is at risk of mold buildup and condensation.
When the humidity in your home is high, there is a higher risk that dust mites, as well as other pesky bugs, will start to grow and thrive there.
It can then lead to a possibly dangerous environment for people with mold allergies, people who have breathing difficulties such as asthma, and children.
And when there is a room in your house that needs constant cleaning because of a nasty mold buildup, just think of how much you will have to spend on buying cleaning products.
A bottle of mildew and mold remover might only cost you a few dollars, depending on the brand and on the size.
This might not sound a lot but consider having to purchase a bottle once every month.
You might end up spending more every year on mold cleaner alone. Not just that because you will also need the right mold cleaner brush set, and this too comes at a price.
Don’t forget the cleaning wipes as well. When you clean, the best brands usually provide the best possible solutions.
Sure, all the cleaning products are relatively cheap and you can probably purchase them from discount stores.
But, what if you are not a big fan of cleaning, or you simply lack the time to do so?
Considerations When Buying a Dehumidifier
Sure, buying a dehumidifier might seem like an expensive cost but remember that this is just a one-time payment.
And as far as running costs are concerned, they are not that expensive as well.
Several mini dehumidifiers will not cost you more than one light bulb to run. But, expect that a bigger device will also be more expensive to run.
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Before you buy a dehumidifier, you have to know exactly what you want to use it for.
So far, there are several types of dehumidifiers.
The first one is ideal for houses that work through condensing moisture that drips from the pipes to the tank.
The second one is ideal for greenhouses and garages. These need higher energy consumption because the pipes are being heated so that the moisture will drip to the storage tanks.
This means that if you are on a tight budget, your best option will be the compressor dehumidifier.
These are low-cost when it comes to running costs and unit prices. Ideally, you can try to pick up a portable or mini device.
Running a dehumidifier might not be cheap but you can expect it to be a worthy investment if you will consider all the benefits they have to offer.
Do Dehumidifiers Use a Lot of Energy?
Today’s cost of living continues to go up dramatically.
With the tough economy, people have become more interested in finding the best and most feasible ways to save some cash.
One common question that they are often concerned with is regarding the cost of running a dehumidifier and if it uses a lot of energy in the first place.
Differences Between Desiccant and Refrigeration Dehumidifiers
The energy cost of a dehumidifier varies from one unit to another.
There are dehumidifiers that can add a substantial amount to your electricity bill while others, like the Energy Star, rated units, are more cost-effective.
The very first you have to check is if the unit is made with a desiccant system or a refrigeration coil system.
Refrigeration dehumidifiers have been considered to be the most effective. Energy usage of dehumidifiers varies among units but more and more models today have been made to have better energy efficiency.
Desiccant dehumidifiers are the least cost-effective out of all dehumidifiers. The unit makes use of hot air for extracting water from a desiccant model. It means that this type of dehumidifier needs to consume more energy to perform the same job.
A desiccant dehumidifier, on average, is 50 percent less energy efficient compared to a refrigeration type.
Energy Star Rated Units
It is also important to choose an Energy Star rated model.
Energy Star is the government group that evaluates electrical products to identify their level of energy efficiency.
To get this Energy Star rating, a unit must be at least 15 percent more efficient compared to the non-rated counterpart.
Purchasing an Energy Star dehumidifier can make a substantial difference in the overall operating costs.
Calculate Costs of Running a Dehumidifier
After you have chosen a unit, you can check the amount of electricity being used and calculate the amount it will cost you to run the unit within a specific period of time.
To do this, first, you have to know the specific wattage of your unit. After that, take the wattage then multiply this by the number of hours it is in use then divide this by 1000. It will then give you the kWh measure.
This method of calculation can provide you with a rough estimate of the amount of dehumidifier energy cost.
Several factors will affect this cost aside from the energy usage per hour of the dehumidifier.
For instance, an extremely efficient model is compared with one which scarcely removes humidity.
Unit 1 uses 25 percent more energy compared to Unit 2 but Unit 1 successfully controls moisture with a 4-hour per day run time while Unit 2 controls similar moisture and runs 10 hours daily. It is clear that Unit 1 is more energy-efficient and far superior even if the unit is technically using more power while it runs.
So, do dehumidifiers use a lot of energy? Yes, if you are using a desiccant type but most units, like the ones with Energy Star rating, will only cost a little to run.
Is A Small Dehumidifier Expensive To Run?
Small dehumidifiers usually are energy efficient. Let’s take for example Pro Breeze Mini, which is one of the top dehumidifiers reviewed in this article. This device has a wattage of 75W, so basically, it is similar to a light bulb.
How Much Does It Cost to Run a Dehumidifier?
People often wonder how much it will cost them to run a dehumidifier.
This question is rather difficult to answer, though, since the cost can vary a lot.
Different factors such as the specific type of dehumidifier used, either refrigerant or desiccant, the temperature, as well as energy-saving factors can all have an impact on the running costs.
Many manufacturers even make the issue more confusing with the use of the phrase “energy-efficient” on product descriptions as there is no way to tell if it really deserves it or not.
Having said this, it is still possible to at least get a rough idea of the running costs of a dehumidifier before you get one.
The Quick Answer
The costs of running a dehumidifier will vary depending on your energy tariff and the unit’s power rating.
If you just need to run your dehumidifier for 2 to 4 hours on a daily basis, which is common after establishing baseline humidity, the energy costs per week or day will likely be much lower.
A Quick Look at the Basics
Every dehumidifier is being rated in terms of Watts (W). It refers to the amount of power that the unit uses. This is also another way to describe the amount of energy for every second that the dehumidifier needs to run.
When the power is higher, the dehumidifier is also going to use more energy. Some things are a little complicated than this.
While dehumidifiers are sold with a power rating, it does not mean that it uses its power always.
The majority of dehumidifiers have different modes. Medium or low fan settings use lesser energy, even if they do not get rid of the moisture quickly.
Once you get your first humidifier, you will probably run this on full power to establish the humidity’s baseline level. In this stage, the dehumidifier could run all day.
If the baseline has been established, yet you probably will not have to run the dehumidifier for several hours daily.
You could also require the medium or low settings that reduce energy usage.
There is also an endless debate between refrigerant or compressor and desiccant dehumidifiers. There are some general differences with dehumidifiers, yet refrigerant dehumidifiers work best in warmer temperature while the desiccant is a good option for low-temperature purposes.
However, when it comes to energy efficiency, refrigerant dehumidifiers are much cheaper to run.
Desiccant dehumidifiers also have warming effects though that could mean you do not have to heat your home as much during cold days or winter months.
Aside from that, they are much faster in getting rid of the water in cooler conditions that might mean they do not have to be run for as long to keep good humidity levels.
All in all, it doesn’t matter what the cost is to run a dehumidifier. With its benefits, it is worth your investment.
