You’ve finally found a good dehumidifier that is perfect for the size of your space and has all the bells and whistles that can improve indoor air quality and keep those pesky molds at bay. The best dehumidifiers often come with a high price tag but there are always opportunities for you to find the ones that will suit your budget.
But now that you have it, you’re probably wondering if it will cost you more money to run. Obviously, it will. Dehumidifiers are designed to run for hours to keep humidity away from your home. But don’t worry because unlike other appliances that run 24/7, these dehumidifiers won’t cost you an arm and a leg to run.
How Much Electricity Does a Dehumidifier Use?
There are a lot of factors that can affect the cost of running a dehumidifier, the first one being the size. Obviously, a dehumidifier that can dehumidify a bigger square footage will cost more to run because it makes use of more power.
Standard models usually run at 280 watts per hour. Using 15 cents per kilowatt-hour as a guide, running an electric dehumidifier for an hour can cost you about 4.2 cents every hour. If you run the dehumidifier for about 10 hours a day, multiply the hours to 4.2 cents and you will get 42 cents every day. That will total to an annual dehumidifier consumption of $153.30 assuming that you run your dehumidifier all day, every day.
That doesn’t sound so bad, does it? If you compare that to the costs of calling a professional to remove molds infestation or spend a lot of household products to clean the areas of the home that is musty or moldy all the time, that is actually a reasonable amount to spend on home maintenance.
Of course, the smaller your dehumidifier, the less expensive it is. You only need to pay at least $25 to run a compact or a mini dehumidifier. But for the larger ones that can get rid of up to 70 pints of moisture in one day, the cost can go as high as $350 depending on the model of your dehumidifier.
There are also a lot of features that can prevent excessive electricity consumption such as an automatic shut-off feature and a programmable setting. The automatic shut-off feature detects when the tank has been filled already, so it doesn’t continuously run to remove moisture from the air. The programmable setting allows you to set how many hours you want the dehumidifier to run.
Tips in Maintaining Your Dehumidifier
One of the things that can lower down the costs of running a dehumidifier is keeping it properly maintained. If it’s not maintained regularly, dirt can build up in its internal parts, which can prevent it from running efficiently.
Maintenance shouldn’t be costly. Most dehumidifiers only require filter cleaning every now and then. You can wipe down the internal parts, hoses and the exterior of the dehumidifier with a microfiber cloth.
How to Buy a Dehumidifier That Won’t Consume Too Much Energy
Size is important when it comes to a dehumidifier. If you buy a dehumidifier that is too big for your home or is intended for bigger spaces, you will surely spend more money running it even when you don’t really need that big of a capacity.
Most manufacturers of dehumidifiers have a specification on how big a space their product can accommodate. But be wary about these specifications because there are still a few factors that can affect their ability to run in those spaces. You would still want to keep the following tips in mind:
Consider the Airflow in Your Home
The dehumidifiers sold out there have cfm or cubic feet per minute specifications. This will indicate the power of the fan inside the dehumidifier. This is what will allow air to circulate in the space. Even if the dehumidifier is advertised to function in 4,000 square-foot spaces, if the cfm is low, it still won’t be able to sufficiently dehumidify the space. A low cfm means it will take all day for air to circulate, which means it will take a longer time to really capture the excess moisture in the air.
A higher cfm is better because it allows air to circulate more, thereby offering more effective dehumidifying capabilities. Not only are these dehumidifiers less costly to run, they also provide faster relief from too much humidity levels.
Consider the Current Humidity Levels in the Room
For enclosed spaces with poor ventilation such as bathrooms and basements, finding a dehumidifier with a higher airflow is important. If you buy a dehumidifier with a low cfm and use it in enclosed spaces with extremely moist surroundings such as a basement, it will really take a toll on your energy bill. That also means your dehumidifier will be running constantly.
If you are using the dehumidifier in normal rooms like the living room or bedroom, you can simply go for airflow rates of 3-4 but for bathrooms, attics, basements and crawl spaces, you are better off with a higher airflow rate of up to 6 that can cycle every 10-12 minutes.
Take into Consideration Ambient Temperature
Ambient temperature can also come into play. Warmer temperature allows dehumidifiers to run more efficiently. In fact, many of the dehumidifiers you can find in the market today have been tested in ambient room temperatures, which is why they work better and they have better results.
Look for those dehumidifiers that have been tested under the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers or AHAM because these are the dehumidifiers that have been tested in 60% humidity or relative humidity and 80 degrees F temperature.
This also determines how prone the dehumidifier is to coil frosting. Dehumidifiers that tend to form frost in the winter will not run as effectively.
Run Your Dehumidifier Only When Needed
It’s not all the time your home needs dehumidifying. Check humidity levels first to determine when you will have to turn your dehumidifier on.
Make sure you get our expert advice and read our reviews on the best bathroom dehumidifiers before buying to get more details on the best products out there to buy.