Questions on dehumidifiers

[Rat Rod Mac]

My wife and I were talking the other day about the humid summer months ahead and she mentioned about how high the electric bill goes when the air conditioner is on. ( she handles the bills ) So I suggested we get a dehumidifier. The only room that really needs it is the bedroom and the room downstairs that has some antiques in it. We don't want some items to rust. We don't really care about cooling everything off, just get the humidity down and things will be cool enough. Here's the deal,,, a co-worker that I mentioned this to said the dehumidifier will cost as much as running the whole house air conditioner. Any thoughts on this comment or this subject in general ? Thanks. RRM

 

[tractchores]

My wife and I were talking the other day about the humid summer months ahead and she mentioned about how high the electric bill goes when the air conditioner is on. ( she handles the bills ) So I suggested we get a dehumidifier. The only room that really needs it is the bedroom and the room downstairs that has some antiques in it. We don't want some items to rust. We don't really care about cooling everything off, just get the humidity down and things will be cool enough. Here's the deal,,, a co-worker that I mentioned this to said the dehumidifier will cost as much as running the whole house air conditioner. Any thoughts on this comment or this subject in general ? Thanks. RRM

A dehumidifier is very similar to an air conditioner, you just don't have the outside cooling coil. The electricity cost should be very similar. One thing to be aware of is that dehumidifiers have an operating temperature range, which means some won't work in a hot room.

 

[Stimw]

Not even close to the electrical consumption.
Just look at the amps that a dehumidifier draws, compared to an AC unit. The D H's have a very small compressor.
I have run a D H quite a lot, here is Fl there are seasons when you don't need AC but need to remove the humidity. I have removed 1-2 gallons of water per day!
A lot depends on how tight you house is too. If it is tight you can dehumidify and hold but if it breathes you will keep removing the moisture.
I have always bought them for around $200. at the big box stores. I have a Maytag now that I hate! This POS is louder than a Semi idling and I can't stand to be in the same room with it.

 

[newbury]

We run one to dehumidify a 1,000 sq ft house that we use for storage. All SWMBO can say is "It's not very much". The house is unused otherwise. Thus once we get the humidity down it tends to stay down.

Once you get the humidity DOWN and if there is not a lot of air circulation from the outside or moist sources (showers etc.) it shouldn't run very much. If the room is not closed off it may run 24/7.

Here's a link
http://www.mge.com/images/PDF/Brochures/Residential/Dehumidifiers.pdf

 

[tractchores]

I should amend my post to mention that while similar to an ac a dehumidifier is usually sized way smaller (since t had a seperate goal) so will have less energy use, but conversly will take a long time to dehumidify vs what the average ac unt woud do (since they are larger compressors)

 

[uglyboywith11fingers]

A dehumidifier is very similar to an air conditioner, you just don't have the outside cooling coil. The electricity cost should be very similar. One thing to be aware of is that dehumidifiers have an operating temperature range, which means some won't work in a hot room.

haven't run into the 'won't work in a hot room' scenario, but it should be noted that since the evaporator & condenser coils are both in the house, the net result is that the dehumidifier will warm the room just a bit.

Pete