How Much Does It Cost To Run A Dehumidifier?
A lot of people have the query on the cost of running a dehumidifier. This writing will help them to know about the approximate cost and other cost-related factors of running a dehumidifier.
The cost of running a dehumidifier varies depending on several things and factors such as the type of the dehumidifier, temperature level, energy-saving features, etc.
Though the manufacture adds the term “energy efficient” to almost all the products, some may not deserve it. However, you can get an approximate idea of the running cost of the dehumidifier before buying it. From this article, you can get an idea of the cost and make a budget based on that.
A Precise Calculation
The cost will mostly depend on the power rating of the humidifier and the tariff of your energy. In January 2023, if the power rating is 250 w, 500 w and 750 w the per hour cost would be £0.04, £0.08 and £0.12 respectively.
Based on this calculation of this data if you use your dehumidifier for 12 hours a day, your average cost would be £0.46 for 250W, £0.92 for 500W and £1.39 for 750W. Though if your use the dehumidifier for 3 to 4 hours after establishing the recommended humidity level, your energy cost will become lower.
Some Basic Factors
Watt is the unit of the energy rating of the dehumidifiers. The amount of the consumed energy of the dehumidifier depends on its watt rating.
If the watt of the dehumidifier is higher, it consumes more energy whereas dehumidifiers with lower watts consume less energy.
Most of the dehumidifiers come with multiple modes. Medium or low fan setting requires less energy but these modes don’t remove the dampness and humidity quickly.
You may need to run the dehumidifier on full power for establishing the baseline or ideal humidity level when using it for the first time. In this phase, you may have to run the dehumidifier the whole day.
After reaching the recommended humidity level, there need not to running the dehumidifier all day. Running the dehumidifier for a few hours will be enough after reaching the baseline.
There are two types of dehumidifiers which are refrigerant and desiccant dehumidifiers. Desiccant dehumidifiers are best for low temperatures whereas refrigerant dehumidifiers are most suitable for warmer temperatures.
However, in terms of energy requirements, refrigerant dehumidifiers are cheaper than desiccant ones. Desiccant dehumidifiers give a heating effect which means you don’t have to use a heater to heat your room during the winter season. In lower temperatures, they are also quicker in removing water, which means they may not need to run for as long to maintain low humidity.
Energy Efficiency of the Dehumidifiers
Whether your dehumidifier is energy efficient or not will depend on several things. Nowadays dehumidifiers’ manufacturers are quite conscious of the usage and consumption of saving energy which helps the users to save energy as well as monthly electricity bill. You will find several energy-saving features in the newer dehumidifiers which will reduce the cost of energy.
The “ Meaco Low Energy ” comes with a 255 W power rating and costs around 0.04 pounds per hour for running it on full power. The control logic of the Meaco dehumidifier switches it off and on automatically based on the existing humidity level of the room.
Now you must be wondering about those dehumidifiers which come with a higher power rating. Meaco DD8L is a portable desiccant dehumidifier that comes with the 650 W powers rating which means it will cost 0.10 pounds per hour for running in full power.
It will also warm your room as well as remove the humidity and dampness faster in cooler temperatures. This mechanism can offset the additional cost of energy still refrigerant dehumidifiers are the cheapest option during warmer seasons.
All the dehumidifiers which are available in the market are not energy efficient. Some of the low-quality dehumidifiers consume quite more energy than the high-quality ones also extract water very slowly.
So it is better to get a high quality dehumidifier by spending some additional amount for having a balanced humidity in the room at a lower energy cost.
Reducing Energy Consumption
Some features can reduce energy consumption as well as the utility bill.
If you are concerned about your electricity bill and want to lessen it you can check out these features. The features are:
Hydrophilic Coil-Coating
The refrigerant dehumidifiers with the hydrophilic coil-coating can extract a higher level of water because these dehumidifiers come with increased extraction rates.
As these dehumidifiers reduce the moisture and humidity faster you don’t have to run these all day.
Smart control + Humidistat
Some dehumidifiers come with smart control technology which automatically turns it on and off when required.
These dehumidifiers with smart control technology also consume less energy which results in lower cost.
Faster Water Removal
The dehumidifiers that remove moisture, water and humidity from the water faster turn it off automatically in a shorter period.
So, you have to choose the appropriate dehumidifier which will be fit in the environment of your room. For example, you can get refrigerant dehumidifiers for warmer rooms and desiccant dehumidifiers for colder ones.
Over-drying Protection
Some dehumidifiers turn it off automatically if it detects that the air is becoming too dry.
This feature will prevent cracked lips and dry skin also will reduce the energy bill.
Is it worth the cost to use a dehumidifier?
The cost of the dehumidifier depends on the unit’s power rating mostly. But the cost also depends on the temperature, humidity, running time and energy-saving features. So it is quite difficult to figure out the exact cost of running a dehumidifier.
So before having a dehumidifier you have to figure out if it is worth the cost to use a dehumidifier in your house or room. If there is too much condensation, moisture and mould in your home a dehumidifier will be quite beneficial for you.
If you use a dehumidifier it will reduce the heating time by lowering the moisture level which will decrease the energy consumption and its cost. Also, you can turn the thermostat down as dryer air will give you a warmer feeling.
Turning down the thermostat will reduce the energy cost to a significant extent. The reduced humidity level in the air will prevent the furniture from damaging which means there will be no need for the anti-mould spray which will save your expenses.
Lowering the moisture level will also prevent the growth of moulds on ceilings, tiles and walls which will be costly to remove.
Moreover, reducing the moisture and humidity level will remove dust mites which will be a relief for allergic people. Also, there will be no musty smell and odours in your room and reduce lung and skin irritation. The benefits of using the dehumidifiers always over show the extra energy cost and make it a worthy unit to use.
For damp and humid homes, getting a dehumidifier is a cost-efficient unit as it will provide fresh air with proper moisture and humidity level to the users.
Though dehumidifiers require a bit more energy, in other ways they can reduce the use and consumption of energy. Also, dehumidifiers reduce the moisture and humidity from the air and environment faster.
