A dehumidifier can be very useful when used in the right manner. Using it correctly also means using it at the right time. With an exception given to people living in the most humid cities such as Jacksonville or New Orleans in the US, you do not have to use a dehumidifier 24/7. So what is the best time of day the to use a dehumidifier?
Dehumidifiers are used when the humidity levels are at the highest point, which is above 55%. There is no conventional time set on when to use a dehumidifier.
However, if you are looking to cut down your energy costs, it is advisable to use your dehumidifier between 10 pm, and 7 am.
Most houses have low electricity consumption, and most energy companies will charge you less since it is off-peak hours.
While using one during these hours can be cost-effective, various circumstances dictate the use of this appliance.
So, when is a dehumidifier likely to give you the best results? How long can you run it? Why do you need to have one?
Continue reading this article to get answers to these questions and learn more about using a dehumidifier.
Are You A First-Time User or Regular?
Table of Contents
If you have never used a dehumidifier in your house and enough humidity signs are being above the required levels, you should leave it running for a few days.
Some of the signs that the humidity levels in your house are incredibly high includes;
Foggy windows. When the humidity level is high in your house, you will start noticing fog accumulating on your windows.
Mold infestation. A damp environment makes the best environment for breeding mold. It is easy to spot molds in high-humid areas of your house, such as the bathroom, kitchen, laundry area, and basement. Molds can weaken your home if no action is taken.
Swampy or stuffy rooms. When moisture accumulates in a room for an extended period, stuffy air is inevitable.
- The fizzing of wall paints. Bubbling or fizzing of wall paints, especially in the bathroom, can be a good sign that there is high humidity percentage in your bathroom. The result could have been caused by poor ventilation in your bathroom when taking a hot shower.
- Rotting wood. Wood rots when it gets damp. Excess moisture causes dampness on surfaces that it lands on. If you notice wooden surfaces are staining and rotting, it could indicate high water moisture in your house.
- Get a hygrometer that will help you measure the amount of humidity in the house. Remember, humidity levels that surpass 55% are beyond the required levels.
If you have never used a dehumidifier in your house and the above signs are present, run it continuously for few days to eliminate the excess humidity.
However, if you are a regular user of a dehumidifier, you can decide on the time of the day or night to dehumidify your house.
The specific time should, however, be dynamic. For instance, if you have a pipe leakage in the morning hours, you don’t have to wait until 10 pm to run the dehumidifier.
Instead, it would be best if you ran it consistently when such a need arises. By so doing, you will get rid of the excess humidity before it’s late.
With an experience of your home conditions, you can know the best time of day to use a dehumidifier.
When is a dehumidifier likely to give you the best results?
Placing a dehumidifier in the right position will deliver the best results. You need to identify the hot spots for high humidity within your house.
If you have a poorly ventilated basement floor, it may necessitate you to run the dehumidifier continuously.
However, if you are looking to dehumidify the sitting room, kitchen, bathroom, or bedroom, run the appliance when humidity levels are high.
Also ask yourself how long does it take for a humidifier to work?
Some of the specific times that you can run a dehumidifier to achieve the best results include;
-
When you are cooking
Cooking is one of the main activities that can increase the amount of moist air in your home; this is especially when it involves boiling water.
During this time, you can either choose to run the dehumidifier after cooking or during the process, and the appliance will suck the extra water moisture from the air.
- When you are taking a shower or after
Hot showers can significantly increase humidity in your bathroom and ultimately your house.
Running a dehumidifier during a shower or after will lower the amount of water moisture in the bathroom.
- When you are drying clothing inside your house
Drying clothes indoors is a common reason for the increasing humidity level, especially in your laundry room or the basement floor.
Making your clothes dry indoors will incredibly increase humidity levels, and this will require long dehumidifying hours.
You should isolate a single room for drying your clothes indoors; this could be your laundry room.
Turning on your heater in the laundry room to dry the clothes and the dehumidifier simultaneously will deliver incredible results within a short while.
Remember to keep the door and windows closed during this process. Be observant of the dehumidifier tank; ensure you empty it on time whenever it is full.
Frequently Asked Questions on the best time of day to use a dehumidifier
How Long Can You Run A Dehumidifier?
The number of hours a dehumidifier should run will depend on several factors;
- the amount of humidity in your house
- temperature
- the dehumidifier rate of extraction
- the targeted relative humidity.
Therefore, there is no set time that one should run a dehumidifier. When is it ideal for running it continuously? Check out below;
- During the summer season, when it is too humid
- When there is a leakage in your house
- When you want to dry a room after doing fresh plastering
- When running it for the first time in your house
Any of the above situations guarantees that you run the dehumidifier continuously until you achieve the objective. That is when all moisture is gone.
However, before dehumidifying a leakage room, it is important to ensure that the leakage has been fixed
It would be best to get a dehumidifier with a humidistat that turns the dehumidifier on and off automatically for regular dehumidifying practices.
With a humidistat feature, you don’t have to worry about switching on or off the dehumidifier.
The appliance will automatically go off when the humidity levels have lowered to the required standard, turn on when the humidity level increases, and turn off when the dehumidifier tank is full.
When Is The Right Season To Get A Dehumidifier?
Regardless of the season, humidity levels can increase depending on the activities taking place in your house. This means you can run a dehumidifier during any time of the year as long as it demands.
However, research has shown that dehumidifiers are likely to be put into more use during summer than any other season. Summer is reported to be the most humid period.
On the other hand, winter being the coldest months, the air is dry. A dehumidifier is not required when air is dry.
How about in the rainy season? The amount of moisture in the air is more when it is raining than when it is not.
This may require you to dehumidify more during the rainy season.
When Should You Avoid Running a Dehumidifier?
The efficiency of a dehumidifier decreases as temperature decreases.
In most cases, dehumidifier manufacturers discourage using their appliances when temperature levels are below 60˚ F.
At low temperatures, moist air removed from the air in your house can freeze around the dehumidifier coils, damaging the appliance.
When you note that the temperatures have begun falling to 65˚ F and below, you should start unplugging your appliance.
Correctly store it away as you wait to utilize it during spring, summer, or early fall.
This is the appropriate time to start thinking of whether you need to upgrade to a bigger and more energy-efficient dehumidifier.
Final Thought
Different factors determine the best time of day to use a dehumidifier. Circumstances will dictate the time you can run the unit.
A house that has never been dehumidified will require long hours of running the unit on-stop for approximately 2 to 4 weeks.
The long hours are to allow it to completely dry the air and dehumidify your furniture and other things in the house.
If you are a regular user and your energy provider offers peak and off-peak power charges, consider running it during off-peak hours.
Running the unit during off-peak hours, which is probably at night (10 pm to 7 am), you are likely to be charged less for your electricity consumption.
The number of hours that the unit can run will depend on the situation at hand. You can also get a dehumidifier that comes with a humidistat.
It will automatically switch your unit on or off, depending on how you will configure it.
To maintain the dehumidifier’s efficiency, do not run it when temperatures fall below 65˚ F.
Using the unit when it is extremely cold may damage it as moist air that has been sucked from the air may freeze on the coils.