Is your Dehumidifier worth it? Operational Cost Analysis
Dehumidifiers are a blessing when it comes to regulating the moisture content in the air inside your home (Workplace or any other space). As the name suggests, dehumidifiers help bring the excess moisture content back to normal(30-50%).
Whether you need a dehumidifier or not depends on the amount of moisture in your home. If you feel humid, and the situation does not come under control by household methods such as opening up a window, turning on your exhaust/ventilation fans, laying out charcoal briquettes, etc., you might need a Dehumidifier.
The same question is relevant when you’re shopping for a dehumidifier. How much humidity it removes every day, the brand behind it, how much it costs, how hard or easy it is to operate and maintain it, etc.- these are the things that you should look into, among others, before you make a decision.
Dehumidifiers are the Sure shot of dealing with excess humidity, and these devices are often easy to operate. There are quite a few things that determine how much it will cost you to have a dehumidifier in your home. Let’s have a look!
Factors Affecting Dehumidifier Operational Cost
Manufacturer
A product that comes from well-established and trusted manufacturers is a positive. A well-designed product is always more reliable, and though it might be costlier to buy at first, it is a cost-saver in the long run. With an established manufacturer also comes good customer support, which is also something you may need.
Type of Dehumidifier
Which type of dehumidifier is on your list is also something that determines the overall cost of operation. Be it moisture absorbers like Unibond Aero 360, or a rechargeable (silica gel), be it a compressor type dehumidifier or a thermoelectric unit, all of these slightly vary in their energy consumption.
Area Size
The size of the area you want to dehumidify is also a factor. For smaller, closed-off areas like cupboards, closets, etc., rechargeable silica gel packets are good enough. For a small room, smaller units work well. For medium to large rooms, larger units are ideal. Whole-house dehumidifiers can cover the entire house. As the size of the affected area (and consequently the coverage requirement) increases, the operational cost increases as well.
Operating Time
All the time that your dehumidifier is running also adds to the allover cost. If you have a little to moderate level of the moisture problem, the dehumidifier doesn’t need to operate for long hours. In cases with severe moisture problems, longer hours of operation are not uncommon. Consequently, energy consumption goes up.
Moisture content and Efficiency
The amount of moisture that is there to remove also affects the operational costs. Dehumidifiers usually have various modes of operation, and for excess humidity, no moderate or low mode of operation will do. The dehumidifier will need to work to its fullest.
Efficiency is also something you should consider before buying. An efficient dehumidifier(Energy Star Certified) will consume less energy as compared to ordinary models.
Now, let’s figure out how much energy your unit is going to consume while operational.
How much does your Dehumidifier cost to run?
The cost of running a dehumidifier isn’t something set in stone. It depends on a particular unit. Generally speaking, for most homes, the yearly cost of running a dehumidifier can be anywhere between $35- $380 (based on their size and other cost factors).
But there is a way for you to calculate how much your dehumidifier is going to cost you. All you have to do is, follow these simple steps to figure that out.
- Power You’ll need to figure out how many watts it takes to operate your dehumidifier. You can find it on the specifications list of the device.
- Time You need to determine the time of operation for your device. For example, if your space has a small to moderate humidity problem, you’ll need only a few hours of operation. Whereas, for heavy-humidity, you may need an around-the-clock approach.
- Price of Electricity Finally, you’ll need the average cost of electricity in your area.
Now that you have all the components you need to figure out the operational cost, here’s what you need to do.
First, you take the wattage of the device and multiply it with the time of operation. After that, you need to divide it by 1000 to figure out the kWh value. Once you have that, multiply it by the cost of electricity in your area, and viola! You have the operational cost of your dehumidifier.
Now, let’s discuss a few do’s and don’ts to ensure less operational cost.
- You need to check if the humidity problem in your home is not simply from a burst pipe or any other leak. Fix the problem immediately, and the dehumidifier usage will go down considerably.
- While getting yourself a dehumidifier, be sure to consider its specifications. Pick according to your space. A smaller unit won’t do for a big area or heavy humidity. On the other hand, a bigger model might be overkill for a smaller space.
- Find the appropriate type of dehumidifier for your geography.
- Make sure the unit you’re buying is energy efficient. An Energy Star Rated dehumidifier is efficient and saves energy.
- Once the humidity is under control, you don’t need to run your dehumidifier for long hours or at full-speed. Adjust according to the changing environment (if your dehumidifier doesn’t automatically).
- Cleaning the dehumidifier and changing the filter is also something you need to do from time to time to increase efficiency and effectiveness.
- Always buy trusted products.
Conclusion
Whether a dehumidifier costs a lot or not depends on a lot of things. Generally speaking, dehumidifiers can cost anywhere from $30- $400 a year. Your requirements factor into determining how much you’re going to pay for the device. If you have a small problem, a smaller unit can suffice, and that will cost less. Whereas a large space with a significant humidity problem will require a bigger dehumidifier, costing more. Having a dehumidifier is the best and surest way of getting rid of excess humidity. It is not a significant cost threat, and with proper care and maintenance, a dehumidifier can be a great asset to your house.
See also:
- How Much Does a Dehumidifier Cost?
- How Much Does a Basement Dehumidifier Cost?
- How Much Does a Humidifier Cost?
- What Humidity Should I Set My Dehumidifier To