How Much Electricity Does A Dehumidifier Use?

You would ask this kind of question if you live in Florida, where you have to run a dehumidifier almost daily.

In another article, we looked at how much electricity an air purifier consumes. We saw that it is not really that much, but it also depends on the size of the appliance, the wattage, how long you leave it running, and so on.

Of course, if you live in a place that does not get too humid, you could always try natural ways to lower humidity.

So do dehumidifiers use a lot of electricity? A dehumidifier consumes between $80 and $180 a year, but there are many variables. The size and the space rating for the dehumidifier matter so that you do not rack up your power bill too much, which is unnecessary.

The most important thing that can help you closely estimate dehumidifier energy costs is the wattage per hour.

Always check that before you buy your unit. Of course, the cost also depends on the cost per kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity.

Overall, even if you install a whole-house dehumidifier, it will not rack up your power bill too much.

You can buy a good unit to lower your indoor humidity levels and prevent the development of mold.

How many watts does a dehumidifier use?

This is something that you will have to verify when you are buying yours, as they all come with different wattage ratings.

The dehumidifiers that can remove a lot of water from the air in an hour have a higher wattage. Generally, for a small desktop unit, the wattage could be as minimal as 23 W, while for some portable units, the wattage could be an average of 280 W.

Now, assuming you buy a 30-pint dehumidifier with a power rating of 120W, how much money is it going to cost you to run it for 12 hours if you live in a humid place like Seattle?

If it uses 120 Watts per hour and the cost per kWh is 11.37 cents, then in 12 hours, it costs 11.37 * 0.12 = 1.37 cents an hour. Thus, for 12 hours, this will be 1.37 * 12 = 16.44 cents. In a year, the cost of running a dehumidifier will be 16.44 * 365 = $60. This is assuming that you run it daily.

For high-quality indoor air, freedom from humidity sickness, and preserving your furniture, paintings, and clothes in the right state, paying up to $180 per year to run a dehumidifier is not too much at all.

You can even use dehumidifier water to water your plants. So you get to recoup some of the money that way.

When you are buying your dehumidifier, look for one that has an Energy Star rating as it tends to consume minimal electricity.

Such a dehumidifier can use at least 20 percent less energy than traditional models. Usually, the bigger units are more energy-efficient than the smaller units.

Image of Do dehumidifiers run up your electric bill

To further save your dehumidifier energy costs, get a unit that has an auto-shut-off function such that when it attains the set humidity level, it switches off automatically.

Dehumidifier vs air conditioner power consumption

An American home runs many appliances at any one time. Among the most used of these are the dehumidifier and air conditioner.

An air conditioner lowers the temperature in a room to make it more habitable. A dehumidifier lowers moisture to prevent the occurrence of mold.

Also read my articles on:

Effects of high humidity on health

Can mold grow at 60% humidity?

Can mold grow in the freezer?

On average, an air conditioner uses more energy than a dehumidifier.  To calculate the dehumidifier energy cost, you should check the Wattage per Hour rating, multiply that by the number of hours you intend to run it, and then divide by 1000 (to get kWh). Multiply the value that you get here by the charge per kilowatt-hour in your state.

You will use the same formula to determine the cost of running an air conditioner and any other appliance, even a whole-house humidifier at home. The wattage per hour is usually indicated on the box or in the user manual.

In the comparison of dehumidifier power consumption vs air conditioner, the former wins. Therefore, you can run it whenever necessary without the fear that it will rack up your electricity bill too much.

What determines dehumidifier electricity usage?

dehumidifier electricity usage

Depending on certain factors, your dehumidifier’s electricity use can be high or low. Here are some of the vital factors to consider:

Dehumidifier placement

Where you position your dehumidifier matters a lot.  Positioning applies to other appliances, such as air purifiers, as well. The closer to the source, the better and more efficient it will be.

If the extra humidity is coming from the basement, place your Frigidaire dehumidifier there. That way, it might even prevent the spread of excess air moisture to other rooms.

Age of the unit

Newer appliances come with better technology for saving energy while doing the same amount of work (if not more) than the traditional units.

If you have had a dehumidifier for more than 7 years, it might start experiencing issues. One of the most common is a dehumidifier blowing cold air.

Buy newer appliances with an Energy Star rating. You can visit the Energy Star website to see all the appliances that have been rated as energy-efficient.

The size of the space

If you run a small dehumidifier unit in a large space, it will run longer and consume more energy. Thus, before you order your appliance, check the space it is rated for, of course after measuring your room.

You can find dehumidifiers with space ratings ranging from 150 square feet to some portable units that can work in 4000 square feet.

Temperature

In our article on temperature and relative humidity chart, we saw that temperature affects the air moisture levels.

That is why the air is more humid in the summer. Thus, to save on dehumidifier energy costs, apply other means to lower temperatures and humidity.

You can open the windows to allow more airflow, add more ventilation, and use salt crystals to absorb extra moisture.

If the humidity outside is too high, it will find its way into the house if you open windows and doors, so it might not be a good idea to open windows all the time.

Also, in winter, use heating since it can dry the air out.

Do dehumidifiers use a lot of electricity? FAQ

The simple answer is no, they do not. However, if you still need more clarification on dehumidifier power consumption, this section on frequently asked questions will help you a lot.

Does running a dehumidifier use a lot of electricity?

It is cheaper than running an AC. To calculate the electricity usage of a dehumidifier, multiply its wattage by 1000 * the number of running hours *kilowatt-hour cost in your state. On average, running a 200-watt unit can cost $130 to $200 a year.

Should you run a dehumidifier all the time?

Get a dehumidifier with an automatic shut-off function so that when it attains the relative humidity that you have set, it goes off. Unless you live in a very humid place, there is no need to run a unit the whole day.

Read: How Do I Stop Humidifier White Dust?

Why are dehumidifiers so expensive?

Dehumidifiers are designed to last a long time. They also improve our indoor living conditions a lot. A dehumidifier a digital display, rollers, auto-shutoff, and a high space rating is going to cost more. Also, many come with a warranty of 12 months or longer.

How much electricity does a dehumidifier use per day?

It uses an average of 60 cents a day, that is, if you run it for 12 hours. In a year, a newer model can cost as much as $90 to run.

Do dehumidifiers run up your electric bill?

Of course, they will, but the proper question is: by how much? A dehumidifier will raise your electricity bill by about $150 a year, which is not a high price to pay for comfort. However, the big dehumidifiers can cost up to $3.50 or more per day.

How many amps does a 70-pint dehumidifier use?

On average, if a dehumidifier is a 110V model, it will draw about 7.5 amps. This is when you are running it on the highest setting.

So it can probably draw fewer amperes than that. Check the amperage rating on the unit’s description. It should be between 3 and 7 Amps for 110V models.

Wrapping Up

A dehumidifier has many health benefits, so it can save you many trips to the hospital. However, it will run up your electricity bills—not by much, but it is an increase all the same.

When buying a unit, please make sure that it is Energy Star-rated and that it is enough for the space that you intend to use.

Also, check the wattage rating so that you do not buy a power guzzler.

Read: Why dehumidifier blows hot air