Dehumidifier
Difference Between An Air Conditioner And A Dehumidifier
Someone selling an air conditioner would try to convince you at any cost that you must buy an air conditioner and for that if he has to tell a few half-truths or even lies, he would do that. Thing is you should know beforehand so that you can’t be sold a bluff. One such point is the dehumidifying capacity of air conditioners. While air conditioners do dehumidify, their primary purpose is to make the environment comfortable.
For the job of dehumidification we have refrigerant dehumidifiers. The compressor of a refrigerant dehumidifier is rated at anything between 13000 and 15000 BTU. In place of that, a residential central air system has a compressor rated at 30000 BTU or higher. The air conditioners used for commercial purposes have even higher ratings. Now with such high ratings and over 50% of the energy being expended by air conditioners in dehumidification, they are apparently good agents of dehumidification.
But there is more to it. In case of a refrigerant dehumidifier, subject to the surrounding conditions, the temperature of the evaporator coil is about 20 to 30 degree Fahrenheit below the dew point temperature of the surrounding air which is at about 28 degree Fahrenheit. However, when we are talking about an air conditioner the equation changes. An air conditioner’s evaporator coil would only be 10 to 14 degree Fahrenheit colder than the surrounding air. The theory is that, the more a coil is cold, thee greater the moisture vapor that will be removed from the air. What this means is when a dehumidifier is able to dehumidify a space in 24 to 36 hours, an air conditioner will take much longer.
There are also the evaporative coolers which are extensively used in the dry climates of the desert and mountain regions of the western United States. The evaporative coolers, as the name suggests uses evaporation to cool the air. The result is that the humidity increases in the air. So, if anyone plans to buy an evaporative cooler, thinking it will also solve is dehumidifying problem, he should think again. In fact a dehumidifier and an evaporative cooler shouldn’t be used together as the cooler will nullify the effects of the dehumidifier.
So, it must be understood that air conditioners are made to maintain a comfortable temperature indoors when the outdoors are unpleasant. In the process it might dehumidify the rooms. But that certainly is not what it is meant to do.
November 11th, 2011 at 1:01 am
Can a dehumidifier reduce air conditioning costs?
I live in a very humid climate and have been thinking about buying a 65 pint dehumidifier. I normally keep the a/c thermostat on during the summers at 78.
November 11th, 2011 at 6:00 am
Dehumidifier?
November 11th, 2011 at 12:16 pm
When using a dehumidifier, do you close all windows in your house?
My friends apartment had a really bad leak and everything is soaked. So she took the big items outside (its 86 degress and very windy). And inside there are fans going, and a dehumidifier. Does a dehumidifier work best if all the windows and doors are shut, or would it dry faster if you opened up the windows?
November 11th, 2011 at 1:54 pm
What size dehumidifier would i need for a 1200 square foot basement?
I am wondering what size dehumidifier i would need for a 1200 square foot basement? I tried a 30 pint, but it seems to run a lot set at 50 relative humidity. I do not know if there was a problem with the sensor or if a 30 pint is too small.
November 12th, 2011 at 1:55 am
How to de-humidify an apartment without using a dehumidifier machine?
My apartment is sooo humid that any paper or clothing that you bring in becomes wet from the humidity in the air. I can’t afford a dehumidifier. Is there another way to make the room more dry?
November 12th, 2011 at 4:14 am
What is the right humidity setting for a dehumidifier in a basement?
I bought a dehumidifier for my basement at my house. The only problem is I bought it used and it didn’t come with a instruction manual. I have numerous guitars and other instruments down there also. What is a normal humidity setting? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
November 12th, 2011 at 8:09 am
dehumidifier?
I’m thinking of buying a dehumidifier,what brand is the best? thanks
November 12th, 2011 at 10:35 am
I’d suggest you look into the SaniDry dehumidifier.
Their upright model is Energy Star rated and covers up to 3000 sq. feet. It has a blower that moves air around the basement and dries the entire area. It also filters and rids the air of allergens such as mold spores and dust mite pellets.
I recently read a review of the product I am including here.
November 12th, 2011 at 2:56 pm
Using a dehumidifier in a concrete basement a good idea?
Hello there,
Just wondering if I should be using a dehumidifier in my concrete basement. Noticing several cracks in the basement floor. It may be due to settling of the foundation as the house is two years old. But I read somewhere that running a dehumidifier will dry out the concrete too much causing even more cracking. Is this true? Currently, the cracks are limited to the floor and are mostly hairline cracks. There has been no flooding in the basement, no mildew smell, nor water seeping from the cracks. Thanks!
November 12th, 2011 at 3:29 pm
Does your dehumidifier actually make a difference?
I live in SE Michigan and two weeks ago I bought a dehumidifier to help the AC out….the thing i liked best is that my basement didnt stink musty, but I didnt notice any better cooling. Do you have one of these contraptions, and did it help? Or did I just waste 200 bucks?
Hey after an hour in the basement (where i have my computer) it doesnt stink anymore, and it feels cool since the air is drier….nice
November 12th, 2011 at 6:07 pm
There are a couple of us that actually know our stuff. I suggest you listen to either myself, Appliance Guy, or Air Boy.
If you are getting rid of the musty smell in the basement, the dehumidifier is doing exactly what it is suppose to do. It removes humidity, one of three things mold and mildew require to flourish.
There is a lot of talk these days about indoor air quality, one of the biggest concerns in the HVAC trade right now is mold and mildew. These organisms cause all kinds of health issues, especially if you have asthma or allergies.
So if you wished for a two hundred dollar air conditioner, then yes you wasted your money. If you wished for an improved indoor environment, one free from mold and mildew, then I would say your money was well spent.
I too am an old heating and cooling man. I currently live in Saint Louis and teach heating and cooling at Vatterott College.
November 12th, 2011 at 9:04 pm
What size dehumidifier to buy for 2 bedroom terraced house?
We need to buy a dehumidifier but want one that will be good enough to do the whole house. What sort of size do I need to buy? I live in a 2 bedroom terraced house (upstairs and down). Thanks
November 13th, 2011 at 11:39 am
makes the room warmer, but drier.
November 13th, 2011 at 12:43 pm
Dehumidifier during the winter months, do I need to run it in my basement?
I live in the NorthEast of the United States. During the summer I run my dehumidifier in my basement 24/7 and I have to empty it twice a day. As the winter is setting in I notice I hardly get any water in the dehumidifier. Should I continue to run it or just run a fan in the basement, to move the air around.
November 13th, 2011 at 1:47 pm
Not knowing where you live or what the cause is of the humidity,my suggestion would be to find the source of the humity and try to eliminate it or reduce it.
The second is to increase ventilation with circulating fans
and exhaust fans to get the moisture out.
Long term moisture problems lead to mould and mildew
and are very unhealthy.
November 13th, 2011 at 2:44 pm
In my opinion, yes it would. Because the humidity is what makes you feel sticky, hot, sweaty, and gross. If you have ever been to a drier climate, you notice that the high temps are more tolerable. For example, I went to las vegas nevada and noticed that it was very tolerable at low 90′s… While at home in PA, 90′s is very untolerable due to humidity, sticky, sweaty, muggy, and makes you feel like you need a shower. You just cant get comfortable.
November 13th, 2011 at 3:17 pm
so u want to buy something that will take the moisture out of the air? I’m not sure if thats what ya meant…but i have a humidifier and its great (it puts moisture in the air) since it was so cold in the winter its a warm air one but i would prefer a cold air one…I’m not sure the brand never thought about brands of them…kinda funny actually
November 13th, 2011 at 8:33 pm
i put mine to 60 percent humidity cause that makes it nice and dehumidified. An i set mine to medium soo its not annoying. and have to take the water out everyday.
November 13th, 2011 at 8:47 pm
It is not true that it causes cracks, my basement is 16 years old, and there are just hairline cracks, the same ones from when we moved in, we run a dehumidifier on a regular basis
November 13th, 2011 at 10:45 pm
Hi, I’m in property development so often use dehumidifiers.
The more efficient dehumidifiers are designed for commercial use but you will find these are fairly bulky, loud and (as a previous answer stated) can be fairly expensive to run. I think a better option (if you will be using it regularly) is to find a dehumidifier that has been designed for the home but is slightly more attractive and concentrated (as in area/floor space). Is it your whole house that is damp or just a certain area? If it’s just a certain area (which I suspect it is) try and contain it by reducing air flow in and out of the room and install a smaller more attractive unit.
If you’re in the UK, I regularly use 4air which is a small company who sell to the trade and I assume homeowners too. I’m sure they will give you some good advice on an attractive unit that will get the job done. I always love a bit of a haggle too and they tend to be relaxed about it.
Try and get the area (m2) or even better the volume (m3) before you speak to them so they can narrow down the units with the power required.
November 13th, 2011 at 10:53 pm
Works best with windows closed – but having windows open and fans on will help the best at first – then close windows run dehumidifier and run fans.
November 13th, 2011 at 11:07 pm
I would at the end of winter when the snow is about to melst beacuse that is when the moisture really hits the air.