With energy bills set to rise in less than a month’s time, the last thing you need is to use an appliance that is aimed at lowering your energy spend that ends up increasing it.
Owning a dehumidifier can be a game-changer for maintaining a comfortable home environment, particularly during the damp seasons of autumn and winter.
These devices not only help in reducing moisture, and combating mould, and dampness but also offer an economical alternative to tumble dryers for drying clothes.
However, to fully benefit from your dehumidifier, it’s crucial to avoid common pitfalls that can hinder its performance and longevity. What’s more, if you fall victim to dehumidifier mistakes, you could end up racking up your bills.
To avoid any of this Glenn Gault, CEO at Gault Heating and Cooling, a family-owned business where they offer heating, cooling, and air quality services, has shared the “biggest” errors households make with their dehumidifier.
Keeping doors and windows open when the dehumidifier is on
Yes, dehumidifiers “work better in rooms with proper air circulation”, but this doesn’t mean you should keep your doors and windows open.
Glenn explained: “When you open interior doors and windows, you let the moisture from the outside flow in and also enlarge the work area for a dehumidifier, forcing it to work longer hours.”
Setting dehumidifiers below 40 percent
The heating pro claimed that the “biggest and most common mistake” people make with their dehumidifiers is setting them below 40 percent.
Setting your dehumidifier too low “won’t make the unit work faster and more efficiently” but will “force the unit to run for long hours”, making your air too dry and unhealthy.
Set your dehumidifier to 40 to 50 percent and forget it. Most modern units will shut off automatically once they reach the target, so there’s no need for constant adjustments.
Putting your dehumidifier in the wrong place
Where you place your dehumidifier matters more than you might think. Push it against a wall, tuck it into a corner, or surround it with clutter, and you’ll suffocate the airflow, meaning that it “won’t work properly”.
Glenn urged: “Always give it breathing room – centrally located in an open area is best. – and don’t make the mistake of putting it near a heat source, like a radiator or vent, thinking it’ll speed things up.
“The extra warmth tricks the dehumidifier into working overtime, driving up your energy bills without delivering better results.”
Proper placement is the easiest way to ensure it runs effectively and economically.
Not replacing dehumidifier filters or removing dust
Modern dehumidifiers often come with filters that remove dust and other particles from the air, and if you have such a dehumidifier, you have to replace filters once they get dirty.
Otherwise, dirty filters will restrict the airflow and this “will make your unit super inefficient”, forcing it to run extra hours to dehumidify the air.
If you have an old dehumidifier without air filters, remember to remove dust from the coils and vents from time to time. This ensures free airflow and efficient running.
