Airflow. The hallway is one of the best places to set up a dehumidifier because of the ample airflow. Yet, your dehumidifier hallway can easily struggle to work if placed closer to walls or furniture.
It's best to place it somewhere central in the house, being sure to think about where your sources of moisture are. Moisture problems like damp and mould are typically likely to arise in the bathroom, where showers and baths create lots of steam. And so, it is best to position your dehumidifier on the landing.
Keep Your Dehumidifier Away from the Walls
It's easy to assume the best place to put your dehumidifier is against the wall. But it's not! Dehumidifiers suck in and expel air using vents. Blocking any of these vents can reduce your dehumidifier's effectiveness.
A single unit will eventually cover the whole house. Humidity will mostly stabilize evenly unless you have a room or part of the house with a moisture problem.
Ideally it is in a place that gets a lot of air circulation... like a central open room. Alternatively setting it near an air return to your furnace would work as the return will pull air from all over your home. Laundry room is potentially a moisture source so you could set it there.
The ideal place to put a dehumidifier would be as close to the center of the room as possible, otherwise at least 6 inches away from a wall so as not to impede airflow.
The bigger the dehumidifier (and the higher the wattage), the more watts it'll generally use. Large ones can use up to 500 watts, while the smaller models usually only use about 22 watts. All of these factors can also impact your dehumidifier's energy use.
Is is better to run a dehumidifier during the day or at night? Experienced HVAC expert Doug Flader puts it simply. 'It honestly doesn't matter,' he says. 'Ideally, a dehumidifier should run automatically based on humidity levels, regardless of the time of day.
How Long Does It Take for a Dehumidifier to Dry Out a Room? The size of the room, the humidity level, and the extent of the water damage are some of the variables that affect how long a dehumidifier takes to dry out a room. A dehumidifier typically needs between 24 and 72 hours to completely dry out a room.
One whole-house unit is more efficient and cost-effective than two portable units. Low Maintenance — Whole-house dehumidifiers require less direct action from the homeowner than portable units, as they drain directly into the home's plumbing system.
Cons of Dehumidifiers
Dehumidifiers collect water meaning they need to be regularly emptied. They also need to be regularly cleaned otherwise black mould can start to grow on the machine , which can induce a wide range of health problems including allergic reactions, lung problems and irritation.
Dehumidifiers are not very effective in extremely low temperatures. This is because dehumidifier coils attract water vapor, and if the temperatures drop too low — below 42 degrees Fahrenheit for example — the vapor would freeze, damaging your machine.
Yes it is perfectly safe to sleep in the same room as a dehumidifier. If you are particularly interested in a dehumidifier for the bedroom the noise level will be particularly important to you.
Should a Dehumidifier Run Constantly? No, your dehumidifier should not have to run constantly to regulate the air humidity. An optimal humidity level to shoot for is between 30 and 50 percent. Your dehumidifier should reach this in 8 to 12 hours.
Mold needs 55% or higher humidity in order to grow. Also, remember that reducing humidity below 30% isn't a good idea, either. This can cause health problems, making your eyes nose and skin dry, and exasperate lung and skin conditions.
Well, according to Isaac Newton, in his book Opticks, (and USA Today) humid air is actually LESS dense than dry air. It makes sense. If humid air didn't rise, why would rain fall from the sky when the temperature drops? So, in a home, humid air rises up, not down.
Mold stays “dormant” in the air or on surfaces even when there's no excess moisture to help it grow. If the humidity in a room increases, mold will start growing in patches on walls, clothes, and more. So, to answer your question, dehumidifiers do NOT kill mold, but they do prevent it by reducing humidity.
If you need to lower humidity throughout your house a whole-house dehumidifier is the best option. It is easy to fit, virtually silent and is the cheapest solution for whole house control.
A rule of thumb is to always place your dehumidifier close to the source of moisture. This will reduce running time and increase how efficiently the appliance is in regulating high humidity. For smaller spaces, a great hack is placing a dehumidifier in the hallway, which is often the most central place in the house.
However, we always recommend leaving your dehumidifier running 24/7 [see below]. It will turn on and off as needed (depending on the relative humidity level) and therefore continuously prevent condensation." See what our experts say about what size dehumidifier you need.
So, it really depends on your end goal and needs. Is it cheaper to run a dehumidifier or air conditioner? Yes, dehumidifiers cost significantly less to run.
You don't always have to run the Dehumidifier at such a low humidity. Usually a setting of 40 to 50 percent is adequate depending on the conditions.
So there you have it – it's absolutely safe to leave a dehumidifier on overnight. Sara Hesikova has been a Content Editor at Ideal Home since June 2024, starting at the title as a News Writer in July 2023.