How much does it cost to run a dehumidifier?

While you may think your air conditioning unit is taking care of everything, your home’s climate may be missing the mark if you don’t have a dehumidifier. In addition to making your home more comfortable during the Texas heat, Dehumidifiers help to prevent mold, bacteria, and viruses that thrive in high-humidity environments.

Should you get a dehumidifier in your Texas home? It’s time to demystify the dehumidifier, find out how much it costs, and how it functions in tandem with your current AC unit.

What is a Dehumidifier?

The simple answer is that a dehumidifier is an appliance that removes moisture from the air in your home to reduce humidity levels. Dehumidifiers draw warm air currents into a set of coils using a fan.

As the warm air enters the dehumidifier’s refrigerated coils, it contracts to leave condensation behind inside the unit instead of in the air. The gathered condensation collects in a condensation tank whereby dry air is released into the home from the machine.

Dehumidifiers can help to reduce mold, dust mites, animal dander, pollen, mildew, and musty smells in a home.

Is a Dehumidifier the same as an AC unit?

No, air conditioning units and dehumidifiers are not interchangeable. Air conditioners remove hot air by introducing cooled air into a home.

However, air conditioning alone is not enough to tackle the severe humidity levels that Dallas is notorious for because the volume of moisture being taken out of the air is just not significant enough to have an effect.

This is where a dehumidifier comes in to zap moisture. Does that mean you can use a dehumidifier instead of an air conditioner? Not exactly.

While dehumidifiers are terrific for siphoning excess moisture from the air during high-humidity conditions, they can’t “cool” a home per say. Homeowners assume that the dry air released by a humidifier is cooling a home because it feels drier to the touch.

Most experts recommend using dehumidifiers in conjunction with an air conditioning system.

How will a Dehumidifer impact my electric bill?

Like any new appliance that runs in your home, a dehumidifier increases your electric bill. That said, the United States Department of Energy (DOE) classifies dehumidifiers as low-electricity expenditure devices for HVAC systems.

However, dehumidifiers are only cost-effective “helpers” for reducing humidity in a home to compliment an efficient, properly-maintained air conditioning system.

How Much Does it Cost to Run a Dehumidifier by the Hour?

The answer depends on the specifics of your home. Generally, the cost to power a dehumidifier ranges from $ .05 cents to $ .15 cents per hour based on the average rate of $ .12 cents to $ .15 cents per kWh throughout Texas.

Get a better idea of how much a dehumidifier might add by looking at your most recent electric bill to see what you’re currently being charged per kWh.

Can a Dehumidifer Save You Money?

Many homeowners save money by adding a dehumidifier when strategic about usage. This is especially true for Texans simply because we run our AC most months of the year.

The average dehumidifier operates at roughly half the voltage of the average central air conditioning system. Reducing air conditioning usage by just an hour by supplementing with a dehumidifier can save a homeowner anywhere from $10 to $20 in energy costs per day.

There’s a catch. It’s unrealistic to only run your dehumidifier instead of turning on your air conditioner on sweltering days. By contrast, it is possible to only run your air conditioner to achieve cooling and lowered humidity.

How AC Upgrades Help with Dehumidifier Costs

You may be wary about taking on extra costs for installing a dehumidifier. There’s an intelligent way to make this cost-effective upgrade.

First, ensure that your air conditioner is operating at peak efficiency by calling a local HVAC company offering AC maintenance in Dallas for a whole home evaluation. Your dehumidifier will only save you money if it’s working overtime to compensate for the inefficiency of an air conditioner that’s supposed to be doing the heavy lifting to remove heat and moisture from the air.

In addition to servicing, cleaning, and inspecting your air conditioning system, professionals can point out any low-efficiency factors causing you to pay more than necessary for energy.

Next, decide to install a whole-house dehumidifier to work in conjunction with your air conditioning system instead of trying to manage portable dehumidifiers.

Balance Home Temperature with Advanced Home Comfort

What’s worth the price of running a dehumidifier? A cool, comfortable home with humidity levels in check.

If your home is hot and humid, prioritize an AC upgrade in Dallas over simply trying to fix the problem by adding a dehumidifier. However, a dehumidifier is an excellent supplement for making your home’s climate “just perfect” if you already have a new AC system working at optimal capacity. Pairing the two is the secret to saving money on home cooling costs in Dallas!

The team at Advanced Home Comfort specializes in helping our clients save money while keeping their homes at optimal temperatures. Whether you need an HVAC tuneup or a new unit to help draw out the moisture in your environment, reach out to us today!