Any of y’all use dehumidifiers in your home?

I run one 24/7. Pulls out 3 gallons a day for 1500 sq feet. Keep my thermostat at 78 during the day, 72 at night. Not sure if it’s totally accurate, I just adjust for comfort.

quote:

---

I run one 24/7. Pulls out 3 gallons a day for 1500 sq feet. Keep my thermostat at 78 during the day, 72 at night. Not sure if it’s totally accurate, I just adjust for comfort.

---

Have you noticed an increase in your electric bill?

I was having humidity issues and it ended up being an issue with my a/c system. Slowed down the blower fan and now my humidity stays below 60% unless my a/c doesn’t run for hours.

quote:

---

Have you noticed an increase in your electric bill?

---

I’ve noticed in the spring and fall when nothing else is running, it’s 2-3 bucks/day. My house was renovated before I bought it and is insulated well. The inspector said he thought the AC was oversized which could lead to mold. This made me want to make sure the inside stayed dry. Plus, it’s just more comfortable with low humidity. The 3 gallons/day is obviously from S LA summer weather. It doesn’t run or draw nearly as much in cold dry weather.

quote:

---

might want to run a hose to a drain so that when you forget to empty it, you dont get a flooded house when the auto-shutoff fails.

---

While it's a possibility, I've been running 2 for several years now, and that hasn't happened yet. It's a pretty simple float assembly, at least with mine.

I note that it makes a huge difference on very wet/muggy days where I'm in and out a lot... I've had to work on the cars some in the past month. Changing brakes, etc. These are days where I haven't seen blue skies and open sunlight.
I noted on these days, when I haven't run them, that I get a little condensation on the AC vent nearest the door. I turn them on, and within 20-30 minutes the vent is dry again, and the house becomes a lot more comfortable.

On a day like that, I get about 12 hrs before they both fill up.
If it's a day where I don't come and go a lot, I get closer to 20-24 hrs. If it's not a summer day, I can go days.

quote:

---

Also, keep an eye on that elec bill.

---

I haven't seen a huge difference from before and after, taking Entergy hikes into account. And I make enough money to where it's worth it.

Well, I have had family that had several thousand $ in water damage from a dehumidifier.

The other interesting part was when it ran, it added about $70-80/mo to the elec bill and our elec rates aren't that high up here.

quote:

---

Well, I have had family that had several thousand $ in water damage from a dehumidifier.

---

Like I said, not impossible, just hasn't happened to me. I did have my AC drainpan fail and dump a huge amount of water through my living room ceiling a few years back, was a huge PITA to repair. The contractors who fixed it ran 2 dehumidifiers, with hoses to drains, nonstop for about a week.
I now dump a cup of white vinegar down the AC drain pipe monthly, great preventative expense.

Most of my house is raised with hardwood floors, the room adjacent to the garage WAS once the garage. I keep the dehumidifiers there and in the laundry room, so if they fail it won't be a disaster.

quote:

---

The other interesting part was when it ran, it added about $70-80/mo to the elec bill and our elec rates aren't that high up here.

---

I haven't seen that much of a jump. I do pay average, so my bill is equal year-round. My AC churns away maybe 6 months, little runs for about 3-4, and heater only a month or 2.

You have to consider your environment when you look into dehumidifiers. I see you have a Mizzou logo, you might live in Missouri. If so, you aren't getting the extreme humidity we do in south La, and it's not as big a deal to you. But down here, this summer- it's been raining daily with a lot of water. When it's not raining, it's a fricking sauna.

quote:

---

I have a whole home tied into my system and it’s a game changer. I actually feel a little chilly at 75° sometimes.

---

It’s interesting that whole house dehumidifiers are not more commonly used in the hot, humid, Deep South, than in other parts of the country. I believe understand why (our HVAC have long run times in summer which do a good job of dehumidifying compared to many areas of the country). I don’t have a whole house dehumidifier but hope to install one with a HVAC changeout planned for this winter.

quote:

---

Does anyone get a small one just for a bathroom?

---

Yes... couple very noticable benefits:

1) mirrors don't fog up after hot shower
2) towels on the shelf stay super dry vs absorbing steamy arse air
3) once used towels are dry AF the following morning