fartness (banned)Donald Trump 2016 join:2003-03-25 Look Outside 2 edits |
fartness (banned)
Member
2014-Dec-17 10:58 pm
DehumidiferI bought a Killawatt and see my dehumidifer that runs in my basement uses 450W. I pay about 15 cents per kwh so that comes out to near $50 a month it seems. I have it set to 45% humidity. I live in NY, so I only run it late April to late September usually. Do they sell 70 pint units that don't use this much electric? If not, could I hook it to a lamp timer and have it only run 12 hours during the day to save some money? There are times when it seems it runs 24/7 (most of the time I think). The unit I have: » www.newegg.com/Product/P ··· 96808035I also see it's on a recall list as pointed out to me on another thread. I filled out the recall to send it back. So I'll be in the market for a new one. |
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jrs8084 Premium Member join:2002-03-02 Statesville, NC |
jrs8084
Premium Member
2014-Dec-17 11:17 pm
Dehumidifiers are basically small AC units running with both coils in the same spot. They aren't the cheapest to run.
Sure, you could devise a way to cut it off to run half the time (I don't personally suggest a timer), but if it is running near 24/7, you just have a humid environment. It is doing it's job. Shutting it off off half the day would save energy in the same way shutting off your furnace off for half the day would. Kind of defeats the purpose of having the device.
I would not replace a working unit simply for energy savings unless the savings were drastic. I do not think you will find those savings.
I have a 1960 model dehumidifier in my basement. I plug it in for a day or two each month in the summer, and it drys things out. Hardly an energy efficient model, but cheaper than buying new. (And it will outlast anything new.) |
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to fartness
said by fartness:I bought a Killawatt and see my dehumidifer that runs in my basement uses 450W. I pay about 15 cents per kwh so that comes out to near $50 a month it seems. I have it set to 45% humidity. I live in NY, so I only run it late April to late September usually. Do they sell 70 pint units that don't use this much electric?
If not, could I hook it to a lamp timer and have it only run 12 hours during the day to save some money? There are times when it seems it runs 24/7 (most of the time I think).
The unit I have: »www.newegg.com/Product/P ··· 96808035
I also see it's on a recall list as pointed out to me on another thread. I filled out the recall to send it back. So I'll be in the market for a new one. That's about what my dehumidifier costs per month too. The coils turn off when it gets to the set humidity so all that's running is the fan at that point. The coils are the money item. I doubt you'll find one that can do the job and operate under $50/month. It is what it is. |
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fartness (banned)Donald Trump 2016 join:2003-03-25 Look Outside |
fartness (banned)
Member
2014-Dec-18 2:25 pm
Is 45 a good setting for the basement or should I raise it to 50 or 55 to save some money? My basement smells fresh set to 45. Never set it to 50 or 55. |
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·Consolidated Com.. ·Republic Wireless ·Hollis Hosting
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Our basement is pretty open. The dehumidifier is set to 65%, no sense setting it much lower since it would just suck in moist air from outside.
Keep in mind your dehumidifier is probably not running constantly. Keep it connected to the Kill-a-watt for several days and read out the total KWhs consumed.
As posted dehumidifier is basically just a small air conditioner with both coils in the same box. Changing the size is not going to affect cost. Within limits smaller vs larger will affect what percentage of time the unit is running.
/tom |
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to fartness
I always set mine at 50% but most people I know run them at 55%. As long as it's under 60% you'll avoid mold. |
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to fartness
The unit will run for as much as it needs to in order to achieve the target humidity. If it never stops then it simply cannot reach the target. 45% is a fairly low value, of course it also depends on temperature. Putting it on a timer will achieve one of the following two: 1. Running less but keeping a higher humidity 2. Nothing if the unit duty cycle is below the timer duty cycle That being said, large units are typically more efficient (remove more water per kWh used). » www.energystar.gov/index ··· idifiersOf course one of the best dehumidifiers is the central A/C.. |
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to fartness
Just a thought, what's the outside humidity during the summer where you are???? I'm thinking it maybe better to pump outside air through the basement to lower the humidity??? We don't even have basements so I may be off with this idea but it seems that unless you have really humid air outside, bring in outside air may be the best way to do it????
Something like leave one window open to let in warmer less humid air in and then have another window with a fan attached to a pipe down to floor level, that should pull the humid cooler air outside.
Don't know I may be wildly off with this whole idea. |
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There is actually a product you can purchase that pulls in outside air. it's pretty expensive around $1,600+. |
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wave_sailor |
to fartness
I also use Damp Rid in various locations around the basement. In addition to a low wattage air drier (marine stores sell them, the one I have looks like a short 14" round mushroom) and space heater that is set to 1 or 2 degrees above the temperature of the basement.
In terms of effectives of all the above. The dehumidifier is best and fastest. I think the heaters are next then damp rid. I think you have to get the air to move to really dry it out. I tried running a box fan and that helped somewhat, but towards the end of the Summer, none of these worked except for the dehumidifier. |
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HikerZeus Premium Member join:2002-10-27 Pipersville |
to fartness
I run mine at 60% in humid NJ and my basement stays plenty dry... |
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to fartness
Many dehumidifiers run the fan constantly, but cycle the compressor as needed.
"24-7" operation does not mean that the unit is running at full load constantly. |
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fartness (banned)Donald Trump 2016 join:2003-03-25 Look Outside |
fartness (banned)
Member
2014-Dec-18 8:09 pm
I'm in upstate NY so I don't know what the humidity is outside. |
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to fartness
I set ours to 45% and that was for dust. Dust mites can't live under 50% humidity and dust is what I am very allergic to. Makes the house comfy and I can easily set the AC higher and be real comfortable. |
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garys_2k Premium Member join:2004-05-07 Farmington, MI |
garys_2k
Premium Member
2014-Dec-18 8:47 pm
Ours is set to 50% and it cycles off a lot while the central AC is on (summer season). Now it's cold enough out to run the furnace and it never runs (humidity is about 40-45%). |
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·Metronet
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We run a humidifier in the winter else humidity levels go below 35% when really cold.
In the summer it would easily exceed 56% just about any time if the dehumidifier was not run. With us sealing the crawlspace - I am hoping we will have less humidity issues in the summer. |
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to fartness
said by fartness:I'm in upstate NY so I don't know what the humidity is outside. I was up in the finger lakes in early August and I was surprised that not once did I get sweaty. LOL> That time of year I'm use to 90-95 every day with 75% or so humidity and the finger lakes couldn't have very much humidity at all. I doubt the humidity was over 50% the week I was there. That's what gave me the idea of using outside air. Just checked my weather and I'm at 44 degrees, 97% humidity right now. Many people just don't understand the humidity we get in the deep south. You get use to it...... |
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fartness (banned)Donald Trump 2016 join:2003-03-25 Look Outside |
fartness (banned)
Member
2014-Dec-18 10:07 pm
Right now 28F with 85% humidity. I think our humidity is usually high but temperatures are low. I remember comparing the temps/humidity to Florida on some really hot days. |
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