"What's the cheapest dehumidifier to run?" is a question we are often asked by people considering buying one for their home.
Because there is a wide range of dehumidifiers on the market - all with different capacities - the cheapest dehumidifier for you to run will depend on what you need it for and how often you intend to use it. This quick guide will help you to see how you can choose the best dehumidifier to help keep your average electricity bills low and decide what type of dehumidifier is best for your home.
Will the dehumidifier with the highest watts use the most energy?
The simple answer is yes, but you need to think about several factors;
- The time of year that you will be using your dehumidifier
- Where you are going to be using your dehumidifier
- What you want to use your dehumidifier for
- The extraction rate of water per kilowatt
- Are you using it in an unheated or heated space?
How does the time of year effect energy costs?
Obviously, your electricity costs the same per kilowatt hour all year round - and whether that's cheap or expensive depends on your supplier. However, you're more likely to use your dehumidifier during the winter, because that's when it's needed to remove the root cause of condensation on your windows and mould on your walls.
Heat is a good thing in winter. The wattage that a dehumidifier uses is turned into heat, so you get a dual running cost benefit from the unit. You get less condensation on the windows, less chill in the air and the space feels warmer. All good things. If you have another source of heat, like a radiator or heater, near to the dehumidifier then you can probably turn it down or off completely to balance out the energy usage of the dehumidifier.
Type of dehumidifier for energy-efficient operation
If you are using a dehumidifier during the winter in a cold hallway, conservatory or utility room, then a bit of extra heat from a desiccant dehumidifier would probably be beneficial. A desiccant dehumidifier draws in the air and passes it over material which soaks up the moisture. They are ideal for colder areas. But if you are using you dehumidifier in a space that is nice and warm - like your living room, kitchen, or bedroom, then a more energy efficient compressor dehumidifier would make sense. Also known as a refrigerant dehumidifier, these units draw the air over cold coils. The coils condense the moisture in the air into water, which is collected in an integral water tank.
It's cheaper to use a dehumidifier than a tumble dryer
Do you need to dry laundry? If yes then a dehumidifier is definitely the cheapest alternative to a tumble dryer. Just compare the 650 watts used by a desiccant dehumidifier in Laundry Mode with the 4000 watts of a tumble dryer. Your washing dries faster and that gives you a lower per hour cost for drying your laundry.
Did you know a dehumidifier is cheaper to run than a tumble dryer?
What about the water extraction rate of water against the watts used?
Desiccant dehumidifiers are the ones that have the most variable wattage and their extraction rate varies against that wattage, for example at 20°C and 80% relative humidity:
Meaco DD8L Single fan speed = 3.5 litres at 330 watts (39dB)
Second fan speed = 7.2 litres at 650 watts (43dB)
Third fan speed = 8 litres at 660 watts (48dB)
Compare this to the very best compressor dehumidifiers on the market, like the Meaco 12L Low Energy Dehumidifier 6.72 litres at 144 watts (44dB) or the Meaco 20L Low Energy dehumidifier 12 litres at 231 watts (46dB).
You can see that we have added in the noise rating in brackets as well because we think that noise is part of the decision process and needs to be taken into consideration. We have written another guide about quiet dehumidifiers, which you can read here.
So at 20°C the compressor dehumidifier looks a better bet but the DD8L gives you the option of having a quieter dehumidifier and don’t forget that we have done the comparison against the most energy efficient dehumidifiers on the market. Try that against our competitors and see what the results are like!
Power ratings at low temperatures in unheated spaces
The results for the DD8L will remain the same at 10°C and 60%rh but the compressor dehumidifiers will no longer look so impressive.
Single fan speed = 3.5 litres at 330 watts (39dB)
Second fan speed = 7.2 litres at 650 watts (43dB)
Third fan speed = 8 litres at 660 watts (48dB)
The extraction rate of the refrigerant dehumidifiers falls sharply as the temperature and relative humidity drops. The Meaco 12L Low Energy Dehumidifier gives 1.08 litres at 118 watts (44dB) and the Meaco 20L Low Energy Dehumidifier 1.8 litres at 185 watts (46dB).
So you can see why desiccant dehumidifiers are recommended for any application where the temperature is likely to be below 16°C because even at their lowest fan speed the desiccant will extract double that of a 20 litre dehumidifier.
So what dehumidifier do you buy to keep running costs down?
This is a personal choice and you need to make a trade-off between noise, wattage and extraction rate which will all depend on the time of year that you are using the dehumidifier and the location.
For unheated spaces it has to be the DD8L Junior desiccant dehumidifier and it was this type of application that it won its award for.
If you want the cheapest dehumidifier to run for a small house then it is the Meaco 12L Low Energy Dehumidifier and for a medium to large house then it is the Meaco 20L Low Energy Dehumidifier.
To find out more, just call our friendly team on 01483 234900 and we'll be happy to talk you through, find out where you need to use your dehumidifier and give you the best advice.
The DD8L Zambezi is award-winning for low energy costs.
Products featured: Meaco 12L Low Energy Dehumidifier and Meaco 20L Low Energy dehumidifier
