i'm on the verge of buying a dehumidifier & never had one before -- any suggestions?

[orleans]

i just can't stand the damn humidity

i've been turning the ac on to help feel better (have fans going too--but the summer humidity just hits me)

anyway, i'm in a smallish place, less than 1,000 sqft

i was thinking of getting one with a bucket you can empty. it's a Frigidaire energy star with 22 pint capacity.

it's on wheels

will this help with the humidity? are dehumidifiers worth the money, & reliable?

thoughts & opinions welcome (and i'm thinking what a stupid time for me to be posting this--on a saturday night at midnight when people are either out or sleeping. hopefully i'll get a few replies)

[ZZenith]

1. They can be effective, yes.

In which part of the country are you?

[orleans]

2. midwest -- around chicago (and thanks for replying!) n/t

[ZZenith]

5. Well, it will have its work cut out for it then!

Muggy is way, way way worse than hot and whatever you can do to make it less muggy is worth doing. Spend money on a decent one and keep it maintained and you should be good for a long while. They aren’t very complicated machines so not much to go afoul.

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[orleans]

7. thank you. the Frigidaire i'm looking at is the one you have listed

it's the same model number except mine ends with an E
(i'm guessing it's for energy star?)

[ZZenith]

11. I believe that is correct.

Which would be my preference, though Consumer Reports is usually very specific about model numbers. In looking at models for sale without the “e,” those too are energy star rated, so it might be the same model. At any rate, probably a decent choice.

Stay cool, orleans!

[orleans]

13. thank you. nt

[applegrove]

3. I got mine because i was worried about mold. I had an open window once and humidity

got in and where it condensed in drops on the walls mold or mildew grew in a few spots. So i got a humidifyer when I could afford one years later. I read online sometimes they start fires. So i turn mine off when i leave the apt. I have not had my humidifier on for months. I just keep my windows closed and humidity does not get in. I thought all humidifiers had buckets. Isn't that the whole point to collect water?

[bottomofthehill]

4. Some units have an out hose

That you drop directly into a drain or sink instead of having to manually “dump”

[applegrove]

8. Makes sense.

[orleans]

6. some have little hoses or a place for attaching a hose so you can drain the water out of the machine

and down into a floor drain

i open my windows frequently but not when the humidity is high, or it's hot, or raining.

[applegrove]

10. I like a bucket as it tells me how much humidity there is by the level

Last edited Sun Jun 27, 2021, 03:20 AM - Edit history (1)

in the bucket or the days it takes to get to full. I was emptying a bucket every two months when i turned it off for good this winter.

[Rollo]

9. Most AC units also dehumidify

Because the water in the air condenses on the coils and winds up in the drip tray or drip hose.

But if you don't need the temp to drop, and dehumidifier probably would save on electricity vs a full AC unit.

Where I am in California, humidity during the summers, which usually are fairly dry, is not an issue.

[orleans]

16. saving money & power by not running the ac is important

and if i can run an energy star dehumidifier and feel comfortable then that would be great

i moved into this smaller place several years ago--first time in my life i've had central air. we always had a wall air conditioner along with an occasional window unit. so yes, when the air runs and then turns off i can hear the drip drip going into the floor drain. and although i need the ac, i just hate running it & running up the electric bill

[SheltieLover]

17. Not sure if you rent or own, but if the latter,

Have you considered a ductless mini-split? My elect bill is dirt cheap with my unit & I keep it set very low (67ish). No thermal loss through ducts. 👍

It also hpas a dehumidify only function, as well as a heat pump good down to -15F, which certainly wouldn't always be adequate in Chicago, but could spave you tons of money until really cold weather sets in.

Former native here & I recall those several hundred dollar elect & nat gas bills.



On edit: most units come with lines filled with refrigerant, so self-inst was really easy.

[NJCher]

12. I wouldn't be without mine

I’m in the woods and my place stays cool naturally. Trees don’t sap up humid air, though. I have ac but use the dehumidifier most of the time.

It makes all the difference in the world.

On edit: I have the whirlpool. Be sure to check out how easy it is to empty. I use the water on my plants.

[orleans]

14. i'm hoping i can pull some of the muggyness out of the air and

it will feel okay (along with a couple fans) to the point where i don't have to turn on the ac

[NJCher]

15. That's what worked

Out for me, but my house is almost completely shaded.

I much prefer natural air over air conditioned.

Oh and yes, I have fans all over.

[Worried2020]

18. Just understand - dehumidifiers create heat . . . .

.

and that heat will stay in your home unless vented outside somehow.

If heat is a concern, find the dehumidifier with the lowest Watt consumption and place it as far away as you can from your normal "spots" like bedroom or livingroom.

W