Is a small dehumidifier expensive to run? This is a common question that people ask before shopping for a small dehumidifier.
The cost of the average home dehumidifier ranges between $25 and $350. Small dehumidifiers are much cheaper to buy so you’ll find them for sale at around $40. But how much do they cost to run?
We’ll explain why small mini dehumidifiers have some of the lowest energy costs.
Energy Star Ratings
While purchasing a small dehumidifier for your home, be sure to check if it has the Energy Star mark on its packaging. Devices that carry this rating can save up to 30% on utility bills. The good news is that the price of dehumidifiers with these star ratings are not any different from those without.
The energy efficiency of each device rated under this system ranges between one and seven stars. The rating is based on their electricity consumption in relation to moisture removal capacity. The higher the number the better.
Based on this performance capacity, the Energy Star rating system divides dehumidifier models into two classes.
Energy Factor
After testing, the energy factor of the dehumidifier model is evaluated. This is usually abbreviated to EF, but you might also find EEV on some models which means the same thing.
The energy factor or the EF is a measure of the moisture that the dehumidifier can extract from the air. This is measured in liters per kilowatt hour of energy consumed.
For example, if your 75 pint per day model has an EF equal to or greater than 1.9, it qualifies as high efficiency and meets EPA guidelines.
If the dehumidifier capacity is between 75 and 185 pints, the energy factor should be equal to or greater than 2.8 for the device to qualify.
Do I Have to Run the Dehumidifier Constantly?
Many people are under the mistaken impression that they must operate their dehumidifier 24/7 to keep humidity under control. The reality is that a properly-sized dehumidifier does not require continuous operation for it to work effectively.
Dehumidifiers feature automatic controls, which switch the device off when the desired level of humidity has been reached. Because of this, you will save money on your electricity bills by utilizing this function instead of leaving your device running constantly.
This results in an average running time of 12 hours per day although this can vary.
If you do find your dehumidifier running constantly, you might have placed it in a room too large for its capacity. This means it is struggling to reach the desired humidity level.
Final Verdict
Small dehumidifiers are a cost effective way to control humidity in your home.
As long as they are used in the right environment (small spaces), they are very cheap to run and won’t cost you any more than $10-$20 dollars per month.