Pros and cons of a dehumidifier?

**Daisygirl** · 06-17-2006, 07:31 AM

I have been running my dehumidifier 24/7. Everyday the water reservoir is completely full. I do not run it in the winter, just in the summer and I started to run it because I had a small flood in my basement.

Does anyone else know the pros and cons of running a dehumidifier. I think it is a necessity when running my A/C, at least that is what the former owner of the house told me. But aside from that, am I just wasting energy and running up my electric bill or are there benefits to this?

By the way, I use the humidifier water to water plants and to fill my washing machine when I am doing laundry.

**nodmicks** · 06-17-2006, 07:57 AM

Karen For us the benefits are preventing water damage and mold. We have a very small very old basement. Without it we get condensation dripping off the pipes etc. The furnace guy told us this will wreck the furnace as lots is computerized.
I have noticed it really ups the bill though . However I think the water damage would be more costly.

**Darlene** · 06-17-2006, 08:15 AM

Originally Posted by rodmick

Karen For us the benefits are preventing water damage and mold. We have a very small very old basement. Without it we get condensation dripping off the pipes etc. The furnace guy told us this will wreck the furnace as lots is computerized.
I have noticed it really ups the bill though . However I think the water damage would be more costly.

We use our water in the washer too. It's amazing how much water the dehumidifier pulls out. We run ours from May to the beginning of Sept usually.

**banana** · 06-17-2006, 09:25 AM

We use one. I have a neighbor with a similar house who doesnt use one and her basement really really stunk!

I use it May - Sept. The first couple of days I turn it on the highest setting which is a 10. Then after that I leave it on 4 or 5. If we get a lot of rain I will turn it up to 10 for a day or 2.

I also bought a digital thermometer that also dislpays the humidity level. I try to keep my basement's humidity level between 50 and 55%

Running the dehumidifier as well as my attic fan do add quite a bit to my electric bill but I feel these things are a necessity to use during the summer months.

**banana** · 06-17-2006, 09:35 AM

Forgot to mention we use it also to prevent mold and water damage not to mention the smell that might be down there if we didnt use one!

**pkellyc** · 06-17-2006, 12:03 PM

We need one also. Our house was built in 1951 and without it the basement smell comes right up through the house. I also think it helps the central air conditioner work better.

**frugalfarmwife** · 06-17-2006, 12:19 PM

We used one in our old house, it had a creek running through the basement and without the dehumidifier running the carpet in the living room would get mouldy underneath. The cost of running it was much cheaper than the damage that was being done to the house!

Here in this house we're on top of a hill and the basement is bone dry, with a stone foundation and a dirt floor.

kj

**Daisygirl** · 06-17-2006, 01:42 PM

I noticed that when I ran the central A/c I was dumping it 2 times a day as opposed to once, so sounds like something I should continue

Thanks for the replies ladies!