Is It Safe to Run a Dehumidifier Constantly All the Time?

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A dehumidifier is an excellent way to keep your home dry. If you have one, you must love how warm and humidity-free your house has been. But is it safe to run a dehumidifier constantly all the time?

The answer is No, a dehumidifier does not need to be on all of the time. When the humidity level is 50% or above, it’s usually enough to run the unit. In most homes, a moderate humidity level of 30-40% is considered decent in the winter, while in the summer, it should be between 35 and 50 percent, but no higher than 60 percent.

If you live in a humid area, this might be a constant temptation you might have to deal with. The only thing that might stop you are the ramifications if any. That’s precisely what we are going to discuss here. Read on to find out more.

Table of Contents

Is it Safe to Run a Dehumidifier Constantly?

It isn’t a good idea to let your dehumidifier run constantly. You should only have it on if your home’s humidity levels have dropped below a certain percentage. That’s why it’s common to see most dehumidifiers come with internal control mechanisms.

The internal controls make them turn themselves off whenever the room achieves the right level of humidity. Although there aren’t any safety issues, you are better off only using the dehumidifier when needed. So, what is the ideal time to run a dehumidifier?

You can run it for anything between ten and twelve hours. After that, the humidity situation should have improved, and you can turn it off.

What if You Run the Dehumidifier Constantly?

Having your dehumidifier running on the continuous mode will put a strain on some parts. For instance, you might overwork the compressor when you run your dehumidifier for long.

That will mean a shorter lifespan for your dehumidifier. Besides that, you might incur extra energy costs if you let your dehumidifier run continuously, even if your house isn’t humid. Also, running the dehumidifier for long will cause it to overheat. Depending on the brand, this could have repercussions for the machine. That’s why it’s a good idea to only have the dehumidifier on for the time you need it to.

The dehumidifier has a tank that fills up with moisture from the house. It, therefore, would automatically turn off once this tank fills up. That will interfere with the dehumidifying process. That’s why you need to ensure you have emptied the water tank before deciding to run it constantly.

What Is The Best Time of Day to Run a Dehumidifier

The best time for you to use your dehumidifier is between 10 pm and 7 am. Depending on where you live, humidity levels will most likely rise during those times.

In case you are wondering whether that would be safe, it is. You can use a dehumidifier in the same room you are sleeping in with no health or safety issues.

You could also run the dehumidifier for 6 hours during the day and another 6 hours at night. Of course, all this depends on how you see your home dealing with the humidity.

These times are subject to change depending on the season, though. For instance, you can’t run the dehumidifier for a short time in the winter. That’s because there are usually higher humidity levels.

In winter, you might even have to run the dehumidifier for over 12 hours. Remember to always check the humidity level before powering it up. If below 50%, then it is okay to switch on the dehumidifier.

The dehumidifier will then switch itself off when it senses the proper humidity levels.

Sometimes you might notice the dehumidifier running 24/7 despite not setting it to. That can be because of several things.

Why is Your Dehumidifier Running Constantly Despite You Not Setting It?

The most obvious reason for this is that your dehumidifier lacks the automatic shut-off feature. You will thus have to be turning the machine off whenever you aren’t home. The dehumidifier will also run constantly if you place it in too cold an environment. The cold will freeze the machine’s coils and prevent them from moving and thus not working. When that happens, transfer the machine to a warmer and more central place.

Still, sometimes the dehumidifier has everything right but still won’t automatically shut off. If it has an auto shut-off feature but still runs constantly, it might have a problem. Consult an HVAC specialist to help you with this problem.

What to Consider Before Deciding on the Appropriate Dehumidifier Running Time

Before deciding on how long you run your dehumidifier, there are some things you will need to consider.

First, you will need to consider the potential costs of running the machine for a specific time. That could mean you manually calculating the energy costs of running the machine for 24 hours or 12 hours.

If you want to keep your energy bills low, you will have to go for a shorter timeframe.

Second, you will need to consider how humid your place is. If you live in some of those damp areas all year round, you will need to have it on for longer. That could mean running the dehumidifier for anything from 12 to 24 hours.

Third, you will need to consider your machine’s extraction rate. The extraction rate refers to the time the machine takes to remove all the humidity in your house. This rate could vary for different machines.

It could take you a long time to understand this rate, and we, therefore, advise you to be patient when determining it. For the average humidity areas, the extraction rate should be a maximum of 12 hours.

Still, some areas would need you to have the dehumidifier on for a longer time.

What is the Importance of Having a Dehumidifier?

Apart from drying out your home, dehumidifiers can be integral in the fight against mold. Mold thrives in cold or wet conditions. Therefore, depriving them of wet conditions in your house will most likely prevent them from ever showing up in your home.

Dehumidifiers will also significantly boost the quality of indoor air in your house. That’s because they also remove any impurities present in the air. By purifying the air, dehumidifiers will also reduce odors in your house. That’s in addition to the removal of allergens in the air when cleaning it.

With a dehumidifier, you will also have a lesser energy cost to worry about. That’s because it will make your air conditioner run more efficiently. Air conditioners will have lesser to do since they won’t have to deal with dirt in the air. That means they will run efficiently and thus lower energy costs.

We’ve made a list of some of the most popular and practical dehumidifiers for you. We ranked them by popularity, safety, efficacy, and other factors. However, we always recommend consulting with professionals before making a purchase.

Waykar Dehumidifier for Home and Basements

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Pro Breeze Electric Mini Dehumidifier

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Gocheer Upgraded Dehumidifier for Home

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SEAVON Dehumidifiers for Home

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Letsport Mini Dehumidifier for Home

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is it safe to have the dehumidifier on while you sleep?

Yes, it is. The dehumidifier will run, then turn itself off when the room is at the appropriate humidity level.

Are dehumidifiers energy efficient?

Yes, dehumidifiers are energy efficient. However, that will vary depending on how you use them.

How long should I run a dehumidifier after a flood?

Several things will determine this key, among them being the size of the room. However, the typical time will range from two days to several weeks, depending on how severe the flooding was.

Let’s wrap it up

Is it safe to run a dehumidifier constantly all the time? We bet you got the answer you were looking for. Dehumidifiers are important to home equipment that will surely improve the quality of your life.

As an Amazon Associate, We may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post at no additional cost to you.

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