Dehumidifier inefficiency

JRMichler · 10-21-12, 03:48 PM

When the dehumidifier in my shop died, I went down to Walmart and bought an Energy Star replacement. Plugged it into the Kill-A-Watt and waited.

A week later, it had produced 8.0 pints of water, consuming 30.34 KwH in 166 total hours. That's only 0.26 pints per KwH.

Then I set it to continuous run, and plugged it in for an hour or two now and then. Not real scientific, but as long as the humidity is around 50%, I'm happy. Results: 6.5 pints in 13.8 hours total running time, with 5.08 KwH used. That's 1.3 pints per KwH, almost 5 times more efficient.

The efficiency is low because I heat the shop to 65 deg F. It's insulated so well that the temperature peaked at 68 deg F last summer.

I'll put it on an external humidistat before next summer.

skyking · 10-21-12, 05:24 PM

I think the heating factor of a dehumidifier is a big plus, at least in my climate. I will be using one to heat/dry our travel trailer this winter.
Which model did you buy?

JRMichler · 10-21-12, 08:31 PM

I don't know the model number. It's the 50 pint GE Energy Star that was in the store last summer.

10-21-12, 03:48 PM	#1
JRMichler Apprentice EcoRenovator Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Phillips, WI Posts: 109 Thanks: 10 Thanked 30 Times in 25 Posts	Dehumidifier inefficiency When the dehumidifier in my shop died, I went down to Walmart and bought an Energy Star replacement. Plugged it into the Kill-A-Watt and waited. A week later, it had produced 8.0 pints of water, consuming 30.34 KwH in 166 total hours. That's only 0.26 pints per KwH. Then I set it to continuous run, and plugged it in for an hour or two now and then. Not real scientific, but as long as the humidity is around 50%, I'm happy. Results: 6.5 pints in 13.8 hours total running time, with 5.08 KwH used. That's 1.3 pints per KwH, almost 5 times more efficient. The efficiency is low because I heat the shop to 65 deg F. It's insulated so well that the temperature peaked at 68 deg F last summer. I'll put it on an external humidistat before next summer.

10-21-12, 05:24 PM	#2
skyking Helper EcoRenovator Join Date: May 2011 Location: Western Washington Posts: 91 Thanks: 47 Thanked 20 Times in 13 Posts	I think the heating factor of a dehumidifier is a big plus, at least in my climate. I will be using one to heat/dry our travel trailer this winter. Which model did you buy?

10-21-12, 08:31 PM	#3
JRMichler Apprentice EcoRenovator Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Phillips, WI Posts: 109 Thanks: 10 Thanked 30 Times in 25 Posts	I don't know the model number. It's the 50 pint GE Energy Star that was in the store last summer.