Do you wonder if a dehumidifier work with the windows open? Dehumidifiers are handy machines to have around when you want to remove moisture from the indoor air in your house. If not removed quickly, moisture accumulation can cause mold growth, health problems, and structural deterioration.
Dehumidifier machines can eliminate these problems by removing the moisture from the air before it leads to more severe issues. However, you may be curious if a dehumidifier works in different conditions, such as when you leave the windows open.
As a research-based publication, we test products in various conditions and document our findings for our readers. This article will cover whether a dehumidifier works with the windows open and whether it’s an effective method.
Should You Use a Dehumidifier When You Have Open Windows?
Many homeowners leave the windows open to remove moisture from the indoors and let in fresh air from the outdoors. Opening windows will produce some ventilation in a room filled with humidity, but it will not remove all the moisture if there is a lot of it. That is why dehumidifiers are a better option.
It may seem logical to leave your windows open and use a dehumidifier simultaneously for maximum ventilation. However, opening your windows will draw more moisture indoors if the humidity levels are high outdoors. A humidity level of 55% or higher can impact the levels in your home.
The smallest amount of outdoor moisture can go through open windows and get inside your home. If that happens, your dehumidifier will be ineffective since new moisture will keep coming inside as existing moisture is eliminated.
The best way to use your dehumidifier is to keep your windows closed. It will prevent new moisture from entering your home, while the dehumidifier eliminates indoor moisture. Then, you can enjoy faster results without consuming as much electricity.
How Does a Dehumidifier Work?
The typical dehumidifier machine is designed to remove airborne moisture from a single room or a small area of your home. It does not remove moisture from all the rooms in a home because it is not a centralized machine like a central air conditioning system.
Instead, a dehumidifier is an individual machine that plugs into the electrical outlet on the wall, allowing you to install it in any room of your home. Depending on the model’s size, the costs of a dehumidifier are generally in the $50-$300 range.
Science Behind Dehumidifiers
The technical side of a dehumidifier is quite fascinating. A dehumidifier removes airborne moisture by pulling it into the device and pushing it over refrigerated coils. The coldness forces moisture out of the extracted air and into a condenser, causing water droplets to form on the coils.
From there, the water droplets fall into a tank and bucket. A fan blows the remaining dry air out of the dehumidifier and into the room to create a dryer environment. This process is referred to as the refrigeration dehumidification method.
The traditional dehumidification process is still used today in many home dehumidifier machines. Another dehumidification method is desiccant dehumidification. Rather than refrigerating the airborne moisture, it passes it over hygroscopic substances that rotate in a wheel.
Desiccant dehumidifiers consume more electricity than refrigeration dehumidifiers. They also produce more heat, which could be a bonus if you want to heat up and dehumidify your room simultaneously. That way, you can save on electricity by not turning on your central heating unit.
Should You Close All Windows When Using a Dehumidifier?
Yes, closing all the windows in your home is highly recommended, even if you are only dehumidifying one room. Since airborne moisture can travel from one room to another, an open window in another room could still send moisturized air to the room you want to dehumidify.
In fact, you should close all doors and windows in your home as the dehumidifier runs in one of your rooms. The more you can seal off the airflow coming to the room from other places, the faster it will dehumidify.
When Should You Not Use a Dehumidifier?
The whole purpose of using a dehumidifier is to remove airborne moisture and produce dry air for a room in your home. The most common reasons for moisture accumulation in a home include high humidity levels outdoors, roof leaks, and pipe leaks.
The leakage issues require a professional roofer and plumber to fix the leaks and stop the water from entering the rooms in your home. Pipe leaks should be fixed as quickly as possible, as they could lead to mold and mildew growth.
Humidity levels are often high between the spring and fall seasons, especially in tropical and subtropical regions. Summer is the worst because you must deal with the heat and humidity together. Despite the heat, it is still appropriate to use a dehumidifier due to the risk of the outdoor humidity getting indoors.
The only time you don’t need a dehumidifier is in the winter or when there is no humidity outside or inside. Winter is known for its excessive coldness and dryness since humidity levels are often under 30% throughout the season.
Never use a dehumidifier in a cold, dry environment. It will extract the remaining moisture from the air and send it through the machine. If that happens, the water droplets will freeze after they form on the coils and will likely damage the dehumidifier.
How Many Hours Should You Run a Dehumidifier?
Most dehumidifier machines have timer settings. They let you set how long you want the dehumidifier to run before it shuts off automatically. The time you run your dehumidifier depends on the room’s moisture level. You don’t need to eliminate all the moisture in a room because that would require you to leave on your dehumidifier.
On the other hand, leaving the dehumidifier on all day may be a good idea if your room is extremely damp. The average homeowner leaves their dehumidifier on for at least 12 hours. That should be enough time to lower indoor humidity to around 30 to 40%, ideal for most homeowners.
Conclusion
In conclusion, using a dehumidifier with windows open can reduce its effectiveness. Dehumidifiers are designed to control humidity in a closed environment, and open windows allow outside air to enter, making it harder for the unit to maintain humidity levels. For best results, keep windows and doors closed when running your dehumidifier.
However, if you need fresh air, consider using it in specific areas with windows closed. Understanding the balance between fresh air and humidity control will help you maximize the benefits of your dehumidifier, ensuring a comfortable and healthy indoor environment.