Do Dehumidifiers Use A Lot of Power? (With Table)

Have you ever wondered if a dehumidifier uses a lot of power?

If so, then this article is perfect for you. We will discuss the costs and benefits of using a dehumidifier to remove moisture from your home.

In the end, we’ll let you know if it’s worth buying one or not.

We will also address other questions related to dehumidifier power consumption, including amperage and how to calculate dehumidifier power consumption.

So stick with us through the end and learn everything about dehumidifiers and power consumption.

Let’s jump in… 

Do Dehumidifiers Use A Lot of Power?

Dehumidifiers do not use a lot of power. In fact, dehumidifier draws much less power than most electrical appliances in your house, including your electric water heater, iron box, hair drier, your A.C. system, and your refrigerator, among others.

If you have the most efficient dehumidifier and run it for, say, 10 hours, it will cost you less than a dollar.

That’s way less than it would cost you if you were running your hair drier for the same time (about $5). If you use a dehumidifier only occasionally, then the amount of electricity it uses is really negligible.

But if you are using one every day for many hours per day, especially in summer months when humidity levels tend to be higher than any other time of the year, then it may draw some significant power.

This is because there will be more power consumption during these times, which adds up over time.

How Many Amps & Watts Does A Dehumidifier Use?

The amperage of a dehumidifier depends on the voltage rating and the capacity or size of the dehumidifier.

A 70-pint dehumidifier rated at 110V would, for instance, have an ampere rating of between 3.5-7.2. If its voltage rating is 220V, then the ampere rating reduces to between 1.5-3.25.

On average, 30 to 35-pint dehumidifiers of 110V will draw between 3.2A and 5.2A of current. 220V dehumidifiers will draw between 1.8A to 2.6A of current.

The lower the capacity of a dehumidifier, the lower the ampere rating it has.

As for the wattage, it is often indicated on the power cord of the dehumidifier.

If it isn’t, then you should check its manual or specification sheet to find out how many watts a particular model uses. But you can also easily calculate it using the amperage and voltage rating.

Take these two ratings in S.I. units and multiply them. You get the power rating of your dehumidifier in Watts.

Dehumidifier Power Consumption Calculator

There are many power consumption calculators online that you can use to calculate the power consumption of your dehumidifier.

A simple formula you can follow is

Power (P) = Voltage (V) Volts x Current (I) in Amperes

So, P= V.I.

For instance, if a 70-pint 220V dehumidifier draws 1.5A of current, then the power will be:

P=VI

= 220V x 1.5A

= 330W

You can also use the resistance rating of the dehumidifier to find its power consumption.

To get the power rating, tale the amperage of the dehumidifier, square it and multiply by the resistance in Ohms. You can also use the voltage. Square the voltage and divide it by the resistance in Ohms.

As noted earlier, though, there are many online power consumption calculators.

You just need to key in the voltage and amperage, and they will tell you how much power a dehumidifier uses.

Why Do Dehumidifiers Use So Much Electricity?

I mentioned earlier that if you run your dehumidifier every day for many hours, then it may draw significant power.

However, this is not the only reason why dehumidifiers can use a lot of electricity.

If you have to run your air conditioner at the same time as running your dehumidifier because humidity levels are high in the summer months, then that will increase how much power both appliances use.

In this case, you may end up using more power than what you would typically expect from a dehumidifier alone. And also, note that the amount of electricity a dehumidifier uses is not constant all year round.

This means it will vary depending on if humidity levels are high or low and whether summer months have come or not.

Dehumidifiers use a lot of power when humidity levels are high, and they run for many hours every day, especially in the summer months.

However, if you only need to dehumidify your home sporadically, then it will draw very little electricity and is unlikely to make any significant dent in your monthly bills.

Your dehumidifier may also use a lot of power if it is defective or old and you need to get it repaired or replaced. You may have poor quality or energy-inefficient dehumidifiers.

Counterfeit appliances tend to use more power because they are not of good quality.

Are Dehumidifiers More Energy Efficient Than Air Conditioners?

Yes. Most good-quality dehumidifiers have more energy efficient than air conditioners. Most air conditioners have a power rating of between 800W and 1800W.

Dehumidifiers, on the other hand, usually have a lower power rating. The highest it can get is about 700W, while most models will be 30% to 50% less than this figure.

This means that they use far less energy compared to air conditioners, even though you may run them for longer hours or more days in a week due to high humidity levels in your home during the summer months when outdoor temperatures are very hot too.

A dehumidifier running 24/seven at full capacity uses half as much electricity as an A.C. unit would if turned on constantly with the same cooling output.

Will A Dehumidifier Lower My Electric Bill?

Yes. We have seen that dehumidifiers use way less electricity than most appliances.

So if you were choosing between a dehumidifier and another appliance, then it would be cheaper to go for the dehumidifier.

Dehumidifiers are also very efficient at removing moisture from your home, so you won’t need to rely on other appliances like an A.C. or heater as much.

For instance, if you use a dehumidifier instead of heating or cooling your whole house with an air conditioner, then that will reduce how much power both appliances draw and, therefore, lower what your utility bills look like each month.

When humidity levels in the summer months are high, which is when outdoor temperatures are hot too, then there can be significant savings associated with getting a dehumidifier.

Running just one appliance instead of two lowers overall energy consumption and saves money over time even though they may cost more to purchase.

However, we also pointed out that there will be significant power consumption if you constantly run your dehumidifier at full capacity.

You will save on power bills if you only need to use a dehumidifier occasionally or in high humidity months and then just keep it running for as long as needed and not over the course of several days, weeks, or months continuously.

But again, there is no point in buying an energy-efficient appliance like a dehumidifier if you intend to leave it turned off most of the time because this defeats its purpose even though it may be very efficient when used properly.

The Average Monthly Cost of Running a Dehumidifier

Mini dehumidifiers will spend about $2.08 worth of electricity in a month. So, that comes to about $25 per year.

Larger units with capacities of up to 70 pints can spend about $28 worth of electricity per month. Note that this depends on how much you use the appliance.

So if you have a large dehumidifier, you can expect to part with about $336 per year.

If you have smaller units, say, 22-pint units, the cost may reduce to about $120 per year. Again, this depends on the number of hours you use it per day.

Below, is a chart of the average cost of running a dehumidifier per day. Calculated running 24 hrs per day and monthly cost.

Every brand and model is different when it comes to size, amps, and wattage. Some are energy efficient while others are not.

But, here is an average cost so you can get an idea of the operating cost of running a dehumidifier in your home.

Calculated at 0.1319 kWh and ran for 24 hours per day.

Dehumidifier Size (Pints)	Cost Per Day 24 Hrs. (In US dollars)	Cost Per Month 24 Hrs per day (In US dollars)
20	$.037	$11.1
30	$.095	$28.5
40	$1.58	$47.4
50	$1.90	$57
60	$2.06	$61.08
70	$2.22	$66.6
80	$2.28	$68.4

How For Buying An Energy-Efficient Dehumidifier

You need to consider the size of your home and the average humidity level in your area to determine which dehumidifier you should buy.

Also, make sure you get a model with an Energy Star rating because this means it is very efficient at removing moisture from the air while also using significantly less energy than most appliances.

If money is an issue for you, then don’t worry about getting one that’s cheap but just ensures it has an Energy Star rating so you know for certain that its power consumption will be low.

Look for reputable brands with good reviews, so you have peace of mind knowing that your new appliance is reliable and built to last for many years.

You can get an idea of which dehumidifiers will work best for your needs by checking out reviews online from people who bought them before you so they can give you some insight on what to look for when buying.

If possible, ask for recommendations from friends and family members too.

Also, if possible, try not to run other appliances such A.C.s or heaters when you use your dehumidifier. This will reduce how much power it draws and therefore lower what your electric bill looks like each month.

Final Thoughts- Do Dehumidifiers Use A Lot Of Electricity

Dehumidifiers are very useful appliances, and as it turns out, they do not use a lot of power when running, even though some are quite big and take up a fair amount of space.

If you use yours at the right time, then it will be easy to reduce your energy bills. However, be sure to maintain it well to ensure that it runs efficiently and lasts for many years.