How Long Does It Take For A Dehumidifier To Work? (Solved!)

Investing in a dehumidifier can make your life much more comfortable. But this is only if you use it properly! 

Just like with any appliance, your dehumidifier works according to the space. Your dehumidifier should be the appropriate size and strength for your room. 

The bigger the room the more powerful the dehumidifier will need to be. 

So, in this post, I included everything you’ll need to know.

This includes how long does it take for a dehumidifier to work, the best time to use it, and how to know if it is working.

 To know more, keep reading!

How Long Does It Take For A Dehumidifier To Work?

When you first purchase your dehumidifier it can typically take anywhere up to 12 hours to start working. 

This lets the device get all of its functions into motion. 

However, after this how long a dehumidifier takes to work will depend on two things:

how powerful it is and how big your room is. 

Obviously, the bigger the room the longer it will take to dehumidify. That is why you should either buy a more powerful dehumidifier or expect to wait a long time for it to work. 

On the other hand, if you have a smaller room then you will notice the effects much more quickly.

For approximately 50 square meters of room, you should expect to wait 19 minutes for the dehumidifier to work. 

How Do I Know If My Dehumidifier Is Working?

Normally there is a light to indicate that the dehumidifier is working.

However, sometimes the light may be on but you cannot feel the effects. 

In this case, there are a few things that you should check to make sure it is working.

First, check the water level. If there is only a little bit of water in the tank then you will need to set the dehumidifier to a dryer setting. 

If there is no water in the tank the refrigeration section is not working. 

Second, check the water tank switch. When the water tank is full the device will turn itself off. The switch may have been triggered accidentally. 

In this case, you should turn it on and off to reset it.

The main way to tell if your dehumidifier is working is to watch the water level in the tank. 

Even if you do not feel like the room is any less humid if the tank is filling up then it is working. You will just need to adjust the settings. 

Lastly, a good way to check to see if your dehumidifier is working is to purchase a hygrometer. They are inexpensive and they can help you keep a close look at your home’s humidity level.

Here is a cheap hygrometer found on amazon that is highly rated by many customers.

Experts recommend that your home’s relative humidity level should be around 30% to 55%.

How Long Should A Dehumidifier Run Per Day?

Again, the answer to this question is dependent on you! 

If the room is very humid then you may need to run it for longer. 

If the room is only a little bit humid then a few hours may suffice.

However, for most cases, experts suggest running a dehumidifier for 12 hours a day. 

This should remove enough moisture from the air to make your room comfortable to be in. 

If the room is very humid this can increase up to 24 hours. 

But you should check the capacity of the water tank before leaving it to run all the time. You will need to empty the water tank frequently.

Best Time Of Day To Use A Dehumidifier

Dehumidifiers help to remove moisture from the air, making rooms less humid.

Since the hottest part of the day is during daylight hours, this is the best time of day to use a dehumidifier.

When you want to use the device is up to you. A lot of companies charge less for electricity used between 10 am and 7 pm. 

This is because there are fewer people needing electricity. 

So, keeping your dehumidifier running at these times may be best.

Alternatively, you can stagger your usage of the dehumidifier. You may only need it for certain times, in which case it is pointless leaving it running all day long. 

But, you must consider the start-up time. 

If you have a large room then your dehumidifier will take a long time to work. 

This means that by staggering your dehumidifier usage you are wasting time (and money) on getting your dehumidifier to work.

 It may be better and cheaper, in the long run, to keep your dehumidifier on all day.

How Much Water Should A Dehumidifier Collect In A Day?

Most companies say that a dehumidifier will catch between 10 and 20 liters of water a day.

Obviously, your dehumidifier should be powerful enough for your room. 

Putting a small dehumidifier in a large and humid room is not a good idea. The water tank will fill up very quickly and you will need to change it often.

The more humid your room is, the more water your dehumidifier will collect. 

Make sure that you choose the appropriate appliance as this will save you from emptying the water tank multiple times a day.

If you only have a small water tank in your dehumidifier then it will turn off when it reaches its limit. 

If you have a very humid room, and you forget to check the tank, your dehumidifier will only collect a small amount of water. 

It is better to choose a dehumidifier with a larger water tank so that it can collect as much water as it needs.

This will allow the device to work at its full capacity. 

How Long Does A Dehumidifier Last?

Most dehumidifiers will last anywhere between five and ten years. 

This is guaranteed by a lot of companies via their warranty. 

Exactly how long your dehumidifier lasts will depend on how well you look after it. If you take care of it then it will last much longer. 

Easy ways to do this are:

• Change the air filter often
• Keep the condensing coils clean
• Clean the exhaust grills
• Empty (and clean) the water tank

Doing all of these things will help your dehumidifier to last longer.

Some more expensive dehumidifiers may also have a longer guarantee with them, so it is worth looking into the standard warranties. 

If you have already bought your dehumidifier then maintaining it properly will help to extend its life.

Final Thoughts- How long does it take for a dehumidifier to start working?

Dehumidifiers are not a one-size-fits-all appliance. 

They will work differently according to many things, such as the power of the dehumidifier compared to the size of the room, the humidity level, and how well you take care of it. 

Initially, they can be very slow to get started, but once they are working they can make a world of difference. 

Expect to wait up to 12 hours initially for it to work. After this, your dehumidifier should take roughly 19 minutes for every 50 square meters. 

Using this calculation you can work out exactly how long it will take for your dehumidifier to start working. 

If you leave it running for the whole day then you will only need to wait once. 

However, if you use your dehumidifier in stages throughout the day then you will need to wait for it to start working every time. 

So, before you switch it off think about how long it will take to start running. 

Looking For Dehumidifer Guides?

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