I've always hated to throw away the water I accumulate daily in my dehumidifier. I water outdoor plants with it. I'm sure my neighbors think I have a strange watering can, but I think this is the best way to recycle this free water.
By Elaine from Concord, NH
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I live in a high humidity area during summer, so my basement dehumidifier is always filling up. Rather than just dumping the tank when it's full, I pour it into my clothes washing machine.
This is in regard to a tip I read several weeks ago. A reader said she uses the water from her dehumidifier for the birds. My dehumidifier has a WARNING: DO NOT DRINK THE WATER, IT MAY MAKE YOU ILL. I am sure the same would be for birds or any animals.
If left untreated, too much moisture indoors can lead to a host of issues, the least of which is the growth of mold and mildew. Dehumidifiers work by removing excess moisture in the air.
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
I have an older central a/c unit? With the cost of electricity going up all the time, some of us in Canada have gone to TOU (time of use) with our hydro, summer cooling could get costly.
My central air is an older unit and I don't have the money to replace it. I live in a mobile home that gets very hot in the summer. Does anyone know if I can use a dehumidifier to help? I know they are mainly used in basements but was just wondering if it would help.
Thanks for any help that I can get.
By Judi
My understanding of ac is that it cools not only by removing heat from the air but also humidity which makes your body cool itself more efficiently through evaporation (perspiration). To add more humidity would make the ac work harder by adding what it is designed to remove but also in lowering the efficiency of your body's own cooling system you will feel warmer.
He's right, what we do here in the south and my ac has a dehumidifier on it is to work the thermostat and use ceiling fans in the room or if you don't have ceiling fans floor or counter to feel cooler in the room. This way I keep my bill where I want it and don't stay hot either.
Dehumidifyers use a lot of electricity, and throw off a bit of heat of their own, so I am not sure it would help you. A fan to circulate the air in the room you are in would be much more efficient.
Some things that can help:
Close the curtains and pull down any shades on the sunny side(s) of your home during the day. I have even seen people put aluminum foil in windows to block the sun.
If the air cools in the evening and it gets cooler outside than in, open your windows and, if you have fans, get them in the windows to either pull the cool air in, or blow the warm air out--whichever seems to work more efficiently for you.
Don't set your thermostat too cold. For every degree below 75 (fahrenheit) (22 or 23 C?) you use a LOT more energy. My family sets the thermostat at about 78 F, and if one of us is too warm, we use a fan. I avoid using the oven on hot days, and try to use my crockpot, which I put in a covered porch, as much as possible. I try not to run the dryer any more than necessary.
We drink a lot of cold water, too. It helps quite a bit.
Judi, I don't know if a dehumidifier would work for you. If you live in a very damp area, it might, but an AC already does that. You have a battle keeping a mobile home cool as they do not have good insulation in the roof. Ceiling fans are a good investment. I live in a house, but we have one in the living room, one in the kitchen, and one in each of the upstairs bedrooms. At night, I set up large window fans, one or two are set up in front of a window to suck cool air in from outside and then another at the other end of the house blowing out, to suck hot air out, and this sets up an air flow.
Be very sure you seal up the house in the morning to keep the cool air in. Cover your windows with heavy drapes & tin foil, as well if you think you need it. Keep the fans running to circulate the air, and that keeps you feeling cool. You want to keep the hot air out, but a person thinks open windows+cool, even though it is hot outside. Resist this!
I have an indoor pool in which I am recycling my dehumidifier water by draining it back to the pool. I've read various postings here about the dangers of drinking the water, but is it a problem introducing it back to a 6000 gallon pool?
By Jeffrey Leef from Backus, MN
The reason you are not supposed to use it for drinking is that it can have a lot of bacteria or mold spores, etc. in it. However, I would think your pool's purification system would take care of any of that. I think it would be a great way to re-use that water. It can also be used for plants, and in the garden.
Why do that? If you can afford a pool you can afford to fill it. If you must use the water from your dehumidifier just water your trees or plant with it. There is such a thing as being too frugal.
I have extreme allergies,and I've heard that dehumidifiers help. I have tried everything and then some. Have any of you had any experience with dehumidifiers? If so I would love your comments. Thank you and God bless.
There are fewer problems with allergies when it's dry - a dehumidifier would help guard against mold problems - I would still use an air cleaner against pollen. (And make sure your A/C filters are cleaned regularly.)
Have you tried adding any homeopathic remedies to your arsenal? I have added BioAllers tinctures, when needed, against prevailing allergies (grass, tree, mold, etc.) as well as nettles and combinations like Allertonic. I also use A. Vogel's Allergy Relief (or Boerick & Tafel's Allergyaide) This is in combination with lots of vitamins across the spectrum, and ginseng and other adaptogens (like astralagus) to help your immune system. I also add eyebright, good for the eyes. (& I like similisan eyedrops - and Ocuhist otc) These seem to work similarly to allergy shots, i.e., they rev up your immune system - and can be used in addition to your medication. (when things get BAD, it's back to meds + other remedies - & when all else fails, benedryl + sleep...)
There are a lot of good meds out there OTC now - including Zyrtec, which I had had prescribed. I do it ALL when I have to & it does seem to help - just a kind word from another sufferer...
I don't know about dehumidifiers but an air purifer works great. I got one several years ago and I haven't had to use any medication since!
TOO much dehumidifiying (air too dry) is actually not good. However, I use it b/c of my classroom and the high humidity. Block buildings are notorious for moisture.
TOO much humidity is bad for allergies in that it allows for mold to grow. You have to experiment and see what works for you. Too much or too little is bad. You need it just right!
What's the best way to sanitize dehumidifiers? Thanks.
By nancy nunez from Longview, TX
I have a Sunbeam dehumidifier. I think it's a 30 pt. size, but size is not important. My problem is that after I empty it, the "full" light stays on and it will not run. The book says that if the light remains on, the water drawer is not in place properly. There is only one way to put the drawer back in and it fits properly when I replace it, but the light stays on and the dehumidifier will not run.
When I fool around with it long enough, I can finally get it back in it's proper place, but this is a bit unnerving after awhile. I did not have this problem when it was new. It's a little over a year old. I tried to call the 800 # listed in the manual, but no response. Is there a trick or two to getting the water drawer back in place properly so it will run. I would appreciate your help.
By Kathy from Sylvania, OH
