How long do dehumidifiers last?
If you intend to buy a dehumidifier, you should at least know the answer to this question. After all, you should never expect that these dehumidifiers will last for a lifetime. Even the most durable ones are not designed to last for a decade.
Fortunately, you can always maximize its lifespan. In this way, you wouldn’t have to switch dehumidifiers every year.
But really, how long is the lifespan of a dehumidifier?
How Long Do Dehumidifiers Last?
A dehumidifier is a device designed to tackle humidity problems. Specifically, it works by absorbing air and extracting the excess moisture from it. It ensures that the relative humidity in a particular area is at 45% to 55%.
There are different types of dehumidifiers out there. A refrigerant condenser, for instance, can absorb moisture and convert it to water droplets via a condenser. The water goes to a water tank, which you are going to drain manually or automatically.
As a result, the air that goes out from the dehumidifier already contains the right level of moisture.
The dehumidifier repeats this procedure until such time the humidity of particular floor space is already correct. Once this happens, the dehumidifier either shuts down by itself, or you need to switch it off manually.
Because of the role that the dehumidifier fulfills, its lifespan only sits at 3 to 5 years only. In its later stages, you will notice that its performance has already been reduced. Frequent errors will arise, too. Even those that have durable build may not go beyond the said range.
However, keep in mind that there are numerous factors that could influence the longevity of a dehumidifier. Let’s discuss them further below.
Factors That Affects The Lifespan Of A Dehumidifier
Build And Construction
Of course, one could expect that those dehumidifiers that have been made by reputable manufacturers have a longer lifespan than their entry-level counterparts. But that should not surprise you, though.
When you think of it, these high-quality dehumidifiers are expensive for a reason. Most of them have been engineered with extra-rugged components. They are using technologies, too, that prevent electrical and mechanical damages.
Of course, other dehumidifiers, such as desiccants, have different mechanisms in absorbing moisture. Hence, their build is quite different from refrigerants. However, this doesn’t mean that they will last for a decade. Over time, the absorbents of desiccants gradually lose their capacity to collect humidity.
Whether you have a refrigerant or desiccant dehumidifier, their default build does matter. It is something that you have to mind. When you opt for a cheap dehumidifier, you have to expect its flimsy construction. You can’t expect that they can last longer than those expensive dehumidifiers in the market.
Frequency Of Usage
If you use an appliance constantly and non-stop, its quality degrades fast. It is a fact that applies to every device out there, especially to dehumidifiers.
Now, your demand for the dehumidifier is different from others. It is different from your neighbor or me. That’s something that you have to take into account. If you have severe humidity problems, then you need to operate the dehumidifier constantly. At this point, you need a dehumidifier that can handle the exhaustiveness of your requirements.
If you are living in an extremely humid environment, don’t get a weak dehumidifier. Instead, you should get robust units, such as whole-house or commercial dehumidifiers. They can manage non-stop runtime without compromising their overall durability.
Meanwhile, those that have moderate or minimal humidity issues may not need to run their dehumidifiers all the time. By doing so, they are further preserving the lifespan of the machine, enabling it to operate whenever dehumidification is only needed.
How Long Does A Dehumidifier Have To Run?
It depends. There’s no fixed answer to this question.
As I’ve emphasized, every one of us has different needs for moisture removal. Some of us only need these dehumidifiers on particular parts of the day. Others have no other choice but to operate their dehumidifiers regularly.
Hence, you are the only one that can decide when it comes to this particular matter.
I do recommend that you get a dehumidifier with a humidistat. The latter is a component that reads the external humidity; it works like a hygrometer. Dehumidifiers that have this component will be able to configure their operation automatically.
For instance, if the humidity is high, these dehumidifiers will work to remove the excess moisture. Once the desired humidity level is achieved, then they will shut down right away.
The benefit of this mechanism is that it saves your power bill. At the same time, it ensures that the dehumidifier is not overclocking itself.
Proper Dehumidifier Maintenance
- Be moderate in use – It’s essential that your dehumidifier is only working to achieve safe moisture levels. If you are going to put the desired humidity level at a very low percentage, it will cause the machine to exhaust itself, leaving it susceptible to damages and lifespan reduction.
- Replace its filters – A dehumidifier has filters. You need to replace them regularly to ensure that the machine can work properly. Filters decrease the clogs that could deteriorate the performance of these dehumidifiers. Furthermore, they assist in ensuring that the ejected air is clean.
- Don’t short-cycle the compressor – The term short-cycling refers to the sudden turning on and off the dehumidifier in just a small period. It is crucial that you wait at least ten minutes before you shut the device. In this way, the pressure inside the dehumidifier gets regulated, preventing unnecessary damages to the compressor.
- Thaw the coils first – If you notice that the coils have ice on them, you have to defrost them first. Fortunately, some dehumidifiers can do this automatically. But if your dehumidifier doesn’t have this mechanism, you need to wait for the ice to melt first.
Conclusion
Dehumidifiers don’t have an unlimited lifespan. Hence, it is crucial that you can take care of them to ensure that they can last for as long as they can. Learning the proper usage and maintenance can really make the difference here.
I hope that you learned a lot from this guide. If you have other related inquiries, feel free to ask me in the comment section below.
