Do You Need a Dehumidifier in The Winter?

A dehumidifier is an absolute necessity in the summertime. But what’s about the winter? Do you need a dehumidifier in the winter too?

Well, this question has a tricky answer since even experts are confused with the issue. At one end, using a dehumidifier is still a great choice, even for the winter seasons. It happens if you already live in tropical, warmer, and highly humid regions. In these regions, the relative humidity remains high in cold seasons. Thus, using a dehumidifier will boost your indoor air quality even in the winter months to enjoy better and healthier living.

On the other end, some say using a dehumidifier in the winter is pointless. It will only increase your electricity bills and nothing else since the indoor air is already dry during the cold days.

So, what’s the truth behind using a dehumidifier in the hard times? Do you still need to run a dehumidifier in the winter?

Let’s dive deep into finding the right answer. We will also look at the right way to use the dehumidifier correctly in the winter months. It will surely help you use the machine better without increasing the electricity bill. Finally, we will compare dehumidifier and humidifier and suggest which one is the better choice on winter days.

Do You Need A Dehumidifier In The Winter?

We eventually think about dropping temperature when winter comes and overlook the air quality. It eventually brings havoc in our indoor space since the air quality in winter is even worse than in summer due to fogs, smog, and other particles.

Thus, we need to use air quality controlling devices to maintain the air quality in optimal conditions. One of the best ways to control indoor air quality in the winter is to run the dehumidifier. Yes, it does help during the coldest months of the year too.

For instance, the temperature remains relatively high in many regions during the cold months. It happens mostly in the tropical regions where temperature shrinks only slightly in the winter. Thus, the relative humidity remains on the higher sides in these regions.

For instance, the following cities are the warmest US cities even during winter.

• Hawaii
• Florida
• Texas
• Louisiana
• Georgia

In these cities, the year-round temperature remains above 30°C. Even during the winter days, the temperature in these regions will hardly fall below 20°C. Thus, the warmer winter days still offer humidity to prevail inside the indoor space. If you live in such regions, using a dehumidifier will be a great idea.

What’s more, cold months bring dampness and rain to many regions. Thus, you might use the machine to control the dampness during the wintertime. It is a tempting idea. Also, it is important since the damp cold days give a perfect breeding condition for mold and mildew. And this is the last thing you would want in your home during those disturbing cold days.

Mold and mildew growth hurt your wooden floor, furniture, and even concrete walls and their corners. So, you need to control them, and the best way to stop mold growth is to use the dehumidifier. Also, the machine removes pollen, dander, and allergens from the air. So, you can breathe confidently and easily, even on drier days.

However, if you have an air purifier, it will take care of the pollutants in the air. So, you don’t need the dehumidifier during these wintery days.

Long story short, you should follow these top considerations to fix whether or not you should use the device on cold days.

Consider Where You Live

As mentioned in the above portion, you can use a dehumidifier in the home if you live in warmer regions. For instance, if your region has an average temperature over 20° during cold days, you should run the dehumidifier.

Thus, look at the average temperature of your region and take the decision accordingly. If the temperature in your region falls below 20°C, there’s no need to use the dehumidifier. As the temperature remains relatively low, you will already have drier air, so running the machine will make the air drier. It will cause skin irritation, sinusitis, and breathing problems.

What’s the Relative Humidity?

Next, check the relative humidity level of your region. Does it fall below 50% in the winter or remains on the higher side? This is important because regions with drier air and low humidity won’t need the dehumidifying device.

As the table shows, in many states of the US, relative humidity level remains still high. The list includes Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, and Florida and their different cities. In these regions, the maximum humidity remains well above 60% during most days. It means you will live in high relative humidity during the winter seasons in these regions.

Thus, running the dehumidifier will be good if you live in these regions. Also, you may consider a dehumidifier in the garage because air mostly remains damp in the garage and basement space. It will help you control the dampness there to maintain cleanliness.

Consider the Air Quality

Finally, you must look at the air quality of your indoor space. In the winter days, fogs, smog, and added dampness can quickly lower the air quality. It causes serious breathing and respiratory problems. You need to be aware of the downgrading air quality during the wintertime. Thus, running the dehumidifier might help you relieve such poorer air conditions.

The following list includes the sign of poor air quality in the indoor space:

• Coughing
• Dizziness
• Headache
• Allergies and Asthma
• Symptoms of flu
• Nausea
• Nasal Congestion
• Breathing problem

When you see face such inconveniences at home, the air quality has fallen dramatically in your indoor area. Also, it suggests that the relative humidity is high. So, you may consider using a dehumidifier and eliminating the poor air condition with ease.

Advantages of Using A Dehumidifier In Winter

Winter is among the murkiest time of the year. As the temperature shrinks, you will face different problems. It also invites flu viruses, so people suffer from different sicknesses during this period of the year.

Thankfully, you can run a dehumidifier and get rid of the growing problems. Its top benefits include the following points.

• Many people have sickness issues due to dampness. They suffer from asthma and repertory problems due to dampness in the winter seasons. Thus, these people will benefit from running a dehumidifier in the winter to relieve breathing problems.
• During the winter, added dampness will trigger mold and mildew growth. Mold spores damage your wooden furniture and floor and cause allergies and breathing issues. A dehumidifier will help you combat these problems better.
• Most people don’t know that running a dehumidifier can slightly increase the room temperature. In fact, experts suggest that running a dehumidifier continuously in indoor space can increase the interior temperature by 5-10°F. While it can be uncomfortable in summer, it becomes an appealing feature in the winter. You won’t need to run the room heater with the dehumidifying device in your home. So, it will save money.
• In winter, it becomes tough to air dry your clothes due to increased dampness in the air. So, clothes will take longer to dry, and it is highly frustrating, particularly if you need to maintain dress codes for offices. Thankfully, a dehumidifier will help you combat the problem quickly. The heated air released by the device will help you dry clothes faster. Isn’t it a great benefit of using a dehumidifier in the winter?
• Finally, running the machine will reduce humidity in the indoor air, resulting in fewer dust mites and pollens. Thus, you will love the relief from the respiratory problem and enjoy comfy living.

Consequences of Using a Dehumidifier in The Winter

When you run the dehumidifier in the winter season, you need to be aware of its disadvantages as well. It will help you maintain the room humidity better.

• In extreme cold, the coil of the dehumidifier may get damaged. It happens when the room temperature falls quickly. So, you should check the machine’s coil and ensure it runs properly.
• Even the water stored in the tank reservoir may freeze. If the water freezes in the dehumidifier tank, it will have cracks. Thus, you should promptly remove the water collected from the air in the machine’s reservoir.
• Lastly, running the dehumidifier for too long might over-dry the air. You will experience skin irritation, nasal congestion, and other problems when it happens. So, never run the machine for more than 2 to 4 hours during cold days.

When you keep these consequences of the dehumidifier in mind, you can take full advantage of the machine.

Humidifier Vs Dehumidifier: Which Is Better In Winter?

When the temperature starts falling rapidly, the relative humidity also starts falling. So, we look for ways to control the humidity level in the home. Two of the most useful devices to control the humidity level in the home are a dehumidifier and a humidifier.

While the first one lowers the moisture in the air, the second one increases moisture. So, which device should you use?

Well, the answer lies in the relative humidity of your locality. Experts say you need to maintain the indoor humidity around 45% to 55% for the best health benefits. So, you need to use the dehumidifier if the moisture level is above 55% in your area. On the contrary, use the humidifier in the wintertime if the relative moisture level is below 40%. The device will help you boost the humidity level and get rid of drier air and associated breathing problems.

You can run a humidifier in the winter instead of the dehumidifier when you experience the following signs:

• If you feel colder and direr air due to poor insulation at home.
• If your family members often have dry skin, nosebleed, or skin irritation
• When members inside the home have chapped lips or wrinkles
• If your furniture or wooden floor starts to crack due to dryness
• You find unnatural static electricity in the indoor space

When you find one or multiple signs mentioned above, you must run the humidifier. It will help you in breathing with ease. Also, it saves your wooden items at home and increases their resell value.

Tips on Running the Dehumidifier Well In Winter

When you run the dehumidifier in the winter, you need to take care of it cautiously. So, you should focus on the following points.

• Keep an eye on the weather and humidity level. If there’s a chance of snowfall or extremely cold weather, stop running the machine. It will protect the coil from freezing in extreme cold.
• Always remove the water from the tank reservoir of the dehumidifier during winter. As water may freeze, it could damage the plastic reservoir easily. So, drain it timely.
• You don’t need to run the dehumidifier all the time in winter. You can run the machine for 2 to 4 hours and enjoy the perfect moisture in the home interior.

Also, maintain the components of the machine. It will prolong the lifespan of the dehumidifier and its performance in winter.

Final Words

So, do you need a dehumidifier in the winter? The answer lies in the humidity level of your area. If the relative humidity level of your locality remains well above 55% in winter, you can run the machine for several hours to lower the moisture. Also, it will up the room temperature by 5-10°F so that you won’t depend on the room heater entirely. So, finalize your decision with these factors of dehumidifiers in mind.