Dehumidifier: When is its use truly worthwhile?

  • Erstellt am 2025-01-30 14:33:01

Baumer

2025-01-30 14:33:01
  • #1
I am considering buying a dehumidifier but am uncertain whether it is actually worthwhile. In which situations are such devices really useful, and when should one rather avoid them? On the one hand, it is often said that dehumidifiers can be a good solution for moisture problems in the basement or in poorly ventilated rooms to prevent mold growth. On the other hand, I wonder whether the energy consumption really justifies these benefits, especially if the humidity is not extremely high. Are there maybe alternatives that require less energy, or is the dehumidifier the best option in certain cases? What are your experiences and tips for dealing with such devices?
 

In der Ruine

2025-01-30 15:03:24
  • #2
For the basement, there is a fan control that calculates from the absolute humidity inside/outside when ventilating lowers the humidity in the basement. I have it myself and the basement no longer smells musty.
 

Yosan

2025-01-30 15:07:45
  • #3
We use a dehumidifier in the basement when we have laundry hanging there, which otherwise takes 3 days to dry depending on the temperatures, or when, after heavy rain, there is a puddle of water rising up from the floor, so that it dries faster again (the rising is not a problem in itself. It is an old house with a basement that was not really designed to be dry).
 

SoL

2025-01-30 15:20:30
  • #4
I run a dehumidifier continuously on automatic in our old building basement, it keeps it at 55-60% rel.
Costs me a small amount per month
 

nordanney

2025-01-30 15:51:40
  • #5
When there is a humidity level that is too high for the respective situation. There are numerous different scenarios where it can be useful. For example - always damp basements = mold prevention - introduction of high humidity into rooms with cold walls (laundry in the basement, laundry in the living room in old buildings) - high humidity in rooms - often in old buildings to prevent mold etc. First of all, the dehumidifier does not necessarily need much energy. Depending on the situation, there may also be other options. Residential ventilation, skirting board heating, insulation... I have a mobile air conditioner for summer emergencies. It can also dehumidify. I use it rarely in the basement because, due to basement ceiling insulation, the temperature in the basement has dropped by several degrees and in summer at suitable times the humidity becomes so high that the walls get damp. The device has the advantage for me that I can also run it as a real air conditioner in the living area. Simply connect the exhaust air to the decentralized fans.
 

In der Ruine

2025-02-03 08:07:29
  • #6
A quick question about dehumidifying the cellar. My neighbor has installed a [Brauchwasserwärmepumpe] in the cellar. It uses the "warm" cellar air as an energy source and apparently also dries out the cellar for him. When I asked if the cellar doesn’t get extremely cold because of this, he said it’s only three degrees less. Can you kill two birds with one stone with such a solution?
 

Similar topics
28.01.2010House with or without a basement? - Experiences20
05.06.2010Basement made of high perforated bricks or concrete?11
18.08.2013Massive house with basement. Is our budget enough?11
06.11.2018New construction 2014: Problems with high humidity in the basement15
17.02.2016KFW 55 in semi-heated basement - cold basement31
20.01.2018Significantly high humidity in the cellar10
22.12.2017Construction costs for a single-family house with a basement in NRW84
30.09.2019Floor plan optimization of a single-family house with a basement on a small plot178
15.07.2020Basement as a white tank - heating?!16
05.02.2021Is renovating old buildings worthwhile?42
10.11.2021Is underfloor heating in the basement useful??60
19.01.2022New building with underfloor heating, residential ventilation, and air conditioning21
12.04.2022From when is a heat pump worthwhile in an old building?13
01.12.2022Is a multisplit air conditioner suitable for heating?72
14.06.2022Ventilation system cellar without windows18
19.09.2022Washing machine and dryer in the basement or upstairs?14
24.11.2022High humidity despite decentralized ventilation system16
21.06.202320% humidity in KFW 40+ new construction113
10.04.2023Renovate an old building or build new? Experiences?35
02.07.2025How can you cool the house a bit without air conditioning?36

Oben