If you’re reading this, then it’s probably because you’ve been noticing a dampness in your home and you want to know if there’s something wrong. Or maybe your home has persistent issues with high humidity levels or mold growth—and now that it’s winter, the temperature is dropping and you have to run your dehumidifier more often. Either way, let’s get started!
In winter, cold air holds less moisture than warm air.
In winter, cold air holds less moisture than warm air. This can be a problem for your dehumidifier because it will struggle to remove the excess moisture from the air in your home.
- Relative humidity (RH) is high during the winter months and relative humidity is measured as a percentage of its maximum value. For example, if you have an RH level of 90%, this means that there are 90% more particles in the air than normal conditions would allow for at that temperature and pressure point on Earth (0°C).
- Dew points are lower during cold winters because warm moist air has a tendency to rise upwards into cooler regions above us like clouds or mountainsides before condensing back down again into liquid form due to changes in surrounding temperatures which cause evaporation/condensation processes upon contact with cooler surfaces such as trees branches etcetera…
Humidity levels are higher in winter months when furnaces and fireplaces are working non-stop.
When conditions are dry, the relative humidity level in your home can drop. This is because as water evaporates from the air and wet surfaces like floors and walls, it takes moisture with it. The evaporation of moisture from your home’s indoor environment causes a rise in outdoor temperatures due to the release of heat stored during colder months. In addition to increased heating costs, this can lead to mold growth if you don’t have a dehumidifier running at all times during winter months when humidity levels are higher than normal.
Here’s why: As mentioned above, furnaces and fireplaces work nonstop throughout December through March—and all year round for those who use them regularly but only turn them on when needed during cold weather months (or if there’s ice or snow outside). This means that while they’re running around-the-clock at peak capacity every day until April comes along (at which point their energy usage typically decreases), they continue producing high amounts of heat which raises temperatures inside our homes even further because much more fuel needs replacing after being burned up during those last few months where we were using woodstoves instead.”
A dehumidifier removes excess humidity from your indoor air and vents the dry air outside through a drain hose.
When you’re drying out the air in your home, a dehumidifier is used to remove excess moisture from the air. A dehumidifier can also be used as an air conditioner if it has a built-in heater.
A dehumidifier will not heat up your home like an electric furnace does during winter months. However, if you live in an area with extreme humidity levels (more than 50%) and experience frequent cold snaps or freezing temperatures outside then it’s best to keep your house heated above 70 degrees Fahrenheit all year round so that moisture doesn’t build up inside. If this is not possible then there are still ways to reduce humidity levels without running expensive heating systems 24/7 by using passive solar design strategies such as cool roofs or attic ventilation fans which circulate fresh clean cool air throughout our homes naturally on sunny days when nobody else needs them!
Unchecked, a high relative humidity can lead to moist, damp conditions that can cause mold to grow in your home.
Unchecked, a high relative humidity can lead to moist, damp conditions that can cause mold to grow in your home. Mold is a health hazard and can cause respiratory problems in humans and animals.
Mold can grow on surfaces and in places you don’t see—including your floorboards, walls and ceilings—which makes it difficult for some people who have chronic illness or allergies or just want a clean house environment to catch it early enough before it becomes an issue. In addition, because most people don’t realize how easy it is for mold spores (the microscopic life forms responsible for causing illness) to spread when they’re inhaled into their lungs through the airways of their nose or throat during normal breathing exercises like deep breathing exercises without any protective mask on but still wearing clothes instead of robes/dresses with sleeves covering arms down past wrists (or even gloves).
When you run your dehumidifier, you don’t need to run your furnace as often.
Running your dehumidifier in the winter is a great way to save money and reduce energy use. It’s also a good idea if you want to stay warm during cold months, since running your furnace all year long usually isn’t practical or cost-effective.
When you run your dehumidifier, however, there are some rules of thumb that can help you save even more money:
- The furnace doesn’t have to work as hard when it’s not cooling air on its own (since it doesn’t need as much heat). This means that if there’s no need for cooling or heating in the house at all times—such as during summer months—you should consider shutting off part of the system while leaving only one fan operating at full capacity (which will still generate plenty of humidity).
If you live in a climate with significant temperature fluctuations between day and night, it’s smart to use a humidistat that has built-in temperature correction capabilities.
If you live in a climate with significant temperature fluctuations between day and night, it’s smart to use a humidistat that has built-in temperature correction capabilities.
This means that regardless of whether your house is cold or warm, the dehumidifier will adjust its setting based on what’s happening outside. This can be especially helpful if you live in an area where temperatures swing wildly between seasons, such as Southern California (where we’re currently experiencing record heat).
Some humidifiers come with built-in sensors that detect when they’re running too hot or cold, then automatically adjust the unit’s operating temperature accordingly. Other models rely on external inputs like ambient air temperature sensors and internal sensors placed directly within each unit itself; this makes them much less expensive than those featuring built-in sensors but also means there’s no way for these units to compensate for changes in humidity levels beyond those caused by changes in outside conditions (elevation).
Even if there’s not much moisture in the air, machine condensation can still cause problems if moisture levels start to accumulate inside the unit or on surfaces inside the room.
Even if there’s not much moisture in the air, machine condensation can still cause problems if moisture levels start to accumulate inside the unit or on surfaces inside the room.
Moisture causes problems with your dehumidifier by:
- Encouraging growth of mold and mildew on any surface it touches (including your furniture)
- Causing corrosion that can damage electrical equipment like computers and televisions
Running your dehumidifier during the cold winter months makes sense if your home has persistent issues with high humidity levels or mold growth.
If your home has high humidity levels and/or mold growth issues, running your dehumidifier in the winter makes sense.
But if your home is fairly dry, then you may not want to run your dehumidifier at all. If a dehumidifier isn’t needed for a particular situation (like preventing mold growth), it’s smart to stop using it so that electricity costs don’t go up unnecessarily.
Conclusion
If you have persistent issues with high humidity levels or mold growth, running your dehumidifier during the cold winter months makes sense.
Check out our best pick dehumidifier BlueDri 150 Pint Dehumidifier.