Can You Run a Dehumidifier and Air Conditioner at the Same Time?

There is some confusion about if you should run a dehumidifier and air conditioner at the same time. The answer here is not all that obvious at all. Let’s clear things up in order to best explain if a dehumidifier and air conditioner combo is a good idea:

• A dehumidifier ‘s primary and only function is to reduce indoor relative humidity levels.
• An air conditioner ‘s primary function is to lower the temperature and reduce indoor relative humidity levels.

 

Running Air Conditioners and Dehumidifier is not necessary to use both at the same time.

However, you shouldn’t have to run a dehumidifier at the same time as an air conditioner in an average rainy season.  sometimes a rainy season means that the rain does not let up for days and sometimes for weeks. So yes, there are times when the humidity can be so high that the air conditioner is going to have a hard time keeping up. In that case, you can place a dehumidifier or two in your house to help reduce the indoor humidity and take some strain off of the HVAC. (Central heat and air)  * Generally, the Department of Energy recommends setting your air conditioner to 78 degrees and using a combination of a dehumidifier and fans to stay cool while it is off. If the temperature rises above that level, the air conditioner will turn on and supplement your dehumidifier.

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What’s the Difference between an Air Conditioner & Dehumidifier?

Air conditioners are primarily used for getting rid of hot air and putting cold air into a room. A dehumidifier’s main function is to remove large amounts of humidity from an area, though it doesn’t put any cold air into a room. As we can see, there is a cross-section between the functions of a dehumidifier and an air conditioner. Namely, they both have the ability to reduce moisture levels.  

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Running A Dehumidifier and Air Conditioner to Reduce Humidity Levels

The most obvious case of when you should run a dehumidifier and an air conditioner simultaneously is when the AC unit cannot adequately lower the humidity levels by itself. In their recommendations about moisture control, EPA cites that ‘… it is important that indoor relative humidity be maintained below 60%, ideally between 30% and 50%. ‘ If you have above 60% humidity levels, the risk of mold growth is heightened. We can achieve better energy efficiency if we run a dehumidifier while also running an air conditioner. What we need to be aware of, however, is that running a dehumidifier also costs us some electricity. Nevertheless, the running costs of a dehumidifier is often much lower than that of an AC unit. On top of that, if the dehumidifier helps the AC unit, the AC unit is not under such a struggle. This will likely increase the lifespan of an air conditioner as well. If we live in a high humidity area, running a dehumidifier and an air conditioner at the same time is a smart move. It’s best to leave both units to do what they do best:

• Air conditioner cools effectively.
• Dehumidifier removes moisture effectively.

Learn more: about Voltage fluctuation and protect the appliance during the storm.