Ok so I'm just through the very beginning part - are people buying dehumidifiers for purposes besides persistent moisture issues? I'm definitely more confused that other people apparently find...
Ok so I'm just through the very beginning part - are people buying dehumidifiers for purposes besides persistent moisture issues?
I'm definitely more confused that other people apparently find this confusing. Or that a machine makes heat when it runs. Like. Like ... ACs get hot on the exhaust parts.
I'm by no means saying that no one could be confused or not understand but I'm not an expert... And I've never seen this confusion.
Yes. Many people, my parents included, use a dehumidifier because, despite the process warming the air slightly (which they didn't actually know about until I told them), it also increases...
are people buying dehumidifiers for purposes besides persistent moisture issues?
Yes. Many people, my parents included, use a dehumidifier because, despite the process warming the air slightly (which they didn't actually know about until I told them), it also increases evaporative cooling potential which can make you feel cooler overall since your sweat evaporates faster and more thoroughly.
Again, I've just seen the beginning of the video, since he said that's where the point was - but it sounded like he was saying it doesn't actually really help? I'm uncertain if you're saying that...
Again, I've just seen the beginning of the video, since he said that's where the point was - but it sounded like he was saying it doesn't actually really help? I'm uncertain if you're saying that it does, or that they're some of the "confused" people.
I understand the physics of what you're describing, this isn't a case of not getting that. I've just never met or heard of anyone finding dehumidifiers confusing.
The fact they put out heat so don't help during heatwaves does actually confuse some people though. In fact, that exact example he gave in that first section of the video was precisely what my...
The fact they put out heat so don't help during heatwaves does actually confuse some people though. In fact, that exact example he gave in that first section of the video was precisely what my parents were confused about too. We recently had a heatwave here in Southern Ontario, and my parents were convinced that running the dehumidifier would make it cooler in our condo. I had to explain to them that while it would lower the humidity so our sweat would evaporate faster and so it might "feel" cooler (at least temporarily), it wouldn't actually help cool the condo down... it would gradually heat it up more and more since, at the time, our AC was already struggling to keep the ambient air temperature tolerable for them.
p.s. I suspect the confusion, especially in older people, comes from old-wives-tales still being passed down about how dehumidifiers "make the room cooler" when in reality they do the opposite if your AC isn't able to counteract the heat they put out.
Ok that clarified that they were part of the "confused", thanks for that. This may just be one of those things where since I'm in the humid Midwest where basements are fairly common, I've just...
Ok that clarified that they were part of the "confused", thanks for that.
This may just be one of those things where since I'm in the humid Midwest where basements are fairly common, I've just seen enough (correct) use of dehumidifiers to have absorbed this info.
It was just a very odd experience for me to be confused more at it being called confusing than about the tech itself. Thanks for clarifying
It's pretty humid here in Southern Ontario as well, and basements are also incredibly common. Most people I know here who have a basement also have a dehumidifier to help deal with the damp that...
It's pretty humid here in Southern Ontario as well, and basements are also incredibly common. Most people I know here who have a basement also have a dehumidifier to help deal with the damp that builds up in them over time. So, for the most part, they get used "correctly" here too.
¯\(°_o)/¯ It just seems like apparently enough people are confused about a product I thought was really straightforward to make an incredibly long video with the presumption that it's in fact...
¯\(°_o)/¯
It just seems like apparently enough people are confused about a product I thought was really straightforward to make an incredibly long video with the presumption that it's in fact confusing.
Eh, the headline is mostly just about the beginning of the video. The bulk of the video is about how dehumidifiers actually work, how efficient the modern ones are, talking about the alternatives,...
Eh, the headline is mostly just about the beginning of the video. The bulk of the video is about how dehumidifiers actually work, how efficient the modern ones are, talking about the alternatives, the improvements that have been made to refrigerant gasses, etc. It's pretty rare that Technology Connections focuses solely on one narrow aspect of a product.
Yeah, unfortunately YouTubers gotta YouTube. If they don't get the views they can't keep making videos, so they gotta find some hook for the masses of casual viewers and non-subscribers. :/...
Yeah, unfortunately YouTubers gotta YouTube. If they don't get the views they can't keep making videos, so they gotta find some hook for the masses of casual viewers and non-subscribers. :/
Despite that, overall, his videos are incredibly high quality and well researched though so are typically well worth watching, IMO.
My question is, is the increase in temperature counteracted by the increased ability to sweat it off? Like does it make a matter if the dehumidifier warms the place up a bit if we also feel cooler...
My question is, is the increase in temperature counteracted by the increased ability to sweat it off? Like does it make a matter if the dehumidifier warms the place up a bit if we also feel cooler and more comfortable?
Also, I thought ACs were dehumidifiers themselves, but I guess not?
Most are, yes. However, the built-in AC units in our condo are obviously insufficient at dehumidifying (and cooling the place) during heatwaves. We have an Ecobee smart thermostat so can see the...
I thought ACs were dehumidifiers themselves
Most are, yes. However, the built-in AC units in our condo are obviously insufficient at dehumidifying (and cooling the place) during heatwaves. We have an Ecobee smart thermostat so can see the humidity level in the condo, which had gradually climbed to almost 70%.
However, rather than using their old dehumidifier unit to counteract the humidity I convinced my parents to get a portable AC unit instead, which also doubles as a standalone dehumidifier but (unlike their old dehumidifier) actually exhausts the hot air it generates out a window. And using that we managed to get the condo's ambient air temperature down to a comfortable temperature for them, and the humidity back down to <50%.
ACs can and do dehumidify. I watched the video months ago so I don't remember the details clearly, but I believe he discusses that the type of dehumidifier mentioned is, by components, very close...
ACs can and do dehumidify. I watched the video months ago so I don't remember the details clearly, but I believe he discusses that the type of dehumidifier mentioned is, by components, very close to being an AC that just pumps the heat back into the same space due to being arranged differently.
Where I grew up, Florida, is notoriously humid yet I don't know of my family ever using anything just labeled as a dehumidifier. We ran the AC and dehumidification came as a desired side effect. The "problem" with using the AC as a dehumidifier though is that it unless you desire to make the space colder then you may end up cold, whereas just a dehumidifier has a much smaller effect on the temperature. This "problem" isn't really much of an issue in Florida though because it's usually so hot you want the AC on anyway.
Yep, personally I mainly use a dehumidifer to dry my clothes after washing them, and secondarily to keep my home's moisture low (40% most of the year) because I like it like that & I don't mind...
Yep, personally I mainly use a dehumidifer to dry my clothes after washing them, and secondarily to keep my home's moisture low (40% most of the year) because I like it like that & I don't mind raising the temperature by 2°C to compensate for it.
I can see that use, but you're still specifically just removing moisture, not trying to cool your home. I just didn't think they're that confusing. Like he said we're going to have to go into...
I can see that use, but you're still specifically just removing moisture, not trying to cool your home. I just didn't think they're that confusing. Like he said we're going to have to go into detail to make it not confusing and I just didn't think this was the case ....
For people that are space constraint in hanging up their laundry, there are tumble dryers these days that use the same principle. That's to say, instead of heating up the air like old-fashioned...
For people that are space constraint in hanging up their laundry, there are tumble dryers these days that use the same principle. That's to say, instead of heating up the air like old-fashioned ones, they use a heat pump.
As I said above, this makes sense, because it's still dehumidifying, but you're not, seemingly at least, confused about them all the headline nor using them to cool off your house.
As I said above, this makes sense, because it's still dehumidifying, but you're not, seemingly at least, confused about them all the headline nor using them to cool off your house.
Thanks, this is the type of dehumidifier we use in the part of Australia where I live (although we have much nicer models than the one in the video). We have wet winters that soar to 70-80% RH on...
Thanks, this is the type of dehumidifier we use in the part of Australia where I live (although we have much nicer models than the one in the video).
We have wet winters that soar to 70-80% RH on rainy days while the temperature is 0–10°C (32–50°F). Those are prime chilblain conditions, not to mention mold conditions, so desiccant humidifiers make winter tolerable.
We just run our dehumidifier in the coldest, wettest room (our unheated bathroom/laundry), and it keeps the whole place reasonably regulated.
As a bonus, desiccant dehumidifiers also make it feasible to air dry laundry indoors on cold, rainy days. And they're so narrow and lightweight that they're easy to pack away in spring.
NP. And yeah I could see them being useful in quite a few places here in Canada too, for similar reasons. I had never heard of them before this video though.
NP. And yeah I could see them being useful in quite a few places here in Canada too, for similar reasons. I had never heard of them before this video though.
Ok so I'm just through the very beginning part - are people buying dehumidifiers for purposes besides persistent moisture issues?
I'm definitely more confused that other people apparently find this confusing. Or that a machine makes heat when it runs. Like. Like ... ACs get hot on the exhaust parts.
I'm by no means saying that no one could be confused or not understand but I'm not an expert... And I've never seen this confusion.
Yes. Many people, my parents included, use a dehumidifier because, despite the process warming the air slightly (which they didn't actually know about until I told them), it also increases evaporative cooling potential which can make you feel cooler overall since your sweat evaporates faster and more thoroughly.
Again, I've just seen the beginning of the video, since he said that's where the point was - but it sounded like he was saying it doesn't actually really help? I'm uncertain if you're saying that it does, or that they're some of the "confused" people.
I understand the physics of what you're describing, this isn't a case of not getting that. I've just never met or heard of anyone finding dehumidifiers confusing.
The fact they put out heat so don't help during heatwaves does actually confuse some people though. In fact, that exact example he gave in that first section of the video was precisely what my parents were confused about too. We recently had a heatwave here in Southern Ontario, and my parents were convinced that running the dehumidifier would make it cooler in our condo. I had to explain to them that while it would lower the humidity so our sweat would evaporate faster and so it might "feel" cooler (at least temporarily), it wouldn't actually help cool the condo down... it would gradually heat it up more and more since, at the time, our AC was already struggling to keep the ambient air temperature tolerable for them.
p.s. I suspect the confusion, especially in older people, comes from old-wives-tales still being passed down about how dehumidifiers "make the room cooler" when in reality they do the opposite if your AC isn't able to counteract the heat they put out.
Ok that clarified that they were part of the "confused", thanks for that.
This may just be one of those things where since I'm in the humid Midwest where basements are fairly common, I've just seen enough (correct) use of dehumidifiers to have absorbed this info.
It was just a very odd experience for me to be confused more at it being called confusing than about the tech itself. Thanks for clarifying
It's pretty humid here in Southern Ontario as well, and basements are also incredibly common. Most people I know here who have a basement also have a dehumidifier to help deal with the damp that builds up in them over time. So, for the most part, they get used "correctly" here too.
¯\(°_o)/¯
It just seems like apparently enough people are confused about a product I thought was really straightforward to make an incredibly long video with the presumption that it's in fact confusing.
Frankly I'm more confused now.
Eh, the headline is mostly just about the beginning of the video. The bulk of the video is about how dehumidifiers actually work, how efficient the modern ones are, talking about the alternatives, the improvements that have been made to refrigerant gasses, etc. It's pretty rare that Technology Connections focuses solely on one narrow aspect of a product.
I'm not a regular watcher, but honestly I dislike the title and his framing of it then. Meh, just not for me.
Yeah, unfortunately YouTubers gotta YouTube. If they don't get the views they can't keep making videos, so they gotta find some hook for the masses of casual viewers and non-subscribers. :/
Despite that, overall, his videos are incredibly high quality and well researched though so are typically well worth watching, IMO.
My question is, is the increase in temperature counteracted by the increased ability to sweat it off? Like does it make a matter if the dehumidifier warms the place up a bit if we also feel cooler and more comfortable?
Also, I thought ACs were dehumidifiers themselves, but I guess not?
Most are, yes. However, the built-in AC units in our condo are obviously insufficient at dehumidifying (and cooling the place) during heatwaves. We have an Ecobee smart thermostat so can see the humidity level in the condo, which had gradually climbed to almost 70%.
However, rather than using their old dehumidifier unit to counteract the humidity I convinced my parents to get a portable AC unit instead, which also doubles as a standalone dehumidifier but (unlike their old dehumidifier) actually exhausts the hot air it generates out a window. And using that we managed to get the condo's ambient air temperature down to a comfortable temperature for them, and the humidity back down to <50%.
ACs can and do dehumidify. I watched the video months ago so I don't remember the details clearly, but I believe he discusses that the type of dehumidifier mentioned is, by components, very close to being an AC that just pumps the heat back into the same space due to being arranged differently.
Where I grew up, Florida, is notoriously humid yet I don't know of my family ever using anything just labeled as a dehumidifier. We ran the AC and dehumidification came as a desired side effect. The "problem" with using the AC as a dehumidifier though is that it unless you desire to make the space colder then you may end up cold, whereas just a dehumidifier has a much smaller effect on the temperature. This "problem" isn't really much of an issue in Florida though because it's usually so hot you want the AC on anyway.
Yep, personally I mainly use a dehumidifer to dry my clothes after washing them, and secondarily to keep my home's moisture low (40% most of the year) because I like it like that & I don't mind raising the temperature by 2°C to compensate for it.
I can see that use, but you're still specifically just removing moisture, not trying to cool your home. I just didn't think they're that confusing. Like he said we're going to have to go into detail to make it not confusing and I just didn't think this was the case ....
Yes, I use one for drying laundry. Works well, and cheaper than a tumble dryer to run.
For people that are space constraint in hanging up their laundry, there are tumble dryers these days that use the same principle. That's to say, instead of heating up the air like old-fashioned ones, they use a heat pump.
As I said above, this makes sense, because it's still dehumidifying, but you're not, seemingly at least, confused about them all the headline nor using them to cool off your house.
Related video:
Desiccant dehumidifiers are fascinating... but not for everyone
Thanks, this is the type of dehumidifier we use in the part of Australia where I live (although we have much nicer models than the one in the video).
We have wet winters that soar to 70-80% RH on rainy days while the temperature is 0–10°C (32–50°F). Those are prime chilblain conditions, not to mention mold conditions, so desiccant humidifiers make winter tolerable.
We just run our dehumidifier in the coldest, wettest room (our unheated bathroom/laundry), and it keeps the whole place reasonably regulated.
As a bonus, desiccant dehumidifiers also make it feasible to air dry laundry indoors on cold, rainy days. And they're so narrow and lightweight that they're easy to pack away in spring.
NP. And yeah I could see them being useful in quite a few places here in Canada too, for similar reasons. I had never heard of them before this video though.