Dehumidifier or Air Conditioner? Here’s which one to choose!

We bought or rented a new home, and the search for the ideal temperature immediately became a priority. The heat is often unbearable in summer, and a cold or humid house in cold seasons is certainly not healthy.

Let’s see two of the most common tools to combat the heat inside our homes, and which one to choose: dehumidifier or air conditioner?

How do they work?

Let’s start by saying that humid heat and dry heat are perceived very differently by our bodies. The dehumidifier – a device that dries the air from the humidity present in the home – is a handy tool to improve a room’s livability in the season hot. But, technically, it is not cool.

The dehumidifier is also useful in winter, as drier air makes even low temperatures more tolerable and has excellent functionality regarding preventing mold and allergens. The air is sucked in by the instrument, filtered, and returned – dry and free of particulates – to the surrounding environment.

The air conditioner is a completely dissimilar tool: heat relief introduces cold air directly into the environment. The air conditioner changes the room temperature by cooling the air, cools the air, unlike the dehumidifier, which only affects the humidity level.

Generally, both instruments have a specific function for the winter: the dehumidifier can improve the rooms’ livability by drying the humidity even in winter. Can use the air conditioner to heat simply by adjusting a higher temperature.

The differences between a dehumidifier and an air conditioner

We have seen the first big difference between a dehumidifier and an air conditioner, given by the respective operation. If the first one works on the humidity level, making the humid heat dry, the second one affects the house’s temperature by introducing cold air.

Let’s briefly analyze the other features that differentiate the two tools:

• Consumption: Generally, the dehumidifier has much lower electrical consumption than an air conditioner or air conditioner, which performs a much more complex mechanical job.
• The impact on health: it is known that air conditioning can cause if we are exposed to it frequently, colds, muscle pain, and other problems related to temperature changes, which can also be sudden. The relief from immediate cooling of the air counteracts a well-known disadvantage: air conditioning can hurt.
• The functionalities: while the air conditioner can have a dry function and function as a dehumidifier, the opposite is impossible.
• The cost: since it is a more complex machine, the air conditioner generally has a much higher average price than a dehumidifier; it consumes more and often includes a system that can involve the walls and electrical systems of the home, which further affects the price.

Better dehumidifier or conditioner, then? In addition to the differences, let’s see what characteristics to consider for a careful choice suited to our needs.

The characteristics of the house are fundamental.

In every choice that concerns the house, there are characteristics to be considered when choosing an appliance or a functional component of the home. Even in the case of air conditioning, specific aspects will have to be considered, which can help us choose the most suitable appliance for our home:

• Humidity rate
• Quality of fixtures and insulation
• Maximum temperatures reached in summer, and minimum in winter
• Space available

If our house is particularly humid, both in summer and winter, or has poorly been insulating fixtures like other problems related to thermal insulation, a dehumidifier could improve air quality and livability in an incisive way.

On the other hand, if our house or some rooms reach very high temperatures in summer and very cold in winter, it will be better to work on the temperature, having undoubtedly preferred an air conditioner (which also emits hot air the need).

There is a portable version of both appliances on the market, yet it should be noted that, in general, a conditioner is bulkier in terms of plant design and size. In a tiny house, a portable dehumidifier may be more suitable; in any case, if we wanted to opt for an air conditioner or air conditioner, portable or wall-mounted, we would have to be very careful to choose one with the right power, which should be commensurate with the size of the rooms.

Costs

A separate chapter is in the economic factor in the characteristics that can guide us in the choice. Dehumidifier or conditioner? It also depends on the pockets.

In general, buying and maintaining an air conditioner at home is much more expensive; in addition to being generally cheaper in the purchase phase, one must say that the air conditioner requires annual maintenance that cannot do on its own.

While keeping a dehumidifier in perfect condition, thorough cleaning of filters and collection tank (the one in which the humidity captured by the air is collected) is sufficient. An air conditioner will need the intervention of a technician at least once a year.

Most air conditioners operate through a refrigerant gas, which can become very dangerous to health if not kept under close control regarding pressure and chemical composition.

We have seen the greater expense will be even more evident from the electricity bill: an air conditioner or air conditioner, a combined dry which is also a dehumidifier – consumes much more than a dehumidifier.

Which one to choose?

We have seen how dehumidifier and air conditioner work respectively, analyzed the differences between the two, and compiled a list of features to consider when choosing which one to buy for our home.

But which one to choose? There are various products on the market, from air conditioners that dehumidify, heat, and cool the air to more traditional dehumidifiers that filter home air and have no other function.

Lately, we tend to prefer the dehumidifier for the difference in impact on health. In essence, it prevents allergies, filtering the air, and certainly does not cause all the ailments related to uncontrolled exposure to air conditioning, which is known, it can hurt.

In rooms that are not used at all hours and perhaps need to reach certain temperatures quickly, a dehumidifier will probably be unsatisfactory. In such cases, despite the cost and complexity of maintenance, an air conditioner will have to be chosen. It is good to remember that to date. Most air conditioners also emit hot air; it is an instrument that can find excellent use even in the cold season.