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what is difference between air conditioner and dehumidifier

by Lavinia Doyle Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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The difference between an air conditioner and a dehumidifier is where the warm air and condensation that the unit is generating are dispelled. Air conditioners

Air conditioning

Air conditioning (often referred to as A/C or AC) is the process of altering the properties of air (primarily temperature and humidity) to more comfortable conditions, typically with the aim of distributing the conditioned air to an occupied space such as a building or a vehicle to improve …

dispel the heat and moisture outside of the house and a dehumidifier dispels the heat and moisture inside of the house.

A dehumidifier will remove the excess humidity without causing temperature to drop significantly. An air conditioner will reduce the humidity AND lower the temperature significantly. So, dehumidifiers are best used in situations where moisture ( humidity ) is a problem but where significant cooling is not required.Jun 3, 2014

Full Answer

Is a dehumidifier and air conditioner the same thing?

The main thing to remember is that air conditioners remove moisture from the air inside a home AND heat/cool a room to provide comfort. Dehumidifiers on the other hand only extract the moisture from the air to increase comfort.

Can air conditioner be used as dehumidifier?

It is correct, air conditioners can achieve a small amount of dehumidification while operating in cooling mode. They will remove moisture from the room where the room temperature is more than 2°C above the cooling mode set point.

Is it cheaper to run a dehumidifier or an air conditioner?

Dehumidifiers have high energy efficiency and consume only 1/10th power when compared to air conditioners. In fact, your dehumidifier can use its annual saved power, to run a refrigerator for four months. It lowers your power bills much efficiently than the AC unit.

Do I need a dehumidifier if I have air conditioning?

Air conditioners do have some dehumidifying function, though it's entirely accidental. The system cools the air past the dew point, which causes it to shed some of its extra humidity. However, because the air conditioner is not designed to do that, it will never be as effective as a dedicated dehumidifier.

How do I set my AC to dehumidify?

4 Ways to Make Your AC Remove More HumidityKeep your coil clean. When your evaporator coil (indoor) is covered in dust and dirt, it can't remove all of the heat and humidity that it's designed to remove. ... Adjust your fan speed. ... Install a thermal expansion valve, or TXV. ... Check your refrigerant charge.

How do you turn an air conditioner into a dehumidifier?

0:003:09Convert an AC into a dehumidifier - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAs a remote sensor so you can keep it away from the actual air conditioner. So it doesn't get falseMoreAs a remote sensor so you can keep it away from the actual air conditioner. So it doesn't get false readings. And you basically plug device into here and you plug this into the wall.

Which uses more power AC or dehumidifier?

In general, dehumidifiers use less electricity than an AC unit. Their fans don't have to work as hard and their refrigerant system isn't designed to reach temperatures quite as cold as AC units.

Does a dehumidifier raise your electric bill?

Considering the average US electricity bill is $115, according to eia.gov, dehumidifiers can add a whopping 40% to your electricity bill per month, on average. What is this? Running a dehumidifier for 8 hours per day for 30 days, you can expect to increase your electricity bill by $15.36, or 13%.

Should you run a dehumidifier and air conditioner at the same time?

A dehumidifier and an air conditioner can be used simultaneously. You should use a dehumidifier with your air conditioner when your air conditioner by itself cannot adequately keep the humidity levels at a comfortable level.

What is better an air purifier or dehumidifier?

While both devices can help allergy sufferers, an air purifier is the best choice. Air purifiers clean the air of allergens, mold spores, dust, bacteria, and pet dander. A dehumidifier can only reduce the spread of dust mites and mold growth.

When should you use a dehumidifier?

Dehumidifiers are used when humidity levels are high to remove excess moisture in the air. They help manage humidity during sticky summers and in damp rooms like basements, crawl spaces, and garages.

Where should I put my dehumidifier?

The best place to put a dehumidifier is in the location closest to the source of the moisture. In multi-level homes, this means that dehumidifiers should most often be placed in basements or upstairs close to the stairs to your basement. This is because the basement is the most humid place in your home.

Do air conditioners dehumidify when heating?

When an air conditioner is operating in heating mode, the unit does not provide dehumidification. The air conditioner coil needs to be below the dew point to remove moisture, and this does not occur during heating mode. An air conditioner is designed to provide comfortable conditions indoors.

How can I make a dehumidifier at home?

Here's how to make it:Drill several small holes in one of the buckets along the sides and the bottom.Put the bucket with the holes inside the other bucket.Fill the bucket all the way up to the top with rock salt.Place the bucket in the area of your home you'd like to dehumidify.More items...•

Is a window air conditioner a dehumidifier?

The catch is, while an air conditioner is circulating warm air and pushing cold air throughout a home, office, or other structure, it does remove some moisture from the air it treats. However, since it's not its primary function, an air conditioner won't eliminate humidity nearly as efficiently as a dehumidifier.

Do portable air conditioners work in high humidity?

In hot, humid weather, the only way to beat the heat is with a unit that removes humidity and cools the room, which is the case with a portable air conditioner. You have to keep all windows closed so the unit can successfully remove all of the humidity, but it is quite effective.

What is the difference between an air conditioner and a dehumidifier?

Air conditioners dispel the heat and moisture outside of the house and a dehumidifier dispels the heat and moisture inside of the house. (Though most modern dehumidifiers have a port to drain the water with a garden hose to a sink or outside)

Why do we need a dehumidifier?

Dehumidifiers are meant to reduce the humidity in the home more as a way to reduce the effect of moisture on the structure of the house and as a preventative for mold growth then they are as a way manage the climate in the house. #N#The fact that a dehumidifier can make the room feel more comfortable is more like a happy side-effect.

Does AC dehumidify?

An air conditioner also dehumidifies the air as it is operating. Part of the way it is able to cool the air is it is pulling moisture out of the air and draining it outside.

What dispels heat and condensation outside?

The AC dispels the heat and condensation outside and a dehumidifier dispels the heat and condensation inside.

Why do central air conditioners have dry mode?

Many central air conditioners come with a dry mode setting to be able to dehumidify a room without cooling it when the outdoor temperature is more muggy than hot.

What would happen if you put an air conditioner in the middle of a room?

Think about it this way. If you were to take a window air conditioner and sit in the middle of the room, one side of the air conditioner would be cool and the other side would be hot.

What is the hot side of an air conditioner?

And the air conditioner is primarily used to cool down a room. So the hot side of the air conditioner is outside.

What is the difference between a dehumidifier and an air conditioner?

2. Power Consumption. When it comes to power consumption, typically, dehumidifiers consume less energy than air conditioners. But that’s not the case always.

What is a dehumidifier?

A dehumidifier is a device, which works to lower and maintain the excess humidity levels in the air. There are different types of dehumidifiers available in the market, such as Refrigerator type dehumidifier, Desiccant Dehumidifier, Thermoelectric Dehumidifier etc. A dehumidifier works specifically to lower the humidity levels, ...

How does a dehumidifier work?

A dehumidifier works specifically to lower the humidity levels , and that’s the main focus of this device. It can filter air, remove odors, even warm the air a little, but it does not compare to an AC when it comes to cooling.

What is the role of the desiccant in an air conditioner?

In the case of a desiccant dehumidifier, the desiccant pulls dampness out of the air by absorbing it. In the case of an air conditioner, the names that play the crucial part are the evaporator, condenser, compressor, the refrigerant, and the expansion valve. The refrigerant expands through the expansion valve and turns into a cold gas.

Why is an air conditioner good?

Benefits of Air Conditioner. The air conditioner cools the room temperature to increase user comfort. AC helps improve the air quality of the environment. During summertime, the access heat can cause excessive sweating, heatstroke, dehydration, and a lot more. AC helps you not fall prey to all these side effects of heat.

Is AC higher than dehumidifier?

Running costs for an AC are also higher than what your dehumidifier will incur. The reason for this is simple. Whereas the dehumidifier removes the excess moistures and dries the air, the AC cools the air and also removes excess humidity (up to a point).

Does a dehumidifier help with itching?

Dehumidifiers also can remove unpleasant odors and filter the air to improve the overall air quality of the house. Dehumid ifiers also help with wheezing, sneezing, chest pains, eye irritation, and itching.

What is a Dehumidifier?

As the name suggests, a dehumidifier is a device that reduces the moisture content in indoor air.

How Does a Dehumidifier Work?

Instead of giving you a blanket explanation, we’ll describe how humidifiers work by type.

What is an Air Conditioner?

An air conditioner (AC) is a system that cools indoor air by removing heat from the room and moving it outside. Air conditioners are commonly called split systems because they consist of an indoor part (the evaporator unit) and an outdoor part (the compressor-condenser unit).

How does an Air Conditioner work?

An air conditioner’s indoor unit comprises a fan and an evaporator coil. On the other hand, the outdoor unit consists of a compressor-condenser combo, which circulates a liquid refrigerant through its condenser coil.

What is the difference between a condensate dehumidifier and a desiccant de?

While a condensate dehumidifier deals with moist air by cooling it , a desiccant dehumidifier simply “mops” the water out of the air.

What is an AC system?

An air conditioner (AC) is a system that cools indoor air by removing heat from the room and moving it outside. Air conditioners are commonly called split systems because they consist of an indoor part (the evaporator unit) and an outdoor part (the compressor-condenser unit).

How does a moisture free air compressor work?

Now moisture-free, the air passes through a compressor unit, which increases its pressure to warm it back to room temperature. The warm, dry air finally blows out of the unit, leaving the captured moisture to collect into a tray or bucket at the bottom of the machine.

Descriptions

A dehumidifier is a home appliance that reduces the level of humidity in a room by extracting the water from the conditioned air. The resulting water is discarded. It is best used in small, unventilated rooms and in humid areas.

Dehumidifier vs Air Conditioner

So what is the difference between a dehumidifier and an air conditioner?

Dehumidifier Vs Air Conditioner

The main difference between dehumidifier and air conditioner is that a dehumidifier is used to reduce and maintain lower humidity levels in a region, but it is primarily used for health reasons, whereas an air conditioner is a piece of home equipment that extracts heat and humidity from a region, and it is primarily used during the summer.

What Is Dehumidifier?

Dehumidifiers are used to remove moisture from the air. A water container with something like a hose hookup connection for specialized drainage is standard on dehumidifiers. They have automated shut-downs to avoid spilling if people forget to switch the device off at the weekend (or fail to dump the condensate bucket).

What Is Air Conditioner?

Air conditioners, contrary to popular belief, do not produce cooler air; rather, they simply remove heat from the atmosphere and transfer it to another location. It may appear to be a minor distinction, but it is significant.

Main Differences Between Dehumidifier and Air Conditioner

In a dehumidifier, the air passes through a refrigerated coil to catch the extra moisture from the air, but in an air conditioner, the air is re-circulated in the room after passing over only a chilled coil.

Conclusion

Weather change affects everyone’s lifestyles, schedules, routines, and even clothing, and the transitions are often completed with the help of the environment, whether living, such as people, or non-living, such as electronics and dehumidifiers and air conditioners are two such items that assist with the transitions one faces every year with the change of climate..

How does a dehumidifier work?

Like the air conditioner, a dehumidifier removes moisture from the air by moving it over an evaporator coil and a condenser coil. Un like the air conditioner, however, the dehumidifier releases the warm air back into the room. The warmth helps to further dry out the air.

Why is dehumidifying your home important?

If the humidity is too high, you can have problems with mold and allergies, but if it’s too low, you can experience dry skin and annoying static electricity. Keeping the humidity level in check is key to preventing the growth of mold and mildew.

Why does my air conditioner wear out?

High heat and humidity can wear out your air conditioner. Why is that? It is because your air conditioner cools your home by removing the moisture and heat from the air. The more moisture is in the air, the harder your system has to work to achieve a comfortable environment. Sometimes, the humidity levels are so high, your air conditioner cannot get on top of it.

How does an air conditioner remove moisture?

An air conditioner removes moisture by pulling air over an evaporator coil and a condenser coil. As air passes over the condenser coil, the warmth it creates is released to the outdoors, leaving cool, drier air inside your home.

Why do you need an air conditioner?

An air conditioner is what you need to lower the temperature inside your home during the hot season. Cooling the room is what it is designed to do. A dehumidifier can make a room more comfortable by reducing the humidity, but it does not actually cool the air. Operating a dehumidifier with an air conditioner can improve the comfort level and efficiency of the air conditioner because the air conditioner only has dryer air to cool.

Do air conditioners and dehumidifiers work the same?

You may be surprised to learn that air conditioners and dehumidifiers operate on the same principles. Both work to remove moisture from the air, but have different methods of doing so. This article will compare the air conditioner vs dehumidifier to help you determine which is best for your home.

Is a dehumidifier a good add on to an air conditioner?

Depending on the climate you are in, an air conditioner may be adequate to make your home comfortable, but a dehumidifier may be a desirable add on nonetheless. It can deliver benefits that your air conditioner cannot provide. Here are some other important differences between a dehumidifier and an air conditioner:

What is the difference between an air conditioner and a dehumidifier?

Even though both the appliances function differently, but a comparison still needs to be made when you are left to choose between the two. An air conditioner generally costs more to purchase and has additional installation costs as well. A dehumidifier cost, in contrast, does not have any post-purchase installation requirements, and is often a portable plug and play unit. They also cost less to buy, but again, do not provide the same cooling functionality that an air conditioner does.

How does a dehumidifier work?

Most similar to refrigerators, these dehumidifiers work in a way that is similar to refrigerators. Hot air is passed through the fan and the refrigerated coil. The coil traps the moisture from the air, thereby removing the humidity.

Why is humidity important in the winter?

Overall, it is very important to keep ideal home humidity levels to maintain your comfort and remain healthy. Humidity levels can become a problematic issue during the winter months, where home heating can reduce the amount of moisture present in the air.

What is the chemical that pulls moisture out of the air?

A certain chemical substance known as ‘desiccant’ can pull moisture out from the air and absorb it. In such machines, a desiccant is used as the medium of dehumidification, and it is very effective at it. Moreover, desiccant dehumidifiers are not easily affected by power fluctuations and are also low on energy consumption.

What is the main component of an air conditioner?

An air conditioner is a complex combination of different parts, the main ones being the evaporator, condenser, compressor, and the expansion valve. A fluid known as a refrigerant is pumped through a series of pipes and is the main medium through which heat is removed from a room. The component that throws cool air into the room is the evaporator.

Does a dehumidifier remove moisture?

But the volume of moisture removed is not in such a great quantity so as to have a noticeable effect on the room atmosphere. This is where a dehumidifier is more efficient; it can remove a high amount of moisture from the room.

Do you need an air conditioner and a dehumidifier?

But in some cases, you might need both of these appliances working together. You might be wonder, why? The reason is simple. An air conditioner, even though it does dehumidify the air, does not do it as its primary function. Air conditioner humidity control is not sufficient enough for a mid-sized room in a very humid location. A dehumidifier, on the other hand, is designed to take large volumes of moisture out of the air.

What Is A Dehumidifier?

A dehumidifier is meant to remove excess humidity from the air in your home. Usually, the unit will draw in humid air, then force it over cool coils which will condense the moisture out of the air. After that, it will over warm coils before it is released into your home. Excess moisture that is removed is collected in a drain pan which will need to be emptied periodically. The moisture will automatically drain outdoors if you are using a whole-house dehumidifier as part of your home’s HVAC system or if you are just using your air conditioner.

Why do you need a whole house dehumidifier?

A whole-house dehumidifier can help when you are ready to improve your air quality and protect your home and family from the dangers of mold and mildew. Whole-house dehumidifiers also require less maintenance than a portable one, and you also won’t need to monitor the portable unit’s drip pan daily.

What Is Indoor Air Quality?

According to OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration), humidity is one of the largest contributors to poor indoor air quality. High humidity has the perfect conditions for mold, mildew, viruses, and bacteria. It can also cause health problems like respiratory infections and breathing problems. If you have asthma or other respiratory diseases, you will generally have a harder time breathing in humid conditions.

How does an air conditioner work?

An air conditioner’s cooling system works to remove humidity in a home. To determine which is right for your situation, you’ll need to find out the effectiveness of a portable dehumidifier vs. air conditioner. Understanding the benefits and effectiveness of each is an important part of determining the best solution for your home.

What is a portable dehumidifier?

Portable & Whole-House Dehumidifiers. Portable and whole-house units are the two types of dehumidifiers. Even though both types are designed to remove high humidity in a house, there are some important differences. Portable dehumidifiers are portable, just as the name implies.

How does humidity affect indoor air quality?

High humidity affects indoor air quality, it impacts the health of your family and the comfort of your home. Surely it can contribute to a plethora of health conditions, but it can also make your home feel uncomfortable and hotter than it really is. In addition, high humidity in a home can cause floors to warp, paint to peel, bad odors, ...

Is a portable dehumidifier better than a whole house dehumidifier?

A portable dehumidifier will definitely cost less than installing a whole-house dehumidifier. If you only need to remove humidity from one room, this might be a good option. For example, a bathroom without a window or exhaust fan is a perfect candidate for a portable unit. A whole-house dehumidifier that works with your HVAC system is almost always the best option when it comes to removing humidity from your entire home. Portable units have limitations if you are trying to control the humidity throughout your entire house. To help increase air quality and minimize damage a whole-house dehumidifier is best.

Why do you need a dehumidifier and an air conditioner?

Both, the dehumidifier and an air conditioner can be utilized to make sure the flow of cleaner air indoors. These machines have filters in them that are capable to trap certain particulates in the room air. The air filters can trap pet dander, dust, and hair. This allows for the area to have clean air for each one to breathe.

What is a dehumidifier?

It’s a device that is capable to dehumidify the room air. Such device moisture from the air and reduces dampness and growth of mold in an environment. Some of you may not know about this, but moisture may cause a lot of damage. The humidity also provides rise to an environment that shapes spore’s favor to grow in.

What is an AC (Air Conditioner)?

Air conditioner is a device that helps eliminate warm air while discharging chilly explodes of air in a room. An air conditioner is the best device so far to help your room ventilated. Having cold air circulating the home will make you feel calm, which is a plus impact on your physical and mental well-being

Why is it important to have cold air in your home?

Having cold air circulating the home will make you feel calm, which is a plus impact on your physical and mental well-being. Some air conditioner models have air filters that can remove dust, pet hair; dirt, and dander from the air to make a room cleaner for your smooth breath.

Is a dehumidifier better than an air conditioner?

A dehumidifier will eliminate the excess moisture without causing temp to drop significantly. An AC will decrease the moisture and lower the temp massively. So dehumidifiers are a great choice in situations where humidity is an issue but where significant cooling is not needed.

Can a dehumidifier be used in a basement?

Both machines are capable to offer comfortable ventilation in an inside space. You can simply operate them in living rooms, bedrooms, or even the basement for air conditioner ventilation purposes.

Is a dehumidifier the same as an AC?

Dehumidifiers and AC’s are also the same when it comes to assuring prevention from specific health-related problems. Due to both machines offering you a decent amount of control over temp and moisture, the clean and fresh air they produce can help keep specific allergic problems at bay. Both machines, due to the use of air filters, can also get rid of certain particulates that might reason skin problems.

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What Is A Dehumidifier and An Air Conditioner (Benefits)?

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A dehumidifier is a device, which works to lower and maintain the excess humidity levels in the air. There are different types of dehumidifiers available in the market, such as Refrigerator type dehumidifier, Desiccant Dehumidifier, Thermoelectric Dehumidifier etc. A dehumidifier works specifically to lower the humidity levels, an…
See more on evaporativehumidifiers.com

Power Consumption

  • When it comes to power consumption, typically, dehumidifiers consume less energy than air conditioners. But that’s not the case always. With an air conditioner inverter, you can save a lot of energy using an air conditioner, while a more energy-efficient model can do the same in case of the dehumidifier. So, ultimately, it all comes down to the device that you have with you. As dehu…
See more on evaporativehumidifiers.com

Functionality

  • The functionality of both of these devices has a few similarities, but the outcome in both differs a little. Different types may have a slight difference. For example, in a Refrigerant dehumidifier, the heated humid air passes through the dehumidifier, where the refrigerated coil traps the excess moisture, which goes in the bucket. In the case of a desiccant dehumidifier, the desiccant pulls d…
See more on evaporativehumidifiers.com

Cost

  • Usually, because of their functionality, air conditioners can cost you more. However, this is because air conditioners need a lot of energy to cool and dehumidify the air. Whereas dehumidifiers have a more simplistic task, and they usually cost less as well. Running costs for an AC are also higher than what your dehumidifier will incur. The reason ...
See more on evaporativehumidifiers.com

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