How Does a Dehumidifier Work?

If someone were to ask you if a dehumidifier and an air conditioner were different, you’d probably say a resounding “yes.” That’s correct, these two systems work differently, but how different are they? That’s a question that not many people know the answer to.

Dehumidifiers and air conditioners are very similar. They can both remove moisture from the air through condensation, but there’s a key difference in their functionality which makes them better at different jobs. A dehumidifier doesn’t do a very good job at cooling a house, whereas an air conditioner doesn’t do an efficient job of removing moisture. Both of these systems have a more specialized approach to their work.

So, if you notice that your air is cool but still humid, you might need to call our team for dehumidifier repair in Tallahassee, FL.

Coils and Compression

Let’s first cover the basics. A dehumidifier works by cycling humid air through a compression and fan system, where compressed refrigerant condenses the moisture in the air in the same way that an air conditioner does. Then, that air then gets cycled back out and into your home’s atmosphere.

A dehumidifier’s primary goal is to remove humidity in the most energy-efficient way possible. It’s not supposed to reduce your humidity levels to 0, since that’s unhealthy and completely unrealistic, it’s only supposed to make humidity levels between 30-50%, which is normal for most living conditions. This range is good for storing goods, furniture, and even human health.

However, the temperature of your air is not going to be greatly affected by your dehumidifier, even if it works similarly to an AC.

The Major Differences With an AC

In order to think about the differences between an AC and a dehumidifier, we need to talk about their goals.An AC is meant to cool the air, while a dehumidifier is meant to reduce the humidity levels. This is important because while they both do a little bit of each other’s jobs, that’s not their focus.

An air conditioner focuses on cooling the air, and the dehumidification process is just a byproduct. It’s not ever going to be able to reduce humidity beyond a few percentage points, because that’s not what the components inside of it are designed to do.

A dehumidifier, in comparison, is designed to reduce the humidity levels by a large amount, but it won’t be able to cool the temperature more than a few degrees.

Both of these systems work hard in one specific area which allows them to be energy efficient. The moment you start depending on one system for two jobs, that’s where the efficiency levels start to tank.

When to Tell If Your Dehumidifier Is Broken

When you turn on your dehumidifier, the humidity levels in your home should drop. That’s the main expectation to have of this system. It’s not really your dehumidifier’s fault if the temperature is too high, since you’ll likely want to invest in your AC at that point. But if you notice that humidity levels are too high and it feels muggy with your dehumidifier on, then you can bet that the system is broken.

Contact Parker Services Inc for dehumidifier repairs. Comfort’s just a call away!

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