A dehumidifier is an excellent appliance in any home located in high humidity areas. It does also help keep our basement dry. You can rely on it to prevent dampness and mold growth. It works well independently. However, most people are always looking for a way to improve its performance by increasing air circulation. In that regard, should you run your dehumidifier with a fan?
Depending on how you judge the benefits and drawbacks of running a fan with a dehumidifier, you can or not. Typically running the combo can help circulate the air, lower the room temperature, increase the air quality, make you feel more comfortable, and reduce the energy consumption of the dehumidifier.
However, there are a couple of drawbacks too. So, before you decide to run your dehumidifier with a fan, you might want to consider the few cons I have discussed below.
What are the benefits and Drawbacks of Running a Fan with a Dehumidifier?
Many people like to run their dehumidifier with a fan to help circulate the air better. Some also say that they feel more comfortable if there is some airflow, even dried air. Some dehumidifiers come with small fans built in (similar models may not), and some do not have this option at all.
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So, should you run your fan with a dehumidifier? There are two schools of thought on this; many people think it’s the best thing ever, whereas others prefer to let nature dry things out on its own. Here are the pros and cons of running your unit with a fan.
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Benefits of Running a Fan with a Dehumidifier
If you strongly feel running a fan with a dehumidifier is beneficial, you’re not mistaken. Using the fan can help in a few ways, including:
1. Circulates the air better
If you have a big space to dry out, you want all of it to dry more evenly and thoroughly, and running a fan with your dehumidifier will help accomplish this. It will help avoid the damp pockets that you find in corners or other spaces where fewer air currents are available.
That will also help reduce the amount of time you need to let your dehumidifier run because there is better airflow and more efficient circulation throughout all available areas. When this happens, you might even cut back on the power costs involved with running a dehumidifier.
2. Keeps temperature lower
Because airflow will cause heat loss, running a dehumidifier with a fan can assist in keeping the temperature down as well as decreasing humidity levels. If you live in a hot yet humid area, it’s possible to run a fan with the dehumidifier to cool the air as the fan dries it.
3. Decreased risk of mold growth
With increased airflow comes decreased humidity levels, which means that moisture evaporates faster and leaves fewer opportunities for mold spores to develop into a black mold on surfaces or even within materials.
4. Increased air quality
If you have allergies, run the dehumidifier with a fan on to improve air quality. Increased airflow means fewer dust particles will accumulate in your home or office over time, reducing the building up of dander that causes dandruff and cat hair that can trigger allergies for many people.
5. You’ll feel more comfortable if there is some airflow
Running a fan when there is humidity will create airflow, making the room feel less stuffy. It also reduces the risk of mold and mildew by keeping your house dryer. What’s more, it can facilitate musty smell removal from the house by circulating the air more.
6. May save energy
In theory, by moving the moisture around the room faster, you can reduce how powerful your dehumidifier needs to be for maximum efficiency. I say “in theory” because we wouldn’t recommend you ever buy a dehumidifier based solely on these claims, but if you already own one with this feature, it might help cut down your power bill.
Drawbacks of Running a Fan with Dehumidifier
While it can be beneficial to run a fan with a dehumidifier, there are some drawbacks too. They include:
1. Circulating the air may spread moisture in some cases
This is particularly true in poorly ventilated spaces (i.e., don’t allow hot air out and cool air in). Think of this like when you’re cooking; moist steam comes out of your pot even though your stove isn’t directly connected to the lid. If there’s nowhere for all of this humid air to go, it will disperse throughout whatever area it works its way into. You can avoid this by opening windows or fans around where there are any damp spots.
2. It may be unnecessary
If you have a small space to dry out, it’ll probably take less time with the dehumidifier on its own than with both it and the fan running. You also want to let your home air out as much as possible before turning on the unit. What are you even doing if there is some cool, dry air coming in through windows or fans? Just use that!
3. May need more frequent cleaning
If your unit’s room isn’t ventilated well enough for all of this moisture to escape, it may build up on walls and furniture within an enclosed area. This can lead to health issues like mold growth over time, so do not neglect cleaning thoroughly.
4. Noise can become a concern
Even though running these two appliances can benefit you, there might be an increase in the amount of noise produced. Remember, a dehumidifier has a fan that helps pull the air into the unit. It does make some noise.
It’s not much, but the noise might increase when you have another fan in the room. And if you’ll be using the combo inside your bedroom, you might want to avoid running them while you sleep. But if you need the appliances for your crawlspace or basement, noise shouldn’t be much of a concern.
What to Consider When Running a Fan with a Dehumidifier
And now that you know the pros and cons of running a fan with a dehumidifier are you considering running the combo? If you are, here are a few things to consider when using a fan and dehumidifier simultaneously.
1) Room Size:
The combo can work well with large rooms with a dehumidifier positioned on one corner and the fan on the other corner to improve the air circulation. The fan can help push the humid air towards the dehumidifier for drying and pool the dry air to fill the void left. It might be unnecessary in a smaller room, though, especially if you have a dehumidifier optimized for the room size.
2) Room Temperature:
It might not be the best idea to run a fan with a dehumidifier during the cold month. The fan can make your room even cooler, something you wouldn’t want in such conditions. However, as I mentioned before, it can be a benefit during the warm summer months.
3) Energy Cost:
Running the combo might reduce the amount of energy consumed by the dehumidifier since a fan can help lower down the unit’s running time. However, it can go vice versa; you might end up consuming more power since a fan is also an electrical appliance. So, you will have to check the amount of energy your fan/dehumidifier combo consumes and compare it with the amount of power the dehumidifier needs while it runs full time.
Related Questions
Does a humidifier alone help cool a room?
Yes. The circulation of the air inside the room will help take away some degrees. What’s more, the air is passed through a condenser that helps cool down the air further. However, the air cannot go below the unit’s heat setting.
