Dehumidifier - Most efficient time to run ?

[GeorgeLlewellin]

I have recently bought a dehumidifier and I have dried the inside of the boat, I now wish to run it just for a few hours every day. When is the best time to run it. About midnight when it is coldest or about midday when it is warmest ?

Any ideas ? Thank you, George

 

[seasolutions]

Why not 24/7? they usually have a humid-i-stat that will cycle them on and off at the required level.

if you must switch it on and off, then during the day is the time, as they don't work when the temperature drops below freezing....

 

[vyv_cox]

I have run a dehumidifier at home for two hours every day for the past 15 years or so. Living in a very old, partly stone house, with no damp-proof course, this has transformed conditions inside. I run mine morning and evening when the central heating is on, as the water content of air is higher when it is warmer.

 

[GeorgeLlewellin]

Dehumidifier - Most efficient time to run

Thanks for the replies, that is very helpful, also very quick, 10 mins for two replies.

Have a good New Year, George

 

[lw395]

I have recently bought a dehumidifier and I have dried the inside of the boat, I now wish to run it just for a few hours every day. When is the best time to run it. About midnight when it is coldest or about midday when it is warmest ?

Any ideas ? Thank you, George

My theory would be late evening, when the air is cooling and dew is starting to form. That is when a dehumidifier will do most good by preventing condensation and the mold that goes with it.
Assuming there is no excess water in the bilge etc.

It will remove more water in the day, but that water is probably doing no harm.
Different if you are drying sails in the boat or whatever, in which case have it on during warmes part of day.

 

[jakeroyd]

I'm running a dehumidifier on the boat for the first time this year and have considered the same question.
Warm afternoon air can contain the most water but when temps drop in the evening you might want the dehumidifier to do what it can then , or in the early morning when it's coldest............Hmmmmm.

It's worth also noting that below about 5 degrees C the refrigerant type of dehumidifier does not operate.

I decided to set the time clock on mine to 3 periods of 2 hrs every 24 hrs.

This way i cover all the bases ?

I berth in Mayflower in Plymouth , usually the electricity supply is interupted usually by high winds and surge so setting the time clock for an accurate time does not really do any good.

Hope this helps.

 

[dt4134]

They work by cooling the air down to remove the moisture, so the air has to be warm enough beforehand. So mid-afternoon would be best. When the air is warmer in the afternoon it is more likely some moisture will come out of the woodwork, furnishing etc.

If you can get the air a bit drier during the day there is less to condense out when it gets colder in the evening (providing the boat is sufficiently sealed).

Having said that I've had similar problems to the earlier poster with frequent interuption of the electricity supply messing up the timer.

 

[pmyatt]

If you can guarantee 24/7 mains supply, and your de-humidifier has humidity/temperature controls, run it 24/7 for best results. If running it during winter, make sure it has a defrost cycle or you are b******d.

 

[BlueChip]

If you can guarantee 24/7 mains supply, and your de-humidifier has humidity/temperature controls, run it 24/7 for best results. If running it during winter, make sure it has a defrost cycle or you are b******d.

.... or use a dessicant dehumidifier such as X-dry which works at low temperatures and doesnt frost up.