The short answer is no, dehumidifiers serve the purpose of removing excess humidity from the indoor air to make it more breathable and comfortable to breathe in. But if you’ve seen a water tank next to a dehumidifier there is a valid reason for it which we’ll cover for you.
If you just got a new dehumidifier and are stuck on the question, do you need to put water in a dehumidifier you’re not alone, numerous people had this question as the tank can look deceiving. To properly understand the working, we need to look at how the dehumidifier works.
Working of a Dehumidifier
A dehumidifier works by pulling in indoor air and passing it through a condenser like an air conditioner, excess moisture (in the form of water vapors) condenses into water droplets that are passed through a pipe towards either a reservoir or the drain.
A portable dehumidifier is meant to be moved around a lot, they are equipped with a water tank that collects excess moisture and stores it until someone can manually drain it. Fixed dehumidifiers are fitted by professionals and they install a permanent pipe that leads the collected water towards the drain in a seamless manner.
Do You Need to Remove Excess Moisture?
Excess humidity can lead to mold growth. Basements, laundry room, or any other humid room have a higher chance and require a dehumidifier to remove moisture. If your indoor air has high moisture, you might need to use the dehumidifier twice a day.
Is it Safe to Leave the Dehumidifier Running?
Yes, certain dehumidifiers are equipped with automatic humidity detector sensors that monitor the indoor air in your house and will turn on when the humidity crosses a certain threshold.
If your indoor space is damp throughout the year, you can use an automatic dehumidifier throughout the day as they turn off on their own without the owner having to supervise the device. These sensors are more common on larger units than in smaller portable devices.
Also Read: 5 Best Dehumidifier Air Purifier Combo in 2022
Do You Have to Put Water in a Dehumidifier?
No, dehumidifiers are meant to remove water from the indoor air, and if there is a tank or reservoir next to the dehumidifier its purpose is to store the water temporarily. As dehumidifiers remove excess water to reduce humidity; humidifiers, on the other hand, return lost moisture to the breathable air to make it easy to breathe in.
Hence, humidifiers require water reservoir to convert the water into mist that can be then added to the dry air. The two devices are quite different and one cannot function as the other under any circumstance.
Do Dehumidifiers Produce Water?
Yes, dehumidifiers cause the water vapors in the air to cool down on the condenser grille and convert into liquid droplets because of the temperature difference. This liquid is collected under the condenser and led towards an exit drain pipe that leads the water into a drain pipe.
This way, the water vapors in the air make their way into the dehumidifier and then come out as a liquid. If the drain pipe is put into a reservoir, it may give the perception that the dehumidifier is producing water, which is in part true as the collected water is stored temporarily in a bucket or a tank until removed.
Takeaways
Dehumidifiers are excellent for damp spaces like basements, washing rooms, and for regions that are generally very humid. You should definitely use one if you’re experiencing difficulty breathing or if you see mold growing around your home.
If your dehumidifier has a pipe attached to it or a reservoir it is for holding the collected water temporarily until you get the time to drain it.