How To Tell If Dehumidifier Is Working? 9 Ways To Determine!

Do you use a dehumidifier in your home? If so, then do you know “how to tell if a dehumidifier is working?” If your answer is no, there is no need to worry.

Today we will take a look at some ways to identify whether a unit is working or not. This will help you to find out whether your unit is working and identify any potential issues.

How To Tell If A Dehumidifier Is Working? 9 Ways To Determine The Answer!

Dehumidifiers play a key role in maintaining air quality in your home. By reducing the level of humidity, they help to keep your home free from mold and mildew.

But, sometimes, even the best dehumidifiers can break down and stop working. So, how to tell if a dehumidifier is working?

This is an important question because a broken unit can lead to several problems. So if you notice any problems or unusual things, it’s important to take action right away.

Otherwise, you may find that your home becomes damp and musty, and mold and mildew start to grow.

Today, we will share some signs that indicate your dehumidifier is working well. So, here are the things that you can look for to determine whether your unit is working properly;

1. Water Tray Of A Unit Has Water:

One way to tell if your dehumidifier is working is to check the water tray or bucket to see if they have water in them.

If you notice that the water tray of your dehumidifier is full of water, this means that the unit is working.

A dehumidifier work to extract water from the air in your home. Then collected water passes through a series of filters to the water tray or bucket.

So, a normal and healthy dehumidifier will have a water tray or bucket that is full of water.

If you find that your dehumidifier’s water tray or bucket is empty, this could be a sign that the unit is not working.

2. Dehumidifier Creates A Specific Machine Sound:

Dehumidifiers create a very specific sound while they are running. That continuous sound makes some people uneasy, but it is how a machine works.

To know if your dehumidifier is working, pay attention to the sound it is making. If you hear a sound, it means that the dehumidifier is working as it should.

On the other hand, if you don’t hear any sound from the unit, it could be a sign that something is wrong. And you should check your unit.

A unit with deep silence could also be an indicator that the device has turned off. But, if you hear the sound, it means that the unit is working properly.

3. Check The Indication Bulb:

Almost every electrical appliance comes with an indication bulb. If the indication bulb of your appliance is on, it means that the appliance is working fine.

Typically, it’s a green light that indicates the device is working. So, if you see a green light on your device, the appliance is working as intended.

The same goes for dehumidifiers too. If the power indicator light of your unit is on, it means that your unit is working and drawing power from the outlet.

But if you find that the power indicator light is off, it could be a sign that the unit is not working properly. In such a situation, your dehumidifier needs your attention.

However, sometimes the indication bulb can be defective. It’s a common issue.

In that case, a unit keeps working, but it does not show any light to determine anything. Here should confirm by checking other signs.

4. Humidistat Will Tell:

A humidistat is a device that measures the amount of moisture in the air. Most dehumidifiers have a built-in humidistat. It will tell you whether the unit is working or not.

Of course, one of the first things you should do when troubleshooting your dehumidifier is to turn it on. Once you have turned on the dehumidifier, check to see if the humidistat is working.

The humidistat should have a reading that corresponds to the current relative humidity in your home. However, if you think your unit’s humidistat is not working properly, you can test it with a hygrometer.

A working unit will give a reading that is lower than the current relative humidity in your home.

5. The Room Feels More Comfortable:

Do you know why the air feels more comfortable when the dehumidifier is on?

This is because air contains water vapor. When there is excess water vapor in the air, it will make the air feel stuffy and humid.

A dehumidifier can help to remove excess water vapor from the air. This helps in making the air feel more comfortable.

So, if you notice that the room feels more comfortable, the dehumidifier is working as it should. A light room with comfortable air is a clear sign that the unit is running.

However, if you feel sweating and sticky air, and the room feels more humid than usual, it means the unit is not working. Or there might be something wrong with the unit.

6. The Air Smells Fresher:

One of the main purposes of a dehumidifier is to improve indoor air quality. Also, it makes the room feel more comfortable.

If you notice that the air in the room feels less stuffy and more pleasant, it’s a good sign that the unit is working.

Sometimes, we relate it with suffocation. If you can’t smell anything, that means the dehumidifier is processing the air and passing fresh light air.

However, if the air still smells stuffy and humid, there might be something wrong with the device.

The best thing is that you do not need the knowledge to figure out whether the dehumidifier is working. By using your sense of smell, you can easily tell if the dehumidifier is doing its job.

7. There’s No Condensation On Windows And Other Surfaces:

You can check whether your dehumidifier is working by looking for condensation signs. When a unit stops working, you can see condensation on windows, walls, and other surfaces.

Condensation means water starts accumulating on cold surfaces. It makes everything feel clammy and wet.

When a unit works, it does not let the air reach the saturation point, so there should be no condensation. as a result, you will not see any water droplets on the surfaces.

Whereas seeing water on the floor, walls, or windows is not good. It means that the dehumidifier isn’t working properly and needs to be checked.

By looking at the surfaces, you can easily tell if your dehumidifier is doing its job.

8. Clothes Dry More Quickly:

You can also determine if your unit is functioning as intended by how long it takes to dry.

If you notice that your clothes or towels take longer to dry than usual, it could signify too much humidity in the air.

On the other hand, if things seem to be drying more quickly than normal, it’s a good indication. This shows your dehumidifier is working as it should, and there is nothing wrong.

This is because the appliance helps to remove moisture from the air. It helps make the air less humid and allows things to dry more quickly.

Usually, cotton cloths or towels absorb moisture. However, when air is constantly humid, it cannot absorb any more and stay wet for long periods. And constantly humid air shows the unit is not working.

9. Your Allergies Are Calm:

Some people are allergic to molds and mildew, which often grow in humid environments.

A dehumidifier can help alleviate your allergies by reducing the air’s humidity. Indirectly a unit calms your allergies because it reduces mold and mildew growth.

This means when air is healthy, people with allergies feel calm and have lesser reactions.

You can tell the unit is working if your allergies are better when you’re using the dehumidifier. For instance, you may experience less sneezing, itchy eyes, or a runny nose when the unit is on.

If you don’t notice any of these signs, it’s a good sign that your dehumidifier is working properly.

This is not the final answer. There are other ways to tell, but if your allergies are better when the unit is on, it’s a good sign that it’s working well.

Conclusion:

If you live in an area with high humidity, using a dehumidifier can help make your home more comfortable. In addition, it can prevent problems like mold and mildew from developing.

Dehumidifiers pull moisture out of the air and into the unit, where it is collected and drained away.

You can tell if your dehumidifier works by paying attention to different indications. For example, a working unit collects water, prevents condensation, and gives a humidistat reading.

Also, it makes the air fresher and more comfortable by producing a constant light sound. So, these are the main ways “how to tell if a dehumidifier is working?”

If you notice these things, you can be confident that your dehumidifier is doing its job.