Humidifiers are good at removing excess moisture and preventing the growth of mold in the room. Many people are surprised when they see a dehumidifier water reservoir full of water. A dehumidifier is likely to collect more water than you expect.
So, how much water should a dehumidifier collect per day? It depends. Some commercial models can collect up to 500 pints of water, whereas some mini models can only collect 0.6 pints of water. On average, a standard portable dehumidifier can collect 30 to 70 pints every 24 hours.
In this post, I will walk you through how much water different types of dehumidifiers can collect in a day and discuss the factors that influence the result.
How much water should a portable dehumidifier collect per day?
Portable dehumidifiers are most people’s choice. When people talk about dehumidifiers, they often refer to this type of machine.
A portable dehumidifier is typically used to reduce humidity levels in a single room.
There are some mini models that are inexpensive and suitable for small rooms but can only collect 0.6 pints per day. A large proportion of portable dehumidifiers can collect 25 pints to 70 pints of water per day.
How much water does a whole-house dehumidifier collect in a day?
Installing a whole-house dehumidifier is trendy now, despite the higher upfront cost.
Because a whole-house dehumidifier aims to adjust the humidity level of the entire home, it should be able to remove more water vapor and, as a result, collect more liquid water.
Typically, a whole-house dehumidifier can collect 70 to 120 pints of water per day.
How much water does a commercial dehumidifier collect in a day?
Commercial dehumidifiers are more powerful than other types of dehumidifiers as they are been used in offices, restaurants, bars, and warehouses.
To cover a large space, a commercial dehumidifier can collect around 120 to 500 pints of water every 24 hours.
When their homes flood or suffer from other water damage, some people will rent a commercial dehumidifier.
You can screen capture the table below if you want to refer to these statistics later.
| Types of dehumidifier | Water collected per day |
|---|---|
| Portable dehumidifier | 25 pints – 70 pints |
| Whole house dehumidifier | 70 pints – 120 pints |
| Commercial/industrial dehumidifier | 120 pints – 500 pints |
Factors that affect the amount of water collected by a dehumidifier
Although dehumidifiers are identified as being able to collect certain pints of water, this does not imply the amount of water that can be obtained in the end. There are numerous factors that can have an effect.
Capacity
This metric is crucial since it indicates how much water a dehumidifier can collect ideally. In general, the larger the capacity, the more coverage your dehumidifier can have.
If you place a unit with a small capacity in a large room, it may not be able to collect as much water because its capacity is limited.
On the contrary, when placed in a small room, your larger dehumidifier may not collect enough water to reach its full capacity.
Capacity is an excellent metric for determining how powerful your device is, but it does not equal the amount of water it will collect in the end.
Humidity level
If the room temperature is unchanged, the higher the indoor humidity level, the more water vapor the air has. As a result, the dehumidifier can collect more water in a humid environment.
In addition, the humidity settings matter. Suppose the indoor humidity level is 60% and your target level is 50%, it will collect much less water than you set the target level at 40% because the machine will stop automatically when the target is reached.
Ambient temperature
When the temperature drops, the air is not capable of holding the water as much as on hot days. That is to say, the absolute amount of moisture particles in the air decreases on cold days even if the relative humidity level remains the same.
Aside from that, since they use a compressor, refrigerant dehumidifiers perform poorly at temperatures below 65°F.
Due to these two reasons, you should expect your dehumidifier to collect more water in summer than in winter.
Room size
Aside from the basement, many other rooms in your home will have similar moisture levels. Your dehumidifier will collect more water in the living room than in the bedroom in this case.
This is because a larger room contains more water vapor, which your device can remove.
Water tank size
The water tank can not hold as much water as the capacity allows.
While many models allow you to empty a water reservoir using a drainage hose, the size of a bucket affects how much water it can collect if you decide to drain it manually.
When the bucket is full, the machine will stop collecting water. If you are away from home for an extended period of time or forget about dumping the water, it will not accumulate as much water as its capacity allows.
Condition of your dehumidifier
A dehumidifier is a household appliance that is prone to icing up. When the cold coil is frozen, the machine will also stop working. Apart from the climate, the dusty air filter or the dirty coils often cause adverse effects on a dehumidifier.
Routine cleaning is essential for keeping your machine in good working order and ensuring it can collect water normally.
Conclusion
The amount of water a dehumidifier will collect per day is affected by many factors. Therefore it is hard to give a single clear-cut answer to this question.
A commercial unit can collect 500 pints of water per day, whereas a home-use dehumidifier typically collects 25 to 70 pints per day. Furthermore, a whole-house humidifier can collect 70 to 120 pints of water per day.
To ensure that your machine can accumulate enough water as intended, place it in a suitable and warmer environment, commit to regular cleaning, and dump the water as needed. Furthermore, during the humid and hot summer months, a dehumidifier tends to collect more water.
