Air Conditioner or Dehumidifier? Which is Best for Me?

Do I Need Air Con or a Dehumidifier?

Summer can mean we are faced with issues in our home that we need to resolve for our comfort and well-being.

From the heat and humidity making us feel really uncomfortable, to pollen and other pollutants coming into our homes through open windows and our clothing, you may need some help tackling everything.

This is where hiring equipment such as fans, air conditioning units, and dehumidifiers can help. But if you’re unsure which you need for your specific problems, we have a guide below.

MAKE SPEEDY YOUR HOME OF HIRE THIS SUMMER

What is the Difference Between Air Conditioning and Dehumidifiers?

A portable air conditioning unit will reduce the temperature in your home and can help to reduce the humidity levels too. The main purpose is to reduce the temperature of the room, but they often act as a dehumidifier by default.

Often, modern air conditioning units can split the cooling and dehumidifying functions. So, if your humidity levels are fine, you can focus on cooling. If you want to reduce humidity in winter, you can turn off the cooling function.

An air conditioner only has cold coils, so all air released back into the room is cooled.

On the other hand, an electric dehumidifier will eliminate the excess humidity in your home without specifically cooling the room. You can pre-set the desired humidity levels – often between 30% and 50% in UK homes – and the dehumidifier will keep the humidity at this level.

A dehumidifier won’t reduce the actual temperature in your home, though. Reducing the humidity will likely make the room feel cooler and more comfortable, though. Dry heat is easier to cope with than the traditional humid heat the UK gets.

Dehumidifiers use both hot and cold coils, so air released back into the room is at room temperature.

Which Do I Need?

If your primary concern is reducing the heat of your home, you need an air conditioner. The air released back into the room will be cooler, and they’re really beneficial if your home is uncomfortably warm in summer.

If you want to reduce the humidity of your home, you’ll need a dehumidifier. A dehumidifier won’t cool the room, but can make it more comfortable to be in. If you also need to cool the room, keeping curtains closed and reducing the use of heat-emitting electricals will help.

As issues with heat and humidity aren’t necessarily just summer problems, you’re probably best hiring the equipment you need for your specific problem, rather than just making do.

This way, you can hire an air conditioner when the temperature and humidity need attention at the height of summer, and a dehumidifier throughout the year whenever they’re needed. Dehumidifiers are also commonly required in winter when we are opening our windows less and drying our clothes indoors.

Are there any alternatives?

If you need to cool your home, Speedy has a range of other cooling products available too:

• An evaporative air cooler can cool air through the evaporation of water. This technique can mean less energy is used. They’re better in dry climates, too, so if your humidity is actually very low, they can be a good alternative to air conditioners.
• Cooling fans can work well if there is already a source of cool, fresh air present (such as an open window). The circulation of air can help a room feel cooler and fresher, and they’re often more economical to run.

READY FOR MORE COOLING TIPS?

If you’re looking for more tips on how to keep your home cool over the summer, look no further.

We have a guide on How to Stay Cool this Summer, as well as How to Get the Most out of Your Portable Air Conditioner.

To hire cooling products from Speedy, just open a Speedy account online or visit us in one of our local service centres for all your tool hire needs.

Speedy has more than 200 local service centres across the nation, hire counters in selected B&Qs and nationwide 4-hour delivery. It has never been easier to hire the tools and equipment you need.

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