AboutJason Expertise I know everything about weather. I am a 6-year trained Storm Chaser for Wired-WX Storm Chasing Services. Background in thermodynamics, global warming and cooling dynamics, advanced cellular thunderstorm dynamics, and diagram dynamics expert.
Experience Lead Storm Chaser: Organizations: Wired-WX and Member of National Weather Service/Skywarn Network
Question Can you explain why when we run our de-humidifier in our basement it seems to get warmer down there? I thought that by removing the moisture from the air it would seem cooler? We went on a cavern tour and they told us the temps were 55 degrees all year round. But, when we got down there it felt warmer. They explained that there was so much moisture in the air that that made it feel warmer. And I always hear people say - It's not the heat - it's the humidity. When it's 80 and dry it really very nice but when it's 80 and humid it very uncomfortable. I just don't understand why our basement seems to get hotter when we remove the moisture from it. Thanks!!
Answer A dehumidifier removes moisture from the air. The usual technique used to remove the moisture is to condense the moisture onto a cold surface.
Have you ever poured a cold glass of iced tea on a hot, humid summer day knows that moisture will condense on the glass. When air cools, it loses its ability to hold moisture; obviously in the case of the cold glass. Therefore, the moisture in the air condenses right onto the glass. Leave the glass on a table long enough and if the air is very humid, a puddle of water can form. You may have noticed the same deal in any air conditioner. The moisture in the air inside the room condenses onto the air conditioner's cold coils. If it's a window unit, the water drips out the back of the unit onto the ground.
A dehumidifier is simply an air conditioner that has both its hot and cold coils in the same box. A fan draws the room's air over the cold coil of the air conditioner to condense the moisture (which normally drips into a bucket). The dry air then passes through the hot coil to heat it back up to its original temperature.
Using a dehumidifier is okay, but an air conditioner may function better as long as you have a big enough window in that area. If the dehumidifier drips water and generates heat then it is used for heating purposes such as an assistant for a heater. You will need a neutral air supplier that is a dehumidifier to keep the same temperature and reduce the humidity.
