opinions on dehumidifiers (Hilo, Kailua, Maunawili: house, gated, maintenance)

[ellison4family]

We are moving to Kailua this summer, Maunawili area, and have been told to get a dehumidifier. The home we will be in does not have central air and only one window a/c in master bedroom (2300 sq ft home). Since we will be relying on mountain breezes to cool our home I'm worried that we will have a problem with mold/mildew. If we get dehumidifiers I'm concerned that they will be running all the time and we'll have a HUGE electric bill. I would appreicate any thoughts.

[HankDfrmSD]

Originally Posted by ellison4family

We are moving to Kailua this summer, Maunawili area, and have been told to get a dehumidifier. The home we will be in does not have central air and only one window a/c in master bedroom (2300 sq ft home). Since we will be relying on mountain breezes to cool our home I'm worried that we will have a problem with mold/mildew. If we get dehumidifiers I'm concerned that they will be running all the time and we'll have a HUGE electric bill. I would appreicate any thoughts.

We live in Kailua, but much nearer the ocean than Maunawili, so less rain.

We don't have a dehumidifier, but have to take precautions against mildew. The most important thing is to pay close attention to whether or not you have your louvers open during the rainy season, and on rainy days. If you are home most of the time, as we are, you can close them when it rains, and open them when the sun comes out.

One also learns tricks about storing things that are prone to mildew, like leather. Keep them in a place where the air does not get stagnant. Some even install fans in closets.

I would guess that in Maunawili, you could have a dehumidifier that you only used at certain times of the year, and thus keep your electric bill under control.

Hank

[whynot?]

My experience with dehumidifiers is from my east coast days, but what I recall is that they were very effective at removing moisture from the air and thus making rooms feel significantly cooler. We had the free-standing, portable units that could be moved from room-to-room.

Ours (probably from Sears) ran only when the room's moisture content reached a set point using a thermostat-like sensor set via a dial. But they used almost as much power as a window unit air conditioner AND they either had to be drained via a tube or have the condensed water dumped from a collection pan.

I'm sure there are newer models that are more energy-efficient, but it's not the lowest maintenance or quietest appliance. I finally relegated my last one to a damp basement where I could drain the pan via a hose and not worry with it, but they seemed to work well (based on the amount of water I dumped over the years), and ran for years without any other maintenance or repairs.

[cynmkolohe]

I live in Hilo and our dehumidifier is a necessity, in my opinion. There are periods of time when it sits for days, sometimes several weeks, and doesn't get turned on. But when we have several days of rain with constant high humidity, it is a lifesaver. In my opinion, paying a little extra to run it for an hour or two here and there is worth it...if it means less opportunity for mold to grow in my house!

[Jonah K]

At my house in Puna I have a couple of dehumidifiers; however, I hardly use them since I had ceiling fans installed in every room (including the garage). Unfortunately, for the exterior surfaces of the house, the driveway, and the walkways, I have to use occasionally use bleach and a pressure washer to keep the mold and mildew at bay. Here's a link to a few tips that might prove somewhat helpful....
Hawaii House Cleaning Tips

[HankDfrmSD]

Originally Posted by ellison4family

We are moving to Kailua this summer, Maunawili area, and have been told to get a dehumidifier. The home we will be in does not have central air and only one window a/c in master bedroom (2300 sq ft home). Since we will be relying on mountain breezes to cool our home I'm worried that we will have a problem with mold/mildew. If we get dehumidifiers I'm concerned that they will be running all the time and we'll have a HUGE electric bill. I would appreicate any thoughts.

Later in the day I wrote my answer above, I was visited by a man who lives in Maunawili (He was picking up a tree we had sold him). I asked him if he had a dehumidifier, and if it cost his much to run it.

The answers were yes, and no.

Hank

[ellison4family]

Thank you all so much for the great information! The link to Hawaii home cleaning was also very helpful.