Running Dehumidifier all winter long?

aaronpapemh · 11-09-2016, 09:20 AM

Hi guys, I was wanting to leave a dehumidifier in my 28ft travel trailer all winter. Just wondering if it is ok to leave plugged in the whole time in storage. I will only be able to check on it once a week and sometimes once every 2 weeks. I was thinking of just running an extension cord for the dehumidifier and leaving the trailer unplugged? Also where is a good place to place it? I was thinking on the kitchen counter then drain into the sink or in the bath tub. Thanks for any input.

5picker · 11-09-2016, 09:30 AM

Shall we assume you are located somewhere where it never freezes over the winter?

**Flybob** · 11-09-2016, 09:32 AM

I did what you are planning to do. I have a raised floor shower so I ran a HD extension cord ( removed plug to minimize size of hole) through belly pan which I connect to the 30A plug I added to the side of the house. I also ran a 1/2" drain hose out the same way so I do not need to regularly empty the water. I run unit most of the time, however when the weather is consistently below 40 degrees, I simply shut off the house breaker for the 30A outlet. Dehumidifiers do not run well below 40F. I have put a 5 gal bucket under the drain hose ( under trailer) just to gauge the amount of moisture being removed. Based on the results, I do not believe any of the other methods (damp rid or solid state drier) would work for me. Be careful running down drains as the components in the units are not top notch and you can get some rust stains in the discharge. My unit sits on the floor in the center of the trailer.

timfromma · 11-09-2016, 09:51 AM

I just put in a couple buckets of DampRid and change them as needed.

aaronpapemh · 11-09-2016, 10:48 AM

Yes it freezes over the winter. How often do you end up changing the damp rid buckets?

donniedu · 11-09-2016, 10:55 AM

I have run one for the last 5 years or so with no problems. I run a drain hose out a window, so jo need to go out and dump a full tank. Works fantastic, and our first trip bedding is nice and dry.
Dessicsnt does work, but two big problems. Cleaning up the mess and it becomes inefficient rather quickly in high humid areas.

timfromma · 11-09-2016, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aaronpapemh

Yes it freezes over the winter. How often do you end up changing the damp rid buckets?

Depends on the humidity. I get about 6 weeks out of a bucket.

5picker · 11-09-2016, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aaronpapemh

Yes it freezes over the winter. How often do you end up changing the damp rid buckets?

I'm not sure how you would run a dehumidifier throughout the winter if freezing occurs?

By design, a dehumidifier works by cooling coils with refrigerant. The cooler the ambient temperature, the less efficient it becomes. Even in higher ambient temps (above 65º) the refrigerant in the dehumidifier can freeze the coils and the unit becomes less effective.

I'm also not sure how the tank/collection unit (once it has water in it) would stand up to being frozen.

I have read about commercial dehumidifiers with a 'hot gas defrost' that work down to just about the freezing mark but they are very expensive and not suited for home use.

aaronpapemh · 11-09-2016, 12:09 PM

The homeowner ones I have been looking at (frigidare at home depot) say they work down to 40* but at that point the air is usually really dry here in southern Idaho.

Hank2355 · 11-09-2016, 01:36 PM

I have a dehumidifier running 24-7-365. I am amazed at how much moisture is removed daily. The dehumidifier actually keeps the temps above freezing most of the time.

aaronpapemh · 11-09-2016, 02:40 PM

Does anyone see me running into an issue if I leave the trailer plugged in and run the dehumidifier off one of the interior wall outlets 24/7 through the winter only checking on the unit once every week or 2?

timfromma · 11-09-2016, 03:25 PM

The biggest problem I see is what would happen when the temperature dips below freezing.

5picker · 11-09-2016, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aaronpapemh

Does anyone see me running into an issue if I leave the trailer plugged in and run the dehumidifier off one of the interior wall outlets 24/7 through the winter only checking on the unit once every week or 2?

As to the integrity of leaving the trailer plugged in and the dehumidifier plugged into an outlet... no problem. You'll need to consider other things though like how well your converter works and whether the batteries will need tending to if left plugged in 24/7.

As to checking on it once every week or two... well... sometimes life gets in the way. What happens if you can't get there for some reason or simply forget? I wouldn't want to chance that without a fail safe. (drain to outside)

Jim in Halifax · 11-09-2016, 07:52 PM

What about running your AC?

grumpyoldman · 11-09-2016, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by timfromma

I just put in a couple buckets of DampRid and change them as needed.

X2 on the Damp Rid. 1 bucket in my 31'MH will last from November until April. Now that I have a 41' fiver I use 2 buckets for the same time period. In the spring the inside of the camper is fresh smelling without a hit of a musty smell.

Bocamo · 11-09-2016, 10:15 PM

We just leave the dehumidifier in the shower draining into the pan with the grey water drain open.

aaronpapemh · 11-09-2016, 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bocamo

We just leave the dehumidifier in the shower draining into the pan with the grey water drain open.

What humidity do you set it to and do you plug it into a wall outlet?

jamesroadking · 11-10-2016, 04:01 AM

First off, I don't understand why you need to be running a dehumidifier in the winter.
I can see it in the hot humid summer months. I thought the colder winter air wasn't so humid.
I open all my electrical circuit breakers when storing my trailer, I don't want my expensive / hard to replace converter running 24/365, and I store away my 30 amp heavy power cord.
I run a separate extension power cord hooked up to a trickle charger hooked directly up to the trailer's battery when the trailer's being stored.
I also permanently wired up 25 ft. extension cord that's kept rolled up in my bathroom closets floor that's route permanently thought the exterior wall with the male end in the exterior walls outside shower wash compartment. That way I can pull it thought and plug it into an A/C source and run a heater, wife hair dryer separate from the trailers 30 amp electrical service when needed.

Bocamo · 11-10-2016, 09:22 PM

I have it set to 35% rh, that may be too low and we shall see. We may not run it after we get everything dried out inside. We don't want to see mold like we did in our old tt. We plug it into the 120v outlet in the bathroom and just let it drain down the shower.

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