Humidifiers are appliances that add moisture back into the air to increase humidity levels in indoor spaces. They can be especially useful during the winter months when heating systems can dry out the air. However, it’s important to understand the energy consumption and costs associated with using a humidifier, as well as ways to save money and energy while using one. In this article, we’ll explore the energy consumption, cost, and money saving tips for a 13-gallon humidifier.
How To Use This Calculator
Using this energy calculator is a simple and will help you determine the costs of running your appliance. Click on ‘Calculate’ to use the predefined values, or enter your daily usage in hours, appliance watts, and your current energy costs in dollars. The calculator will provide you with the daily, monthly, and yearly results. It’s important to ensure the accuracy of the information entered to get the most accurate results.
Hours Used Per Day
Enter the number of hours you estimate the appliance will be on throughout the day. To use fractions of an hour please use a decimal point in the form.
For example: 1 hour and 30 mintes would be 1.5, and 3 hours and 15 minutes would be 3.25
Power Used in Watts
The calculator already includes a default average wattage. If your appliance uses a different wattage then enter it in the calculator.
Your Energy Rate in kWh
The calculator includes an average energy rate (price in $/kWh) to use for the calculation. This may not be the exact price that you’re currently paying for electricity. If you know your energy rate please enter your price per kilowatt-hour.
Energy Consumption
The energy consumption of a humidifier varies depending on the size and type of the appliance. A 13-gallon humidifier typically uses 175 watts of power. This means that if you run your humidifier for 8 hours a day, it will use 1.4 kWh of energy per day.
To put this into perspective, the average U.S. household uses around 900 kWh of electricity per month. If you ran your humidifier for 8 hours a day for a month, it would use approximately 42 kWh of energy, which is less than 5% of the average household’s monthly electricity usage.
It’s important to note that energy consumption can vary depending on factors such as the level of humidity in your home, the size of your home, and the type of humidifier you are using. Be sure to read the manufacturer’s instructions and follow their recommendations for energy usage.
Importance and Relevance Today
Maintaining optimal humidity levels in your home can have several benefits, including reducing the spread of viruses, protecting your furniture and home from damage, and improving your overall comfort. Additionally, having a humidifier can help alleviate dry skin, allergies, and respiratory problems.
However, it’s important to balance the benefits of using a humidifier with the energy consumption and cost associated with using one. Being mindful of energy usage can help reduce your carbon footprint and lower your energy bills.
Cost in Dollars of Energy Usage
To calculate the cost of using a humidifier, you’ll need to know the cost of electricity in your area. For the purposes of this article, we’ll use the default energy price of $0.12/kWh.
To calculate the daily cost of running a 13-gallon humidifier for 8 hours a day, you can use the following formula:
1.4 kWh x $0.12/kWh = $0.17/day
To calculate the monthly cost, multiply the daily cost by 30:
$0.17/day x 30 days = $5.10/month
To calculate the yearly cost, multiply the monthly cost by 12:
$5.10/month x 12 months = $61.20/year
These costs will vary depending on your electricity rate and energy usage.
Money Saving Tips
Here are some tips to help you save money and energy while using your humidifier:
- Use a timer: Set your humidifier to run for a specific amount of time each day, rather than running constantly. This will help reduce energy usage and lower your energy bills.
- Choose a humidistat: A humidistat is a device that measures humidity levels and automatically turns the humidifier on and off as needed. This can help reduce energy consumption and ensure optimal humidity levels.
- Use distilled water: Using distilled water in your humidifier can help prolong the life of the appliance and prevent mineral buildup, which can reduce the efficiency of the appliance.
- Keep your humidifier clean: Regularly cleaning your humidifier can improve its efficiency and reduce the risk of mold and bacteria growth. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning and maintenance.
- Use a smaller humidifier: If you only need to humidify a single room, consider using a smaller humidifier. This will use less energy and cost less to operate.
By following these tips, you can save money and energy while still enjoying the benefits of using a humidifier.
