[bluedog103]

There has been some recent discussion about the value of a humidistat so I thought I'd give some current information.
I got my electric bill today for the period of 8/24 to 9/24. Total was $24.77. I consider the $75 I paid for our humidistat (including installation) to be a great investment.

[ajbrown]

I share this, but as I am not back in TV yet, I do not have all of the facts. I will post what I find upon my return.

I had one installed this spring before leaving, I tested it before I left verifying the AC did not come on at 82, but did at 86 when humidity rose. This is my fourth summer I have left the same home unoccupied in TV. In the past three I set the thermostat to 82 degrees, no dehumidistat.

This summer I set the thermostat to 82 and the dehumidistat to 60%. The way it is installed the temp must be 82 AND the humidity must be above 60% for AC to come on.

I did not see any significant savings this summer. My home watch person verified the house was at 86 when they were there and the AC was off, so I am perplexed to say the least.

Either something not right, or the humidity has been high enough that it is almost always > 60% when the temp > 82.

[bargee]

We installed a humidistat 5 years ago.When we leave for four months during the summer it cuts our vacation time electric bill by 2/3rds.

[bluedog103]

Originally Posted by ajbrown

I share this, but as I am not back in TV yet, I do not have all of the facts. I will post what I find upon my return.

I had one installed this spring before leaving, I tested it before I left verifying the AC did not come on at 82, but did at 86 when humidity rose. This is my fourth summer I have left the same home unoccupied in TV. In the past three I set the thermostat to 82 degrees, no dehumidistat.

This summer I set the thermostat to 82 and the dehumidistat to 60%. The way it is installed the temp must be 82 AND the humidity must be above 60% for AC to come on.

I did not see any significant savings this summer. My home watch person verified the house was at 86 when they were there and the AC was off, so I am perplexed to say the least.

Either something not right, or the humidity has been high enough that it is almost always > 60% when the temp > 82.

That's strange. Do you have everything shut off in your house? I'm sure the humidity must be about the same all over the area.
The only thing I left on was the refridgerator.

[ajbrown]

Same shutdown procedure for the house as every summer. on the strange part.

Do you have numbers for 09 with no dehumidstat?

[golfnut]

aj, how much is your electric bill in the summer, mine is $25 with the humidistat set at 55%, I turn the thermostat off so it does not regulate the temperature in the house.....gn

[ajbrown]

Originally Posted by golfnut

aj, how much is your electric bill in the summer, mine is $25 with the humidistat set at 55%, I turn the thermostat off so it does not regulate the temperature in the house.....gn

Not nearly as good as others, it is around $45 - $50. I do leave on the refrigerator, no pool or spa, it is a Wisteria, so not exactly a mansion. All same as 2009 except in 2010 I added dehumidistat.

My bill did not go down this summer with the dehumidistat. In August the bill was even a smidge higher compared to 2009.

It is a puzzle I will work on this winter.

[bluedog103]

Originally Posted by ajbrown

Not nearly as good as others, it is around $45 - $50. I do leave on the refrigerator, no pool or spa, it is a Wisteria, so not exactly a mansion. All same as 2009 except in 2010 I added dehumidistat.

My bill did not go down this summer with the dehumidistat. In August the bill was even a smidge higher compared to 2009.

It is a puzzle I will work on this winter.

We just closed on the house in March so I don't have last year's numbers. Our house is also a Wisteria.

[laryb]

Originally Posted by ajbrown

Not nearly as good as others, it is around $45 - $50. I do leave on the refrigerator, no pool or spa, it is a Wisteria, so not exactly a mansion. All same as 2009 except in 2010 I added dehumidistat.

My bill did not go down this summer with the dehumidistat. In August the bill was even a smidge higher compared to 2009.

It is a puzzle I will work on this winter.

AJ, I have an At Ease, 1481 sq. ft. with a de-humidistat and my bill with the refrigerator on has been about $45 a month.

[BETHPAGE BLACK]

Hey AJ are you turning your thermestat OFF....??
It needs to be in off position for the humistat to be effective...55-60% on the humistat and you should see a big difference....Laura

[ducati1974]

Can some of you post the make & model of your humidistat? I'm an HVAC man in Mass. & we don't use such things here much but I'd like to pick one up for my TV home.
Rick

[bluedog103]

Originally Posted by ducati1974

Can some of you post the make & model of your humidistat? I'm an HVAC man in Mass. & we don't use such things here much but I'd like to pick one up for my TV home.
Rick

I'm a snowbird who hasn't returned to TV yet so I can't help you with the make etc. Perhaps some of the other snowbirds have returned who can answer your question.

[ilvgolf]

Does this work if you live here full time?

[chuckinca]

Probably if you can stand the house temp around 85.

My mother kept her house in both the Chicago burbs and TV at 83 year around! We couldn't stand it no matter what the season was - it was still too hot.



.

[bluedog103]

Originally Posted by ilvgolf

Does this work if you live here full time?

The following is an explanation by Handiman, which is a very good explanation of what a DEhumidistat does. Hope it helps.

Jul 2007
Location: Emmalee Villas, Mallory Square and Canandaigua, NY
Posts: 857

DE Humidistats

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Its summer in the villages and the rains have begun and the outdoor humidity is very tropical. This is all well and good when your sitting in the pool but NOT a good thing for the interior or your home.
Let me try to explain what a DEhumidistat will do for you. First off its not a harmful thing for you home interior to be 85. It is a harmfull situation when your home has a relative humidity of 85 inside combined with the heat. So what can we do besides run the airconditioning at a livable temperature resulting in a lower interior relative humidity when were up north for a number of months? Seems wastefull doesn't it and yes it is. At this point you should be asking yourself how can I not run the AC when I'm away and save electricity and still keep the interior of my home safe.
A device called a DEhumidistat is simply a device that when set at 60% does not allow the AC to come on unless the humidity is above 60%. Even though the temperature inside the home is 85, there is no need to cool it if the humidity inside is dry. You Arizona folks know all about this. It costs approx. $50.00-$60.00 and can be installed with a very short service call. It is wired in series with the low voltage coming to your thermostat and simply will not allow the AC to turn on until two parameters are met, one the inside temperature must exceed the temperature set on the thermostat (78-80) AND the relative humidity inside the home must exceed the set humidity level (60%)
Conversations with various folks who have used these devices while away have told me of savings in the $100.00 per month range for the hottest months in summer. As you can see this device pays for itself usually very easily in the first month or two. This is not a device for use when the home is occupied, so it is merely turned to the ON position and the thermostat does its thing.

Being a northerner myself, these devices were a mystery to me until I used one. Color me in the "still learning mode"
__________________

Upstate NY and The Villages-If your not living on the edge, your taking up way too much room."