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How Much Does It Cost to Run a Dehumidifier in Manitoba? (2026)
A dehumidifier runs like a small air conditioner, and people often leave it on for most of the day in damp basements. That combination of moderate wattage and long hours makes it a surprising line item on the bill.
A typical dehumidifier (400 W) costs C$0.044 per hour, or about C$13.20 per month at 10 hours a day in Manitoba. Expensive to run
| Wattage | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low (250 W) | C$0.028 | C$0.28 | C$8.25 | C$100.38 |
| Typical (400 W) | C$0.044 | C$0.44 | C$13.20 | C$160.60 |
| High (700 W) | C$0.077 | C$0.77 | C$23.10 | C$281.05 |
Formula: watts ÷ 1000 × hours × price per kWh. Typical use is 10 h/day ≈ 1,460 kWh per year.
One hour of a dehumidifier (0.40 kWh) is the same electricity as
- 2.2km in an electric car
- 4.0hours of TV
- 8.9hours of a laptop
- 44hours of an LED bulb
In Manitoba, with electricity at C$0.11 per kWh (source: Hydro-Québec 2025 comparison, 2025-04), a typical dehumidifier costs C$0.044 per hour and about C$160.60 per year at 10 hours a day. That is about 21% less than the national average for Canada (C$16.80 per month), because electricity in Manitoba costs C$0.11 per kWh against C$0.14 nationally. Each C$1.00 of electricity buys roughly 22.7 hours of use.
How to lower the cost of running a dehumidifier
- Set the humidistat to 50 percent. Lower settings make the unit run far longer for little benefit.
- Close windows and doors in the room being dried.
- Empty the tank promptly or use continuous drain so the unit does not sit idle.
- Look for the Energy Star rating, which measures litres removed per kWh.
In standby it draws about 1 W, which adds roughly 9 kWh (C$0.96) per year if it is never unplugged.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to run a dehumidifier 24/7?
A 400 watt unit uses 9.6 kWh a day if it never cycles off. With a humidistat, real use is usually half that.
Does a dehumidifier heat the room?
Yes, slightly. All the electricity it uses ends up as heat, which can help in a cold basement.
Are desiccant dehumidifiers cheaper to run?
No, they typically use more electricity, but they work better in cold rooms.
Cost by region
US states
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