A window air conditioner will remove humidity from your room, just like all other air conditioners, but it will not be as effective as a dehumidifier.
Window air conditioners can cool down a room effectively and can be an excellent low-cost, low-effort alternative to central air conditioning units.
Your window air conditioner also has a dual-function to cool and dehumidify your room because of the way that air conditioners work, but it will not be as effective as a standalone dehumidifier would.
The advantages of installing a window air conditioner
Window air conditioners are a popular choice when it comes to cooling solutions, because they are relatively simple to install and can be much more affordable than installing a central air-cooling system throughout your home.
This type of unit is also exceptionally efficient in reducing the temperature in a room, since it pushes all the hot air outside and only releases the cool air into the space, instead of fans that only circulate the same air around the room.
Does a window air conditioner remove humidity?
All types of air conditioners that work with a compressor can dehumidify your space because of the way that air conditioners work, including window air conditioning models. This is because hot air holds more moisture than cool air.
When your window air conditioner extracts the warm air from your room, it cools this air by running it over the evaporator coils. The refrigerant in these coils absorb the heat in the air and dispose of it outside.
Since this cooler air cannot contain the same level of moisture, the excess moisture condenses and collects around the coils, and only the cooler, drier air is released back into your room.
This is why all air conditioners do offer some form of dehumidifying. This dehumidifying function also makes the space feel more comfortable overall and can have many other benefits for your space, so it is important that you ensure that your air conditioner can dehumidify to the best of its ability.
After a few cycles, your window air conditioner will make a noticeable difference in the moisture levels in your room, but it is vital to keep in mind that not all window air conditioners are made the same and some are better at dehumidifying spaces than others.
Air conditioners are also not as effective as whole-house dehumidifiers, as removing moisture is a dehumidifier’s sole purpose, whereas air conditioners have a dual purpose – to cool down the room and to dehumidify the air in it.
How to ensure that your air conditioner removes as much humidity as possible
If you want to take full advantage of your window air conditioner’s dehumidifying function, there are a few simple changes that you can implement in your home.
The most important factor, in this case, is to make sure that your air conditioner is the right capacity for your space. For example, this GE Window Air Conditioner 5000 BTU is the appropriate size for small rooms of up to 150 square feet.
If you have an air conditioner that is too large and powerful for the space, it will not need to cycle as often, so it will not dehumidify your space as much.
You can also use bathroom and kitchen vents to ensure that your house does not become too humid for your air conditioner to dehumidify, and make sure that your filters are cleaned regularly so that your air conditioner can cool and dehumidify at optimal functioning levels.
Specific window air conditioners and their dehumidifying capacities
As explained above, all air conditioners naturally dehumidify the air in your space. However, some specific window air conditioner models have doubled down on this dehumidifying function.
This includes models like this Midea 12,000 BTU EasyCool Window Air Conditioner, which has a separate dehumidifying function built right into the machine as one of its operational modes, and it is available to purchase for $449.
Another example is this Keystone Energy Star 10,000 BTU Window-Mounted Air Conditioner, which has a dehumidifying capacity of up to 2.3 pints per hour. This unit is available for $409.99.
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Whole-house dehumidifying options
If you want to significantly reduce the humidity in your space, a whole-house dehumidifier is the most effective option, and there are several options you can choose from, including:
| Dehumidifier name | Dehumidifying capacity | Price on Amazon | Where to buy |
| Frigidaire Dehumidifier | Depending on the model you buy, the dehumidifying capacity can range from 22 pints to 60 pints | $199 to $412.57 |  |
| Tekola Dehumidifier for Home and Basement | This dehumidifier’s built-in tank can contain up to 71 oz. of moisture | $89.99 |  |
| Tosot Dehumidifier | This dehumidifier has the capacity to hold 20 to 50 pints of moisture | $219.99 to $249.99 |  |