Using a dehumidifier to speed up paint drying can lead to significant problems such as cracked finishes and uneven drying. Experts warn that paint requires some humidity to settle correctly; removing too much moisture can result in peeling or cracking. A dehumidifier may have to work harder than necessary due to lingering moisture, which can strain the appliance and lead to its premature failure. Instead of achieving faster drying times, these methods can set you up for a poor finish and the need to redo the work sooner than expected.
"While it may be tempting to think a dehumidifier can speed up paint drying times, this DIY trick can cause more harm than good," cautions Katie Lilywhite, air treatment expert at AO.com. "Paint needs a little humidity to settle properly, and if you pull too much moisture from the air, this can lead to your paint peeling or cracking ahead of time."
Chris Michaels, director at Meaco, agrees, explaining: "Using a dehumidifier to dry paint too early can cause the surface to dry faster than the layers underneath, leading to an uneven finish or cracks."
When you place a dehumidifier in a freshly painted room, it ends up working far harder than it should. All the lingering moisture from the wet paint can throw things off balance and force the machine to run constantly without much payoff.
Rather than speeding things up, you could actually be setting yourself up for an uneven paint finish, or a decorating job you'll need to redo much sooner than planned.
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