Benefits of Using a Dehumidifier
Dehumidifiers help prevent mold, mildew and musty smells in damp areas of your home. They pull air over cold coils to condense moisture into a bucket that is usually emptied daily.
A dehumidifier also releases the heat that would have gone into evaporating the water (the latent heat of vaporization). This helps you save energy and money.
Humidity Control
Too much moisture in the air can trigger respiratory problems like hay fever and asthma, as well as lead to musty odors and mold. A dehumidifier can reduce these issues by removing excess water vapor from the air.
The ideal humidity level for a home depends on where it’s located, but in general, keeping the relative humidity below 60 percent is a good idea. This is the level at which dust mites are less likely to thrive and cause allergies.
Keeping the relative humidity at this level can also help prevent damage from wood-destroying molds and mildews, as well as reduce condensation that causes wallpaper or paint to peel. A dehumidifier can also improve comfort by reducing that clammy feeling many people experience in rooms with high moisture levels.
A dehumidifier can be used in a single room, or it can be connected to your HVAC system for whole-home humidification. Whole-house models use the ductwork to pull in the humid air, then blow out dry air, eliminating the need for emptying a water basin or carrying a heavy bucket of water from room to room.
Other ways to control humidity include using natural ventilation, such as opening windows and running exhaust fans in kitchens and bathrooms. You can also place moisture-reducing products in enclosed spaces, such as bowls of uncooked rice, rock salt or silica gel.
Allergen Reduction
Using dehumidifiers helps control allergy triggers, such as mildew, mold, and dust mites. These allergens thrive in humid environments and they contribute to airway irritations, which can be aggravated by asthma symptoms. Humidity is a major factor in asthma, dehumidifier respiratory problems, and other allergies. In fact, according to the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, the humidity in your house should be in the Goldilocks zone — 30-45%.
When the humidity is high, it breeds allergens that can cause breathing difficulties, especially in people with a preexisting condition like asthma. These allergens can also irritate skin and cause itchiness. A dehumidifier lowers the humidity levels in your home, which eliminates these allergens and prevents them from forming.
A dehumidifier draws in air and passes it over cold coils, similar to those on a refrigerator. This causes the water vapor in the air to condense into droplets and drips into a bucket within the dehumidifier. The air is then re-heated and blown back into the room.
Aside from reducing humidity, the dehumidifier also reduces musty odors and protects sheets, clothing, and expensive electronics from moisture damage. It also lessens odors and itchiness, which is good for people with skin conditions like eczema. People with rheumatism and arthritis also benefit from a drier environment. They can reduce the use of ointments and medications for these conditions.
Energy Savings
Energy-efficient dehumidifiers reduce the amount of electricity used to remove moisture from the air, thereby saving money on energy bills and contributing to the fight against climate change. They also help preserve foods, which can grow moldy or stale quickly if they are exposed to excess humidity, and they support the work of central heating systems by reducing moisture in the air.
Unlike standard appliances, which use electricity to cool down coils that attract and condense moisture from the air, energy-efficient models use advanced technology to accomplish the same task using less energy. The resulting reduction in electricity demand can lower home power bills, making them easier to manage and more cost-effective over time.
Many manufacturers of energy-efficient dehumidifiers offer a range of features that enhance their performance and user experience. These include a humidistat, which helps dehumidifier vendors maintain an optimal humidity level, and fittings for a continuous drainage option that eliminates the need to empty a water tank manually. Some models are also equipped with a programmable timer that allows users to set the appliance to run at specific times, helping to avoid unnecessary electricity usage.
Purchasing an energy-efficient dehumidifier can also act as a catalyst for other sustainable lifestyle changes, such as switching to renewable or green electricity sources and adopting eco schemes. With every small step in the fight against climate change, people can create a better world for themselves and future generations.
Reduced Water Usage
A dehumidifier removes moisture from the air, which helps eliminate musty smells and prevents condensation that leads to mold, mildew and rot. This can also help to reduce the growth of dust mites, which are another common allergy trigger and can cause breathing issues for those with asthma. Eliminating odors and reducing the growth of dust mites and other allergens in your home can improve the health of you, your family and even your pets.
Dehumidifiers work by pulling warm indoor air over cooling coils. The warm air causes the humidity in the air to condense into liquid, which then drips into a reservoir or bucket. This water is referred to as greywater and can be used for gardening, washing laundry and other household chores. Most models are equipped with a float sensor that shuts the machine off when the collection container is full. The sensor can also be programmed to signal you when the tank needs to be emptied.
Dehumidifiers consume a fair amount of energy to operate, but they don’t eat as much as an air conditioner, which can use up to 300 kilowatt hours per month. Some units also have a built-in pump to push greywater up a grade or over a distance that would otherwise be impractical using gravity alone.
