How to Choose the Best Dehumidifier For Your Home
A dehumidifier dries out the air, helping prevent mold and mildew growth and reducing dust mite populations. Learn more about the benefits of these devices and how to choose the best one for your home.
Humid environments encourage the growth of many allergens, including mold and dust mites. Taking the moisture out of the air helps relieve allergy and asthma symptoms.
Humidity Control
A dehumidifier can help prevent damage to wood and metal furnishings, especially in high humidity areas. Humid air causes wood to swell, which can loosen hinges on doors and make windows stick or warp. It can also cause metal furniture to rust or develop rust stains.
Excess moisture makes a great breeding ground for dust mites, fungus and mold. It can also irritate skin and cause respiratory problems, including asthma and allergies. Dehumidifiers remove the extra moisture in the air, making it drier and less irritating to sensitive people.
Some dehumidifiers are built into the HVAC system to spread the dehumidifier moisture evenly throughout a home. Others are portable units you can move from room to room. They work by drawing moisture out of the air and collecting it in a water basin that must be emptied periodically. Some units have a built-in humidity sensor and fan to adjust the amount of moisture they extract from the air.
Moisture reducing products, such as desiccant bags and silica gel, can be placed in closets or cabinets to help control the amount of moisture in those spaces. These can be purchased at a local hardware store or supermarket.
Allergen Reduction
Mold, mildew, and dust mites – all of which are common allergy triggers – thrive in humid climates. They reproduce through spores that float in the air and cause respiratory discomfort when they’re inhaled. Dehumidifiers reduce humidity levels to inhibit the growth of these organisms and keep them under control.
A dehumidifier extracts moisture from the air by passing it over cooled coils. As the air cools, it condenses and collects in a water reservoir or drainage hose for easy removal. This process helps to keep the dehumidifier operating at optimum efficiency.
Dehumidifiers are a good choice for people who suffer from allergies and asthma because they reduce humidity levels that can aggravate these conditions. A dehumidifier may also provide relief from dry coughing and other symptoms linked to allergy-induced respiratory irritation.
Dehumidifiers can be purchased in small portable units or built into a home’s HVAC system for whole-house dehumidification. Whether you select a portable model or a larger model, it’s important to clean the water reservoir and other components on a regular basis according to manufacturer recommendations for optimal performance. Combined with other allergy relief strategies, a dehumidifier can be a valuable tool for eliminating allergy and asthma triggers and helping you enjoy a healthier indoor environment.
Air Cleansing
While a dehumidifier is not an air purifier, it does remove pollutants and contaminants like dust mites from the air. These allergens can cause asthma, hay fever and other respiratory problems. Dehumidifiers can also reduce the growth of mold and mildew in damp areas, which can damage building materials and rot wood.
A dehumidifier works by pulling air over cold coils to condense water vapor and collect it in a tank. The tank must be emptied and cleaned regularly to avoid the development of mold, mildew, musty odors or bacteria in the appliance. It’s important to disconnect the dehumidifier from power before emptying the tank or cleaning it. It’s a good idea to clean intake and exhaust grilles on the outer plastic shell of the dehumidifier, too. These often get blocked with dust and other debris over time.
A humid environment supports the growth of many allergy-triggering substances, such as fungus, dust mites and mold. This makes a dehumidifier a must-have in homes with high humidity, particularly basements, dehumidifier wholesale bathrooms and laundry rooms. It can also prevent blistering paint and peeling wallpaper due to condensation. The device can help preserve electronics such as computers and entertainment systems, too. It can even reduce squeaky stairs, which are caused by the movement of moisture in hardwood floors and furniture. The extra moisture pushes apart joints, loosens nails and screws, causing noise and damage.
Energy Efficiency
If you want to reduce the amount of energy used by your dehumidifier, look for one with a high energy efficiency rating. This is typically indicated by a green label. It refers to how many liters of water it removes per kilowatt-hour of electricity it uses. The more efficient a device is, the lower its power cost will be.
Dehumidifiers with a desiccant membrane can be even more energy-efficient, as they do not rely on cooled coils to condense moisture. However, they may require more frequent filter cleaning, because dirt and dust can accumulate in their air chambers.
Another way to save on energy costs is to dehumidify your home when the weather is warm and dry, and to reduce outside ventilation when it is humid and cold. This will make it easier for your dehumidifier to operate within its optimal range and will prevent it from cycling on and off in cycles that it shouldn’t be running.
Some other simple ways to reduce humidity in the air include opening windows on hot days and running normal oscillating fans, taking short showers, and keeping a lid on your refrigerator. Dehumidifiers are a great investment for many reasons, and the best ones will be easy to use, won’t require much maintenance, and will save you money on your power bill each month. If you’re interested in lowering your energy bills even further, sign up for Perch’s community solar program and we’ll match you with a local solar farm.
