Installing a dehumidifier reduces the overall humidity levels in your home, making it harder for mold, dust mites and fungi to stay in your home. Its absence can help reduce allergy symptoms, while protecting children from childhood asthma caused by mold and mildew, so it’s important to have the best dehumidifier (in spanish: el mejor deshumidificador).
Why use a dehumidifier?
- Odor abatement. If your home smells musty, it is likely due to the presence of additional mold or mildew. Installing a dehumidifier reduces this presence.
- Reduced skin irritation. Not only will you breathe easier, but your skin won’t itch as much.
- Reduced cleaning. Dehumidifiers work like air filters, reducing not only household humidity but also dust. That means you won’t have to dust as often!
- Protection for clothes and linens. Dehumidifiers remove excess moisture from the air so that mold and mildew don’t grow on clothing and linens.
- Food preservation. The more humid your home is, the faster foods such as bread or cereal will become stale or moldy. You may be looking at lower grocery bills and less waste.
- Reduced energy costs. While a dehumidifier is another machine that works in your home, it is compatible with your air conditioner and allows it to run more efficiently. How does it work? The dehumidifier tackles the task of removing moisture from the air so the air conditioner doesn’t have to. This allows your air conditioner to not work as hard, resulting in reduced energy costs and a longer life for your air conditioner.
How to choose the right dehumidifier for your home:
To find the right dehumidifier, you must first understand the humidity levels in your home. A hygrometer will measure the relative humidity in your home and you can get one at any home improvement store. An ideal relative humidity is between 40 and 50 percent, although it can be lower in winter, especially in very cold climates. You will also need to measure the size of the space you want to dehumidify in square feet.
The size of the room compared to the reading on your hygrometer will give you the information you need to find the right size dehumidifier. Dehumidifier manufacturers often provide sizing charts to help you determine the right product for your space and humidity level.
Dehumidifier sizes are generally expressed in terms of the number of pints of moisture they can remove in 24 hours. Most portable home dehumidifiers range from 30 to 90 pints, although smaller and larger units are available. If your needs are right on the borderline between two sizes, or if you’re unsure of your estimates, it’s best to opt for the larger model.
There are also whole-house dehumidifiers that work with your home’s HVAC system, but you’ll have to shop around among HVAC installers for sizing inquiries and price quotes.
How to use a dehumidifier
There are key differences between dehumidifier models, so always consult your model-specific documentation for usage, maintenance and safety instructions, which is why home product reviews are necessary (in spanish: este es el motivo por el cual los análisis de productos del hogar son necesarios). Two of the biggest differences between models are the energy-saving features and the mechanisms for storing and moving water.
Basic models may not have any energy-saving features, but more advanced models may have built-in timers or humidistats. With a timer, you can set your dehumidifier to turn off during nighttime hours if the room is usually empty. A humidistat is better because it allows you to set a desired humidity level, just as you use your thermostat to set the temperature in your home. The dehumidifier will turn on and off as needed to maintain the desired level. Learn how to use this setting on your model to save energy and money.
A dehumidifier uses a fan, condenser and evaporator to suck moisture out of the air, and all that moisture has to go somewhere. In some models, it goes into an internal tank. Other models may have an optional drain tube that can divert the water to a floor drain. More advanced models have internal pumps that can pump water to sinks or other drains without relying on gravity to carry the water away. Whichever configuration you use, there will be regular maintenance involved, such as emptying the tank or periodically cleaning the drain pipe.
Regardless of the type or size of humidifier you use, be sure to place it on a level floor and only plug it into an electrical outlet.
Installing a dehumidifier reduces the overall humidity levels in your home, making it more difficult for mold, dust mites and mildew to stay in your home. Its absence can help reduce allergy symptoms while protecting children from childhood asthma caused by mold and mildew.