In the 21st century, people invest a lot in their homes and the spaces they live in. It’s important that everyone feels comfortable in their space in order to actually be productive in it as well. And yeah, while high-quality furniture, great interior designer and great electronics can make your home practical and beautiful, it all comes down to the air in your house.
Think about it. There is no such thing that could be more important than air. Air is something you’re constantly encountering and the fact that it may be warm or humid is actually very annoying. Not only can it be a problem for you, but it can also be a problem for the things in your home, especially high-tech ones.
Let’s talk about dehumidifiers and the types of dehumidifiers that are out there. Maybe you’ll suddenly see that you indeed need one for your household.
What is a dehumidifier?
We obviously have to start with the basics first. Maye you have seen a diffusor before, or an air freshener. Dehumidifiers usually look somewhat similar to these.
A dehumidifier is a device that makes your airless humid: it takes out the moisture that’s „too much“ for it. While many people don’t need it because they have the exact opposite problem of dry air, there are a lot of people that notice mold grows much faster in their house.
Do I really need one?
Sometimes it can be tricky to weigh out the pros and the cons when it comes to a humidifier. Some people believe that they need one when they don’t, while others deny the existence of the product itself.
If you’re in a damp environment, you are exposed to some risks. Toxins, mold, mildew and similar things that can also build spores love moisture! This is a problem for everyone in your household, especially those with compromised immune systems, and those who have allergies, asthma, etc.
Arthritis and heart problems can also increase your risk to get very sick from the humid air in your home.
How to know if the air in my house is too humid?
Clothes get too soft and have a weird smell. This is pretty common. The same thing usually happens when you leave clothes outside and there is rain upcoming in the forecast.
Your walls and food get moldy easily. Yeah, mold can happen to anyone and it’s not that exclusive, but if you noticed that your friends in other regions of the country don’t have such problems, maybe the problem is the air in your home.
You often get a runny nose. This can be a sign of bad respiratory health but is also induced by humidity. Remember how you get a runny nose when you eat a hot soup? This is the same thing, but the „soup“ is all around you.
Types of Dehumidifiers
Now that we know a bit about the product itself, it would be beneficial to find out what types are out there and you can start researching which one may suit you best. Each humidifier, even inside categories, is different. That’s why you need to check the label on each one and see whether it actually does fit your household needs or not.
„Refrigerator“ dehumidifiers
These work in a very interesting way. The humid air goes into the dehumidifier, and it goes through a filter that will remove all of the impurities like dust, dirt and possible allergens. The fan inside will push the air into a part of the unit that cools it and the moisture will condense and end up as water inside of the special tank in the dehumidifier.
The remaining dry air is blown back into the household. This type of dehumidifier works great if you don’t already live in a climate that’s too cold on its own. You will also have to remove the water tank every once in a while and empty it out, but that’s not too much to do.
With most of these, you can also control the humidistat and decide what amount of moisture is right for you. This is very beneficial to those who have problems with their respiratory systems.
Desiccant dehumidifiers
As mentioned, the „refrigerator“ type won’t work well for those who are in a pretty cold climate. The air is already somewhat cold and that will bring down the efficiency of the process.
Because of that, you may have to opt for a different type and that’s why you may want to check out the desiccant dehumidifiers. These are eco-friendly, quieter and more efficient. Ceramic parts of the dehumidifier catch moisture and trap it.
Heat pump dehumidifiers
These are popular because they work by pulling the air in and stripping it away of moisture by lowering the temperature and condensing humidity into water. This is essentially the same thing as the refrigerator type, but the difference is in the end result.
The heat pump dehumidifier will do a greater job because it will heat up the air again and it will make your household warmer and cozier.
Ventilating dehumidifiers
Here you have a sensor that controls the humidity level and the unit activates itself to balance it out according to your needs. It’s just an exhaust fan working with the air, and it’s not as efficient as other methods.
Should I get a portable one or a big one?
Most of the dehumidifiers you see in the store are portable. They are usually made of plastic and they can be a great companion if you care for them and clean them every once in a while. They can be efficient as well, and it all depends on the manufacturer in the end. That’s why you want to look into particular products, not types.
Big dehumidifiers are usually more „heavy-duty“ and they are made for bigger, open spaces. Because of that, you can’t carry them around, but you can use them in disastrous situations such as floods and hurricane problems.
In the end, we have the „whole house dehumidifiers“ which usually work similar to an air conditioner. They are more expensive, more efficient, and they need to be installed by someone who has been working with these things for a somewhat long time.
The „size“ of the unit is really not that important, nor is the „portable“ or „not portable“ information. You need to check the specifications of each product, see which one fits you, consult with a mechanic on the situation of your home and then decide what you’ll get.
How can I maximize efficiency?
All dehumidifiers can get costly if they use too much energy, and we don’t want that, so we’ll share some of the most important tips and tricks with you.
Set your humidistat the right way. You don’t need to strip all moisture away from your home. The healthy percentage you should set up is anywhere between 40 and 50. We would suggest going with 40 if there are no respiratory issues in the household, and going with 50 if you feel like asthma or allergy issues will get worse.
Don’t make it run all of the time. It doesn’t need to be on 24 hours a day. If you’re going to be outside, turn it off. When you come back home, turn it on. Some people like to turn it on during the day and then turn it off during the night.
Close the windows and the doors to outside. You don’t want your nice filtered air to go outside, right? Most dehumidifiers are set to work until the percentage of humidity that you’ve set is leveled right. This never happens if your window is always open, though, so you may want to pay attention to doors and windows.
Put them in the center of the room. Don’t keep them too close to the wall because that will block the air intake. That way you may be getting a smaller electricity bill, but you’re also not getting the results that you want.
Summary
Dehumidifiers are useful little gadgets that will help any household that deals with mold, fungus, bacteria, wet clothes and other small issues. There are a few key principles they work by, and they are usually also directed by the climate around you.
If you pick the right unit after consulting with a mechanic, you may be getting years and years of proper use. Make sure to check out the product specifications and not just jump into the decision, as there are a lot of small things that need to be considered.
