Understanding Dehumidifiers and Tips On Their Usage

Humidity level has always been an issue whether it's regarding the outdoors or indoors. In the past decade, people tend to care more about the air quality, due to climate change, the pandemic, as well as numerous diseases and allergies that most of us became more susceptible to. Thanks to evolving technology, there are very efficient ways to take good care of the indoor air quality nowadays. This is mostly due to dehumidifiers, which, in the past decade, have become an almost essential appliance, especially in more humid territories. Here are some of the reasons why you should buy a dehumidifier. 

 

Relative air humidity in closed rooms should be between 40 and 60%, and the values below and above this limit have a negative impact on the health of people and pets. High humidity causes the reproduction of mites, insects, bacteria, viruses, mold, and mildew, which can lead to problems with the respiratory organs and the development of asthma. It is recommended to keep the humidity in the home below 40% if you are allergic to mites. A dehumidifier can be useful in any household to prevent allergies and asthma. Too high humidity can also cause skin diseases. Too low humidity in the room, say below 35%, can cause drying of the skin, and the appearance of itching and flaking of the skin. In addition to the fact that inadequate humidity at home or in working conditions can effect quality of life and work, excessive humidity can have a negative impact on the interior walls, which can damage building over time. 

Simply, when the ambient air humidity is higher than the set value, read on the display of the dehumidifier, the appliance turns on the compressor and starts collecting excess moisture. This continues until the set humidity on the hydrostat is reached. Then, the dehumidifier turns off automatically and waits for the humidity to rise before turning on again.

 

This mostly depends on the manufacturer and the area of the room where a dehumidifier is utilized. However, for an average household, a dehumidifier with a capacity of up to 4-6 gallons of water per day is sufficient. Dehumidifiers are easy to move around and portable, so you can place them in any room where excess moisture absorption is needed. The capacity of the container for collecting the moisture in residential dehumidifiers ranges from 0.5 to 1.5 gallons.

 

The maintenance of dehumidifiers is quite simple. When the container in the dehumidifier is almost full, the water will need to be dumped out. This container is an integral part of the appliance and when it is full, the dehumidifier stops working. This is not a problem as most dehumidifiers have a nozzle for the condensation hose that allows the device to work continuously even when you are not at home. In this case it's only necessary to lead the hose into a drain shaft, bathtub, or sink.

 

In order to maintain a healthy atmosphere and air quality, it also plays a role in heating the room. It is recommended to use it in the autumn and winter months to maintain air humidity and the temperature in your home. Plus, it’s ideal for drying laundry, especially if it is mainly done in a closed space and the household doesn't own a dryer. For example, a towel at room temperature of 70 degrees, and a room of 100 sq. ft. dries in 3-4 hours. It’s also useful in the summer when it rains and the air humidity is higher so natural ventilation just won’t do the work.

 

Mites are the most well-known and widespread cause of allergies in the home. They live and breed in carpets, furniture, mattresses, stuffed toys, etc. In a room where the relative humidity is below 40%, mites cannot withstand the conditions and perish. In the area where the humidity is above 50%, mites multiply, and their appetite increases, as do their secretions, which are the main cause of allergies. Research shows that 90% of the population that reacts to various allergens is sensitive, among other things, to mites. What can we do to prevent or control the mite allergy?  Vacuum regularly. Expose carpets as well as stuffed toys to lower temperatures, and then vacuum. The best solution is a dehumidifier, as these mites cannot survive in areas where the relative humidity is below 50%. When you solve the problem of moisture in the home, you have solved the problem of allergies to mites.

 

Dehumidifiers used in household conditions usually weigh between 20 and 30 lbs, while professional ones are significantly heavier. In both cases, these appliances are easily portable and can be moved to different rooms either by hand or using the installed casters.

 

Residential dehumidifiers have a capacity of 4 to 6 gallons. Any capacity smaller than that is insufficient even for smaller rooms, while devices with a capacity of more than 6 gallons are often bulky and difficult to transport for use in home conditions. The residential dehumidifier covers an area of 100-700 sq. ft. with a standard height of 25 ft. If you are planning to buy a dehumidifier, it’s best to consult experts as the required capacity depends on the amount of moisture in the apartment or a house, the cause of the moisture, the size of the room, the temperature, and other multiple factors.

 

As we all tend to protect ourselves and our family from any impact that may present a risk to our health, a dehumidifier may be qualified as one of the essentials when it comes to household appliances. At Townappliance.com we carry a huge variety of models in various sizes and capacities, suitable for any budget. Check out our selection of dehumidifiers and feel free to ask for any additional assistance from our customer support.