Dehumidifiers are useful machines that are able to remove the excess moisture from your home, while protecting all your prized belongings from damage. They are used to make the house feel more comfortable and livable. However, dehumidifiers are also favourable because of their health benefits. These machines are especially helpful to people with asthma, helping them breathe easier, as it removes airborne particles from the home. 

 

How do Dehumidifiers Work?

Dehumidifiers work by taking the hot air in a room, and passing it through a fan inside the machine. The moisture in the air is stuck inside the machine, and the resulting dry air is cycled back into the room. Once your room has been dried out with the use of a dehumidifier, there is much less of a chance that condensation will settle on your possessions. Mold will have a harder time forming, and items will remain safe and unaffected by moisture damage. The size of your dehumidifier really depends on how large the area is that you wish to keep cool and dry. The dehumidifiers vary in terms of how much moisture they can remove from a space. The smallest is 30 pints per day, and the largest is over 90 points per day. 

 

Humidity Level

The amount of humidity that the dehumidifier removes from your house is important to know. The level of humidity in the home and how long it remains in the air will impact things like potential mold or moisture damage. For example, if the humidity level is above 60%, mold will start to become a serious issue, and will not go away. 

Checking the humidity level of the home is fairly simple. Visually, you should be able to see obvious signs of humidity, such as condensation on the windows, mildew growth, or water stains on ceilings and walls. To test the level more accurately, you can purchase a hygrometer for your home. It is battery operated, and looks similar to a temperature gauge. By following the instructions provided by the manufacturer, you should be able to use your hygrometer to check the humidity levels of the house, and set your dehumidifier correspondingly.

 

Using a Dehumidifier

Your dehumidifier should have a fill indicator on it, which will let you know exactly when you have to empty it. The frequency of having to empty it will depend on where you are located, and what the climate conditions are like. It can vary from once every few days, to multiple times per day. If you are a forgetful type of person, and don’t want to worry about remembering to empty the bucket, there is an alternative. You can run a drain hose from the dehumidifier into a floor drain or sump pump. This means that the dehumidifier will automatically drain water as soon as it has been collected. 

 

At McMillin Air, we specialize in air conditioning repairs and installation. If you’re interested in getting a dehumidifier for your home, we’ll be happy to offer our professional recommendations.