Benefits of Dehumidifiers
If you live in a high humidity area or with loved ones who suffer from asthma or allergies, your household could benefit from a dehumidifier. This device works by drawing excess moisture from the air to prevent mold, bacteria, and other particles from accumulating. There is a common misconception that dehumidifiers are noisy and bulky, and they consume more energy. However, new units have emerged that are more energy-efficient, quieter, and compact. Here are the benefits you will enjoy by using a dehumidifier.
1. Reduce Energy Cost
A dehumidifier with an ENERGY STAR rating operates very efficiently. Running a dehumidifier in your house also helps reduce the amount of time you need to run your AC unit. It draws out excess moisture so that your air conditioner will not have to work as hard to maintain a comfortable temperature. This translates to lower energy consumption.
Additionally, if you buy a dehumidifier with an automatic shut-off feature, it monitors the moisture level and automatically turns off once the house attains the desired humidity level. This helps prevent energy waste.
Although a whole-house dehumidifier may seem like a substantial investment upfront, it uses less energy than a portable model, which translates to more energy savings in the long run.
2. Minimize Asthma and Allergy Symptoms
Humid conditions encourage mold and mildew growth, especially in a poorly ventilated bathroom, kitchen, or laundry room. When mold spores recirculate within your home, they can trigger allergic symptoms like coughing, sneezing, chest pain, itching, and eye irritations. Dust mites can also cause allergic reactions. These are tiny organisms that thrive in warm, humid environments, like in upholstered furniture or under carpets.
The high moisture level in the air makes it difficult to breathe, triggering asthma attacks. Dehumidifiers help keep the indoor humidity at an optimal level, preventing unfavorable conditions for allergens to thrive. This results in a healthier environment.
3. Protect Your Home and Household Items
High moisture content can affect the structural integrity of your house. When the moisture comes into contact with a cold surface, condensation forms. With time, the condensation will cause your home’s support beams to warp. Wooden materials will absorb water that can soften, decay, and lose strength. Metallic fittings will also begin to rust.
High humidity can also damage your belongings, including books, documents, paper money, clothing, and instruments. In addition, home furnishings can absorb excess moisture, and your expensive electronics may develop rust and suffer damage.
The wallpaper in a house can begin to peel, and you might notice some unusual stains on the wall. This problem is even worse in well-ventilated residences since there is decreased air circulation. Therefore, a dehumidifier will help maintain your housing structure, protect valuable belongings, and increase your property’s longevity.
4. Improve Indoor Air Quality
The air quality in your house will depend on the toxins in the air and the humidity level. Moisture promotes the growth of molds and other fungi that release awful odors. The fabrics around the affected areas will absorb these smells and circulate them throughout your home. A dehumidifier plays a vital role in improving air quality by eliminating musty odors.
Dehumidifiers also help keep your household dust-free. They work by pulling in humid indoor air, which blows over the coils, and excess moisture collects in a tank below. The dehumidified air then goes through a filter that filters out most dust, pollen, and pet dander before blowing it back into the house.
5. Improve Your Indoor Comfort
When there is a high moisture level in your indoor air, your home begins to feel warmer than usual. This is because the saturated moisture makes it harder for sweat to evaporate from your skin, inhibiting your body’s natural cooling capacity. A dehumidifier will help maintain proper moisture levels to make your residence more comfortable.
Some dehumidifier models have an automatic restart feature. Once there is a power outage and the power gets restored, your dehumidifier will automatically kick back on and run at the previously configured settings. This feature ensures that your house receives the required dehumidification treatment to prevent high moisture problems even when you are away.
6. Reduce Pest-Related Problems
Excess moisture attracts pests like spiders, cockroaches, silverfish, and termites. Some of these pests get into your house by chewing soft and damp wood. Even a tiny amount of condensation can help these pests thrive longer. If some of your rooms have excess pest activity, install a dehumidifier. It will help create a more balanced environment that discourages a pest infestation.
7. Dry Clothes Faster
When the weather is not suitable to dry your clothes outside, a dehumidifier can help. This is particularly important for homes without laundry drying facilities. A dehumidifier draws out the excess moisture from the air around your clothes, which speeds up the drying process.
8. Easy to Maintain
Dehumidifiers are low-maintenance equipment that require periodic cleaning. If you buy a dehumidifier with a top-loading filter, it is easier to remove and change it. You will not have to spend too much time opening the reservoir to access the filters. Besides cleaning and changing the filters, you need to plan for professional maintenance once in a while.
9. You Will Always Find an Option That Suits Your Needs
Whether you want a dehumidifier for a highly moist basement or a humid living room, you will always find an option that meets your unique requirements. There are even some models best-suited to work in low-temperature areas. Dehumidifiers come in different sizes in terms of moisture removal capacity as well. If you want a unit for small spaces like the bathroom or laundry room, you can choose one with a capacity between 25 and 40 pints.
A 40- to 58-pint dehumidifier works well for mid-sized spaces like bedrooms, while a 60-plus pint unit can manage larger spaces like the living room. There are also other dehumidifiers that can withstand longer times of use and are specifically designed to work in basements, crawlspaces, and garages. You can even choose to buy a convenient portable model that you can use in different rooms rather than purchasing multiple units for various spaces.
Are You Struggling With High Humidity Issues? Install a Dehumidifier
A humid environment is highly uncomfortable to live in. Your body will always feel hot and sticky since the moisture prevents sweat evaporation. Your body will need to work harder to cool off, which can lead to excessive sweating and increased respiration that can jeopardize your family’s health. Overexposure to high humidity can lead to dehydration, fatigue, fainting, and heatstroke. The best way to avoid such issues is by installing a dehumidifier in your home. It will help maintain humidity at the recommended level, which is 30% to 50%. A less humid environment also means that your foods will keep longer without going stale, you won’t find signs of corrosion on your equipment, and your house will be less susceptible to allergens.
You can work with a professional to help you choose the right dehumidifier based on your property’s size. If you need assistance with home dehumidification, contact Summit Heating & Cooling today. We offer dehumidifiers, humidifiers, air duct cleaning, and indoor air quality services. We also provide heating systems and AC installation, repair, and maintenance services in Kansas, MO.