Town Appliance Official Blog
How Do Dehumidifiers Work and Should You Buy One?
Depending on the climate conditions, humidity levels vary all over United States. However, throughout the seasons, every part of our country experiences higher humidity at some point. These are just the times when you can secure some quality air in your home with a dehumidifier.
Are Dehumidifiers Good For Your Health?
Dehumidifier is a great addition to your household. They are small, safe and economical. And not just for reducing humid stuffiness – they’re great for health, too – especially if your family members suffer from asthma or sensitivity to dust or other allergens.
An overly humid home can have adverse health effects ranging from discomfort and poor sleep to heat stroke and allergy triggers. It’s also the perfect breeding ground for allergens, bacteria, critters, pests, and other irritants. A dehumidifier reduces the build-up of mold, mildew, and irritants, helping to create a drier, fresher environment. By making your environment more comfortable, your sleep and general stay in home are extremely improved.
How Do Dehumidifiers Work?
Dehumidifiers do their job with a very simple and healthy procedure. Moist, humid air is drawn into the machine with fans, passing over cold coils to bring its temperature down and therefore extract the moisture, which then drops into a removable tank. The air is then reheated and released back into the room.
All dehumidifiers will have the option of manually removing and emptying the collected water (the machine lets you know once it’s full), and some offer continuous drainage if you have a sink or drain nearby.
Where They Can Be Used?
As they are portable, dehumidifiers are especially useful in bathrooms, wardrobes, pantries, kitchens, basements, and laundries, or anywhere with limited natural ventilation. They’re also really handy for those using a vented dryer.
Air-conditioners and dehumidifiers operate in similar ways, in that they both draw air in and send dry air out. While an air-conditioner is specifically designed to adjust the dry air temperature, a dehumidifier will release warm air back into the designated room, so it may not be the most ideal option if you live in a very hot environment.
However, overusing a dehumidifier by leaving it on all night, every night, for example, can dry your home out to unhealthy levels (which contributes to dry coughs and other unsightly health issues). Keeping humidity to between 30-50% is the recommended level. For a more accurate reading, there are devices such as the hygrometer or humidistat that can be purchased.
How To Choose The Right Dehumidifier?
There are few factors you want to consider to make the perfect choice for your home: the dehumidifier’s water storage capacity, the size of your room, and the general temperature of where you live. This ensures you choose the most effective model for your environment.
If you live in a very wet environment and want to dehumidify a room of about 900 square feet, then you should aim for a unit that removes at least 3 gallons of water a day. If your dehumidifier has a tank capacity of 1 gallon and you left it on all day, then you would have to empty it 3 times. The larger the area, the larger the capacity you would require.
If from the information above you've decided your home needs air purification and a dehumidifier, browse through your favorite online appliance retailers wide selection and get your best deal at Townappliance.com