About Dehumidifiers

Snugs asked:


I live in Minnesota so the summers are humid & the winters are drier so I don’t know if I need to dehumidify as the weather gets cooler… My house was built in 1927 and I have an unfinished concrete basement. No sump pump, and it’s been dry for a while (they re-graded the earth around the base of the house a couple years ago). We plan on finishing the basement this winter also, FYI. Any advice is appreciated!

Jacob

Barney Garcia asked:


Someone selling an air conditioner would try to convince you at any cost that you must buy an air conditioner and for that if he has to tell a few half-truths or even lies, he would do that. Thing is you should know beforehand so that you can’t be sold a bluff. One such point is the dehumidifying capacity of air conditioners. While air conditioners do dehumidify, their primary purpose is to make the environment comfortable.

For the job of dehumidification we have refrigerant dehumidifiers. The compressor of a refrigerant dehumidifier is rated at anything between 13000 and 15000 BTU. In place of that, a residential central air system has a compressor rated at 30000 BTU or higher. The air conditioners used for commercial purposes have even higher ratings. Now with such high ratings and over 50% of the energy being expended by air conditioners in dehumidification, they are apparently good agents of dehumidification.

But there is more to it. In case of a refrigerant dehumidifier, subject to the surrounding conditions, the temperature of the evaporator coil is about 20 to 30 degree Fahrenheit below the dew point temperature of the surrounding air which is at about 28 degree Fahrenheit. However, when we are talking about an air conditioner the equation changes. An air conditioner’s evaporator coil would only be 10 to 14 degree Fahrenheit colder than the surrounding air. The theory is that, the more a coil is cold, thee greater the moisture vapor that will be removed from the air. What this means is when a dehumidifier is able to dehumidify a space in 24 to 36 hours, an air conditioner will take much longer.

There are also the evaporative coolers which are extensively used in the dry climates of the desert and mountain regions of the western United States. The evaporative coolers, as the name suggests uses evaporation to cool the air. The result is that the humidity increases in the air. So, if anyone plans to buy an evaporative cooler, thinking it will also solve is dehumidifying problem, he should think again. In fact a dehumidifier and an evaporative cooler shouldn’t be used together as the cooler will nullify the effects of the dehumidifier.

So, it must be understood that air conditioners are made to maintain a comfortable temperature indoors when the outdoors are unpleasant. In the process it might dehumidify the rooms. But that certainly is not what it is meant to do.



Yolanda

Lukas Rathswohl asked:


Dehumidifiers are great for removing excess moisture from your indoor air and achieving relative humidity levels. By making the air less moist, dehumidifiers can help to get rid of problems such as sinuses, skin problems, mold and mildew, rotting furniture etc. But in order to benefit from a dehumidifier, you first need to buy the right one for your home.

This buying guide lists all the important criteria that need to be considered when buying a dehumidifier.

Criteria For Selecting Dehumidifiers

1) Dehumidifier Size: It is important to buy the right sized dehumidifier for your home so that you can dehumidify air adequately and also do not end up wasting money with a larger-than-needed dehumidifier. So, here are the factors to consider for sizing your dehumidifier.

You have to measure the area of the room or your home, which needs to be dehumidified. Once you know the area in square feet, you have to select a unit which has the capacity to effectively dehumidify areas of that size. Remember that the capacity mentioned on the dehumidifier is what can be achieved in optimum test conditions, which are not likely to be present in your home. Thus, to be on the safe side, you should choose a dehumidifier with a moisture removal capacity that is slightly more than what is required by you.

Another important factor for sizing is the moisture content of your indoor air. Some rooms may be small in area but could have high moisture levels, thus needing a larger unit. Whereas some larger rooms with lower humidity levels could make do with a smaller dehumidifier. Thus, you should check the humidity levels in your home, ascertain how much moisture needs to be removed to obtain the desired humidity, and then choose a dehumidifier that has the capacity to remove that much moisture.

2) Outdoor Humidity: In addition to the humidity levels inside your home, you also have to consider outdoor humidity levels. If you live in areas with high natural humidity, you will require a larger unit than those who live where there is lower natural humidity (area being the same).

3) Standard v/s Low Temperature Dehumidifiers: If you live in areas where the temperature of the air that needs to be dehumidified is less than 60 degrees F, a standard dehumidifier is likely to be ineffective as its coils can frost up due to the low temperatures. In such a case, you will need to buy a unit that is a Low Temperature model. Such units are meant for use where temperatures can go as low as 45 degrees F, with no damage to the coils, and effective dehumidification.

4) Automatic Shut Off: With this option, your dehumidifier will automatically shut down when the water reservoir is full so that there is no overflowing of water. Thus, if you do not want to constantly keep checking the water bucket, you should choose a model with automatic shut off.

5) Continuous Drainage: Once the water bucket gets filled in your dehumidifier, you have to manually empty it out before starting the unit again. As large dehumidifiers can have water buckets with high capacities, it can get quite difficult to lift the heavy buckets and empty them. Thus, you should choose a unit with a continuous drainage system, or where you can attach a hose to the drain, especially if you require a large dehumidifier.

6) Built-in Hygrometer/ Humidstat: A hygrometer measures the exact humidity in the indoor air, whereas a humidstat helps to control humidity levels and maintain them within the desired range. Thus, if you want to ensure that relative humidity (from 45%-50%) is achieved, and if you wish to automatically maintain the achieved humidity levels, you should choose a dehumidifier with a built-in hygrometer and humidity control.

7) Ease of Use: Having a dehumidifier that is easy to use and can conveniently be moved from place to place is an important feature for many people. If you too wish to have ease of use, you should select a dehumidifier that has an automatic restart option, automatic defrost, castor wheels, and an overflow protection valve.

Energy Star Rating: It is all very well to keep your dehumidifier running continuously so that you can achieve proper moisture levels in your indoor air and be free from health problems, mold, fungi, etc. But when the inflated electricity bill arrives, that’s when your problems return. So, wouldn’t it be great if you could get a unit that works at its best and most effectively, that too by consuming as less energy as possible? Well, that is what the Energy Star rating is all about. Thus, if you do not want to worry about high electricity costs, it may well be worth your while to buy an Energy Star rated dehumidifier.



Katherine

lollerskates asked:


I’ve always wondered if I could use a dehumidifier similar to an air conditioner, because they’re always listed under the Air conditioner sections on websites.

Leslie

Synapse India asked:


Dehumidifiers are specialized apparatus used for extracting water vapor from the air. It is a kind of a small & portable unit so that it can be placed in the center of the room to absorb the moisture in the air. Most dehumidifiers operate by passing through a cooling device similar to a refrigerator. The cooling agent in a dehumidifier converts the water vapor condense out of the air. However, you need to clear the condensed vapor which gets collected in a pan from the time to time.

Dehumidifiers – Features

Dehumidifiers vary from each other. One of the common features is the automatic turn off switch that informs you when the device is full and can no longer perform its function properly. This is a very good option as you do not have to conscious about cleaning the pan timely. This system provides you an alarm so that you can clean it when it requires. You can turn on the dehumidifier and leave it and feel assured that it will turn off when full.

In today’s modern dehumidifiers, companies have tried to provide utmost protection for places with relative low temperature and humidity. You can find dehumidifiers come with the better concepts of defrozing of ice so that users will get better services.

Some dehumidifiers come with a dehumidifier/heater combination device so that you can get an additional advantage of a beautiful environment. Buy dehumidifiers that give you the maximum advantages and get all the warmth of outside cold atmosphere.

Shopping at Internet

Want to get good quality dehumidifiers? Look no further then the internet and discover the best apparatus available in the market. Compare dehumidifiers prices and make proper inquiries so that you can bargain the best deal. Remember searching can give you the most adequate and useful apparatus to make your life truly beautiful.



Joseph

Kevin Bailey asked:


A dehumidifier is used to reduce the humidity level in the atmosphere. It helps when there is too much moisture in certain rooms. They are frequently used after cleaning or in rooms that are have steam. Various types of dehumidifiers exist in the market today. Choosing a dehumidifier can be a daunting task. One has to be sure of the kind of dehumidifier they want. There are dehumidifiers that act like air fresheners when the room is stuffy. The most common type of dehumidifier is the desiccative, which uses desiccant material for dehumidification. The other types of dehumidifiers are the refridgerative or mechanical dehumidifier. Various air conditioners serve as dehumidifiers.

There are dehumidifiers that are used in industries. These act as a precaution appliance because they reduce the humidity levels making the atmosphere conducive for the workers. The industrial dehumidifiers are big and very expensive. This is because they are used in large blocks and are high powered thus consuming much energy. Additionally, the purchase price of such an appliance is high. The dehumidifiers used in homes are much smaller and more efficient since they are only used during the cold season. These save on energy since they are only used when the owner needs them.

Cost is also a factor to consider when choosing a dehumidifier. The bigger the dehumidifier, the more expensive it will be. One should also consider where the dehumidifier would be used. This is because a dehumidifier for use in the basement will need to be more efficient than one in other parts of the house. This is because the basement has low air circulation. There are also dehumidifiers for cars and closets. However, these are smaller and cheaper though they work the same as the big ones.

Another aspect to consider when looking for a dehumidifier is the noise level. Some dehumidifiers produce a lot of noise. This is because of the high electric activity that the machine is performing. Due to this noise, the dehumidifiers cannot be used in places like hospitals and schools. This is a limiting factor since a better performing dehumidifier might be producing more noise than a silent one. Therefore, another factor to consider is the location where the dehumidifier will be used.

The speed of a dehumidifier also matters since some dehumidifiers work slower. This is dependent on the amount of humidity and the surface area occupied by the dehumidifier. Some dehumidifiers are ductable and have condensate pumps. Most dehumidifiers are electric powered and consume much energy. Due to this energy consumption, it is advisable that one gets a dehumidifier that works fast and consumes less and this saves on the overall energy cost.

Today, most dehumidifiers have defrosting features and room temperature regulators. Before buying a dehumidifier, it is wise to look for these additional features and any others that are unique. Theses features are the ones that make up a good dehumidifier and should play a vital role in determining the kind of appliance to buy.



Megan

Joe asked:


Should I set it at 40? 46? 54%?
My dehumidifier adjusts in 2% increments.

Ida

Thomas Jones asked:


A dehumidifier is a household appliance that increases the moisture in the room or the entire house, which leads to good health. In summer season, people sweat a lot to get rid of this many people prefer being in cool places and having cool things. In every summer season I prefer going out with my family to hill station, as it is cool and pleasant to stay there. Each and every person prefers being cool and keeping their body too cool, by having lot of water, going in a pool, turning on the electric fan or going out of station as I did. But sometimes circumstances are such that we have to stay at home, in such cases dehumidifiers works the best for us.

In summer, my kids also complain much as the heat becomes unbearable. Due to that they get very irritated; I tell them to have lots of water but this works only for sometime. For long term results, someone suggested me to buy a home appliance i.e.; dehumidifier which will keep me & my family cool in summer. Then I decided to buy one before the summer was near, staying at home was getting worse day by day as the temperature was increasing. The only way which worked wonders by tackling the heat was buying this appliance from Toronto appliance. A person who stays at a place where the temperature is hot throughout the year has to prefer having a refrigerant dehumidifier. This helps to keep the air cool and the humidity at 45%. Whereas people leaving in cool place throughout the year, have to prefer a desiccant dehumidifier instead of refrigerant dehumidifier. Desiccant dehumidifier controls the humidity automatically i.e., decreases humidity when the humidity is high and increases the humidity when it is too low to make the atmosphere feel warmer.

When buying a product never try to save money by not buying a unit which does not include an automatic defrosts. Because if a frosted-over dehumidifier is left running for a long time then this can lead to break down. If you don’t want this to happen, then it is better you prefer a unit which has a two-speed fan attached to it. You can get this unit sitting at home; log onto your computer and login to Canada appliance site, which will help you a lot. Both types of dehumidifier are available here, leaving these they also have other which can be got. However you are spending a lot of money to buy them, so always keep in mind that you buy an automatic defrost and a unit which has two speed adjustable fan. This helps to reduce the sound that occurs when it’s in use. My personal favorite is Viking appliance this is the brand which will fulfill all your demands in having a good dehumidifier at home for a long run. They have different models which you can select from the website. I was happy with the results that I got, and the site also gave me good customer service, right from taking my order to shipping the product at my house. So what are you waiting for, before the summer starts get yourself ready to be cool by having this unit?



Benjamin

jupitergirl asked:


Lately I’ve been finding centipedes in my apartment and I heard that a dehumidifier would work to eliminate these little monsters. I don’t have alot of room though and would like a small easy to use dehumidifier. Any ideas?

Gina