About Dehumidifiers

Baron Albert asked:


When a Dehumidifier Can Help

Too much humidity in your home can affect the health of anyone who is living there. If allowed to build up, over time, too much moisture will create serious problems in the home: Condensation on windows, staining, musty odours and mould, especially in the bathroom. Possibly causing irreversible damage to your house, and it’s contents. It can be difficult to keep a good balance between heat and ventilation, especially during the winter months. Even on a hot day the air can become damp, and the humidity of a room will need to be controlled. If you’re planning on a good night’s sleep that is! Dehumidifiers can take away all the discomfort.



Health Issues

Without a dehumidifier, inadequate ventilation and a whole host of other things will raise the humidity levels in the home. Dangerous fungi, moulds and mildew, which can promote disease, can form as a result. These moulds are becoming of increasing concern. Research suggesting these fungi and moulds can produce gases. Gases which can invoke various allergic reactions and breathing problems. Including asthma and similar respiratory conditions.

Too much humidity has long been thought to cause allergic reactions, causing problems with dust mites. Believed a major contributory factor, with regards to various respiratory diseases and conditions. Dozens of children suffer permanent colds throughout the winter, breathing problems and allergies. Many experts believe the true problem really lies at home. A dehumidifier might seem expensive, but even the experts believe it’s usually worth it.

Old and New Problems

More often than not, humidity is seen as a ‘summertime problem’. However, many professional believe people are making are actually making their homes too ‘weatherproofed’! Incredible as it sounds, an old house tends to be a touch more on the ‘draughty side’. Therefore, when you turn up the heat in winter, you have a ‘natural ventilation system’ in place to save the day! Although it far from means old houses are immune. Today, the consumer demands a house be virtually impenetrable to the elements! Sealed windows and doors, wall and loft insulation, even the exteriors of the wall’s themselves. Literally, nothing is entering or leaving the building! This is when a dehumidifier can save the day.

Recommendations

Dehumidifiers can keep your home at the recommended level of humidity. This being between forty and fifty percent for inside the home. A dehumidifier with a built in humidity metre is perfect for keeping those figures on target.

Just give the command and the machine will obey! Lot’s of factors contribute to a build up in humidity, in the home. We produce moisture in just about every action we take: Showering, making the dinner, washing the dishes, even breathing! Dehumidifiers are available for the basement, the whole house or for a single room.  There are even ‘Closet Dehumidifiers! The best dehumidifier for you will much depend on your needs. Certain features will suit your purpose more than others. Humidity is not to be taken lightly, choose your model with care!



Jeremy

Terro White asked:


Generally people opt for a dehumidifier as it functions in the similar way as air conditioner. This helps in maintaining the required level of humidity. Although they cannot be used in the way to cool the air, but can create a more comfortable living space.

They are used by the people all across the world in order to get rid of the discomfort that is caused by the increased humidity level. Now, if you are using this machinery, you should make a regular practice to clean it thoroughly. The more you are used to such a practice, the better will be the benefits in your hand.

Nowadays, it has emerged as a big time necessity of the modern times where the people are already under a great level of stress. They do not want to take any further chances with their health. Hence, most of the people intend to buy this type of machinery in order to be able to have more comfortable as well as healthier surroundings. This help in daily chores as it makes you relaxed. But, there are certain things that you should remember, before plunging to buy any such apparatus. They are available in the market in different forms as per your personal preferences. They can even help in preventing the further growth of mold in the house. It also prevents the unpleasant odor that may result from mold and other microorganisms.

The first and foremost thing that one should take care of before actually making a purchase of it is to think about the actual size that you require. If you get an improper size, the unit will not be able to give you the right benefits. Therefore, you should know the exact measurement of the same. Also, it can help you in getting rid of excess humidity by quickly removing the unwanted moisture from the house. This device is very compact and can be easily operated.

Now, if your unit is working properly, it will be helpful in dealing with outside humidity.  This is because; you may come across the units that can be operated above 65 degrees temperature. So you have to make a careful choice. It is better to search the web as in what kind will fulfill your requirements. Like basement dehumidifiers have low temperature. The other important thing that should be kept in mind before making a purchase of the unit is its noise factor. Generally, the units with low temperature tend to be noisier.

So, just check the noise level of the machinery that you have chosen. The important most aspect is to consider its actual positioning in your home. You must place it where it can get good in and out airflow. Do not place it near any wall, it will hinder the airflow. Thus, if you want dehumidifiers to be of great help to you; then get them comfortable positioned in your house. Besides the quality of the air, they provide improved health conditions by preventing excess moisture.



Heidi

Chuck Jaymes asked:


Many homes that don’t have a basement do have a crawl space. This is especially true in the southeastern United States. Although you may not realize it, excessive moisture and humidity are wafting up from your crawl space into your home. This is where a high quality crawl space dehumidifier comes into play.

The moisture laden air entering your home from the crawl space can affect your health and damage your home. Mold, mildew, wood rot and termites are just a few of the problems you will encounter if the high humidity in your crawl space is left unchecked. Mold can cause health problems and allergic reactions. Wood rot and termites can cause serious and expensive structural damage. The one thing mold, wood rot and termites have in common is that they need a source of moisture to survive. By controlling the moisture, you can protect both your health and your investment.

Many homeowners make the mistake of trying to use appliance grade dehumidifiers in their crawl space. Home and basement dehumidifiers ARE NOT designed and built for harsh crawl space environments. Either they can’t to the job required or they are over sized units for a tight crawl space. Appliance grade dehumidifiers can freeze up in outdoor climates or will run continuously because they are being overworked. This will add significantly to your electric bill.

It’s important to choose a dehumidifier that was designed and built for a crawl space environment. These units are designed to fit in a crawl space and are very energy efficient. When used with a vapor barrier, a crawl space dehumidifier can dramatically reduce the relative humidity levels in your home. Don’t trust some kid at Lowe’s or Home Depot to sell you the correct dehumidifier for your crawl space. Seek out professionals who feature equipment that was meant to solve your crawl space humidity problems.



Grace

Robert Thompson asked:


A portable air conditioner provides many advantages for those who need additional cooling in their homes or offices. Since traditional air conditioning units are larger and fit in a window, they also require ventilation. A portable air conditioner does not require that someone places it in a window or cuts a hole in a wall for ventilation, ensuring that it is truly mobile and can be transported to any room that needs additional cooling. Since there are many rooms or buildings that are not designed for traditional air conditioning units, a portable air conditioner often provides the best solution.

 

Some typical uses for a portable air conditioner includes cooling a shed, garage, basement or warehouse as well as for use in places like RVs, trailers, and boats. However, a portable air conditioner can provide the cooling needed in any room such as a kitchen, bathroom, or bedroom. Since a portable air conditioner operates simply by plugging it in, it is the perfect way to make certain that you remain cool and comfortable in any environment.

 

Another advantage of using a portable air conditioner is the fact that the unit is on wheels. This ensures that if you need to continually transport the unit from one room to another that you can do so easily and without hindrance. This is especially important for those who work in warehouses that do not have traditionally cooling systems installed. A portable air conditioner can easily be rolled from one workroom to another without needing to lift the unit or manually transport it.

 

Today’s portable air conditioners feature many more luxuries that previous models simply didn’t have. For example, current models include digital touch settings and are also easily operated with a remote control. This makes it very convenient to ensure that your air conditioning unit is set to the perfect temperature at all times.

 

Portable air conditioners also serve as dehumidifiers and are a suitable solution for those who need to remove excessive moisture from an area. This is perfect for those who are in a working condition that they feel is a bit too humid or may be contributing to excessive mold growth. When looking for a portable air conditioner you should take into consideration how much moisture you expect the unit to hold and whether or not you want the unit to connect through a hose to expel moisture or to use evaporation technology.

 

When moisture is removed from the air, either through a dehumidifier, a traditional air conditioning unit, or a portable air conditioner the moisture must be expelled. When the moisture enters the unit it is turned into water. Traditional window air conditioners provide a vent where the water is allowed to drip out the back of the unit. Dehumidifiers often have a tank where the water is collected and then manually removed. However, new models of portable air conditioners use a technology known as evaporation. These units do not need to be vented or connected to a hose as they take the moisture and evaporate it through the use of a coolant. It’s important to take all of these pints into consideration when determining the best unit for your home or office needs.

 



Nicole

Jason asked:


Hi, may I know Where can purchase room dehumidifier in Singapore? the cost?

Jessie

Raymond Lee asked:


Typical allergy symptoms include sneezing, nasal itching, and a dripping nose, along with congestion and red, swollen itchy eyes. Whether or not, you’ll develop an allergy is part genetics and part environment. A child with one allergic parent has about a 30 to 50 percent chance of getting allergies, while odds rise to approximately 60 to 80 percent if both parents have allergies. Also, exposure to a high level of allergies early on puts you at risk of developing allergic symptoms later. Here are some ways that can help people with allergies to breathe easier.

1. Salt Your Nose

Over-the-counter saline nasal sprays are a safe way of loosening mucus. It is not a drug so you can use it as often as you want. To make your own salty solution, take a half-teaspoon of salt dissolved in eight ounces of lukewarm water, put it in a bulb syringe and flush it into your nose while leaning forward over the sink so that it can drip out. Look for bulb syringes at your local drugstore.

2. Make A Cool Compress

For itchy, red, swollen eyes, take a clean washcloth, run it under cool water, put it over your eyes until it is warm and try again, if you need to.

3. Seal Your Mattress

One of the biggest problems with dust is dust mites, teeny creatures that live on dust, skin flakes and other bits of microscopic household debris that collects in bedding, furniture and curtains. So zipping a plastic cover over your mattress is a good way of limiting dust mite exposure.

4. Press Duct Tape Into Service

Putting duct tape on the mattress zipper, sealing off the escape route for dust mite.

5. Dry Up

Molds and dust mites thrive in warm, humid conditions. So to reduce molds and dust mite levels, keep a dehumidifier in your bedroom and one in your family room.

6. Clean The Dehumidifier

Dehumidifiers should be cleaned out every week. Otherwise, molds will proliferate.

7. Simplify

Getting rid of dust mite havens – especially in your bedroom – is a sneeze-free way of coping. Have a clutter-free room with no fabrics or banners on the wall. You shouldn’t have carpeting, because vacuuming doesn’t clear the dust mites out. Stuffed toys trap dust and should be removed. To have frequent changing of sheets and regular washing of bed linens, pillows, and bedspreads.



Marilyn

Linda Moore asked:


The humidity level within our homes is very important to our health, too much or too little humidity can cause everything from condensation and mold to dry skin and respiratory issues. Our homes and our bodies depend on the right humidity levels to stay strong and healthy.

Humidity is described as the water vapor levels that are in the air that we breathe. When the air warms up, the vapor levels drop. As the air becomes heavy with rain, the levels begin to rise. Either of these extremes causes us to become uncomfortable and more susceptible to illnesses.

In the winter, the humidity levels tend to be low due to continued use of furnaces and other heating devices. When this happens, we are left with dry skin, lips and eyes, which are uncomfortable, but can be dealt with. However, for some people, especially the very young, very old or those already compromised by sickness, the dryer air can leave them more susceptible to respiratory issues such as bronchitis and asthma.

The use of a home humidifier will bring the air moisture levels to where they need to be. There are several types of humidifiers to choose. A popular type of devise works by warming up water from a reservoir tank, the evaporated water is then dispersed through the home with the use of a fan system. Another system utilizes a continuous mist or steam that is dispersed through the whole house, putting the needed moisture into the air.

A dehumidifier addresses the opposite problem. When the air that we breathe becomes saturated with water, we become uncomfortable, the air is sticky and it is harder to breath. The most common way to deal with this problem is with the use of an air conditioner, which literally sucks the water from the air. This effectively lowers the moisture levels and makes us more comfortable.

If an air conditioner is not an option, the next most common way to control high humidity levels is with the use of a bathroom or kitchen exhaust fan; these are the two places where high humidity levels are frequently found. The exhaust fan pulls the high moisture air out of the room, resulting in a more normal air/water level.

Another way to dehumidify the air in a house is with a dehumidifier. The use of a dehumidifier becomes important in areas of the house that never seem to dry out, such as the basement; or if someone in the home has allergies to mold. Most molds are very common and are not anything to worry about, except in the case of an allergy sufferer. In this case, a dehumidifier should be used in the bedrooms of the person with allergies as well as in or around the high humidity areas of the home.

Humidifiers and dehumidifiers can be found in a size that is right for every house, in fact for every room of the house. They are sold in a variety of stores from home improvement stores to discount chains, from drugstores to online vendors. If you are unsure if the use of a humidifier or dehumidifier is what is needed for your health issues, talk with your doctor, he or she will let you know if the use of one of these devises will alleviate your symptoms.



Dan

slb20062003 asked:


my dehumidifier has been shut off for quite some time because we never use it but i heard on the news that a house caught on fire because of a old dehumidifier. Any suggestions

Edna

_ asked:


My landlord just installed a dehumidifier in the basement where we found small mold growth on anything wooden and on the floor. I got rid of everything that can be tossed with the exception of the floor of course. It’s concrete. Anyways, if I run a dehumidifier non-stop, will the mold die? Will it be likely that it won’t reappear if it still runs? Thanks!

Catherine

Gabriel Adams asked:


A dehumidifier is used to remove excess moisture from the air by moving the air over a surface that is cooler than the temperature of the moisture. The moisture is condensed in this process similar to how moisture condenses in a glass. A dehumidifier is an excellent solution for those who suffer from asthma or allergies.

If you live in a home that is too moist, it can pose serious health risks because the moisture can lead to rotting, mold growth, and the growth of microorganisms. Dust mites breed in homes with high levels of humidity. Your nasal passages can become irritated. Those who already have other health conditions will feel the effects worse.

On average, you want your home to have 50% or less humidity. Some people need more or less to be comfortable. If you find condensation in your home on the windows or experience respiratory issues consider lowering the moisture level to 30% and see if you get any relief. You can use a hydrometer to measure the amount of humidity in your home.

There are many types of dehumidifiers to choose from. The more moisture you have in your home the larger size you will need. Some homes need more than one to deal with the moisture effectively. Look for ones that have a two speed fan as they are quieter and more energy efficient. Some dehumidifiers have to be placed by a drain for the moisture to be released. Others have a tub that you manually empty. They both get the job done so that is a personal preference.

It is important that you keep your dehumidifier clean or it will not work properly for you. The filters need to be cleaned at least every two weeks. Each brand of dehumidifier will come with specific cleaning instructions that you need to follow.



Allen