About Dehumidifiers

johnsan89 asked:


Can anyone give me an estimate of how long I should expect to see/smell results? Thank you.

Hazel

Jeanie Wong asked:


Do You Have a Household Moisture Problem?

If you notice creaking floors, condensation developing on windows, or exacerbated allergy symptoms, your home’s humidity levels may be out of whack. Low humidity levels can cause problems such as increased static electricity; respiratory problems; and cracking and peeling of furniture and paint, but purchasing an inexpensive humidifier for your home is an easy solution. However, high humidity levels are often a more challenging problem. If your home is too wet, it can be a breeding ground for mildew growth; stained ceilings and walls; and excess condensation on windows and mirrors. Those living in hot, humid climates may also find that their homes provide the optimal environment for pests such as termites.                

All About Humidity Levels

We hear about humidity daily in weather reports, and humidity is often likened to that muggy, steam-room feeling you experience on a summer day. Humidity is usually expressed in ways such as absolute humidity and relative humidity. Absolute humidity refers to the mass of water vapor divided by the mass of dry air in a volume of air at a given temperature. As such, the hotter the air, the more water it contains.

On the other hand, relatively humidity refers to the ratio of the current absolute humidity to the highest possible absolute humidity. If an environment has 100 percent relative humidity, this means the air is saturated with water vapor and can hold no more moisture. As a result, this creates the possibility of rain. Overall, humans are quite sensitive to humidity because the skin relies on air to get rid of moisture. Sweating is your body’s way of keeping cooling and maintaining its current temperature. This is why you feel much hotter than the actual temperature when humidity levels are high. Conversely, when there is low relatively humidity, you feel much cooler than the actual temperature because sweat is quickly evaporating and cooling us off. In other words, if the air temperature is 75° F with zero relative humidity, the temperature will feel like it’s 69° F. However, if the relative humidity is 100 percent at the same air temperature, it will feel like it’s 80° F.

With that in mind, according to the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Standard Environmental Conditions for Human Occupancy, it is recommended that relative humidity be kept between 30% to 50% in the summer, and 30% to 40% in the winter. In order to measure humidity levels, you can purchase a small, inexpensive hygrometer (often called a humidity sensor or relative humidity indicator). This device measures the humidity level in your home and will confirm whether there is too little or too much humidity. Once you are aware of the humidity levels in your home, you can then decide if you need to take action.

Again, if your air is too dry, you can regulate moisture levels with a humidifier. However, if your air is too moist, a dehumidifier can help maintain the indoor relative humidity at the desired level, control musty odors, and protect furniture from water damage. 

What is a Dehumidifier?

Dehumidifiers are household appliances that help reduce the humidity levels in the air. There are primarily two types of humidifiers - desiccant and mechanical. 

Desiccant dehumidifiers (or passive dehumidifiers) are named for their use of a desiccative substance to dehumidify the air.  This substance has an affinity for water vapor, and the dehumidifying process involves exposing the desiccant matter to an air stream with high relative humidity. These dehumidifiers do not utilize compressors and are best used in areas with low temperatures and relatively low humidity levels. Desiccant dehumidifiers can also be used instead of mechanical units or in combination with them. Although not as efficient as mechanical models, they are usually very inexpensive to purchase.  Examples of desiccant dehumidifiers would be the Eva-Dry EH-500F and the Eva-Dry EDV300. 

Mechanical dehumidifiers (or active dehumidifiers), however, are much more common, efficient, and are simply air conditioners with both the hot and cold coils in the same box. A fan draws the room’s air over the cold coil of the AC to condense the moisture, and this is often collected into a bucket. Dry air will then pass through the hot coil to heat it back up to its original temperature. Therefore, mechanical dehumidifiers will slightly raise the air temperature, as opposed to air conditioners, which will cool the air as it dehumidifies it.  Examples of mechanical dehumidifiers would be the NewAir AD-400 and the Soleus CFM40. 

How to Buy a Dehumidifier

When shopping for a dehumidifier, there are several factors to consider such as the size of the unit, dehumidification capacity, and safety features. Below is a list of some of the most common things to look for when choosing a dehumidifier and what they mean to you:

Size:  The size of a dehumidifier is generally based on the amount of moisture extracted from the air in 24 hours, which is usually measured in pints. Purchase a larger capacity model over a smaller one because larger units can dehumidify more area in a shorter amount of time. Furthermore, a dehumidifier with a smaller capacity may run continuously and still not lower the humidity to proper levels.

Portability:  If you’re looking to move your dehumidifier from room to room, look for a unit that is compact, lightweight, and includes a carrying handle or rolling casters. 

Built-In Humidistat: If you’d like to be able to adjust different humidity levels, finding a dehumidifier with a humidistat is key. This feature will automatically turn the unit on/off depending on the humidity setting.

Automatic Shut-Off: This function will allow you to turn the unit on or off without having to unplug it, and it also prevents overfilling when the storage tank is full.

Low Temperature Operation / Automatic Defrost:  If you may be using the dehumidifier in temperatures colder than 65° F, look for a unit that has an anti-frost sensor and can operate in cold temperatures. This prevents quick cycling and frost from accumulating on the sensor. 

Storage Tank Capacity:  Almost all dehumidifiers have storage tanks for the collected water. If you’re not planning to purchase a model with a continuous drainage port, you’ll have to empty the tank periodically. If the dehumidifier is to be placed in an area where you may not be able to empty it frequently, look for a tank size of at least 15 pints.

Continuous Drainage:  Dehumidifiers with a continuous drainage port will eliminate the hassle of emptying a condensation tank. Simply attach a hose to the dehumidifier, and the moisture will drain out through the hose.

Washable / Removable Air Filter:  Dehumidifiers that have washable filters trap airborne dust and particles. If the filter is washable, this makes maintenance a breeze: simply pull out the filter; rinse it with mild soap and water; and replace it back within the unit.



Lester

kemchan2 asked:


I’m trying to save water. I’d like to dump the water from my dehumidfier into my washing machine. Is there any reason why I should not do this?
The dehumidifier is in the basement right next to the washing machine. I’d rather not have to carry the full bucket upstairs and outside to water the plants. I do try to make sure the bucket is clean, no mold, slime, etc.

Jorge

Herman White asked:


In today’s heavily industrialized world, there are a lot of reasons why you’d want to keep all your doors and windows tightly closed. Pollution and outsiders are just some of the things that you want to keep out of your home. But keeping all of those things out also means keeping other things like moisture in your house, and that could get troublesome. It’s a good thing that dehumidifiers are an accessible solution to that problem.



What’s a Dehumidifier?

They’re basically small home appliances that lower the humidity – the amount of water vapor in the ambient air – by sucking out water. They come in two forms – mechanical and chemical – and they’re the best solution you could find for your indoor humidity issues.

A mechanical unit combines an air conditioner and a heater into a single apparatus. Moist air is drawn into the machine, which then cools it to make the water vapor condense. The drier, colder air is heated as it exits through the rear of the machine. Chemical dehumidifiers, on the other hand, use substances known as desiccants, which have a natural ability to absorb the water from the surrounding air.

Do You Need a Dehumidifier?

You may not realize it yet, but there’s a very good chance that you do need a dehumidifier in your home. Comfort would probably be your first consideration when getting a unit. After all, few people like the muggy feeling of a humid area, that sticky sensation you get on a hot and humid day. Even a small portable dehumidifier can alleviate that problem to some extent.

Keeping the humidity in check will also control the other things that like humid areas – like mold, for example. Mold and mildew just love places with high moisture content, and you’re bound to find them growing on organic surfaces in humid areas. When you zap the humidity out of the air, you’re not just depriving them of the water they need. You also disable them from releasing their spores, which can cause severe allergies.

Mold and mildew are likely to be your biggest problem when you live in a very humid environment. They cause more than their fair share of problems: their spores can trigger life-threatening allergies, they tend to destroy the surface they latch on to, and they’re not very attractive to boot.

Dehumidify These Spaces

Unless you’re getting a whole house dehumidifier (i.e. the kind that hooks into the HVAC), you’ll have to prioritize which rooms and spaces should get dehumidified in your home. You can only spend so much on these things, after all, so you may as well spend your money efficiently.

The first and biggest candidate is your basement or cellar. It has the combination of dark and damp that mold and mildew just love, so zapping out the humidity there is a big priority. Other places where you work with water, such as a laundry room, will also benefit a lot from having a dehumidifier installed.

Beside basement dehumidifiers, it’s also a good idea to install one in spaces like the living room, where you and your household tend to spend a lot of time. There’s the obvious plus in terms of comfort, and then there’s the health benefit of not having mold and mildew there to trigger allergic reactions. In the same vein, other ‘family rooms’ like your den or recreation room should also be candidates to get a dehumidifier.

Typically, the best dehumidifier to get for any room is proportional to the size of the room. A bigger room would thus call for a bigger dehumidifier. But if you’re not sure about the size to get, the safest choice would be to get the larger size. That way, you’re fairly sure that it’s within the unit’s capacity to dehumidify your room or space.



Arnold

Gen Wright asked:


ow that there are loads and loads of portable air conditioner units available in either online shops or brick-and-mortar businesses. We also know that some of these machines can become so specialized that the price tag is flashing the dollar sign right into the thousand dollar category. We also know that some of these portable air conditioner units are marketed as energy savers. However, this marketing information does not even scratch the surface when it comes to vital data about this product. If you really want to know more about what marketers are not saying, then read on.

Marketer says: This portable air conditioner is a space saving device. In normal language, this simply means that the unit is small. What the marketer is not saying are the technical specs that matter. Almost all portable air conditioner units are small. That?s why they are portable in the first place. They can easily be carried from one place to the other with relative ease. The larger models are not really suitable for home use since they do tend to occupy a greater space. However, these larger models are usually built on wheels or platforms with wheels to make transport easier. So when a marketer has nothing more to offer about his product, other than being a ?space saving device,? you may want to actually research or demand technical specifications like how much power does the machine consume, how much does it take for it to cool a small room, and what additional functions it has (like dehumidifying or heating functions.)

You also have to take note that not all space saving devices come with matching small(ish) price tags. Sometimes, the smaller the machine is, the larger its charges are. One more thing about small portable air conditioner units: since manufacturers are trying to make the model as compact as possible, the mechanism within might be geared for all outage usage. These may not be energy saving devices at all. Saying thus, we now go to when the ?

Marketer says: This portable air conditioner is an energy saving device. In normal language, this simply means that it eats up lesser kilowatt usage of electricity. What the marketer is not saying is that this device will inadvertently increase your utility bills, whether you like it or not. Any air conditioner unit, whether it?s portable or otherwise will most certainly spike your electricity usage by leaps and bounds. When the marketer says that it can help you save money when you use this product, ask specifically how the machine can do so.

The functions vary for one machine to the other. For example, a portable air conditioner unit with a dehumidifier is supposed to help you save money during the most humid and condensation-filled days. You can turn on the dehumidifier instead of blasting on the air conditioner. Although this may sound rational since theoretically, you can lower your electric usage by not turning on the air conditioner, it?s actually not viable. For one thing, how many days of the year would you need the dehumidifier more than the air conditioner unit? Secondly, even with just the dehumidifying functions on, the machine still uses energy. If you want the real score behind the tag line, it does not hurt to ask for details.



Harold

MIKEL asked:


i have heard that it works like an air conditioner and i don’t want to use my central air very much. will this help?

Rachel

guitardan asked:


I bought a dehumidifier for my basement at my house. The only problem is I bought it used and it didn’t come with a instruction manual. I have numerous guitars and other instruments down there also. What is a normal humidity setting? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Samuel