About Dehumidifiers

Chuck Jaymes asked:


Three of the most common and most destructive invaders of an indoor swimming pool are mold, rust and wood rot. Left unchecked, these problems can lessen your enjoyment of your pool at best and cause serious and expensive damage at worst.

A common affliction of an indoor pool with inadequate dehumidification is mold. To establish itself and grow, mold requires 4 criteria:

1) Mold spores

2) Organic matter (paper, wood, carpets, cloth, drywall)

3) Moisture

4) Warmth

Mold spores carried by air currents can reach all surfaces in your pool room. Mold growth is especially active when the relative humidity level is at or above 80%. Often you can smell the presence of mold and mildew in your pool room before you see it because of the unpleasant musty odors they cause. Many individuals report hypersensitivity and allergic reactions to mold. Other reactions to mold include itching, skin rash, eye irritation, coughing and congestion. Individuals at greater risk when exposed to mold include: the elderly, infants and children, pregnant women and those with existing respiratory conditions.

Another problem area in indoor pools with poor dehumidification is rust and corrosion. These issues can potentially cause serious structural damage that can be very expensive to repair. Rust and corrosion are often hidden and go un-noticed until severe damage is done.

Damage to structures begins when the relative humidity levels reach 62% or above for extended periods of time. The corrosion can be accelerated when chlorine from pool chemicals reacts with condensed water and actually forms hydrochloric acid. A good example of the devastating effects of chlorine laden moisture is the swimming pool roof collapse in Switzerland in 1985. 12 people were killed when the concrete roof collapsed after only 13 years of use. The roof was supported by stainless steel tension rods that cracked and failed due to stress corrosion as a result of chlorine-based disinfectants.

Even though it may not be potentially deadly, wood rot is another issue many indoor pool owners face. Wood rot (decay) is often referred to as “dry rot”. This term is inaccurate and misleading because dry wood does not decay. Wood requires moisture to decay. This is where the moisture rich air in your pool room comes in. Depending on the type and quality of the wood being used, repairs or replacements can be shockingly expensive. Look for signs of blistering or peeling paint as early indicators of humidity and moisture problems.

To help prevent these 3 major concerns from getting out of hand, it is strongly recommended that you perform a periodic survey of existing conditions in your pool room. There are several obvious warning signs that your indoor swimming pool has moisture problems:

* Foggy windows

* Wet walls

* Mold spots on carpets or drywall

* Loose floor tiles

* Suspended ceiling that sags

* Blistering or peeling paint

* Warped wood on window sills

* Rust around door frames and lighting fixtures

All 3 of these problems can be solved by using a high quality, properly sized swimming pool dehumidifier.



Jesse

Tim Ryan asked:


When the body comes into contact with a new chemical, be it through the mouth, nose or skin  the chemical or allergen as it’s known causes the body to release antibodies. These are called histamines that combat the allergen and are the bodies natural defence. The histamine may then however go on to cause one or more of the following annoying symptoms to varying degrees of severity:

Sneezing and possibly a blocked nose, an itchy feeling in the eyes, nose or throat, watery eyes, dry coughing, a skin rash and even conjunctivitis.

Of course finding the cause of the symptoms is of paramount importance in order to discover what the allergen is and to prevent contact with it in the future. This is generally done in one of three different ways:

Firstly, an intradermal test may be performed, This is when a potential allergen is injected into the top layer of the skin. If the subject is allergic then normally a tiny bubble will appear or some other irritation directly over the area.

Secondly, what is commonly known as a patch test may be performed. Very simply the substance thought to be the allergen is placed under a plaster and stuck tightly to the skin. Normally 48 hours is allowed to pass by before the plaster is removed to see if their has been any inflammation or reaction.

Thirdly, a tiny drop of the potential allergen is simply dropped on to the skin to see if a reaction occurs. Normally it would occur within 20 minutes if it is going to do so.

If someone is found to suffer from allergies then there are fortunately several straight forward things you may do to ease the allergic reaction. Try any or all of the following simple methods to see which helps ease your symptoms:

Make your-self aware of the content of the food that you are eating. Look out for commonalities between the foods you are eating and the good and bad days that you have. Chocolate and wheat are well known to cause allergic reactions in some people.

Try to make use of an air filter, this can significantly reduce the impact of air pollutants, particularly in industrial and down-town areas.

It may even be worth simply spending sometime when you simply keep all windows and doors closed to see if this simple measures eases the symptoms.

Dehumidifiers can reduce the moisture in the air and therefore help reduce the spread of dust mites and other allergens. Nowadays there are specifically designed home dehumidifiers and even portable dehumidifiers that can quickly and easily reduce humidity levels where you feel the need to do so, this will also reduce the risk of mold growth which is well known to produce allergic reactions in some people.

Of course, frequently wash and dry your bed sheets and clothes, you may wish to try a new powder to ensure this is not the problem as well.

garlic and onion are commonly suggested by herbalists as an effective treatment as they contain an ingredient called Quercitin which stifles the production of histamine.

Green tea extract whilst being a highly recommended drink which includes antioxidants also contain plentiful phytonutrients that prevent against cellular level attacks and bacteria.

Ensuring you are getting enough calcium may also help some people as this helps equalise the alkaline to acid ratio which may reduce some peoples allergies and furthermore may decrease the production of the histamine.

All of the above methods are simple but could possible save you a good deal of suffering. It also might be wise to keep a note of the days when things are good and bad and the possible reasons for this including the above factors.

If you still encounter problems then of course your doctor will be able to aid you in the prescription of appropriate medication if deemed necessary. Indeed always consult your doctor for medical advice. Prescribed medicine may come in the form of nasal sprays which attempt to reduce the inflammation. They may also suggest antihistamines as they can dramatically combat the symptoms for some people aswell.

In conclusion it is definitely worth pursuing some of the simpler methods first and recording your reactions before progressing on to the use of medications. Clean air through the use of air filters and dehumidifiers should also be looked into as a serious option.



Annette

Dianne G asked:


A Amana D545 M Dehumiifier 45 pint, Where can I find?

Francisco

WinterBorn asked:


So these two appliances produce a lot of water here at the house. Is it safe to use the water in my garden?

Troy

Chuck Jaymes asked:


Indoor swimming pools have many advantages and offer great enjoyment. If you have an indoor pool, you are also aware that it can be very expebsive to operate and maintain. By using a high efficiency swimming pool dehumidifier and by following proven energy conservation methods, you can save lots of money on your electric bill.

One of the main elements of high energy costs in an indoor pool is heat loss. There are 2 avenues of heat loss from an indoor swimming pool: sensible heat loss and latent heat loss. Sensible heat loss is caused by temperature differences. Latent heat loss results mostly from exhausting moisture evaporating from the pool surface. Almost all of the heat loss from the pool itself is caused by surface evaporation.

The most effective way to combat this problem is with a pool cover. Cover the pool when its unoccupied: aside from adjusting water and air conditions, this is the major element for cost effective energy conservation. Covering the pool not only saves water from evaporation, it can also result in energy savings of over 50%! Combine the pool cover with an energy efficient swimming pool dehumidifier and experience even greater savings.

HOW TO LOWER ELECTRIC USE OF YOUR SWIMMING POOL DEHUMIDIFIER:

* Reduce The Amount Of Moisture In The Air - The best solution for this problem is a high quality swimming pool dehumidifier. Make sure the unit is designed SPECIFICALLY for indoor pool dehumidification. Don’t be fooled by low performance appliance grade dehumidifiers found in home improvement stores. They will be overworked, ineffective and use more electricity than units made for the heavy moisture load produced by indoor pools. Look for models like the HI-E Dry line that are built to handle the tough demands of swimming pool dehumidification.

* Use The Highest Tolerable Relative Humidity Setting - Don’t make the mistake of setting the RH level on your indoor pool dehumidifier too low, making the unit work harder than necessary. Chose a dehumidifier that features a humidity control adjustment dial like the Vehere. Settings are marked “Low”, “Normal” and “High”. Experiment to find the setting you are most comfortable with. You may need a higher setting during heavy pool activity and use a lower setting when the pool is unoccupied.

* Use A Dehumidifier With A Strong Airflow - Air movement is a vital component of swimming pool dehumidification. The more air that passes through the unit means less moisture in the air. A dehumidifier like the Vehere that utilizes a powerful 540 CFM helps eliminate foggy windows, mold, mildew and condensate to allow full enjoyment of your indoor swimming pool.

* Use The Smallest Feasible Dehumidifier - Many indoor pool owners make the mistake of overkill when it comes to dehumidifiers. You can not only end up paying considerably more for the unit, but your energy costs will also increase dramatically. Units like the HI-E dry Vehere can handle moisture problems up to 450 square feet. This equates to a 30′ x 16′ swimming pool.

EFFECTIVE AND PROVEN ENERGY CONSERVATION METHODS:

* Adjust Pool and Indoor Temperature and Humidity Level - Carefully consider the temperature that you keep the pool water. Each degree rise in temperature can cost you an additional 10% in electric use. The same goes for the pool room temperature. Be sure to lower the temperature when the pool is unoccupied. As mentioned before, chose a humidity level on the dehumidifier that does the job without wasting energy.

* Use the Correct Size Circulation Pump - A common mistake is using an over-sized pump. Consult your swimming pool contractor or pump manufacturer for assistance in selecting and sizing the right pump for your pool size.

* Use a Dehumidifier With Heat Transfer Technology - Using a dehumidifier that has this innovative technology allows the dehumidification process to recover latent heat from condensing moisture in the air and using it to heat the pool water. The HI-E DRY line of swimming pool dehumidifiers incorporates this energy saving technology.

Operating an indoor swimming pool is expensive enough. Don’t waste money on electricity needlessly. Look for high quality, high efficiency swimming pool dehumidifiers like the remarkable HI-E Dry line.



Regina