Moisture problems caused by high humidity due to cooking or drying laundry inside the house can make a home unpleasant. It can cause a horrible musty smell and mold can grow on your walls as well as on your clothes. The uncomfortable dampness in the air can also result in a greater risk of respiratory illness. One solution to this is to lessen the amount of moisture in the air which will be achieved when you invest in a humidifier.
What is humidity?
During the times when it feels hotter than the actual temperature, it’s probably because of high humidity. The more humid it is, the harder it is for our body to transfer heat to the air since our sweat doesn’t evaporate as fast. The comfortable humidity level lies somewhere between 30% and 60% only that’s why it’s extremely uncomfortable during hot weather.
Why does indoor humidity matter?
High humidity can take a toll not just on humans but also to appliances, hardwood floors, carpeting and equipment in our home. High levels of indoor humidity can cause a lot of other problems around the home such as bacteria, viruses, mites, fungi or worse, property damage. It’s better to keep the indoor humidity between 35% and 50%.
What is a dehumidifier?
Dehumidifier is an appliance that regulates the humidity in the air of single rooms and apartments or large commercial areas, such as swimming pools and storage warehouses. It takes moisture out of the air when there’s too high humidity, allowing you to breathe easier and feel comfortable in your home. It makes your home less hospitable to the presence of allergens and irritants which thrive in humid environments and can cause difficulty for people who have asthma and allergies.
This appliance helps to get rid of the possibility of having musty smell in the air from mold that may develop on your clothing, furniture, and other linens (such as curtains or bed sheets) as well as the rotting smell from mildew, saving you from having irritation in your skin and your respiratory system.
A dehumidifier helps in reducing dust in your home which is a great help in maintaining cleanliness. It also lowers energy costs because instead of an air conditioner, a dehumidifier is the one that removes moisture in the air which helps your air conditioner to not wear out sooner so it won’t often need replacement or repair.
How it works
Dehumidifiers work either by refrigeration or absorption/adsorption. The two main types of dehumidifiers are called Refrigerant and Desiccant.
Refrigeration is when it cools air to remove moisture using much the same process as your fridge or air conditioner at home. Refrigerant dehumidifiers are commonly used at room with normal temperature since its effectiveness declines dramatically in cooler conditions.
Absorption/adsorption is when moisture is absorbed into or adsorbed onto a drying material and then removed. Desiccant dehumidifiers absorb moisture out of the air using a desiccant. During the process, it passes through a stream of warm air which reactivates the desiccant by driving off the moisture. Compared to refrigeration, this one works effectively at much lower temperatures such as garages and workshops.
When do you need a humidifier?
Dehumidifiers make the air drier so using it in a cold environment wherein the temperature and relative humidity is low, can make the condition worse. However, since the Philippines isn’t a country with a dry climate, dehumidifiers are actually beneficial to us. Here are some signs that your home has high indoor humidity so you might want to consider purchasing a dehumidifier:
1. You or anyone from your family is allergic to dust mites and seems to be worse than they used to.
2. There’s poor ventilation or no ventilation in your home.
3. There’s a stinking smell from must or mildew in some areas of your home.
4. There's frequent condensation on your windows.
5. The air in your home looks foggy, indicating that it’s very humid.
6. There are small black spots (mold spores) growing on the walls of some areas in your house, such as in the bathroom.
7. There are water stains on the walls or ceilings of your home caused by water leakage after heavy rainfall.
8. There’s an increase of unwanted pests around your home such as spiders, cockroaches, moths or silverfish.
9. Your clothes smell damp or moldy although they’re freshly washed.
10. You or anyone from your family have consistent cough and colds.
Conclusion
Consider purchasing a dehumidifier if you want to live a healthy, happy and comfortable life in your own home away from suffering from allergies and respiratory illness especially if your home is located in a humid area. There are different types and models of dehumidifier available in the market but all of those can help you get clean, healthy air in your home.