Dehumidifiers Can Improve Air Quality in Your Home
A dehumidifier can be an important addition to a home, especially in regions that see a lot of damp weather or have higher humidity. High moisture content in the air can result from poor ventilation and cause the home to feel stuffy or lead to more unpleasant issues like mold growth. A portable dehumidifier can easily solve the problem and lead to a more pleasant living environment.
Cordless dehumidifiers range from a 5 pint capacity to a 50 pint capacity or greater. A 25-40-pint unit for a slightly damp or small space like a bathroom or laundry room, a 40-59-pint dehumidifier for a medium-size area like a bedroom, and a unit with a capacity of 60 pints or more for a living room, basement, or garage.
What are the different types of dehumidifiers?It is important to select the correct type of dehumidifier for the space where you are looking to set up the machine as well as the goal you are trying to achieve. Dehumidifiers fall under three main categories — refrigerant, desiccant, and whole-house ventilation — and offer different advantages:
Refrigerant dehumidifiers use the same type of technology as refrigerators. They work best in temperatures higher than 65°F/18°C as ice can form on the metal cooling plates in the machine at lower temperatures. A remedy would be purchasing a refrigerant dehumidifier with more expensive parts, but the downside is the higher up-front cost.
Desiccant machines absorb moisture from the air and can operate at lower temperatures than refrigerant dehumidifiers, but these machines are generally energy-intensive.
Whole-house dehumidifiers are cordless dehumidifier systems installed in the home and can be more efficient than portable dehumidifiers. The top-down, whole-house ventilation that these systems bring can give the best overall dehumidifying experience. However, these types of units can be more of a hassle to install in the home and lose the flexibility afforded by portable dehumidifiers.
What are the best places to use a dehumidifier in the home?Given that dehumidifiers are used with the intention of extracting moisture from the air, there are some places in the home that would benefit more from the machine than others. Finding the best place for your dehumidifier will make a large difference for your overall comfort level.
There are a few places in a house that have a higher tendency to accumulate moisture than others. Specifically, the basement is often an ideal place to put a dehumidifier as the soil around the outside of the basement and poor ventilation often lead to dampness. Bathrooms are also a great place to put a dehumidifier as using the shower or bathtub can cause moisture to build up.