Why Consider a Dehumidifier?
For those living in places such as the humid south, you understand how difficult humidity can be. When your home is too humid, you can encounter problems such as mold in the baseboards, excess condensation around your windows and on appliances, paper items becoming warped and distorted, books that won’t ever close the same way, and the constant feeling of never being comfortable. Too much humidity in the summer can make the already hot temperatures rise to an almost unbearable level.
Not only can humidity be extremely uncomfortable, but it can also lead to damaging results on items in your home such as furniture, decor, art pieces, and photographs. Memorabilia could be damaged forever if you have too much humidity in your home. If this is left for long enough, you could even find your own health becoming damaged.
In this article, you’ll learn about the benefits of having a dehumidifier in your home, how it works, and how to keep it running so it can help you the most.
How Does a Dehumidifier Work?
A dehumidifier is a unit that is installed in your home to reduce the level of humidity inside your house. The unit works alongside your HVAC unit and works by using the same ductwork. It draws moist, warm air through the ductwork, and once in the unit cools it off. The moisture condenses into water droplets and falls into a collection pan or down a drain. The air left is then dry. It is passed over warm coils to bring it up to the set room temperature and then reinserts the air into the house. The air that then circulates through your home is dehumidified.
Whole-home dehumidifiers are easily installed alongside your HVAC unit. Since it uses the same forced-air system and ductwork, there is no extra ducting needed. They also require relatively little maintenance, making this the perfect choice for something most homeowners can “set and forget.”
Dehumidifier Benefits
There are numerous reasons why a dehumidifier can be beneficial for a home. Here are just a few.
- Asthma and Allergy Sufferers: Mold, allergens, dust mites, and other allergy-causers thrive in humid environments. For those with allergies, a humidity level below 50% inside a home is necessary for optimal health.
- Preservation of Antiques: If you have heirlooms and antiques you want to be preserve, they need to be in a temperature and humidity controlled environment. While you may not be able to completely seal off a room, reducing the humidity to a level that your items will tolerate can help to preserve their life for generations.
- Lower Mold Risk: Mold and mildew thrive in wet, humid environments. Reducing the humidity in your home is key to reducing the potential for mold and mildew growth.
Dehumidifier Maintenance
Since your dehumidifier works right alongside your HVAC system, maintenance can be seen as one and the same. It’s important to regularly maintain your HVAC unit and keep a good eye on the system to identify any problems early on. Have an HVAC technician out twice a year to perform regular maintenance. It’s best to check your unit once before you start using it to cool in the spring and summer and once before you use it to heat the house in fall and winter. Regular checkups will ensure a unit that functions at peak performance for as long as possible.
Expert Heating and Cooling Technicians
Blaze Air Inc proudly serves the Winston-Salem, NC area residents for all their heating and cooling needs. Every customer can count on free estimates, trusted technicians, 24/7 emergency service, and a 100% satisfaction guarantee.
