A dehumidifier is one of the crucial items that every homeowner should own. A dehumidifier helps remove excess moisture from the air and thereby making a house fit for survival. What are the risks of residing in a home with excess humidity? This might be the question troubling you right now.
High humidity (above 60%) will create an excellent environment for mildew and mold to grow in your house. Mold causes some illnesses such as asthma in children and is also associated with allergies. Excess moisture will also lead to rot on some of your possessions. There are thousands of dehumidifiers out there, which can be a bit confusing. The following are some of the factors to consider when selecting one:
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The price
The quoted price will always be a big determinant when people want to make purchases. They are those who are looking for the cheapest while others are okay with modest pricing. The purchasing price is not the only thing that you will incur. You must go a step further and determine the energy rating, the number of hours you intend to be running the tool, and your energy tariff to estimate the cost of running a dehumidifier in a typical home.
Type
Desiccant Dehumidifiers
They are among the most expensive dehumidifiers that you will find in the market. The tool has a desiccant wheel that sucks air, processes, and then releases it back to the house. This dehumidifier releases about 75% of the air collected and then retains the rest. Silica gel is the main material in the desiccant wheel. There is a network of microscopic interconnected pores that absorbs moisture (acts like a sponge)
Compressor (refrigerant) dehumidifiers
They are relatively cheaper when compared to the former. This tool cools the collected air below the air’s dew point temperature. The condensation is collected from the cold coils, while the water is collected in a tank or pan. The machine then passes the dry air over warm condensing coils for heating before it is released back to the room. Some of these machines push the dry air at a pressure to be directed to specific areas in a house. This approach fastens the drying process.
Space available
The ideal dehumidifier should fit in the designated space with ease. Determining the capacity of the dehumidifier is the first thing that you should do. Pint calculates how much moisture the unit can remove from a space within 24 hours. The following are some of the types based on size:
Commercial dehumidifiers
They are the tools you will find in commercial locations such as factories and shopping malls. These tools draw in more moisture and release more air than their consumer-use counterparts. Commercial dehumidifiers are manufactured to be durable as they can be pricey. They are also designed to operate in a wider range of temperatures.
70-pint dehumidifier
They are ideal if you are looking for something to use in the basement or large rooms. They work best in areas that are wet and not just dump. 70-pint dehumidifiers are also designed to handle a broader set of humidity conditions.
50-pint dehumidifier
These are the tools to use in bathrooms with showers and medium-sized rooms. Some of the models can be wheeled around and placed in strategic areas.
30-pint dehumidifier
If you are looking for something to work perfectly in your bedroom or any other small room, then a 30-pint dehumidifier is a good option. Such units can remove up to 30 pints in a day. However, you may need to empty these models several times a day.
Small dehumidifier
A 24-ounce or 250 mL unit’s dehumidifier will fall into this category. They are also known as mini-dehumidifiers. Such units are lightweight and highly portable, making it convenient to use them in single bedrooms, closets, small spaces, and bathrooms.
Temperatures of the target room
The humidity levels and indoor temperature are important factors that will impact the functionality of the tool you intend to purchase. If the humidity levels are high, you need a high-capacity unit that draws a lot of moisture. A refrigerant model’s capability will be greatly reduced when you use it in a room with low temperatures. A dehumidifier reaches its capacity pretty fast in higher-humidity conditions, which means you have to drain it frequently.
The add-ons and special features
Ease of use
The ideal dehumidifier should come with user-friendly controls that anyone can operate with help. For instance, you can have a percentage scale or something simple like ‘very dry’ and ‘dry’ on the controls. Such scales make it easy to control the humidity and address different scenarios such as flooding or even a normal room. The manufacturer should also include the users’ for easy referencing.
The hose connection
The hose connection is another thing you have to address. A dehumidifier separates water from the air. It thus means that you must get a way of discarding the water you have collected in the tool. Some of these tools have an internal container where water accumulates. However, if you intend to drain the water into an external container, then you should ensure that the hose connection is in place. It is also important to check whether add-ons needed to connect with the hose pipe are part of the unit, or you have to purchase them separately.
Types of filters
The presence of washable air filters makes it easy to remove and wash the filters. You can thus get rid of any items that may make the tool inefficient and prevent the accumulation of bacteria.
Timer
This special feature allows you to program the unit to meet your specific lifestyle and home requirements. You thus have control over the start and stop times.
Landing at a dehumidifier that suits your needs is very easy when you consider the above factors. Ensure that you maintain your dehumidifier if you want it to serve for long. Research on the different models and brands to land at one that suits your needs and budget.
