A dehumidifier is a simple appliance that you can use in your home to remove humidity from the air. It does this by running the air in your home through its system, taking in the humidified air and pumping out dry air.
While this might not seem beneficial to some people, if you live in a home that is constantly too humid or even just have several rooms that are difficult to keep dry (like an interior bathroom that has no place to vent its humidity), a dehumidifier can help to prevent the growth of mold and mildew and keep your home feeling fresh and cool.
How do you know if you need a dehumidifier in your home? Here are a few of the most common signs that you might benefit from this appliance:
1. You’re seeing mold growth
Mold that you can see on your walls or furniture is a great sign that it is just too humid in your home. Mold needs dampness in order to be able to survive, which is why you see it so commonly in bathrooms and kitchens. If you have chronic damp in one of these rooms or in a place like a basement, which is more likely to be humid than other areas of your home, you might start to see little dark spots starting to appear. This means you have a mold problem.
And while you need to do more to remediate this issue than just getting a dehumidifier, a dehumidifier can prevent this issue from spreading.
2. You’re seeing condensation
If you walk around your home and see beads of water on the glass of your windows, the air in your home is probably too humid and could benefit from a dehumidifier.
While you are likely to condensation on the windows of a bathroom, for example, after a shower or bath, if you are seeing constant or even just frequent condensation without a clear explanation for why there is that condensation, a dehumidifier can help.
3. Water runs off into your home
If your foundation is not properly sealed, you might have an issue with ground water leaking into your basement. If your home itself is not properly sealed, your basement might start to collect even just a small amount of water each time it rains heavily outside.
While you might think you can just open up your basement windows and air it out, a dehumidifier is actually much better option, as it is much more likely to actually get your basement dry again.
4. You’re smelling a musty odor
Even if you cannot identify the source of the musty odor, it is likely caused by mold and mildew which, again, can be traced back to having too much humidity in your home.
While you might want to rent an ozone machine that will help to kill the mold and mildew in your air, you should also consider a dehumidifier, which will help to dry out your house and prevent the mold and mildew that causes that musty smell in your rooms.
5. You’re experiencing allergies
Allergies are much more likely to be triggered in high-humidity environments, as high humidity contributes to poor indoor air quality. If you are seeing a spike in your own allergies or if there is someone else in your home that has poor allergies that are constantly being triggered, a dehumidifier can be a great solution. It will help to remove allergens from the air and will prevent humidity from allowing those allergens to stick to the hard and soft surfaces in your home.
If you are seeing these issues in your home, a dehumidifier could be a good option for solving these issues. Here are a few other benefits of owning a dehumidifier:
1. You will see less dust.
Dust is more likely to land on and stick to the hard surfaces in your home when your air is humid. This means more dusting, more often. But a dehumidifier, especially one with a good filter, can help to collect the dust out of the air and also make it much less likely to land on and stick to the surfaces in your home. This means you will see less dust and have fewer of the issues that come along with dust.
2. Your home will be more comfortable.
Anyone who has ever been to a location in the world that is very humid knows that it is uncomfortable to be outside in the humidity, even if the air is relatively cool. You will simply be more comfortable in your home when the humidity levels are lower.
3. Your food and furniture will stay fresh longer.
Damp air in your home can actually cause your food to go stale faster. It can also start to attack your furniture, making them smell musty. Everything in your home will dry faster, including your hair, your clothing, your bedding, etc. Not only is this more convenient, it will ensure that mold and rust does not get an opportunity to attach to and corrode your items.
