Are dehumidifiers worth it?

 

Why is there so much hype with dehumidifiers? Why are homeowners recommended to invest in one? What does a dehumidifier actually do? Are dehumidifiers worth it? Are the benefits of dehumidifiers true? These are some common questions that someone who is new to the whole house dehumidification concept might find themselves asking.

Dehumidifiers are indeed big investment for most people. It is a lot of money, especially if you need a dehumidifier for your whole house. It is right in every way to find out ‘Is a dehumidifier worth the attention?’

Let us learn more about why you need a dehumidifier, do all the rooms in your home need a dehumidifier, are dehumidifiers worth it, and more!

What is the purpose of a dehumidifier?

To start off, it is important that one understands what a dehumidifier actually does to your house or any room it is placed in. If your house is battling high humidity, you ought to invest in a good dehumidifier that can keep your home and you safe.

Humid air is not good. High humidity cannot be good for your physical and mental health, for your respiratory health, for the infrastructure of your house, and all the things inside it. The damage that increased humidity levels causes are many. Such a climate must be brought under control and that is where dehumidifiers come to the rescue.

A dehumidifier is a machine that is equipped to remove moisture from the air. Too much moisture in the environment can be hazardous. It is, therefore, necessary to keep a check on the air in your home to find out if there is excess moisture in the air. If yes, it has to be removed.

When there is already excess moisture in the air incapable of absorbing any more, that is when we call it a humid climate. This humid environment makes it difficult and uncomfortable for anyone to stay in. The air quality is also diminished.

An air conditioning system is only able to make the environment cooler, but it cannot remove moisture from the air. Only a dehumidifier has the capacity to remove excess moisture content from the air and make the space free from humidity. If your home is battling high humidity, it is not time to second guess the question ‘Is a dehumidifier worth the money?’.

Do dehumidifiers really make a difference?

Yes, they do! The internal units within a dehumidifier have been designed to pass the hot humid air over the cool condenser coils, turn the water vapor into the water by condensation, and collect the extracted water in a reservoir that comes with the device.

Different units of dehumidifiers have different capacities. There are various brands that manufacture plentiful models and types of dehumidifiers that you can choose from. It is first important to identify how much dehumidification your house is in need of and where exactly the problem lies.

How do I know if I need a dehumidifier?

If your house needs a dehumidifier, there are some ways you could identify it.

1. Hygrometer:

You could get a digital-analog or hygrometer to monitor the humidity level in your home to analyze if it is in want of control. The heat in temperature around you, condensation in the windows and door, the inability of the body to cool down despite sweating profusely, are some signs and symptoms that signify that the humidity level of the space around you is high. Getting a hygrometer will confirm this for you. If the humidity in the space is 50% to 60%, which is above the 45% ideal humidity level, it means your home will need a dehumidifier.

2. Dampness:

Are you unable to find a solution to the damp floor beneath your feet and the wet walls around you?

Dampness on the floor, ceiling, walls, furniture, etc., are other signs of a humid environment. Any building that is left unattended is hazardous to your family since it could lead to unforeseen accidents. If you are constantly walking on a damp floor, it is time to get a dehumidifier.

3. Musty odor:

Are the rooms in your home lurking with a musty smell? Your home needs a dehumidifier. The musty smell in your home, especially in the basement, laundry room, kitchen, bathrooms, crawl space, etc., is from the dampness and mildew. If you are always in search of ways to figure where the musty smell is from your home and how to fix it, you will need a dehumidifier.

4. Allergens:

Dampness and moisture make excellent breeding grounds for all types of allergens. Dust mites, bacteria, mold, mildew, and other microscopic particles will thrive in dampness. Mold and mildew are the common allergy-inducing agents that show up in a house that has high humidity.

Some signs to identify that allergies are raiding your home will include irritation in the eyes, dry and watering eyes, stuffy nose, irritation in the throat, dry skin, rashes on the skin, wheezing, etc. Mold and other allergens when left unattended could slowly pave the way to serious respiratory-related health issues like asthma, lung problems, breathing difficulties, depression, and disorders in the nervous system.

5. Energy costs:

Humid air in your home and higher temperature in the rooms will increase the energy cost. Appliances will be under pressure to over-perform and this will increase the amount of power used, thereby increasing the energy cost simultaneously. If you notice higher power costs in your energy bills each month, it is time to bring in a dehumidifier that will make things easy for every other machine at home.

6. Indoor air quality:

If breathing is becoming difficult it is time to purchase a dehumidifier. Those with asthma and other respiratory disorders will find it difficult to breathe in both excessively dry air and wet air. You will need a device to maintain the humidity in the air to make the air breathable in your house.

Why is it good to have a dehumidifier?

Dehumidifiers will handle all the above-mentioned problems for your home. It is capable of extracting the excess moisture content from the air, reduce the humidity, improve the air quality, and protect your home and every other room in it. You can be free from allergies, mold, mildew, dust mites, and enjoy the health benefits. If you often fight an allergy, you ought to look up at dehumidifiers that will put an end to your stuffy nose and sneezing and help you to breathe with ease.

Dehumidifiers have the capacity to trap allergens in their air filters and circulate clean air into the room. A damp house is a source of all these problems. Every dehumidifier will have a different amount of pint extraction. Based on the level of moisture removal per day that your house requires, you can search for the model that provides it. You must remember, that a dehumidifier is not a replacement for an air conditioner, nor is it the other way around. An air conditioner can only make a home cooler, but it does not have any impact on the humidity in it. Having a central whole-house dehumidifier will keep the entire place safeguarded from the damaging effects of high humidity.

How can a dehumidifier help to get rid of mold?

When a dehumidifier controls the humidity level in a room, it is nullifying the chances of mold thriving in it. Lack of moisture and dampness are unfavourable conditions for mold growth. Mold and mildew will not thrive in the absence of moisture. However, it is important to note that dehumidifiers DO NOT KILL mold completely. They will continue to remain dormant. They will begin to spread on the walls, clothing, furniture, and other areas of your home when humidity increases.

Dehumidifier VS Air Purifier?

Air purifiers will remove the dust mites and other agents that can trigger allergies, you will also find some relief for your allergy symptoms and find the air light and easy to breathe in.

Dehumidifiers will reduce the humidity in the air, which also leads to allergies eventually. A dehumidifier has a unit that is multi-functional and can render many benefits for your whole house.

Are dehumidifiers worth the money?

Yes! The unit within dehumidifiers is specially designed with advanced features that make humidity control easy and hassle-free. Getting a central whole-house dehumidifier will monitor your entire home, including the basement. Meanwhile, there are also small portable dehumidifiers that deliver excellent performance for smaller areas; caravans, boats, bathrooms, etc. If you had to ask yourself again, ‘Are dehumidifiers worth it?’, the answer is a big YES!

Wrapping Up

Hope you found your answer to the question, ‘Are dehumidifiers worth it?’. As the first step, analyze if your home needs a dehumidifier, the model and features that you will benefit from, the cost you can shell out on the appliance, how portable the device must be, what pint you must look for, can you care for it when it is in need of a repair?

Ask yourself all these questions before you invest in the right dehumidifier for your house. Let us know which model of dehumidifier you have and what are its interesting features.