If your home is humid and contains lots of moisture, odds are you need a dehumidifier. Perhaps you’re wondering why dehumidifiers are important, or maybe even how a dehumidifier works. In this blog, we’ll go over the science of dehumidification.
How do dehumidifiers work?
Let’s say you have a cold cup of ice water and allow it to sit for a while. Eventually, you’ll notice that water will start to appear on the outside of the cup even though nothing has spilled over. This is because the cold surface of the cup pulls and collects the moisture from the warmer air surrounding it. A dehumidifier works similarly.
Dehumidifiers collect air with a fan from the surrounding area and push it through cooled coils. The coils utilize condensation to remove moisture from the air. The moisture is kept on the coils and redistributed to the dehumidifier basin. The dehumidifier then reheats the air and pushes it back into the environment.
Most modern homes come equipped with an air conditioning unit, which you would think would remove the need for a dehumidifier – but it doesn’t! The advantage of having a dehumidifier is its reheating process and humidistat, which an AC unit lacks.
This means a dehumidifier is both economically and environmentally the better option as it will save energy and money in the long run if too much moisture is your issue.
What’s the difference between a Humidifier and a Dehumidifier?
The difference is simple, they are opposites in what their goals are. A humidifier’s goal is to add moisture, while a dehumidifier removes it.
When do you need a dehumidifier?
The ideal humidity level for any residence ranges between 30% to 60%, but here are some signs that you have too much moisture in the air and may need a dehumidifier:
· You see that your walls or ceiling have issues with dampness
· The air in your residence feels muggy
· You notice that your windows have water condensation
· The home maintains a rotten odor regardless of your cleaning
· Mildew or mold is forming on surfaces like walls or furniture
· There is a surplus in the amount of dust in your home
What are the different types of Dehumidifiers?
The two most common types are free-standing and whole-home. Free-standing ones have the advantage of being portable, however, their strength is only relative to the room they’re contained in.
Whole-home dehumidifiers are just that, their coverage is your entire house. However, this great advantage requires more upfront purchase and installation costs.
Shop AprilAire Whole-House Dehumidifiers
What are the benefits of having a Dehumidifier?
A dehumidifier can add several conveniences to the indoor air quality and ambiance of your home. If extreme amounts of moisture are present it can cause dust mites, fungus, and germs to materialize on surfaces and can even make your wooden furniture start to warp.
When a dehumidifier is active, you’ll notice your home environment start to become cozier and those omens listed above evaporate. You’ll also save on energy costs in the summertime due to there being less need to run your air conditioner at full capacity.
How do I choose the best Dehumidifier for my home?
To choose the best dehumidifier you’ll need to take into consideration three factors. Those are the square footage, the climate of your home, and whether you want to go with a whole home or portable.
For example, having a home with a basement requires extra attention if it is surrounded by earth. If you’re in a cold weather climate, you’re less likely to have high humidity compared to a warm, humid one.
The size of the room relative to its dampness will factor in the size of the dehumidifier to neutralize the excess moisture. You’ll need a 30-pint dehumidifier for rooms around 500-1500 square footage, a 50-pint for rooms between 2000-2500 square feet, and a 70-pint or higher for rooms exceeding that.
Once you’ve gathered your information, choosing the best one is as simple as looking up your required strength on an accessible website such as FiltersFast.com! We have a variety of top-brand whole-home dehumidifiers, portable dehumidifiers, and dehumidifier filters for you to peruse through!
If you own one already, you should also be aware that changing the dehumidifier filter is just as important as choosing the dehumidifier itself. It’s recommended that you change the filter annually. Not doing so can cause it to be swamped with dust and may cause irreversible damage to your system.
FiltersFast.com can also make it easy to keep on top of changing your filter. All you have to do is enroll in our Home Filter Club, choose your desired delivery frequency, and relax!
Brandon says
Hello Linda, thanks for reaching out to us. Please contact our customer service team via e-mail [email protected], phone 866-438-3458
, or text 704-228-9166 and have the order number and e-mail at the ready so we can assist you. Take care!
Linda Whitney says
where are my humidifier filters? my first order never showed up. I call and your were going to send me my again at no cost. This was last week. I looked online and there is not a new order or tracking number. Please get this straightened out.
Thank You