You’ve undoubtedly heard your local weatherman describe “humidity” far too frequently if you live near the equator or in a coastal area. However, no matter where you reside, you’ve undoubtedly felt it – that humid, heavy atmosphere that seems to fill the air, especially when it’s raining, foggy or hot outside.
It can make it difficult to sleep, and exacerbate any respiratory problems you may be suffering from. It can also create that sticky feeling on your skin along with the occasional condensation on windows or even siding and foundation walls.
Understanding Humidity
If there is a lot of condensation on your walls, it indicates that the humidity level in your home is high. When you wash clothes outside or cook over open charcoal without adequate ventilation, the humidity levels rise. Water-absorption silica gel is frequently included within binocular case or camera bags to absorb small amounts of moisture. In general, a humidifier is not required in most situations.
However, it will not help people who have a large excess of moisture in their home and require a dehumidifier to address the problem. The majority are located in the kitchen or on the cooktop. Water seeping into the walls might indicate an atmosphere that’s too moist.
How does a dehumidifier work?
How does a dehumidifier work? Dehumidifier works by taking in air and passing it over a cold coil to condense water. Dry air enters the device, passes through a motor that boosts its speed many times, and goes up into the plastic housing.
The dehumidifier then delivers drier air back into your home and lowers humidity levels. This process recondenses the water into droplets, so it can be removed from the machine. A fan then blows air through a filter to remove any small particles of dust and debris.
A dehumidifier doesn’t actually lower humidity levels from the air in your home but is instead able to reduce the moisture in that area. If you are suffering from symptoms such as condensation on your windows, sills and walls, it’s time to consider a dehumidifier.
Dehumidifier Basics
The majority of dehumidifiers are broken down into five basic components. What is the moisture removing mechanism? Many people use recycled plastic boxes to contain their reusable storage tanks. A humidistat is a valve that regulates the amount of moisture in the air.
You have an A/C that won’t cool down the air until you let it out. The humidifier will not cure your humidity problems, but it may help to reduce it. Your air conditioner, on the other hand, can’t measure humidity.
The dehumidifier is only as effective as the quality of the filters it uses – regular use, especially over long periods of time, will ensure plenty of efficiency. Dehumidifiers can be wall mounted or placed on the floor, with wheels for ease of movement.
Types of dehumidifier
Based on the distinct techniques to extract ambient moisture from the air, dehumidifiers and filtering machines are divided into two categories. Both are quite popular since they may be utilized to combat the negative effects of filthy germs in a house.
As a result, be sure to fully understand and learn how each dehumidifier type works, as well as what benefits (and possible drawbacks) are offered in each.
Desiccant dehumidifiers
Desiccant dehumidifier is the more popular type of dehumidifier. Desiccant dehumidifiers have fans that force air through the unit and across a cold coil, which condenses water into liquid form. As the machine pulls in air to remove moisture from its interior, it effectively reduces humidity levels in your home.
Desiccant dehumidifiers are available in the market at an economical price. This is because desiccant dehumidifiers use a refined version of silica gel to remove moisture from the air, which can be reused.
Since it extracts water from the air, desiccant dehumidifiers may sometimes be used to dry out carpeting and hardwood floors if there’s some excess moisture. Desiccant models are great for those who need a unit that they can move around from room to room easily.
If you are looking for the best dehumidifier in the market, check out our post here on the Best Dehumidifiers UK.
Refrigerant dehumidifiers
A refrigerant dehumidifier uses the same evaporator coil as an air conditioner. As the water vapor passes through this cold coil, it condenses into liquid and is drained away.
As a result, a refrigerant dehumidifier does not function well in humid conditions that are above 80 percent humidity, which can lead to inefficient performance. Since it works in the same way as an air conditioner, a refrigerant dehumidifier is made from heavy duty parts and needs some time to cool down after use.
How to use a dehumidifier?
When using a dehumidifier, it’s vital that you use the right product for your specific needs. Your choice may depend on what you want to do with the machine.
If you’re planning on putting a unit in an area where pets and children are present, choosing one that offers automatic shut-off when water tank is full will give you peace of mind. Only use a dehumidifier in an open area with the doors and windows closed, since it will remove moisture from the indoor air.
Don’t place your dehumidifier on carpeting or rugs, as this can reduce its efficiency. Keep all electrical cords out of reach as well, since they are a potential tripping hazard.
If you don’t plan on using a dehumidifier for an extended period of time, be sure to empty out any water that might have collected in the tank and store it in a safe place outdoors.
Temperature control
Typically, if a room’s temperature is above the control setting on your dehumidifier, the unit will shut off until the temperature drops below the set point. This feature allows you to save energy by controlling when the unit operates and it can also help to prevent condensation damage from occurring in colder conditions.
Wrap Up
As you can see, there are quite a few things you need to consider before buying a dehumidifier for your home or workplace – especially if this is your first time purchasing one. As such, be sure to learn what each type of machine does and how it works.
At the end of the day, you will get the most value out of your dehumidifier by choosing one that suits your needs for humidity removal capacity and budget.