Whether you have a dehumidifier and have had a positive or negative personal experience with using it, or you have read the good, the bad, and the ugly reviews, you more than likely have answered questions.
High humidity can physically damage your home and can also be personally harmful. You definitely want to keep the humidity around you in check.
One mistake surrounding dehumidifier use is that many people purchase and use one when they don’t even need to. Using a dehumidifier when you don’t even have excess dampness will result in an overly-dry environment; using a dehumidifier when you have certain health conditions is not a good idea; using a dehumidifier and not understanding how and when to use it and how to check the humidity in the room you are working with, is pointless.
The following are a list of pros and cons of using a dehumidifier—after reading these, you should be able to have a more concise idea as to whether or not using one will really benefit the health of your home and your personal health.
Dehumidifier Pros
- Dust Mites, mold, mildew, and certain allergens cannot thrive in a dry climate; therefore, taking the humidity out of the air will help in lessening these problems.
- Running a dehumidifier will help reduce dust in the air.
- If your home (or any room specifically) has a musty or mildew-like smell, a dehumidifier can get rid of that odor, as those are caused by dampness.
- Having a dehumidifier run frequently will ensure that mold spores will not grow on your furniture, clothing, bedding, etc.
- Certain small insects are attracted to moisture, so having a dehumidifier will deter those little pests.
- If you, your family members, or even your pets are prone to allergic reactions to moisture, mildew, or mold, keeping a dehumidifier running will help keep everyone happy and healthy.
- Dehumidifier use will help your A/C run more efficiently, as it helps get all of the humidity out of the air and your A/C won’t have to work double time.
Dehumidifier Cons
- Dehumidifiers can be loud and sometimes warm—in the summer, this could be annoying.
- Dehumidifiers are work—you must dump, clean, and refill the water-collection tank and also (some models) clean the air filter regularly. To prevent yourself from running down the hallway toward the bathroom, spilling dirty water, you can reduce your maintenance requirements by installing a drain hose that empties collected water into a floor-level drain.
- Constantly running a dehumidifier will increase your energy bill.
- A good humidifier (you need to get the size that is required for the room it is in) can be pricey. If you are actually wanting to reap the benefits of owning one, you need to splurge on a trusted and quality brand.
It really looks as if the benefits outweigh the negatives when it comes to owning a dehumidifier. Really it is all going to depend on your personal needs, finances, and willingness to maintain the machine. It seems like the personal and home-health benefits make it all worth it.
If you find that despite your efforts, your air quality seems low and humidity high, you may need a professional to come check out your HVAC system—such as Dale Heating Cooling and Sheetmetal.