User Guide – Dehumidifier

People are aware that high levels of humidity can be disturbing and uncomfortable, however, did you know that homes with high or critical levels of humidity and moisture in the air can dangerous? In humid environments, allergens such as dust and mold mites thrive.
This allergy cause various reactions are as follows:

• Congestion.
• Sneezing.
• Respiratory problems.
• Watery eyes.
• Itchy.

For critical cases, this can also result in asthma and serious conditions. Intriguingly, Mito and mold breeding occurs on office and home grounds. When this situation is handled sooner rather than later, it’s possible to prevent and avoid this condition hence reducing illness and unnecessary allergy conditions.

If you happen to reside in an area with high humid environments or you or discover that your home has high moisture levels, the remedy to the problem is purchasing a dehumidifier which is highly recommended. In the market, there are very types of dehumidifiers with a variety of features and options to select from. Before you decide to go out and purchase just any dehumidifier, there are some facts and tips you should know that will help you choose and select the right dehumidifier that with the help you solve the problem of mold and mite breeds in your house.

How to identify the right dehumidifier

The first step is to identify the type of dehumidifier you require. As the user establishes the kind of space you want to dehumidify, then take your time to learn about the different models you can choose from and make sure it fits the features and quality that you want in a dehumidifier. The amount of moisture extracted from the air in a period of 24-hours greatly determines the choice you make before purchasing a dehumidifier. Moisture capacity is measured in liters [lt/24h]. The alternative way to determine this is to choose the dehumidifier based on the volume of the room.

There are different types of dehumidifiers as listed below:

1. Industrial Dehumidifiers- These dehumidifiers are Ideal for dehumidifying very large areas, in open offices, warehouses, and manufacturing floors industrial dehumidifiers are very ideal and offers a quality solution for reducing and regulating moisture contents in these areas. The system integrated into these dehumidifiers often come with either of the following technologies:

• Heavy-duty integrated condensate pumps.
• Gravity drains.

2. Garage, Basement, and Crawl Space Dehumidifiers-This dehumidifier is designed to be used over a basement, garage, larger area, and crawl space. The dehumidifier has the ability to operate in lower temperatures and contain a higher pint capacity. In areas, with high moisture content, these dehumidifiers can be permanently installed and will include a hose connection with a condensate pump for constant drainage.

3. Home Dehumidifiers- These dehumidifiers are rated considering the pint capacity. The home dehumidifiers also feature both small and large models and this depends on the size of the home or room you plan to install and use it in. Most of these dehumidifiers are usually manufactured with either a drain hose or drain bucket and an automatic shutoff feature.

4. Mini Dehumidifiers- These are portable and compact versions of dehumidifiers. In smaller spaces, mini dehumidifiers are the perfect solution, Such as laundry rooms or bathrooms. People affected by significant allergies need to travel with their units are sorted, the reason being these dehumidifiers are very versatile as they are portable and really help in areas with high moisture content build whether in your home or office.

How to decide on the right dehumidifier capacity to consider

The process of deciding on the capacity of a dehumidifier to purchase is certainly a difficult task. Already available in the market there are different brands and types you can choose from, however, dehumidifiers also tend to confuse people by use of a pint rating, in consideration to models. Many people know what a pint is but experience a hard time understanding the difference between a dehumidifier with different capacity ratings; for example, a 50-pint dehumidifier versus a 70-pint dehumidifier. The most important thing is to understand which is the most effective and relevant dehumidifier capacity that will help you solve the problem you are facing.

Pint in dehumidifiers

Pint capacity-Is the amount of moisture that a dehumidifier is capable of removing a period of a 24-hour period. A dehumidifier’s performance can greatly be affected by the following:

• Size of a given area.
• A humidity level of a given area.

Generally, the best dehumidifiers to be used in residential areas have a pint capacity rated at 70 points or less. While dehumidifiers that are fit to be used in industrial and commercial areas are rated over 70 pints.

How to place a dehumidifier in a room

Dehumidifiers are made to extract moisture from high humid areas and home environments that are facing moisture problems. To protect buildings and make spaces more comfortable and healthy the moisture content in the air should be controlled. Dehumidifiers offer flexibility and are made to perform at their best in areas where they are placed and used in any place where excess moisture is a problem. The following are placement areas for dehumidifiers:

1. Basement- Basements are always an ideal location to place and install a dehumidifier. Many house basements are always wet or damp due to humidity from the soil surrounding the basement. Moisture levels in basements can also be affected by the low water table. When you install and Place a dehumidifier in the basement helps:

• Reduce moisture content in the basement that can damage the home’s structure.
• Reduces the amount of moisture that fuels mold growth.

2. Bathrooms- Humidity levels releases when you run hot water in the shower or bathtub. Some bathrooms are built without fans or windows that allow the humidity to dissipate. A bathroom without adequate ventilation has excessive humidity which can result in the following damages:

• It causes paint to bubble.
• It causes mold to grow.

However, a dehumidifier placed in bathrooms helps in ventilating the room and reduces excess moisture in the bathroom space.

3. Placement within a Room-For a clear airflow in and out of Dehumidifiers, clearance should be provided. Dehumidifiers also need to be plugged into an electrical outlet. In large rooms, you should place the unit near a source of moisture. However, in smaller rooms, place the dehumidifier in a central placement for it’s very ideal and will achieve the best results and keep the doors and windows to the rooms shut.

Types of dehumidifiers

The purpose of dehumidifiers is to reduce and regulate the humidity in the air. However, it is recommended that you install a whole-home humidification system to maintain balanced indoor humidity levels, these dehumidifiers are manufactured in different types as follows:
Dehumidifiers are grouped into four types:

• Chemical Absorbent Dehumidifier – These are also known as desiccant dehumidifiers, they incorporate hydrophilic materials, such as silica gel. However, many residential units usually contain single-use desiccant type gel, cartridges, and powder.
• Dehumidifying Ventilator – This dehumidifier’s work as the name sound, they use an exhaust fan to expel air outside. This dehumidifier uses a sensor and exhaust fan as the main components and is most often installed in attics, crawlspace, and basements.
• Heat Pump Dehumidifier – These dehumidifiers require a heat pump, fan, and heat exchange coils to eliminate moisture from the air in the room. By using a fan, the air is sent past the heat exchange coils, which are usually extremely cold. Moisture condenses and collects.
• Homemade Dehumidifier –While it’s not recommended as a permanent solution, this comes in handy as a short-term solution. Homemade dehumidifiers are made of charcoal, road salt, and another special kind of deicing salt.

Various features in a dehumidifier

it’s wise to familiarize yourself with some of the available dehumidifier features:

• Controls: Manual vs. Electronic – For the popular dehumidifiers they are equipped with electronic controls but others still have manual alternatives installed. The button-press control system is commonly utilized by electronic versions, manual dehumidifiers have a dial to turn. The customer should absolutely consider this feature deciding on the actual dehumidifier you want to purchase for your home.
• Collection Container- Residential dehumidifiers have collection tanks installed and are portable meaning they can be taken off easily to empty. The extracted water is also known as condensate and is disposable. Many dehumidifiers’ models have automatically turned off the system that turns off after the tank is filled. The consumer should consider this feature and look for it in the dehumidifiers before purchasing it.
• Pint Capacity- Pint capacity is the number of pints of moisture that can is removed from the air within 24 hours. For an optimal level in a home, the capacity of 70 points or less would be achieved, while dehumidifiers with a higher extraction rate are used in industrial and commercial establishments.
• Humidistat- For the user to be able to measure the relative humidity of a home, humidistats are very necessary. This feature also gives readouts for the dehumidifier to adapt its settings.