Best Dehumidifier Questions & Answers
Everyone has a slightly different requirement concerning the need for a basement dehumidifier. So we will try to cover off as many of the different questions as possible in one forum. Here we have a list of the best dehumidifier FAQs, which we hope will go some way to answering all your individual questions.
Read on to find out what is the Best Dehumidifier for your house.
1. How are dehumidifiers rated for size?
The size of a dehumidifier is rated in a measure of pints. What this refers to is the number of pints of liquid water that a dehumidifier can remove from the surrounding atmosphere within a 24 hour time period. In other words, the stronger the performance rating of a dehumidifier, the more effective it will be at reducing the humidity levels in a given room or building. Obviously there are other factors at play here such as the ambient temperature and humidity levels, but all things being equal, you need a larger capacity dehumidifier if you have a large area to deal with, or if you have excessive moisture problems.
2. Can a dehumidifier alleviate allergy problems in a house?
Yes! This can be one of the most important benefits to the residents of a house or building where the moisture levels have been reduced with a dehumidifier. When the moisture levels are controlled to a low level, there is less opportunity for mold and mildew to form in the basement of a building. Mold, mildew and even dust mites can be a trigger for allergic reactions. Therefore humidity should be controlled as much as possible. The best way to do this is to run a dehumidifier system in the basement or crawl spaces around your home. Not only will this control humidity but can dramatically reduce the opportunity for nasty bugs to proliferate.
3. What is the ideal level of relative humidity?
The relative humidity of the air is a measure of the amount of water vapor that is held within the atmosphere relative to the total amount of moisture that the air can hold at any given temperature. We are all familiar with the situation when the relative humidity is high. And when the air feels sticky and uncomfortable. No matter whether the surrounding temperature is high or low. The relative humidity can still be near saturation point at around 90% to 100%, which we know as high humidity.
On the other hand, if the relative humidity is below 50%, we would probably recognize that the air feels dry. Maybe our skin may feel dry, and in extremely low humidity levels, we might even feel itchiness from very dry skin.
In between these two extremes of high and low humidity is the optimal humidity level. This will provide the most comfort for the inhabitants of a house or building. But if we wish to reduce the incidence of mold, mildew or parasites, then a dehumidifier is a great benefit to have in the basement. The best dehumidifier can be set to run when the humidity climbs over say 70 or 75%. The best dehumidifier should be set to switch off when humidity levels drop below 50%. This means that you can set and forget and still maintain the most comfortable humidity levels all year round.
4. What is the reservoir in a dehumidifier for?
A water storage reservoir in a dehumidifier is to collect the liquid water that has been condensed and extracted from the surrounding atmosphere. Larger the reservoir, the longer the dehumidifier can run continuously without stopping to be emptied. The best dehumidifier will have a shut off valve to prevent the reservoir from over flowing. Trouble is if you don’t empty the reservoir and restart the machine, then the dehumidifier is ineffective for that period of time.
The best option is to connect the dehumidifier to a drain to enable continuous operations. But this is not always possible, depending on the individual circumstances of your basement, house, or building. The average basement may not have a drain in place. This is because it is already at the lowest point in the building. But sometimes if you are lucky, there may be a drain installed. In this case, we highly recommend that you select the best dehumidifier that allows the unit to be plumbed directly to the drain outlet. This will ensure that you get continuous operation of the dehumidifier.
5. Do I need to duct my dehumidifier?
Ducting of a dehumidifier means the dehumidifier can remove moisture from multiple rooms of your house or building. If you have ducted air conditioning systems, then the dehumidifier could be incorporated into the ducting system. This works more effectively in order to remove excessive moisture from the building. This also means that if you have several rooms, you only need to buy a single dehumidifier!
6. How long does a dehumidifier last?
The best dehumidifier is an relatively maintenance free piece of equipment that can run for many years in your basement. Depending on the type of dehumidifier you choose, some machines have fewer moving parts than other machines. The fewer moving parts means this can be a real saving. For example, the Peltier style dehumidifier machines have many fewer moving parts. A Peltier dehumidifier relies on a thermo-static system to remove moisture from the air. This can be a dramatic saving over a compressor driven refrigeration style dehumidifier. So it is important to take this into consideration when choosing the best dehumidifier for basement.
7. Can I recycle he water drawn out from my dehumidifier?
Yes, you can use the water for cleaning around the house, or watering the garden. A general warning though, the water generated from a dehumidifier is not considered suitable for human consumption.
Conclusion – the Best Dehumidifier
Take your time to do research and read our reviews of the best dehumidifier on the market. There are many different basement dehumidifiers on the market. If you are not sure which is the best dehumidifier for your needs, then we can help you to make the right choice, without spending more than you need to!
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