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How to Maximize the Performance of Your Dehumidifier

Dehumidifier

You are already well aware of how crucial a dehumidifier is to make your house more pleasant if you have a stuffy or damp washroom, bedroom, basement, or other areas. Dehumidifiers perform a great job of preventing allergies, and unpleasant odors, and filtering out air through air filters while maintaining the desired level of humidity in your house. To make sure your dehumidifier works better, continues to function effectively, and keeps your house comfy and hygienic, you’ll want to make sure you’re using it properly and getting the most out of it. So, here are some suggestions that’ll help your dehumidifier work wonders for you.

1. Placement

The first step to ensuring that your dehumidifier works at maximum efficiency is determining where it will be placed. Determine the source of the issue: does your basement have mold? Then you might want to utilize a dehumidifier in your basement. Is your laundry or bathroom retaining additional moisture? Then place the dehumidifier there. The air in the area where you are facing excess moisture issues will be cleaned and dehumidified by the dehumidifier, which will also benefit the spaces around it in your house.

Once you’ve determined which room would work best for your dehumidifier, consider positioning it in the middle of the space, away from any open windows. Opening windows can let more moisture into your house, negating the purpose of your dehumidifier. The dehumidifier will be able to collect greater moisture from the surrounding place if it is positioned in the middle of the room where proper air circulation is around it. 

Also, avoid positioning it in any corners or next to the walls if you can’t put it in the middle of the room. In order to allow for airflow and access to the water chamber, try to position it in an area that is as open as possible.

Read More – How Often Should I Change My Air Filter?

2. Dehumidifier’s Maintenance

Depending on the frequency of your usage, cleaning the dehumidifier every few weeks will ensure that it functions properly. For people with severe allergies or asthma, any mold that grows within your dehumidifier may be dispersed high into the atmosphere, which might be problematic. Cleaning the device from outside, where dust might gather, can also be beneficial.

Maintenance of the dehumidifier does not only include draining the water that has accumulated. If you use it frequently, this is a task that you should do every few days. 

For properly cleaning the device, carefully disassemble the dehumidifier in order to completely clean it. Even though disassembling it might be a difficult task in itself, it is necessary to guarantee that your dehumidifier continues to function effectively. Once you’ve disassembled it, combine and prepare a solution of water and vinegar in a 1:1 ratio. With a sponge or towel, clean all of its components using this solution. Even pure vinegar may be sprayed on difficult-to-clean spots and let to rest until the gunk can be removed.

Always remember to drain the water tank after frequent usage and to change the air filter whenever required. You can contact US Home Filter to get custom air filters built for your humidifier for better efficiency. They serve the customers in the best way possible and provide the best air filters in United States .

3. Set An Ideal Humidity Level

Did you know that carefully calibrating the humidity settings is an important aspect of operating a dehumidifier properly? That is correct! You must know how to maximize relative humidity (RH) while utilizing a dehumidifier.

What should be the ideal humidity setting, then? The ideal relative humidity in a house, as per Energy Star, should be between 30 to 50 percent. Anything below this level might result in severe dryness, while anything above it could result in excess moisture along with the growth of germs, mold, and mildew.

It is important to remember that RH levels cannot rise beyond 40% during the colder months since doing so stops water droplets from condensing on windows as well as other glass surfaces.

Fortunately, humidistats are already inbuilt into most dehumidifiers. With the help of these regulators, you may set the proper RH level for your device. When it reaches that point, it will turn the dehumidifier on and off automatically to help maintain the set RH level.

The best option if you discover that your dehumidifier does not include a humidistat is to get a hygrometer, a tool that detects RH. To accurately measure RH levels, hang it next to or above the dehumidifier.

4. Weather Can Affect The Dehumidifier

If you use a dehumidifier throughout the year, you are aware of how difficult it can be to control humidity. The device often operates without issues during the summer months since there is usually higher moisture in the air.

However, while using a dehumidifier during winter, you need to take into account two things:

  • Your device draws moisture, and if it becomes extremely cold, the water it has gathered might perhaps freeze and harm your device.
  • If you live in an area where the winters are really cold, you might want to think about dehumidifiers that use silica or charcoal as desiccants.

Using a dehumidifier in the chilly winter months might be harmful to the device.

Read More – Best Air Filter for My Home?

Final Thoughts

The majority of homes don’t always place the utmost emphasis on maintaining ideal humidity levels. You wouldn’t want to ignore it or place it on the last of your maintenance list, though.

In the worst-case circumstances, fluctuating can harm your house as well as your health all at once. Fortunately, achieving the ideal humidity level in your house doesn’t require a costly renovation. A dehumidifier can work wonders for you.

If you’re worried about allergies, mold growth, or dust mites in your house, a dehumidifier can help. Additionally, they eliminate musty smells that could develop on your clothes, furniture, bedding, and drapes. People who are highly susceptible to allergies can benefit from the fresher, cleaner air that is filtered since it makes breathing easier and helps with allergic problems.

With all of these advantages, you need to ensure that your dehumidifier is well-maintained to achieve the finest results. Now that you have gone through the whole article, you are well aware of the things that you need to do to get the most out of your dehumidifier. Follow the above-discussed points, and you can maximize the efficiency of your dehumidifier.

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Selecting the filters that are just right for your home can be difficult and confusing at times. At US Home Filter we understand this, which is why we offer an experienced staff to help answer any questions you may have. For personal assistance with your air filter needs, please contact us now online or call us at (855) 237-1673 and we will do our very best to assist you in selecting the right filter for your individual needs. We want to earn your business and we guarantee your satisfaction! Take advantage of our quality products, vast selection, low prices, and enjoy FREE SHIPPING on every air filter order within the Contiguous USA.

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How to Reduce Your Home’s Humidity

How to Control Indoor Humidity LevelsThe first day of summer is upon us and that means higher humidity levels not only outside, but inside as well. As humidity increases in your home, you’ll notice your skin may feel clammy, you’ll see foggy windows or smell a musty odor. After lingering for some time, high humidity indoors will cause mold, rotting wood and damp spots throughout the home. Even if there are no signs of your home’s atmosphere is too moist, it’s extremely important to measure and control your homes indoor humidity levels. Not only will it help reduce your heating and cooling bills, but did you know that studies have shown that how happy you feel is directly related to humidity levels? You can save money and feel better both mentally and physically. It’s a win/win!

How to Reduce Home Humidity Levels

Most important: Ventilation. This is especially important in the areas of your home that create the most moisture like the bathrooms and kitchen. Washing and drying machines, showering and cooking all affect the amount of moisture in the air, especially in bathrooms when people take long hot showers. If any of these rooms have vent fans installed, make sure you use turn them on and possibly leave them on longer than usual. If they don’t, and you find that your bathrooms are especially humid, you may want to consider having vent fans installed by an electrician.

If your home does not have a ventilation system or exhaust fans, cracking the window for a little while will help dry the air out, especially in bathrooms. Shockingly, it only takes four to six pints of water to raise humidity levels inside of a 1,000-square foot radius from 15% to 60% in a short amount of time. The amount of people in your home can affect the humidity in the air as well. A 1/4 cup of water is produced from one person’s breathing over an hour period of time. Open your windows and let the air flow dry your indoor air out.

Other tips to decrease humidity levels:

  • Make sure that your exhaust fans in the kitchen, bathrooms and laundry rooms all vent to the outside.
  • Use fans to increase ventilation and air movement
  • Take shorter, colder showers
  • Run your air conditioning and keep drain lines and drip pans clean and unobstructed
  • Keep houseplants outside or all in one room as they release moisture vapor into the air
  • Do not over water your indoor houseplants

If maintaining the humidity levels in your home has become an issue or if you are living in a poorly ventilated building, you may want to consider using a dehumidifier. These are usually placed in basements or in bathrooms without windows or in rooms of a home that need the most moisture removal.

Types of Dehumidifiers

There are many dehumidifiers on the market – from whole-house systems to small, portable devices. No matter the size, they utilize one of three technologies: Desiccant, Mechanical/Refrigerant or Peltier.

Desiccant dehumidifiers work by employing desiccants to remove humidity. Desiccants are substances that naturally absorb moisture, like those little packets of silica gel you find in your electronics boxes or vitamin bottles. This type of dehumidifier is best for moderate humidity and lower temperatures. Since no water is produced by this dehumidifier, it can withstand freezing conditions.

Mechanical/Refrigerant dehumidifiers basically work just like your refrigerator or air conditioning system. As air passes by a cooled metal plate, the airborne moisture is condensed and drips into a water tank. This type of dehumidifiers can increase air temperatures slightly and are best suited for moderate-high humidity levels and moderate-warm temperatures.

Peltier dehumidifiers are quiet and efficient, however, they are somewhat less energy efficient than the mechanical/ refrigerant dehumidifier described above. They are typically used in smaller areas such as bedrooms, bathrooms, closets and also RVs and also trap the airborne moister which drips into a reservoir. An indicator light illuminates when the water reservoir needs to be emptied.

Proper Humidity Levels Are Essential!

According to the EPA, some of the biggest threats to indoor air quality stem from moisture issues. If humidity levels in the home are not properly maintained, a plethora of hazards become abundant. From dust mites to allergens, pathogens and noxious chemicals are all more abundant in humid conditions. Lowering the moisture content in the air can reduce allergens, wheezing from asthma and chronic coughs or shortness of breath. The ideal humidity levels for your home are <60% in the summer and between 25%-40% in the winter. In bedrooms, 50% relative humidity reduces dust mites and allergens if kept there year round. Maintain proper humidity levels in your home is essential – saving you money and keeping your family healthy and happy.

US Home Filter Is Here For You

Family owned and operated for four generations now, we know all about the importance of home humidity control and have a variety of humidifier filters! Over the years our experienced staff has help thousands of customers by answering the same questions that you may have.

At US Home Filter, we appreciate each and every one of our customers. We are here to help you choose the best solutions for your individual needs. Whether you need help with one of our standard stock size air filters, a Whole House Air Cleaner replacement filter, Grille filters, or if you are overwhelmed by choosing the right custom size air filter, we will be happy to personally work with you to help ensure you order exactly what you need and clear up any misconceptions! For personal assistance or questions about your air filter needs, please contact us now online or call us at (855) 237-1673 and we will do our very best to help you in selecting the perfect filter for your individual needs. We want to earn your business and we guarantee your satisfaction! Take advantage of our quality products, vast selection, low prices, and enjoy FREE SHIPPING on every air filter order within the Contiguous USA.