12 Benefits of a Dehumidifier
What is a Dehumidifier?
Excess humidity can potentially cause many issues for your health and home. Humidity is common during spring and summer months when there is more moisture in the air.
A dehumidifier is an appliance that reduces the level of moisture in the air by extracting water to improve the overall indoor air quality. Controlling indoor humidity is very important for your health and home. According to research, the recommended ideal humidity level for your home should be between 40%-60%.
The Benefits of a Dehumidifier
Here is a list of 12 dehumidifier benefits!
1. Reduce Mold and Mildew
Mold and mildew are caused by excess moisture in the air, and can spread very easily. Mildew can be seen on growing on surfaces, while mold can penetrate and grow beneath the surfaces of your household items. They can grow on windows, pipes, ceiling tiles, wood, paper, carpet, upholstery, or even on wallpaper and drywall.
Fungus growing in your home can cause health problems including congestion, wheezing, irritation, and more! Mold and mildew can also become very difficult to get rid of, so it is important to prevent the growth by reducing moisture in the air. A dehumidifier is designed to reduce the moisture level in the air by extracting the excess water. By doing so, dehumidifiers can help prevent the growth of mold and mildew and improves the indoor air quality of your space.
2. Water Leakage and Flooding Cleanup
Flooding and water leakage can be a common household issue. Using a dehumidifier to assist with cleanup can reduce the time, hassle, and stress of dealing with the excess water. A major benefit of a dehumidifier is that it can also work like a vacuum cleaner by absorbing the extra water and moisture in order to quicken the drying process!
Not only does a dehumidifier help with the immediate impacts of flooding, but can also help deal with the long-term after effects by preventing any mold or mildew from forming. A dehumidifier is very useful if you live in an area that experiences a lot of rainfall and/or natural disasters with water!
3. Prevent Musty Odors
Do you ever experience musty or foul smells in your basement or laundry room? This odor is caused primarily by damp climates or excess moisture in the air. When humid air comes in contact with cold surfaces near or around your home, it can cause condensation and musty odors. Often times, this damp smell can also be caused by the growth of mold and mildew.
Another great benefit of a dehumidifier is that it can reduce or prevent odors by extracting the extra water from the air to restore the humidity levels. By maintaining a healthy indoor humidity level, it can create a comfortable and breathable environment! Note that there are other factors that can also be causing musty smells around or in your home. Check out this article by Basement Systems to learn why your crawl space is damp, smells musty, and has mold.
4. Alleviate Allergy Symptoms
Common seasonal spring allergy triggers include dust mites, pollen, animal or pet dander, mold, and mildew. Mold and mildew thrive in humid conditions and can cause various allergy symptoms including sneezing, stuffed or runny nose, dryness, congestion, watery eyes, and itchiness in your eyes, nose, or throat.
Reducing the humidity in the air with a dehumidifier can help reduce any dust or other allergy triggers in the air. This creates healthy indoor air in your home. So no more sniffling and sneezing from spring allergies!
5. Minimize Condensation
Did you know that condensation can be harmful to your home? If you notice condensation or water droplets forming on the inside of your windows, this can be a sign that there is excess humidity in your home. If the extra moisture in your home is trapped, it can cause your home to decay over time. This is because wood can absorb water which will either lead to mold and rotting or cause the wood to soften and lose strength.
Another great benefit of having a dehumidifier is that it can help control the moisture and condensation to help maintain your housing structure.
6. Reduce Pest Related Issues
Pests can be attracted to your home for many different reasons. According to Pest Control Services Inc., one of the most common causes of pest infestations is excess humidity or moisture. This is because pests and termites extract water from their surroundings in order to survive!
You might notice that this is the reason why more insects are found in wet areas or damp environments. Insects, termites, and other pests can easily enter your home by chewing through damp wood. Even small amounts of water from the air can help these pests survive for long periods of time. A dehumidifier can help control pest related issues by reducing the excess water in the air and creating a more balanced environment. Turn pesky pests away!
7. Lower Energy Costs
Running a dehumidifier in your home can also reduce energy costs! Since dehumidifiers work to reduce the humidity in the air, you do not need to run your air conditioner (AC) as frequently. In addition to that, your cooling equipment does not need to consume more energy to maintain the desired temperature level in your home.
Perfect Aire’s Flat Panel Dehumidifiers are Energy Star Certified, so they use less energy when running, offering you even more savings! An Energy Star dehumidifier is a great way to save money over the course of time! To find an estimate on your savings with an Energy Star Certified dehumidifier, check out this appliance energy calculator!
8. Reduce Dust Mites
A major benefit of having a dehumidifier is that it they can help effectively reduce dust in your home! When a dehumidifier reduces the amount of moisture in the air, bacteria and dust mites can no longer spread.
A dehumidifier is also powerful and effective enough to filter out the dust floating in the air. Perfect Aire’s line of dehumidifiers include a reusable and washable filter that helps capture dust for better indoor air quality. You will notice a significant decrease in the level of dust in your home after running a dehumidifier! With the reduction of dust, you will be able to keep your home clean and control allergies!
9. Improve Respiratory Issues
When there is too much moisture in the air, it can become difficult to breathe. High humidity also leads to an increase in dust mites and mold which can trigger additional respiratory issues.
By reducing the indoor humidity with a dehumidifier, it can make the air in your space more comfortable to breathe! Dehumidifiers can also help individuals who struggle with asthma symptoms. According to Healthline, maintaining an indoor humidity level between 30%-50% is best to manage and control asthma symptoms!
10. Protect Household Items
Another great benefit of dehumidifiers is that they can protect your valuable belongings such as musical instruments, photos, books, and more!
A dehumidifier in your home can help reduce the moisture in the air which will prevent mold, fungus, rot, dust mites, and any moisture damage to your personal belongings. This can help protect, maintain, and increase the longevity of prized possessions in your home!
11. Dry Clothes Faster
Another surprising benefit of dehumidifiers is that this appliance can help dry your laundry! If you like to air-dry your clothes, or have items that need to be hand-washed, a dehumidifier can help them dry quicker! By drawing out the extra water from the air and your clothes, it speeds up the drying process!
12. Improve Comfort
A humid environment can become extremely uncomfortable to live in, especially when the heat turns sticky and gross!
When a dehumidifier reduces the extra humidity, it can make the air in your home cooler and more comfortable! If you live in a tropical, muggy, or swampy climate, a dehumidifier can become a necessity for you to keep the indoor air balanced!