After surviving a summer, you might know a thing or two about dealing with humidity. Damp and humid weather is uncomfortable and for those who don’t have air conditioning in their home, it can be somewhat of a nightmare. If you notice your walls collecting a buildup of condensation or moisture buildup in areas where there previously wasn’t any, chances are you might be in need of a dehumidifier.

But, what is the role of a dehumidifier and what purpose do these devices serve? Although their function might be obvious from their name, we’re here to break down how they work, the various models as well as the reasons why they’d be right for you!

Here’s everything to know about the role of a dehumidifier

Let’s talk about humidity

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Although we may spend almost every day inside our homes, chances are we don’t spend an overt amount of time thinking about air quality or the atmosphere. It’s important to remember that air contains water, and even though it may appear vaporous, it still exists in both liquid and gaseous forms.

With that in mind, it’s important to remember that there is a huge amount of moisture floating around the air of our homes. Now, if you have a laundry room, a small bathroom without a fan or spend a lot of time cooking on your stovetop without ventilation, there’s a chance that moisture will build up and get trapped within the walls of your home.

So why does it matter if your home is overly humid? Well, a home with high humidity can have plenty of problems and here are just a few of the potential issues:

• Mould growth on clothing, carpet or other in-home fabrics;

• Rusting and short-circuiting of computer or other electronic devices;

• Health issues including respiratory problems and infections;

• Bacterial growth;

• The potential for mites and fungi.

So, it might be easier for you to understand why your indoor humidity levels matter. Typically, a home should maintain a humidity level between 40 and 60%.

What’s the role of the dehumidifier?

The functions of a dehumidifier are fairly simple. They work in one of two ways and this is either by refrigeration or absorption.

In both cases, these devices work by sucking the moist air out of the rooms of your home, collecting the moisture and blowing the air back out after excess moisture has been removed. This is collected and held in a tank and the water will need to be emptied every now and again. When this tank ends up too full, the majority of models have an automatic shut off and thus, you don’t have to worry about it overflowing. Most dehumidifiers will allow you to set a humidistat level, allowing you to set the desired humidity-level for a room.

The most humid rooms of the home

Humidity is common throughout the home but is most prevalent in certain rooms. Here are some of the areas of the home that may definitely require a dehumidifier.

The kitchen: Our kitchens are extremely humid spaces due to the overabundance of devices that create heat. During the warmest months of the year, this room can be unbearable to work in. Not only is humidity uncomfortable, but overly-humid rooms can deteriorate materials such as cabinets and counter-tops and can cause your kitchen appliances to function at a lower rate or even lead to breakage.

If you don’t have the presence of an exhaust fan in your kitchen, we would recommend that you get a dehumidifier. Your dehumidifier does not need to live in your kitchen year-round but can be brought in during days when you are cooking an excessive amount or using a dishwasher when humidity levels are already high. 

The bathroom: without proper ventilation in the bathroom, this room is susceptible to mould and mildew growth. This is because the stream produced by taking a hot bath or shower offers high levels of moisture that may collect and stick around. If your bathroom is lacking a window or a ceiling fan, chances are you’ll need a dehumidifier to deal with the build-up.

Looking for more information about how humid a bathroom can be? Read our article on the subject.

The basement: Due to its placement within the home, the basement is a strange room to begin with. Sitting underground makes this space susceptible to floods as well as dampness from the surrounding earth. On top of this, many basement homes have yet to be correctly finished. Since your basement may lack insulation, it might often feel wet even when it hasn’t rained. If you don’t have the time or budget to insulate, we’d suggest getting a dehumidifier to avoid the growth of mould and mildew. 

Found yourself with a flooded basement? Here's what to do!

Definite signs you need a dehumidifier

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Although we’ve mentioned a few ways to tell whether or not you need a dehumidifier, here is a list of more concrete ways to tell.

The smell of must: If you smell must in your home, whether coming from the basement or other areas that are quick to collect moisture, this could point to the need for a dehumidifier. This is because it will work to dry out the air while also taking away a scent of mould.

A buildup of condensation on windows: This is generally an indication that the humidity levels in your home are too high. If water is dripping from the tops of your windows, this could lead to deterioration in the sills or floor below.

Basement leaks: It’s common for the basement to be moist after a heavy rainfall, but if you find that there is an excessive build-up of moisture or sweating walls, then you definitely need to use a dehumidifier to let dry out this room. If this issue persists after the rainfall, then we’d recommend running a dehumidifier for lengths of time during the summer months to keep mould growth under wraps.

Allergies: If yourself or your family members have begun to develop allergies out of the blue, then it might be time for you to invest in a dehumidifier. These devices work to combat against anything that might cause irritation including a buildup of mould, mildew and dust mites. However, if allergies are the main problem in your home, we’d recommend investing in a model that is equipped with antimicrobial technology. 

Choosing the right dehumidifier for your home

As we mentioned, there are a few options on the market when it comes to choosing a dehumidifier for your home. Your choice will come down to the space where you plan to use it as well as the overall humidity levels. There are small capacity models for smaller spaces, single room apartments or larger capacity modes for larger rooms, a full basement or larger apartments. Finally, there are whole-house models for those who live in very humid climates or those who suffer from particularly bad allergies. For those with very specific needs, there are models tailored to those looking for special features.

A dehumidifier can truly change your life, especially if the air in your home is suffering as a result of moisture or mould build-up. Clean and healthy air within your home is a necessity and you might not even realize it until it’s happening.  

Click on the link to find out even more information on the different types of dehumidifiers.