Do I need a dehumidifier?
For health reasons, a dehumidifier is a must. If you are one of the millions of Americans who suffer from environmental allergies, a dehumidifier can make your allergies more manageable or even disappear entirely.
Having too much moisture in your home can make your home a breeding ground for mold and mildew. This not only affects air quality, but can greatly diminish the value and safety of a home.
Here are some allergy triggers to watch for that may indicate you could benefit from a dehumidifier:
A stuffy nose
Itchy eyes or skin
Sneezing or wheezing
No Allergies? Here are additional tips on how to decide if you need a dehumidifier:
1. Window & Patio Door Condensation
Condensation on the interior glass, water beading on a window or the presence of what looks like a fog or vapor on the glass are typical signs that there is too much moisture in the room.
2. Mold Spots on Ceiling or in Corners of Walls
Because steam rises, bathroom moisture problems are often found on ceilings or up in the corners of the walls. Bathrooms that do not have efficient fans to divert steam and humidity to the outdoors, most often have some problems with mold.
3. Musty Smell or Odor
The presence of a musty odor in basements, crawl spaces, entrances and garages signals the presence of mold and mildew. Moisture could have been one-time event or a recurring problem.
4. Recurring Spring Water Run-Off Dampness
If Spring ground water dampness has become a recurring problem or you have purchased a home that has white or grayish water level marks in the basement, you need a dehumidifier on hand to remove the extra moisture should these events occur.
5. Buying a home? Inspect for Mold and Water Stain Marks
Whether you're buying a home or RV, you should always look for signs of excess moisture problems, which may require corrective action and can also become an annoyance and health concern, if it proves to be a recurring issue. Tell tale signs that a home has had water problems are mold or mildew in corners of walls, bathroom ceiling/walls and water level marks in the basement.
So you decided you need a dehumidifier…now what? Here are some variables to consider before making your purchase:
- Size.
We have several models that hold 30-70 pints. 70 Pints can remove moisture from a room/area up to 3800 square feet at a time before the bucket is full and you have to empty it.
- Drain. There are three different features to consider:
Pump – This means you can attach a hose to the unit and it can pump your water up and out, like in a basement setting.
Drain – You can attach a hose to the drain and have the water run to a point lower than your humidifier, like a drain in your basement.
Bucket – this is the capacity of the dehumidifier, but the bucket must be emptied before it is full so the humidifier won’t overflow/auto shut off.
So there it is – your list of tips for purchasing a dehumidifier. Browse our selection HERE. If you have any questions, please feel free to email us at sales@3gorillas.com.