Home Dehumidifier: How To Choose The Right Dehumidifier Machine

Damp in the home can be a problem. It can cause damage to your property and possessions and it can cause problems with your health. Damp can be as a result of everyday activities such as using the shower and drying the washing. If the moisture in the air is not able to escape the house, it can result in condensation and damp, which can also allow mold to occur. Simple precautions such as improving ventilation may help, but there are often circumstances that would benefit from having a dehumidifier in the home. If the home had inadequate ventilation, this can be addressed but can be expensive. Leaving windows open is a simple method but is not always an option for security reasons. If there is no outside space available to dry clothes, and a tumble dryer is not an option, drying clothes inside the house may be the only way.

The advantages of home dehumidifiers are that they are not expensive, need no installation, and can be used when and where required. When considering purchasing one, there are features that should be checked, so as to ensure you have a suitable model for your needs.

1. Its ability to extract moisture from the air. Each dehumidifier will have what is known as an extraction rate. Put simply, this is the amount of water that the machine is capable of extracting out of the air within a certain amount of time. The higher the extraction rate the more effective the dehumidifier will be of keep the room(s) at an acceptable humidity level. The manufacturer will also indicate the size of area, or room size, the machine is capable of effectively dehumidifying. Consider the size of the area you want treated when choosing a model and find one that is able to work effectively in it. If you will be drying clothes inside, it would be of benefit to choose one of the many models specified as suitable for drawing out the excess moisture in the air created by the wet clothing as it dries.

2. Self regulating with a protection mechanism. A good dehumidifier will have a humidistat. This is a feature that allows the machine to monitor the moisture levels in the air and come on automatically when they reach a certain level. The cut-off point can be adjusted manually on many machines so the user can set it for their own required level of humidity. In addition to this, if the dehumidifier is likely to be used in room(s) where the temperature can fall to low levels, a frost protection mechanism within the machine is required. This will protect the delicate parts of the machine from being potentially damaged by ice forming on them if the temperature drops too low. Many garages, old houses or rooms that aren’t being used or heated will be likely to have low temperatures, especially at night.

3. The holding capacity. Each dehumidifier has a removable tank that holds the water that has been extracted from the air, and this will needed to be emptied when full. Most machines will have a cut off switch when this happens, so the tank will have to be emptied in order for the machine to continue working and being effective. The larger the tank, the longer between periods of emptying. If the room is not entered on a regular basis, a model with a large tank should be chosen for this reason. Some models do have a continuous flow facility. A length of tubing is attached and connected to a drainage system, by-passing the tank, allowing the machine to run continuously without requiring emptying.

Considering the three features when you purchase your home dehumidifier will result in your having a model more suitable for your own requirements.