8 Easy Steps For Buying A Dehumidifier
Dehumidifiers are great for removing excess moisture from your
indoor air and achieving relative humidity levels. By making the
air less moist, dehumidifiers can help to get rid of problems
such as sinuses, skin problems, mold and mildew, rotting
furniture etc. But in order to benefit from a dehumidifier, you
first need to buy the right one for your home.
This buying guide lists all the important criteria that need to
be considered when buying a dehumidifier.
Criteria For Selecting Dehumidifiers
1) Dehumidifier Size: It is important to buy the right sized
dehumidifier for your home so that you can dehumidify air
adequately and also do not end up wasting money with a
larger-than-needed dehumidifier. So, here are the factors to
consider for sizing your dehumidifier.
You have to measure the area of the room or your home, which
needs to be dehumidified. Once you know the area in square feet,
you have to select a unit which has the capacity to effectively
dehumidify areas of that size. Remember that the capacity
mentioned on the dehumidifier is what can be achieved in optimum
test conditions, which are not likely to be present in your
home. Thus, to be on the safe side, you should choose a
dehumidifier with a moisture removal capacity that is slightly
more than what is required by you.
Another important factor for sizing is the moisture content of
your indoor air. Some rooms may be small in area but could have
high moisture levels, thus needing a larger unit. Whereas some
larger rooms with lower humidity levels could make do with a
smaller dehumidifier. Thus, you should check the humidity levels
in your home, ascertain how much moisture needs to be removed to
obtain the desired humidity, and then choose a dehumidifier that
has the capacity to remove that much moisture.
2) Outdoor Humidity: In addition to the humidity levels inside
your home, you also have to consider outdoor humidity levels. If
you live in areas with high natural humidity, you will require a
larger unit than those who live where there is lower natural
humidity (area being the same).
3) Standard v/s Low Temperature Dehumidifiers: If you live in
areas where the temperature of the air that needs to be
dehumidified is less than 60 degrees F, a standard dehumidifier
is likely to be ineffective as its coils can frost up due to the
low temperatures. In such a case, you will need to buy a unit
that is a Low Temperature model. Such units are meant for use
where temperatures can go as low as 45 degrees F, with no damage
to the coils, and effective dehumidification.
4) Automatic Shut Off: With this option, your dehumidifier will
automatically shut down when the water reservoir is full so that
there is no overflowing of water. Thus, if you do not want to
constantly keep checking the water bucket, you should choose a
model with automatic shut off.
5) Continuous Drainage: Once the water bucket gets filled in
your dehumidifier, you have to manually empty it out before
starting the unit again. As large dehumidifiers can have water
buckets with high capacities, it can get quite difficult to lift
the heavy buckets and empty them. Thus, you should choose a unit
with a continuous drainage system, or where you can attach a
hose to the drain, especially if you require a large
dehumidifier.
6) Built-in Hygrometer/ Humidstat: A hygrometer measures the
exact humidity in the indoor air, whereas a humidstat helps to
control humidity levels and maintain them within the desired
range. Thus, if you want to ensure that relative humidity (from
45%-50%) is achieved, and if you wish to automatically maintain
the achieved humidity levels, you should choose a dehumidifier
with a built-in hygrometer and humidity control.
7) Ease of Use: Having a dehumidifier that is easy to use and
can conveniently be moved from place to place is an important
feature for many people. If you too wish to have ease of use,
you should select a dehumidifier that has an automatic restart
option, automatic defrost, castor wheels, and an overflow
protection valve.
8) Energy Star Rating: It is all very well to keep your
dehumidifier running continuously so that you can achieve proper
moisture levels in your indoor air and be free from health
problems, mold, fungi, etc. But when the inflated electricity
bill arrives, that's when your problems return. So, wouldn't it
be great if you could get a unit that works at its best and most
effectively, that too by consuming as less energy as possible?
Well, that is what the Energy Star rating is all about. Thus, if
you do not want to worry about high electricity costs, it may
well be worth your while to buy an Energy Star rated
dehumidifier.