Ranging from effects on health, comfort, and property damage control, a dehumidifier helps your home in more ways than one. Here are some benefits of having a dehumidifier at home.
Why indoor humidity matters
Humidity refers to the amount of water molecules present in the air. With an average humidity of 75%, the Philippines is one of the most humid areas in the world.
Excessive humidity is more harmful than you realize.
The water vapor in the air absorbs heat; making it feel hotter than it actually is. Not only that, this moisture creates the perfect breeding ground for allergy-causing molds and mildew.
While opening windows and fans is a good way of reducing indoor humidity, it may not be an option especially during the rainy season where it can rain for days on end. While you can certainly use dehumidifiers year round, this is especially helpful during these wet months.
What do dehumidifiers do?
Dehumidifiers suck in air and removes the moisture from it – but how?
Well, there are two ways a dehumidifier can achieve this: one is through condensation, and the other is by passing the air through a desiccant.
Dehumidifiers that use condensers cools the warm and moist air until it condenses into water vapor. The cooling process either uses a refrigerant (noisy) or a peltier device (quiet).
Note:
You may have noticed similarities on how a dehumidifier works and how an aircon works – that’s because they are similar!
Air conditioners also function as dehumidifiers. However, they don’t remove as much moisture as a true dehumidifier – and not to mention, an AC unit costs more to operate than a dehumidifier.
Meanwhile, desiccant dehumidifiers pass the warm and moist air through a moisture-absorbing material (called a desiccant) like silica gel.
The excess moisture collects in a water tank (also called the reservoir) that needs to be drained manually or through a drain hose.
If you think that lowering the indoor air’s humidity is a trivial concern, think again! Excess humidity is more damaging than we think. Here are some of the benefits of controlling our room’s humidity:
What are the benefits of using a dehumidifier?
1. Makes the room more comfortable
As they say: it’s not the heat, it’s the humidity.
The excess water vapor in the air absorbs heat and prevents our sweat from evaporating – making us hot and sticky and generally uncomfortable.
Reducing the humidity of the indoor air will make us more comfortable especially when paired with proper ventilation, fans, and/or air conditioning.
2. Can protect your home from mold damage
Seeing black spots in your walls and ceiling means that they are infested with mold.
Molds thrive in moist environments. While using a dehumidifier isn’t an immediate solution to your mold problem, it can prevent it from happening or from coming back after you’ve solved it.
If left untreated, these molds will rot away your home’s wooden materials and ruin paint. It can also cause allergies – speaking of which…
3. Helps with allergies and asthma
Mold formations release spores to reproduce – spores that can be inhaled and cause allergies.
Dust mites also thrive in warm and humid environments. Their droppings are also a common trigger for asthma attacks.
Dehumidifiers will help control the amount of allergens by controlling the growth of molds and dust mites. This, coupled with proper cleaning and sanitation, will reduce your bouts with allergies and asthma.
4. Helps remove “kulob” odor
We’re not done with molds yet!
The musty “kulob” odor you are smelling are being emitted by the molds and mildew infesting your home.
This odor is cause by mVOCs (microbial volatile organic compounds) which can cause headaches, nasal irritation, dizziness, fatigue, and nausea.
Cleaning the walls with a store-bought cleaner is the best way to deal with the problem. But to ensure that they won’t come back, use a dehumidifier.
5. Helps your aircon to be more energy efficient
As stated earlier, water vapors absorb heat. Thus, when the indoor air is too humid, your aircon will have to work harder to cool the room. The result is a strained compressor and a higher electricity bill.
Also, since you will feel a lot less heat because of the reduced humidity, sometimes you may not feel the need to turn on your AC at all!
FURTHER READING: How Does Humidity Affect Air Conditioners?
6. Can speed up laundry drying time
Spin drying can only wring up so much water.
If you are hanging your clothes indoors, the evaporating water will cause the humidity to increase in the room. Turning on your dehumidifier will capture much of this moisture and will not only prevent your room’s air from becoming musty and thick, it can also speed up the drying process.
This will come in handy during the rainy season, when you don’t have the luxury of hanging your clothes beneath the sun
Conclusion
Aside from the benefits of comfort, using a dehumidifier also has benefits on your health, your home’s structural integrity, plus a lot of other nifty “nice to have” features.
Know what to look for when buying a dehumidifier buy reading our Comprehensive Dehumidifier Buying Guide here! [Coming Soon!]
Miguel Mores worked for 5 years as a member of the product management team for a home appliance company in the Philippines. He started 101appliance to answer the most common customer questions that he has encountered during his time in the industry. He now works in the digital marketing field and manages a small online bookstore on the side.
I am happy that I found this article and read it. This is really a good informative article about the benefits of having a dehumidifier . Dehumidifiers are very helpful in keeping our homes dry, especially during the rainy season. They can also protect your home from structural damage due to moisture. If you have not considered buying one yet, consider reading this article before making up your mind on whether or not to buy one for yourself or someone else