How does a dehumidifier work? Do you need to get this device for your space?
High levels of humidity are the bane of many homes and establishments in the United States. Even other parts of the world have this problem, too. But it should not come as a surprise, though.
Every time the weather gets hot, the absorptive capacity of air to hold water vapor increases. In short, during warm days, the air can get damp and musty. If not resolved, it causes health problems and structural damages.
A dehumidifier is a device designed to lower the humidity of any indoor setting. Read on and learn how this machine does its job.
What Is A Dehumidifier?
A dehumidifier is a machine that removes water vapor from the air. It is used to remove moisture from the air in basements, crawl spaces, and other areas that have a high risk of water damage. The water is collected in a reservoir at the bottom of the machine, and it must be emptied regularly to prevent overflow. Once the water has been drained, it can be used for laundry, watering plants, or cleaning.
A dehumidifier is an energy-efficient machine that runs on electricity. Though the machine is quite useful, it is essential to remember that it does not remove moisture. Instead, it cools down the air, which condenses the water vapor in the air and collects it in the reservoir.
How Does A Dehumidifier Work?
A dehumidifier works similar to a vacuum cleaner. But it does not function to suck dirt in your house. Instead, what it sucks in the air from your space. Once inside, the dehumidifier removes the moisture in the air. It releases the air back with minimal humidity already.
The moisture absorbed by the dehumidifier falls into its water tank. Hence, there’s a need for you to empty it regularly unless it has an automatic draining feature.
It repeats this job continuously until the moisture gets back to your desired level. In most cases, the dehumidifier stops working if its tank is full. Others have a programmable setting that lets you configure their runtime.
Meanwhile, those that have humidity can operate on their own. Once they detect that the humidity level on the air is already at the comfortable level, they will stop absorbing air. But once the humidistat reads an increase in the indoor humidity, it forces the dehumidifier to operate again.
Types Of Dehumidifiers
Refrigerant Dehumidifiers
Refrigerant dehumidifiers are the most common type of dehumidifier for home use. They cool the air entering the room using refrigeration technology, preventing moisture from entering the air due to condensation.
On a hot day, the refrigerant dehumidifier works just like a regular refrigerator. The moisture and heat from the air enter the dehumidifier, where it enters the next stage of the process. In the compressor, the refrigerant removes the heat from the air, cooling it to the desired temperature. The cooled air leaves the compressor and enters an evaporator coil. In the evaporator coil, the refrigerant absorbs moisture from the air, forcing it into a liquid state. The liquid falls to a water tank while the dry air is blown back to your space.
Desiccant Dehumidifiers
A desiccant dehumidifier is a type of dehumidifier in which the primary moisture removal mechanism is a desiccant. The desiccant acts as an adsorption material that attracts water vapor from the air, leaving the air drier. The most common desiccants used in dehumidifiers are silica gel and molecular sieves.
This is in contrast to a refrigerant-based dehumidifier, which removes water from the air by means of an evaporator that is cooled by a refrigeration system.
Dehumidifying Ventilators
This type of dehumidifier comes with an exhaust fan that expels the moist air outside. It has a sensor that detects the current humidity in your space. Most of the time, they are being used in areas that are riddled with severe humidity problems, such as crawlspaces, attics, and basements.
Whole House Dehumidifiers
A whole-house dehumidifier is a dehumidifier that is designed to be installed in your home’s HVAC system. This type of dehumidifier can be more energy efficient than a stand-alone dehumidifier. Whole house dehumidifier units are integrated into a home’s HVAC system in the ductwork, and they are connected to a drain. They are turned on when the air conditioning or heater is running, but they may also be manually turned on in other instances that require dehumidification in the home.
Portable Dehumidifiers
For many, using a portable dehumidifier may be a way to increase the comfort of their home. When you have a portable dehumidifier, you can easily move it to where it is needed most. This is great for meeting the needs of individual rooms in your home. If you have a basement that needs to be dehumidified, you can place the portable dehumidifier there. If you have a room that tends to feel stuffy, you can move the portable dehumidifier there and get the air back to its natural state.
Humidifier vs. Dehumidifiers
The answer to this question should be obvious. If the job of the dehumidifier is to reduce the moisture in the air, a humidifier increases it.
Specifically, humidifiers are useful during the cold months, when the air gets dry, or when people use their heating systems at full capacity. Their job is to add moisture in the air by adding water vapor to them.
There are many types, including warm mist and cool mist. Cool mist humidifiers are the most popular type because they are quiet and don’t heat the air in your room. They are available in a wide range of sizes and styles and often have additional functions, such as air purification.
All humidifiers have a reservoir that holds water. This water is then heated or cooled, depending on the model, and the resulting steam or mist is dispersed into the air.
Dehumidifiers vs. Air Conditioners
Interestingly enough, dehumidifiers and air conditioners have similar working principles. At the same time, they have common components, too. Many people think that an air conditioner can become a substitute for a dehumidifier. But the majority has the consensus that dehumidifiers will never be able to cool a room as the air conditioner does.
Generally, the job of air conditioners is to provide cool air to your space. Meanwhile, dehumidifiers will cool air so that it can separate the moisture from it. But this doesn’t mean that the dehumidifier can become a significant cooling machine.
Of course, air conditioners may reduce the humidity of the air, especially if they run long enough. But if your air conditioner is too powerful, it may not accomplish the job. After all, AC units that can cool fast are not required to run extensively. They may remove moisture but not on significant volumes.
Hence, if you are going to invest in the two, you have to assess your needs first. Do you want a household cooling machine? Or do you want to dehumidify your space?
When To Use A Dehumidifier?
There are a lot of uses for a dehumidifier. Needless to say, people invest in dehumidifiers for a variety of tasks. However, their goal should be the same: to remove the effects that high humidity has caused.
If the following scenario is familiar to you, then you might need to get a dehumidifier, too.
- Mold growth – Mold grows in warm, humid conditions and can be triggered by various things, like a broken air conditioning unit or a leaky pipe. The dehumidifier works by collecting and eliminating excess moisture in the air, which prevents mold from developing.
- Eliminate dust mites – Dust mites are a common problem in humid climates, and a dehumidifier can be a great way to cut back on their population. A dehumidifier reduces the presence of dust mites by creating an environment that is not livable for them. If the air is no longer damp, these mites will not persist anymore.
- Comfort problems – If you live in a humid place, like the southeast or southwest, you know that your clothes, sheets, and other materials are not always dry. This is because the humidity in the air makes them damp and thus can make you feel uncomfortable. Dehumidifiers remove the stickiness and musty feeling in the air, making it more comfortable to the body.
- Water stains – With high humidity, it is not impossible for stains to appear in your walls and ceilings. These stains can be problematic, as they are a sign that there’s an immediate repair or replacement that will come soon. To prevent this issue from happening, get a dehumidifier right away.
- Ubiquitous condensation – If your house is riddled with the effects of condensation, especially in the windows, then you need to get a dehumidifier right away. Indoor condensation happens when the humidity level is extremely high.
- Health problems – Have you been experiencing frequent sneezing, skin rashes, and itchiness? Are you having a hard time coping up with your allergies and asthma attacks? If so, you might improve the air quality of your space. And you can do that by reducing the air’s moisture content with the use of a dehumidifier.
- Damaged structures – Water can cause rapid deterioration of various construction materials such as wood. It can warp and crack them. Moisture can also peel wallpapers, causing unwarranted expenses on repairs and replacements.
Where To Use A Dehumidifier?
There’s nothing worse than coming home from a long day at work to find your basement a soggy mess. Even worse is when you come home from a long day at work to find your basement a soggy mess, and the floorboards are warped, and your furniture is covered in mold. That’s why it’s essential to know where to put your dehumidifier.
In Basements
Basements are usually damp, and the presence of moisture poses a lot of problems. There are many different causes of dampness in a basement, including seeping of groundwater, leaking pipes, faulty foundation walls, and faulty plumbing. The presence of dehumidifiers is beneficial in this part of your home.
In Bedrooms
It’s no secret that the humidity in a house can affect your health and wellbeing, especially while you’re sleeping. When you’re in bed, you’re surrounded by many different materials that can cause quite a bit of moisture in the air. A dehumidifier can counteract these effects, ensuring that you can sleep comfortably throughout the night.
In Bathrooms
When you have a bath or shower, you’re creating a lot of moisture in the air. Some of this moisture will make its way into your nooks and crannies, and if you don’t have a dehumidifier, it can make your bathroom a very uncomfortable place to be in.
In Kitchens
It is a common misconception that dehumidifiers are only useful in basements, but in reality, they can be very beneficial in your kitchen as well. Humidity is created when you steam or boil water. And the more you use your kitchen for cooking purposes, the more you need a dehumidifier on them.
Conclusion
Learning how a dehumidifier works enables you to ascertain its importance in your day-to-day living. Basically, the device can improve the air quality of your home by making it less humid. It saves you from health issues and other structural damages caused by moisture.
I hope you find this guide useful. For other concerns and inquiries, feel free to ask me in the comment section below!