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Dehumidifiers FAQ's
Why do I need a dehumidifier?
Dehumidifiers can alleviate symptoms caused by high humidity levels, including allergic reactions, musty odors, mold growth, stains on ceiling and walls and condensation on windows and mirrors. Controlling the humidity levels in your home can prevent long-term effects like damage to furniture, ongoing allergies and other health problems.
What is the best humidity level to keep in my home?
Most people find a humidity level between 31% and 41% to be comfortable. Anything below 30% can feel uncomfortably dry and anything above 44% is uncomfortable for most people. It is recommended to keep humidity between 30% and 50% in the summer and 30% to 40% in the winter. It may take some trial and error for you to find the perfect humidity level for your home.
What’s the difference between a compressor and a thermoelectric dehumidifier?
Compressor dehumidifiers are the most common and work similarly to air conditioners. They use cool coils and a fan to move air from the room over the coils, which causes water in the air to be condensed and fall into a collection bucket. It is then passed over warm coils to come back to room temperature before it is passed back into the room.
Thermoelectric dehumidifiers use an electric current to transfer heat through metal. The metal works in the same way that the coils work in a compressor dehumidifier. Thermoelectric dehumidifiers tend to be quieter but less energy efficient than compressor dehumidifiers.
How loud will my dehumidifier be?
The loudness of your dehumidifier will vary depending on the type and model that you select. Most noise levels will be specified in the product description box. The lower the decibel (dB) number, the quieter the unit will be. For comparison, a vacuum cleaner operates at 70 dB, so anything under 70 dB will be less detectable than your vacuum cleaner. Anything under 50 dB will be very quiet.
What does it mean if my dehumidifier is “bucketless”?
Bucketless dehumidifiers, or those with continuous drainage, use a hose to drain the unit directly into a sink, drain or other location. You do not have to worry about emptying this type of dehumidifier, so they typically require less maintenance, but may take more time to set up.
What size do I need to buy?
The size depends on the amount of humidity where you live and the size of your space. It is better to select a dehumidifier that is larger than recommended, because they can remove the moisture from the room faster.
The dehumidifier will specify how many pints it will pump in a day. Refer to the following chart to find the minimum number for your condition and room size.
|
500 ft2 |
1,000 ft2 |
1,500 ft2 |
2,000 ft2 |
2,500 ft2 |
Moderately damp |
10 pints |
14 pints |
18 pints |
22 pints |
26 pints |
Very damp |
12 pints |
17 pints |
22 pints |
27 pints |
32 pints |
Very wet |
14 pints |
20 pints |
26 pints |
32 pints |
38 pints |
Extremely wet |
16 pints |
23 pints |
30 pints |
37 pints |
44 pints |
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