As the colder months are upon us, and our indoor heating fights with the cool outdoors, humidity is almost a given. This is where a dehumidifier comes in handy – and here are 6 benefits of investing in such a device.
Prevent the build up of damp, mould and mildew
The primary function of electric and desiccant dehumidifiers is to effectively remove excess moisture in the air inside your home. The dehumidifier sucks in the humid air, condenses the moisture into water, and pumps warm and dry air back into the room.
In doing so, your air will be drier and cleaner, and you will have less condensation on windows and external walls.
Mould and mildew need the damp in order to survive. Thus, by removing the moisture from the air, you prevent the mould and mildew growing.
Reduce allergy triggers in the air
Another advantage of preventing mould is that it can help ease allergy symptoms. Dehumidifiers help to reduce mould spores, pet hair, pollen, and dust mites in the air – as well as making the environment less hospitable to other creepy crawlies.
For example, dust mites need a relative humidity of around 60% in order to survive; studies have shown that maintaining a relative humidity of 51% significantly reduces dust mite and allergen levels.
High humidity is also purported to trigger asthma symptoms, as well as affecting those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Help to dry your laundry
Drying laundry can sometimes feel like more of a hassle than doing the laundry in the first place! When it is not warm enough outside to air dry, you might use a tumble drier – this can be loud, inefficient, and use a lot of energy. However, drying clothes on a radiator can cause condensation.
A dehumidifier, on the other hand, will suck in the moisture from the air from the laundry, and blow warm air back into the room. This can dry your clothes more effectively, especially in a warm room with the doors and windows closed.
Protects furniture and books from atmospheric changes
Too much moisture in the air can cause furniture to become damp and musty, and books to become wrinkled. On the other hand, too little moisture in the air can cause some furniture to warp or crack, and plants to dry out.
Dehumidifiers can be set to an optimum humidity level for your home – which is usually somewhere between 40-60%. They will keep the humidity at this level, stopping it from becoming too damp, but also preventing it getting too dry.
Healthier skin and hair
Humidity can have an affect on your skin, hair, scalp, and overall health. By ensuring your humidity is at an optimum level, you can see an overall improvement in physical health.
Helps your heating to work more efficiently
And finally – a dehumidifier can help you to heat your home more efficiently, which is especially important during the cost-of-living crisis. By removing moisture and pollutants from the air, and replacing it with warmer air, the dehumidifier will optimise the environment.
Thus, you should need to turn your heating on less to heat your home. However, it is still important to calculate how much energy the device will use, and weigh up whether this offsets the amount saved on heating.
