What to Look for When Buying a Dehumidifier
Oct 08 '00
A growing trend finds more and more of us spending 90% of our time each day indoors. This of course makes indoor air quality an important issue. Dehumidifiers assist in improving air quality by removing excess moisture from the air.
Some reasons that you might choose to purchase one are:
-- you live in a humid area (relative humidity of 60% or more)
-- an area of your home, such as a basement or laundry room, gets damp from time to time
-- you are allergic to mold, mildew, or dust mites (which all thrive in humidity)
-- you are concerned about the toxins which some breeds of mold and mildew can relase into the air
-- you or your family members suffer from asthma
-- by reducing the relative humidity in your house, you may be able to reduce your air conditioning use
However, as with any appliance, when going to the store you will be faced with a multitude of choices. Here are some things to keep in mind:
-- a relative humidity of 30-50 percent is generally recommended for homes
With Winter approaching, here is a handy chart to get you through the colder temperatures:
Outdoor temperature Recommended indoor relative humidity level
-20 F .............. 15 to 20 percent
-10 F .............. 20 to 25 percent
0 F .............. 25 to 30 percent
+10 F .............. 30 to 35 percent
+20 F .............. 35 to 40 percent
-- during high humidity days you will need to run the unit continually; look for a unit that runs quietly, it will be worth paying a little extra
-- make sure that you clean it daily; look for a unit in which the water-tray removes easily (it needs to be kept clean or it can cause more health problems than it alleviates); wash it daily with hot soapy water and once a week with a mild bleach solution
-- dehumidifiers, on average, cost about one to six cents per hour to operate depending on the size and efficiency of the unit; if you will be running it more than occasionally, it is worth spending more initially to bring down the hourly expense
-- choose a unit with the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturer seal (AHAM). The manufacturers that have this seal agree to test their dehumidifiers performance with regards to the unit's water-removal ability. This will be expressed as:
how many pints of water will be removed from the air in a 24 hour period with an outside temperature of 80 degrees Fahrenheit and a relative humidity of 60 percent
Being able to compare units in this regard will help you find just the right unit for your home
Participating Brands in the AHAM Dehumidifier Certification Program
Amana
Aqua-dri
Aquarius
Chambers
Comfort-Aire
Coolerator
Crosley
Edison
Emerson Quiet Kool
Friedrich
Frigidaire
General
General Electric
Gibson
Hampton Bay
Holmes
J.C. Penney
Kenmore
LG Electronics
MCD
Magic Chef
Montgomery Ward
Oasis
Philco
White-Westinghouse
Wood's
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