What is a dehumidifier and how does it work?

Dehumidifiers control humidity levels to combat mould, condensation to keep our airspace healthy

Dehumidifiers control humidity levels in the home, workplace and other indoor areas such as swimming pools, garages and boats. A dehumidifier is usually used for comfort or health reasons, as well as protecting cars, caravans and other equipment from mould, rust and deterioration due to excess humidity.

Humidity is simply the amount of water vapour that is present in the air. The recommended humidity level for dwellings is 45-55 per cent.

Humidity above 60 per cent causes condensation and encourages the growth of mould, fungus, mildew. It also enables bacteria, viruses and dust mites to breed quickly which causes health problems such as allergies, arthritis and asthma.

If the percentage of water vapour in the air is too low it causes excess drying which can trigger skin irritations such as a dry nose, eczema and chapped skin. It can also damage possessions, such as wooden furniture, by drying it out too much.

High humidity indoors is caused by a number of natural factors, in particular the weather. However modern insulation, double glazing, central heating, dishwashers, washing machines and bathrooms can increase humidity, when humidity caused by washing up and cooking for example is trapped indoors.

How a dehumidifier works

By keeping humidity within recommended levels, a dehumidifier combats household damp, mould and mildew. Dehumidifiers can help to reduce the symptoms of asthma, allergies, and other respiratory health conditions. They can also be used to stop moisture-based corrosion, such as rusting, and even help laundry dry quicker.

By controlling a stable level of water vapour in the air, a dehumidifier also ease skin conditions, protects antiques, and other possessions, from drying out.

When choosing a dehumidifier, some important things to consider are

• Whether a desiccant or compressor dehumidifier is more appropriate

• Ensuring the dehumidifier is the right size for the room or building, opting for slightly higher capacity than is strictly necessary may be a good idea

• The amount of moisture the dehumidifier can extract in a day

• The level of noise generated by the dehumidifier

• If there is a need for continuous drainage (as opposed too manually emptying the water tank)

• Whether or not a laundry drying setting is appropriate

• Whether or not special features such as a timer device, auto-restart (after a power cut) is needed

• Weight and portability of the dehumidifier can make it easy to move the dehumidifier from room to room for more effective dehumidifying

Find a wide range of dehumidifiers, including home dehumidifiers, office and commercial dehumidifiers. EcoAir dehumidifiers range from 7 litre per day to 60 litre per day extraction rates. Dehumidifiers are very effective in treating humidity and result in cheaper heating bills when humidity levels are controlled.

Damp and Excess Moisture

Humidity, damp and condensation causes damp, musty smells, mould and mildew. This is a problem for many homes, offices and industrial properties. At least 20% of properties in the UK suffer from excessive moisture in the air. The excess moisture can cause various health problems and damage to property and belongings if left untreated. Treating excess moisture is easy and cost effective with EcoAir dehumidifiers.

Treating damp or excess humidity

Treating the excess moisture or humidity is not expensive and is simple with EcoAir’s wide range of dehumidifiers. A dehumidifier uses a fan to pull room air over refrigerant-filled coils, one cool and the other warm, extracting out moisture along the way. The water that condenses out of the air drips into a bucket inside the dehumidifier or drained externally.

Problems caused by excessive humidity

Health problems and damage to property caused by excess humidity:-

  • breeding mildew and dust mites that can aggravate allergies
  • dampness can cause arthritis
  • damage to technological equipment and stock inventory in offices, workshops, warehouses
  • damage to archived properties such as documents, personal belongs, paintings and antiques in basements and storage areas
  • damp and mould that can also cause drywall and wood to rot, resulting in structural damage to property