It’s March, and this means it’s early springtime! Of course, early spring signifies warmer weather, which can also mean many other things in terms of air quality, etc. But today, we are discussing humidity levels, the accompanying problems, and how to resolve those problems. At LRF Maintenance, Heating & Cooling, we care about the health and wellness of you and your family, so please continue reading as we discuss all you need to know about humidity and dehumidifiers today.
HOW CAN HIGH HUMIDITY BECOME A PROBLEM?
Great question – high humidity levels become a problem when the indoor air quality in your home is negatively impacted due to a rise in excessive moisture in your home’s air. Of course, when too much humidity is at play, it will adversely affect your health, your house, and your household possessions.
HOW DOES A WHOLE-HOME DEHUMIDIFIER BENEFIT YOUR HOME?
Health Benefits:
As we briefly mentioned earlier, when there is a misbalance of humidity levels within a home, it may impact your health in an adverse way. So, let’s dive into that a little more first. After all, we believe your and your family’s safety is of the utmost importance.
When a residence has high levels of humidity, it, unfortunately, creates the perfect breeding ground for mold, mildew, fungi, and other bacteria to grow. While it is common knowledge for many that mold is a big no-no, you may be thinking that you would notice if mold were to grow inside your home. Just remember that mold can grow in the most inconspicuous places, and signs of it may not even be noticeable until the spores have already settled significantly in your home. For instance, mold can grow between walls and ceilings, and you may not recognize it until the spores start visibly growing through the wall or ceiling. Therefore, controlling your home’s humidity levels will ultimately boost your home’s IAQ, resulting in clean, quality air that will positively impact your and your family’s overall health. In addition, if you have any family members who suffer from respiratory-related illnesses, such as asthma or allergies, a whole-home dehumidifier may relieve them.
House Benefits:
A whole-home dehumidifier will help protect your house’s wood and other surfaces. If your home is, in fact, struggling with raised levels of humidity, things like wood trim, wood doors, ceiling tiles, etc., may start to expand as a result of too much moisture in the air, which leads to the warping and damage of said areas. You will end up having to pay for repairs to the damage in your house. So, installing a whole-home dehumidifier to work with your HVAC system will once again bring balance to your household.
Household Benefits:
Got any antiques, collector’s items, books, artwork, or anything else in your home that you would hate to see suffer ill fate from exposure to mold and humidity? We thought so. It’s probably safe to say that many homeowners also want to keep their possessions intact. Unfortunately, when humidity levels are at an all-time high, the excess moisture will also start to affect items within your home as well. So, not only will the material in your home take a hit, but so will your belongings too! Curb this altogether by bringing the IAQ back to a more appropriate level with the use of a whole-home dehumidifier.
HOW CAN YOU TELL IF YOUR HOME IS SUFFERING FROM HIGH HUMIDITY LEVELS?
Here are a few ways to tell if your home has unbalanced high humidity levels:
- Watch for musty or unpleasant odors that you have not been able to pinpoint.
- Look for mildew or mold growth.
- Keep an eye out for continually damp areas with water or vapor stains.
- Be mindful of condensation on windows and doors.
- Watch for rotting, warping, or damage on wood furniture, wood materials, and other surfaces in your home, like (but not limited to) wood trim, doors, walls, and ceilings.
HOW DOES A WHOLE-HOME DEHUMIDIFIER WORK?
We know that dehumidifiers remove extra moisture from the air. But just how do they do it? Well, keep in mind that the warmer the surrounding air is, the more water it is going to retain. So, a dehumidifier pulls warm in by way of a fan. Once the warm air is drawn inside, the air that was just pulled in comes into direct contact with the component’s internal coils, where the air is separated from the air, and the air is accordingly cooled down. After the moisture is separated, it is turned into condensation, where the water is then retained in the dehumidifier’s reservoir. Lastly, the dryer air is released back into your home to be circulated again.
It’s good to note that although a dehumidifier’s primary purpose is to reduce air moisture, this process can help alleviate any further strain on your HVAC system, ultimately allowing it to work at its highest capacity. It’s a win-win situation all around.
Still not convinced? Why not take a quick minute and give us a call? Any of our friendly customer service representatives would be glad to discuss our options with you and set up any consultations. We would love to partner with you as you seek to improve your home’s air quality. So, give LRF Maintenance, Heating & Cooling a chance and call us at (614) 837-4822, or schedule an appointment online by clicking here!