Whole-Home Dehumidifiers
High humidity is a breeding ground for indoor air pollutants that can cause harm to your Healthy Home. Allergy and asthma symptoms like stuffy nose, itchy eyes, sneezing, and difficulty breathing are common with high humidity.
Airborne viruses like COVID-19 and influenza also thrive in excess moisture. The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) recommends keeping your home's humidity between the Healthy Humidity range of 40–60 percent. With an AprilAire dehumidifier, you can reduce the number of viable viruses in the air to less than 1% in 2 days when the dehumidifier is set to 50%.*
*Casanova LM et al, Effects of Air Temperature and Relative Humidity on Coronavirus Survival on Surfaces, Applied and Environmental Microbiology, April 2010, p. 2712-2717
Whole-Home Dehumidifiers Help with Reducing:
- Dust Mites
- Mold Spores
- Mildew
- Odors
- Energy Costs
- House Damage
- Airborne Viruses
Not only can high humidity cause health complications due to the increase in indoor air pollutants like dust mites and mold spores, it can also cost you money on energy.
Your air conditioner is able to pull some moisture out of the air, which lends itself to cooling the air you and your family enjoy during hot, humid weather. However, when you incorporate a dehumidifier into the mix, you’re relieving those duties from your air conditioner, allowing it to focus more on cooling the air.
While running two units simultaneously may seem like it should drive energy costs up, what happens is that those two units actually run more efficiently because they’re working in sync with each other. And not just that, drier air actually feels cooler than hot, humid air, meaning you can turn the temperature on your thermostat up a few degrees and save energy simply by not having to run your air conditioner as often.
Utilizing a dehumidifier can also help protect your house itself. High humidity can cause wood to warp or rot, paint to peel, and insects to find comfortable new homes thanks to excess moisture.
Dos & Don'ts
Do
install a whole-home dehumidifier to relieve your home of indoor air pollutants
Many whole-home dehumidifiers offer easy, programmable solutions via their accompanying thermostats, offering greater control of your humidity throughout the day
Don’t
neglect the warning signs
Water stains on walls or ceiling, rooms with poor ventilation, frequent condensation on windows, black spots on walls, must or mildew odor.
Do
aim to keep your humidity between 40% and 60%
Whether you’re trying to reduce humidity in the summertime with a dehumidifier or you’re trying to increase humidity in the wintertime a humidifier, the ideal humidity range for your Healthy Home is between 40% and 60%. If your indoor humidity is outside of this range, your Indoor Air Quality is at risk.
Don’t
forget to clean or replace your filter regularly
Most dehumidifiers come with a specialized air filter that helps create clean, breathable air in your home. Some dehumidifier filters are washable, while others need to be replaced entirely. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions regarding the frequency of this cleaning or exchange to maximize the effectiveness of your dehumidifier.
“People can’t easily distinguish between 40 to 60 percent humidity, but for a dust mite that’s life and death.”
FINAL THOUGHTS
Keep your cool without the allergy and asthma irritants. Whole-home dehumidifiers offer a great Healthy Home solution for those in particularly humid climates who wish to enjoy the benefits of increased Indoor Air Quality as well as lower energy costs and less property damage caused by high humidity.
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The information contained on the AprilAire website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment in any manner. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding any medical condition. All information is for informational and educational purposes only and any use thereof is solely at your own risk.