A dehumidifier is an appliance that can remove dampness from a room and prevent sticky issues that come with too much moisture in the air. The first dehumidifier was created by American inventor Willis Carrier in 1902 to dehumidify a Brooklyn printing plant. Carrier cited the discovery as later motivating further discoveries in air conditioning.
Humidity levels above 50 percent can breed dust mites, mildew, and mold, triggering allergies or other health problems. Air dehumidifier is also used to control humidity in spaces where medicine is processed. Humidity is an essential factor in the Pharmaceutical Industry, especially with hygroscopic materials. If humidity is not controlled correctly in the manufacturing, packaging, and storage process, for example, the product may lose quality.
A dehumidifier uses a fan to move air in the room over refrigerated coils, removing moisture and collecting it in a tank. Almost all the dehumidifiers in CR’s ratings remove the number of pints of water from the air as claimed by the manufacturers. But some come much closer than others to meet the selected humidity level, use less energy, or have a larger tank, meaning you won’t have to empty it as often.
How humidifier benefits you
Dehumidifier improves indoor air quality by removing allergy triggers like dust mites, molds, and mildews. These triggers thrive in highly humid conditions, especially in areas of the home where there is always a high level of moisture like the kitchen and bathroom, even in dry climates. These allergens are responsible for respiratory mishaps like asthmas, which can be very troubling diseases, especially for children at young ages. If you or your family members have asthma or allergies, a dehumidifier might help relieve symptoms and make breathing easier.
How a dehumidifier works
A dehumidifier works by drawing warm air currents into its coils via a fan. The warm air contracts as it’s fed through the refrigerated coils of the machine and condensation is left inside the dehumidifier. As this condensation collects, one droplet of water at a time, it falls into a storage tank attached to the dehumidifier. Cooler, drier air is then released back into your home through the other side of the machine.
Your dehumidifier should be able to bring the moisture in the air down to a relative humidity of 30 to 50 percent. Many dehumidifiers come with a meter that measures the relative humidity where it’s placed in your home, and you can set the humidity to the percentage you desire.
How long does it take for a dehumidifier to work?
Depending on the space, an appropriate dehumidifier can take up to 12 hours to start working to properly adjust the level of humidity in your home to the desired level. Certain models can start working properly almost instantly, but some may need time to adjust to the environment around them. However, some dehumidifiers can take a few days to a week to reduce the humidity to the chosen level.
