On a balmy summers night it is common for high humidity levels to cause loss of sleep and a good deal of discomfort when trying to sleep. It is strongly suggested that those who struggle to sleep because of this try to use a dehumidifier. For some people they might think that this is going a bit too far but take a look at the negative effects of long term excess humidity:
Disrupted sleep patterns, allergy problems surface due to an increase in dust mite populations, damage can be caused to wallpaper, wood finishes and painted surfaces i.e. Blistering because of condensation that may accumulate on the surface of water pipes inddors and occasionally on walls themselves. Metals in the house can also rust, condensation in electrical appliances can cause irreparable damage not to mention danger and finally musty smells can develop and form mould, mildew and fungus which can all be damaging to your health.
The humidity level that will be most comfortable is between 40 and 50 percent. Air dehumidifiers can help maintain those levels twenty four hours a day. Dehumidifier selection is far from being a straight forward process. As there are a wide variety of different makes and models on the market. Although most dehumidifer producers tell you what size room they have constructed it to serve this is not really a very useful suggestion becuase humidity levels can differ so much from room to room.
A better question to answer would be: “Roughly how much moisture do I need to take out of the air’?”. This answer will then allow you to view the dehumidifer info brochures to find out the one that takes out the most water vapour from the air each day, this figure is often revealed by most manufacturers and is a decent guide, however be careful as both air flow and temperature play a major role in the dehumidifiers capabilities. You are much better able to decide upon a suitable home dehumidifier once you have calculated the amount of water per day that you need to remove from the air.
It is also helpful to identify the source of your high humidity, if it is an ongoing problem such as a leaky roof, bad plumbing and so on which cannot be fixed immediately/if ever then you are going to need a more powerful home dehumidifier. If however the problem is not that severe and just occasional then clearly a smaller home dehumidifier would be more suitable.
Furthermore here are a few features to look out for if you decide to purchase a air dehumidifier:
A continuous drainage feature will mean you don’t have to keep emptying the tank, or at least ensure that there is an auto-switch off mechanism to prevent it from flooding. Purchasing a home dehumidifier that possesses wheels is very helpful especially for the elderly whom may well find it rather difficult to move around otherwise, a sensor for frost then will disconnect the machine when it gets too cold is an excellent precaution to take if it shall be placed in a basement area. Ensuring that your machine has low noise levels before buying will be an important thing to check especially if it is to be used in a living/sleeping area, also having one that includes an air filter may be prefferable for allergy sufferers.
Considering all of the above factors and purchasing an air dehumidifier (ebac dehumidifiers are recommended) should enable you to maintain suitable levels of humidity that won’t interfere with you sleep patterns and ensure you are comfortable at night.
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