For both home and business owners, having a dehumidifier can be a tremendous advantage in more ways than one. Dehumidifiers help to get rid of excess moisture from the air in and regulate humidity levels in a room. I know what you’re thinking; what could possibly go wrong if I don’t have a dehumidifier in my house?
Well, for starters, excessive humidity has been named as the number one culprit when it comes to causing respiratory problems. Without a good dehumidifier to mitigate the situation, you could find yourself suffering major losses. High humidity levels encourage the growth of mould and mildew around your home and furniture which will eventually lead to increased cases or allergies and asthma attacks.
With all the benefits that this one portable unit can bring to your home, it becomes harder to ignore the facts. Fortunately, dehumidifiers have become a common household item in almost every home. That’s why our segment today focuses on everything you need to know about dehumidifier maintenance.
The following tips should help all dehumidifier owners have a better grasp of their appliances and how they can keep them working smoothly for years on end.
Dehumidifier Maintenance Tips
1. Keep the dehumidifier clean at all times
To ensure the proper and continued function of any appliance in your home or office, cleaning should be obvious and regular. Whether it’s the air intake, water tank, exhaust grills or water collection tank; all these need to be cleaned on a regular basis.
With the water tank, make sure you empty it frequently even before it fills up. After which it should be cleaned using mild disinfectant or just soap and warm water. If left unclean for lengthy periods, the tank itself may develop mould and mildew that is then dispersed all through the air for you to breathe.
The air intakes also need to be cleaned and vacuumed at least once or twice very season. You don’t want a buildup of debris and dust to significantly slash down your dehumidifier’s performance. This could also lead to vent blockages that contribute to quicker deterioration.
2. Know your basic maintenance practices by heart
In addition to regular cleaning, there are a few things you as the dehumidifier owner can do at home to ensure the appliance lasts much longer and works better day and night. Proper maintenance requires you to have a grasp of exactly how dehumidifiers work, when to replace certain parts and in which conditions they thrive.
a. Dehumidifier placement
One thing most people forget is that a dehumidifier will always be affected by where it is placed and what temperature the area is. Typically, a dehumidifier should be placed at least six inches from any wall. Placing it any closer might cause a blockage of the air intakes and exhaust systems.
Dehumidifiers usually have issues with lower temperatures, but such regions also have specialised units that won’t be affected by the cold.
b. Humidistat adjustment
The ideal range for humidity levels is anywhere between 40 to 50 percent. This function is controlled by a humidistat in your dehumidifier and can be set to any preferred level. Adjusting the humidistat not only ensures that you are comfortable in your home, but that your dehumidifier gets a rest when desired levels are achieved.
3. Learn how to troubleshoot common issues
As a new dehumidifier owner, you will eventually learn that there are certain issues that crop up from time to time. The great news is that while a few of them might require professional help, most of them can be solved using your own two hands. They include:
a. Dehumidifier won’t come on
This bit confuses most people at first because they may be unaware that it could be as a result of a built-in function. Sometimes, the appliance may refuse to come on if the collection tank is full. Once you notice that your dehumidifier is not working, check to see if the indicator light is on.
If this is the case, then your tank is full and just requires a little emptying. However, if this is not the case, then your motor might need a check up and replacement where possible.
b. Frosted coils
This problem is quite common in areas where temperatures drop severely such as the UK. On a typical dehumidifier, there are coils that can be found at the back of the unit. Usually, they are covered in condensation, but if they appear frozen, then the temperatures are too low.
The solution for this problem involves turning off the unit and allowing the room to heat up. Alternatively, you could just invest in a dehumidifier designed for such cooler temperatures.
Conclusion
Keep in mind that a dehumidifier has a direct effect on the quality of the air you breathe whether at home or in the office. As such, it is of the utmost importance to ensure all parts are running efficiently and smoothly. By following all the tips above, you not only get better performance from your dehumidifier, but you also get the knowledge you need to save precious energy and money.