Jul
11

How to Select a Home Dehumidifier

Which Dehumidifier is Right for Me?

When you first start looking for a dehumidifier you can be overwhelmed by all of the choices. So to help you figure out which dehumidifier is right for you, we’ve put together this video. (Warning: The video was shot on an iPhone, so it suffers from being shot vertically and a little shakily. Feel free to scroll past for just the video transcript. We won’t blame you!)

Video Transcript

Hi, this is Alex from Living Direct. I’m here today to talk to you about dehumidifiers.

When a customer is looking for a dehumidifier they usually have two basic questions they want answered. They’re looking for a specific room size and for rooms in terms of humidity level. And so the two basic questions we’re going to help you answer, try to guide you through:

- What should I look for?

- What size model is right for my needs?

Most people use dehumidifiers for a bedroom, maybe a bathroom or pantry, but most use them for basements. Now basements are fairly large, larger than a bedroom, and usually have more humidity than other rooms in your house. We recommend a larger pint capacity basement dehumidifier, because larger pint models, such as 60, 70 pint capacity dehumidifiers, can handle more humid and bigger rooms.

The reason why you should go with larger pint capacity models is that they can use less energy than lower capacity models. A smaller dehumidifier, such as a 40 or 30 pint capacity model, would cycle on and off, on and off, and it would actually increase your energy consumption. So you want to go with the larger pint capacity model to save on energy.

Of course, dehumidifiers are good at keeping a room dry. You’ll want to be at a level of 40-60% relative humidity and that allows you to be comfortable. It also keeps allergens, mold, all of that nasty stuff to be kept non-existent or to a minimum, and that helps people who have asthma or suffer from allergies.

I hope this has been helpful to you. I’m Alex, signing off.

Mar
21

Dehumidifiers are Magical

magical dehumidifier

When I first started working at Simply Dehumidifiers, I didn’t really get why dehumidifiers were such a big deal. I wondered why people were just so darn excited about these moisture-destroying units because I’ve never been a home owner, nor have I ever lived in a humid climate. However, I recently experienced first-hand the difference a dehumidifier makes in one’s life.

Frizzy HairAustin (where we’re based) hasn’t had rain in months, but within the last few weeks, we’ve had several rainy and dreary days. The air is sticky, warm and downright gross. It’s frustrating because I take the time to do my hair and it turns into a wild, curly mane before I can get out the door. I’ve tried numerous hair products that claim to fight humidity, but I never once thought of using a dehumidifier… until now.

My apartment is small, so I asked to try out the EdgeStar 40-pint dehumidifier. I plugged it in as soon as I got home and noticed a difference with an hour. I didn’t feel like I was sitting in a cloud. I slept better at night, too. This unit seemed to make my life a little bit better, removing one pint of water from the air at a time. And, I know some people don’t like the hum a dehumidifier makes, but I enjoy a little background noise, especially when I sleep.

The true test of my dehum-loyalty though was when I got ready for work in the morning. I could actually blow-dry my hair instead of it staying a little damp and curling while I made my breakfast. If only I had a helmet of some sort to help fight humidity outdoors. Who knows, maybe that’ll be one of our next products… a girl can dream, can’t she?

Feb
15

Benefits of a Dehumidifier

If you have a damp basement or crawlspace, then you’ve probably been told that you should purchase a dehumidifier to help get rid of the problem. Dehumidifiers offer many benefits beyond just ridding a room of dampness and making it more comfortable though, so if you’re still on the fence about buying one then maybe this list of benefits will help.

Allergies & Dust Mites

High humidity can increase the amount of dust mites in a home, which in turn will lead to an increase in allergy and asthma issues. If dust mites are a problem throughout your home, then a whole house dehumidifier is the best solution for getting rid of them and helping your family breathe more easily.

Millipedes & Other Pests

Many small insects thrive in damp conditions. Basements, crawls spaces, bathrooms and laundry rooms can become a haven for millipedes and other pests that you don’t want to find in your home. Basement dehumidifiers work extremely well in crawl spaces and basements (of course), while a mini dehumidifier is usually powerful enough for a small bathroom or a damp closet. Finding a dehumidifier for your laundry room can be a bit trickier, depending on how often you do laundry and how humid the room can get, but our dehumidifier pint chart can help you find the perfect unit.

Warping & Rusting

It’s common knowledge that moisture can cause metals to rust and wood to warp, but we don’t always think about these issues happening inside our home. However, if it is wet enough in a home, the excess moisture can lead to door frames warping, which will keep doors from closing properly, and hinges can also start to rust. Tools and even vehicles in your garage will also rust if it is damp enough in the room. A home dehumidifier should protect your house from these problems and a small dehumidifier in your garage should protect your tools from rust.

Condensation

Condensation can cause paint to blister and wallpaper to peel if it forms on your windows and walls. Bathrooms, laundry rooms and kitchens are the most susceptible to this problem, but it can happen in any room of the house. Running a portable dehumidifier after a shower, when doing laundry or while cooking can help prevent condensation. Portable units come with caster wheels, so they can be easily moved between rooms whenever needed.

Another place condensation can form is inside electronics like computers and stereos, which can cause irreparable damage. Try to store electronics in rooms with a low humidity if possible.

Mold & Mildew

Mold and mildew are two of the more common side effects of high humidity in a home and also the two most dangerous. A musty smell in a room is the first sign that there might be a problem. Sometimes, the easiest solution is to just air out the room, especially if it’s a guest room that isn’t used often, by opening air vents and the door and washing the bedding, which could be collecting some of the excess moisture.

If the musty smell is strong, it could be a sign that the room contains mold or mildew. Both are damaging to a person’s health if they breathe in the spores, and some forms of mold can even kill you. Place a crawl space dehumidifier in the room to see if it gets rid of the musty smell. The dehumidifier should keep mold from growing, but it will not kill it if it is already present. If you find mold, you should use a bleach solution to remove it entirely and run a dehumidifier in the room to keep it from returning.

Dec
20

Best Portable Dehumidifiers

Nothing says holiday cheer like the classic red and green colors used throughout the month of December. Reds like poinsettias, Santa’s suit and ornaments hanging from the tree or greens like the look of pine, garland hung around the house and that tacky holiday sweater that you love to hate. But the one shade of green you don’t ever want to see around this time is that of mold and mildew.

Luckily, this catastrophe can be avoided by using a portable dehumidifier throughout the year. Portable dehumidifiers are used to reduce the level of humidity in a room, which helps to prevent the growth of mold and mildew in the corners and crevices of that room. Preventing the growth of these agents also helps you to avoid major health concerns that come with being exposed to them for prolonged periods of time. So here are the top 5 portable dehumidifiers you can use to keep your family healthy and happy:

 

Danby 30 Pint Dehumidifier1. Danby 30 Pint Energy Star Portable Dehumidifier (DDR30E)

You know that when your children are asleep, any small noise could wake them up. Well now, you won’t have to worry that a loud dehumidifier will keep them from nodding off.

This energy efficient portable dehumidifier from Danby is not only whisper-quiet, but it can remove up to 30 pints of moisture from the air per day. The removable air filter makes it very easy to clean the unit, and this dehumidifier is able to operate in temperatures reaching as low as 41 degrees Fahrenheit (5 degrees Celsius).

 

Sunpentown Mini Dehumidifier2. Sunpentown Mini Dehumidifier with UV Light (SD-350TI)

This dehumidifier model is also known for its quiet operation. It operates on thermoelectric technology, which is known for being almost-silent when in use.

The Sunpentown mini dehumidifier is only 13 inches tall, so it can fit in many ultra compact spaces that other dehumidifiers are too large for. It also features a UV light function that kills germs and other bacteria found in the air. This dehumidifier will also automatically shut off once the water reservoir is full or removed so you don’t have to worry about spills.

 

Eva-Dry Petite Dehumidifier3. Eva-Dry Electric Petite Dehumidifier (EDV-1100)

Hosting your family or friends at your house can be a difficult situation, especially when you have only one bathroom to spare, making the room muggy, messy and downright uncomfortable.

That’s where the electric petite dehumidifier comes in: this compact unit is perfect for taking away up to 16 ounces of moisture from small spaces, like bathrooms or closets. This also prevents moisture from building up and turning into mold or mildew inside the bathroom, one of the foremost areas for rapid bacteria growth. So you’ll be sure to keep your family safe when you use this small dehumidifier.

 

Danby 50 Pint Dehumidifier4. Danby 50 Pint Energy Star Portable Dehumidifier (DDR5011)

Do your part to protect the environment and reduce your carbon footprint by purchasing an energy-efficient, Energy Star rated portable dehumidifier to consume less household energy and keep your electric bill low.

This 50-pint dehumidifier works to remove the moisture from any large room up to 3,000 square feet while using non ozone-depleting R410a refrigerant. It also comes with programmable humidity settings which make it easy to create a comfortable environment.

 

Aprilaire Basement Dehumidifier5. Aprilaire Basement and Crawlspace Dehumidifier (1710A)

The seasons throughout the year are rough on your basement, where humidity can be stored away for a long time. The Aprilaire basement dehumidifier will help alleviate the problems common with high humidity basements and crawlspaces.

The system is fully automatic and requires very little attention. It can remove odors from the air as well as up to 90 pints of moisture per day to keep your basement clean and dry. Avoid running into home problems by making sure your basement and crawlspaces are mold and mildew free!

Sep
28

What Capacity Dehumidifier Do I Need?

Deciding on a dehumidifier (or any appliance for that matter) seems like a daunting task when you first start out. Not only are there hundreds of different brands and types to choose from, but they use their own language to describe the products. For dehumidifiers, people are thrown off by the word “pint.” Most people know what a pint is, but what’s the real difference between a 30 pint dehumidifier and a 45 pint dehumidifier, and, most importantly, which one is right for me?

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What is a “pint” in dehumidifiers?

The pint capacity of a dehumidifier is how much moisture in pints a dehumidifier can remove from the area in 24 hours. It is affected by the size of the area and how humid the area is. In general, a dehumidifier with a pint capacity less than 70 pints is best for residential use, while dehumidifiers over 70 pints are ideal for commercial applications. Now to determine which one is right for you…

Dehumidifier Pint Capacity Chart

The below chart will help you determine which pint dehumidifier to get based on the room you are trying to dehumidify and how damp the room is.

If you want to learn more about the different features you should also look for when buying a dehumidifier, check out our Dehumidifier Key Features Buyers Guide.

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