There are many advantages to having a dehumidifier in your house – from stopping mould and mildew to enhancing general air high quality. With all these benefits, you may assume it’s a good suggestion to gather as many as potential to maximise the results – however are you able to even have too many dehumidifiers?
In line with consultants, the reply is sure. Whereas the advantages of the finest dehumidifiers are plain, it’s potential to have an excessive amount of of factor. In case you use greater than you want, your indoor air might turn into overly dry, main to wreck in your house and irritation to your physique.
To unravel what number of dehumidifiers is simply too many and the way it might impression your property and well being, we spoke with consultants.
Can you have got too many dehumidifiers?
Sure, you’ll be able to have too many dehumidifiers – most properties solely want one per drawback space.
“You may use one in a humid basement, one other in a condensation-prone bed room, or a utility room the place you use a dehumidifier to dry garments,” explains Laura Bradbury, Head of eCommerce at Vonhaus.“Even in a big dwelling, two or three models is often sufficient. Capability issues greater than amount; a higher-capacity unit can usually cowl a number of rooms.”
Laura Bradbury is Head of eCommerce at on-line homeware and backyard retailer Vonhaus, and is accountable for growing and rising the model.
How can too many dehumidifiers have an effect on your property?
It is extensively accepted that extra humidity can wreak havoc on your property – warping wood furnishings and flooring and creating the right atmosphere for mould and mildew to thrive. Nonetheless, having too many dehumidifiers might be dangerous information too.
“When indoor air turns into overly dry, it will possibly begin to have an effect on pure supplies like wooden and paper,” explains Michael Zohouri, Founding father of Pyramid Eco. “You may see wood flooring and furnishings begin to shrink or crack, and any books and paperwork might turn into brittle. Your houseplants will even endure as they want moisture within the air.”
Is that this the identical for each compressor and desiccant dehumidifiers? In line with Michael, the reply isn’t any. Whereas desiccant fashions proceed extracting moisture even when the air is already dry, compressors are usually self-limiting and turn into much less environment friendly because the air dries out or cools down, which helps forestall overuse.
Whereas it isn’t frequent for UK properties to turn into too dry (particularly through the colder months), Michael confirms that it’s potential, and working extra models than mandatory could cause issues. That is significantly true for smaller, well-sealed properties.
As a rule of thumb, Michael says to keep away from letting humidity drop beneath 40%, which the ProBreeze 20L Premium Dehumidifier means that you can monitor by way of its show.
Professional Breeze 20L Premium Dehumidifier
Rated as the most effective dehumidifiers by our testing workforce, this unit exhibits the room’s humidity stage and might take away as much as 20L of water every day.
Michael Zohouri is the founding father of Pyramid Eco with over a decade of retrofit expertise. He specialises in tackling mould, damp and air flow points, alongside sustainable upgrades reminiscent of warmth pump installations. His focus is on creating more healthy properties that enhance air high quality and power effectivity.
How can too many dehumidifiers have an effect on your well being?
We now know that having too many dehumidifiers can probably trigger points for our dwelling, however what about our well being?
“Utilizing a number of dehumidifiers in the identical dwelling can dry the air an excessive amount of. Our airways want a little bit of moisture within the air in order that they’ll lure mud, allergens, and germs,” explains Dr. Praveen Bhatia, NHS Respiratory Advisor.
“Very dry air irritates your airways, nostril, eyes and pores and skin, and can worsen respiratory moderately than serving to. That is very true if you happen to endure from bronchial asthma – dry air can set off flare-ups as a result of the airways turn into extra delicate.”
What issues most is preserving the humidity balanced, which you are able to do by monitoring the atmosphere with a humidity monitor (also called a hygrometer) and aiming for a candy spot of 40 to 50%. Some dehumidifiers could show this info robotically.
In case your entire house is damp, Dr. Bhatia notes that it may be helpful to have one unit per affected space, however often one or two models are adequate to remain within the regular humidity vary.
Hygrometers (Pack of Six)
Utilizing a hygrometer is the simplest solution to regulate your humidity ranges – and this six-pack means you’ll be able to put one in each room.
Dr. Praveen Bhatia is an NHS Respiratory Advisor within the North West of England, and medical advisor to White Coat search engine optimisation.
FAQs
Can having too many dehumidifiers injury the models?
Whereas it will not do your dehumidifiers any injury by having too many, it definitely is not environment friendly and might make your air uncomfortably dry, explains Laura Bradbury, Head of Ecommerce at Vonhaus.
She says: “It’s higher to decide on the correct capability for the area. That method you defend your property, your consolation, and your power payments.”
Though there is no one-size-fits-all answer, selecting the correct measurement dehumidifer for its meant use and area is the perfect place to start out when making your product choice.
How a lot publicity ought to I’ve to a dehumidifier?
If humidity ranges drop beneath 40%, the air can really feel harsh and uncomfortable. Dr. Praveen Bhatia, NHS Respiratory Advisor, recommends working your unit for just a few hours a day or setting it to cease robotically as soon as the specified humidity stage has been reached.
As we’ve realized, it’s positively potential to have too many dehumidifiers, however that doesn’t imply we have to eliminate them altogether. They’re extremely helpful for stopping mould and mildew and for assuaging allergy and bronchial asthma signs – having them in extra is simply one of many frequent dehumidifier errors.
As Laura Bradbury says, “The trick is stability – take away extra moisture with out stripping the air utterly.”
As a closing level, do not forget that cleansing a dehumidifier can also be important to make sure it runs as effectively as potential.
