Dehumidifiers work best in areas where damp air collects, like basements. Signs you might want to consider buying a dehumidifier include:
- Anyone in the home has a prolonged allergy season, year after year.
- You’ve recently moved and your allergies seem to be flaring up more often or worse than they used to.
- There’s a persistent damp smell in an area of your home where you frequently spend time.
- Your space experiences water leakage after heavy rainfall.
- You notice muggy air in your home when you enter, indicating you can actually see the water vapor in the air.
- Anyone in the home has an allergy to dust mites.
- You’ve noticed an increase in unwanted pests, such as spiders, cockroaches, moths, or silverfish.
- Your clothes smell damp or moldy even when they have been freshly washed.
- You have persistent symptoms of respiratory illness, such as coughing and runny nose.
Where to buy a dehumidifier
You can buy a dehumidifier at almost any home supply retailer or home improvement store. Appliance stores and department stores also tend to keep them in stock.
Before you purchase, you’ll need to know:
- what tank size you’re looking for (how much water the dehumidifier collects at a time before you need to empty it)
- what range of humidity the appliance can control
You may also want to figure out the energy costs associated with the appliance before you purchase it.
Takeaway
A dehumidifier does have some established health benefits. The main benefit is reducing the presence of allergens and irritants in damp areas of your home.
There’s also some indication that a dehumidifier can make breathing easier for people who have asthma.
Dehumidifiers are accessible and easy to purchase. Giving one a try might make a difference in the comfort level you experience at home.
