A dehumidifier is an appliance that takes moisture out of the air in your home.
If you or your family members have asthma or allergies, a dehumidifier might help relieve symptoms and make breathing easier.
This article will help you decide whether a dehumidifier is a worthwhile investment for your living space.
Dehumidifier uses and health benefits
You may remember the water cycle from elementary school science: evaporation, condensation, and precipitation. What you might not realize is that the water cycle is always taking place in the air you’re breathing, even when you’re spending time inside.
“Humidity” is a measure of water vapor in the air. Dehumidifiers remove or minimize this water vapor.
Dehumidifiers help reduce allergy symptoms
Environmental allergens can cause symptoms like:
- wheezing
- sneezing
- chest pain
- eye irritation
- itching
Common allergy triggers include:
- mold
- dust mites
- pollen
- animal dander
Drying out the air in your home keeps triggers to a minimum.
Dust mites, in particular, need a relative humidity level of 65 percent
to survive and procreate. That’s a level that can be easily managed by using a dehumidifier.
Dehumidifying the air also controls mold growth.
Dehumidifiers may help control asthma
When there’s moisture in the air, it becomes heavier and often more difficult to breathe. That’s why high-humidity environments can be difficult for people who have asthma.
A dehumidifier can make the effort to breathe in and out easier on the lungs. Mugginess disappears and the air is cooler and more comfortable.
There’s little evidence to support the use of a dehumidifier as an actual treatment for chronic asthma, according to a 2013 study, but there’s also no evidence that trying a dehumidifier can have an adverse effect.
Dehumidifiers can create a healthier environment
By eliminating mold and dust, you’re also eliminating invaders like silverfish, cockroaches, and spiders. Lower humidity levels may also benefit people who have COPD.
If you live in a naturally humid climate, a dehumidifier can also cool off your home and reduce your air conditioner use.
