Common sizes of dehumidifiers – part 3
The following are other things to consider:
- Before purchasing your new unit take notice to whether the controls are easy for you to understand. Are you going to be able to use the unit without a lot of problems? Is there a place on the unit that lets you know what the humidity is at all times? Does the unit have a control that lets you control the humidity?
- Is the unit going to be easy to take care of? How much trouble is it going to be keeping emptied? Can it be connected to a hose and be self contained for continuous drainage?
- Buying filters could add up over a period of time. You get buy re-usable filters, these are ones that are washable and can be used over and over. A good filter is a necessity; after all, the filter is what helps the dehumidifier remove the bad things from the air, such as; bacteria, allergens, mold, and mildew.
- How sufficient is the operation going to be?
It is hard to remember all the things we have to do in our everyday lives, so, is this unit set up to remind you when it needs a clean filter, and if it needs to be drained? What if there is a power outage is it going to restart on its own? Does the unit allow you to decide when to be turned on and off?
A dehumidifier can improve your health, and your family’s health, making your home feel more comfortable at the same time. What a dehumidifier does is work to reduce the humidity level in your home. Dehumidifiers help take the toxins and bacteria out of the air. And by reducing the humidity level, it also works at preventing mold and mildew. Of course, you should always look around and get all the information that you can find, at least until you are satisfied that you know enough about the product you are planning on buying. With the many options available you shouldn’t have any problems locating a dehumidifier that is going to be economical and run efficiently. Don’t buy until you find one that is going to be easy for you to operate, with the features you are looking for in your new dehumidifier.
Common sizes of dehumidifiers – Part 2
When searching for a Soleus dehumidifier there are other things you must take into consideration as well. It is very important to pay attention to all of the instructions when setting up your unit, because different types of units are going to have their individual instructions. One unit may be telling you a different number of inches it should be from the wall, while that number may differ from another unit. And the different units may differ in how much space is needed on each side of it. For example: a back-exhaust model will say you need twelve inches, where a top exhaust model states to have eight to ten inches on each side. Remember, you should never place the unit up against the wall. Making certain that there is going to be plenty of space for your new dehumidifier is very important for the unit; this is in order for the unit to have enough good air circulation.
Note: Portable units are handier if you are going to be moving it to use in more than one room. This makes them the better choice when you do not have a lot of space. Although many models offer the feature of portability, be sure to read it, and ask a worker questions, you wouldn’t want to later find out it wasn’t as portable as the box label made you think.
An important factor in buying a 70 pint dehumidifier is the Energy Star Label. Be sure that there is one of these on the unit you purchase. The Energy Star label is a certification awarded by the Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency if the product is considered energy efficient. By having the Energy Star label on the unit you will know that you will be using less energy and your product also emits less greenhouse gases. Appliances with the Energy Star label have a rating of 10% to 20% more efficiency.
By purchasing a dehumidifier that carries an Energy Star label, you will not only be saving on energy, but, you will also save money over a period of time. You can be sure that you will be saving on energy with this product because it has been certified as an energy efficient appliance. This means your basement dehumidifier is going to work off less power usage, and, is going to emit less greenhouse gases. Oddly enough, some dehumidifiers can cost as much to use as appliances like a refrigerator, but not the appliances that have an Energy Star label. Quite the contrary, for one can save enough money over a period of time to more than cover the cost of the dehumidifier.
Read more visit part 3
Common sizes of dehumidifiers
The most common sizes of dehumidifiers are 30 to 70 pints – there is a very good reason that I am starting this article by bringing up the different sizes of dehumidifiers; if you intend to be using your dehumidifier on a regular basis, or if you are going to be moving it from one room to another very often.
The size of dehumidifier you would need in order for it to lower the humidity in a rather large basement area (we’ll say the entire length of the house itself) is going to be a 70 pint. Whereas, a 50 pint dehumidifier would be appropriate if it was going to be use in a smaller area. Taking into consideration of course, the general humidity in the area where you live, the size of your home, how many doors and windows in the general area where the dehumidifier is going to be used, as well as what the area is going to be use for.
When purchasing a dehumidifier you will want to be certain you are getting the correct number of pints for the unit you are needing (the amount of space you are using the unit for) whether it is going to be a 30 pint, 50 pint or 70 pint unit. Double check this by questioning a worker, let them know what you are looking for. The pints in a dehumidifier refer to the amount of moisture the unit is capable of reducing from the area in a twenty-four hour period.
Before ever thinking of the type of unit you want, or going out and buying a unit, you will first need to take into consideration the size of unit you will need. Whether you are in need of a 70 pint dehumidifier, or only a 50 pint dehumidifier, or even smaller depends on what room it is going to be used in, as well as, what you will be using that area for.
Figuring out the size will help your dehumidifier work at its best, due to the importance of having enough air circulating around it. That is why it is important to consider everything I have mentioned thus far in this article.
Can I do anything to dry out my basement?
If you have a humid basement with standing water on the floor in the spring and summer you have a few problems with water. If you plan on using your basement for basic to making it fully functional you will need to control the water leaking into your basement. A 70 pint basement dehumidifier will help reduce the humid air and some of the standing water, but you need to slow the leaking first. Living directly above a humid basement is a certain health threat. There are a number of things you can do to reduce the dampness.
Let’s look around the house to see if we can find a ways to slow down the water.
An easy one to start with is the gutters, make sure they are draining properly. Check to see of the gutters is leaf free and that the downspouts are clean and flowing smoothly. Make sure that the down spouts direct the water at least three to five feet away from the houses foundation. This one is a lot of harder to fix but pretty easy to spot. Walk around your home and check that the ground has a sloping away from the home and not forward it. During the next rain storm watch to see if rain drains away toward the foundation. If the rain is flowing toward you home than the water could be draining right into your basement. A quick way to fix this problem is by building a slope away from you foundation and directing the water ways from you house. By some soil a pitch the soil from high to low away from the house. Then buy some grass seed or sod, as long as the water has some place to drain the ne slope should work.
Know that the gutters and slopes are in place let’s check the basement. Walk around the basement and look for crack in the concrete. Houses settle and shift over time, a crack will not hurt the stability of the home so don’t fret when you find a crack. If it’s an older home you may find old patches in the cracks, from the last home owners. Go to the hardware store and ask for help on how to fill this crack. You may need to remove the old patch before feeling in the crack.
Many basements have a built-in sump pump cut into the basement floor. The sump pump grabs all the water floating below the concrete floor, and pumps the water away from the home. If the pump is running all the time you can bet that you have a very ground below the concrete floor.
After you control the water problem then use your 70 pint dehumidifier to dry out the air.
More Topics
Do I need a relative humidity monitor for my basement?
The quick answer No you don’t need one the 70 pint dehumidifier has one built into the controls.
Now do I think you should spend the money and buy a monitor to double check your dehumidifier? A new unit should have a problems I just like double checking the RH around the basement to make sure I have proper air distribution. I store a lot of toys and clothes in be basement so mildew isn’t my friend.
My old home dehumidifier died in the middle of the humid season and the basement RH went way up. I didn’t have a second way of check my RH so I didn’t even know that my compressor died. Last Summer I grabbed my monitor that a use for my winter temperatures and walk to the far corner of the basement. After a few minutes the monitor confirms my basements RH, I can go back up stairs knowing my basement is running perfectly.
So If you basement is used for storage like mine spend the $ 25 and get a second opinion on you basements relative humidity and a basement dehumidifier.
Is it bad idea to leave a dehumidifier running on for weeks on end?
I get the question a lot, if you not used to having a basement you may be surprised how damp they can get. If keeping your basement dehumidifier running for 3 seasons straight sounds like a lot your correct. I only shut my dehumidifier off in November and restart it around April. My 70 pint dehumidifier is set at 50 to 55% RH, with the fan constantly running for proper air circulation. The compressor only starts up if the relative humidity rise above by desired set point.
It’s better for me to keep it running all the time then to run up and down stairs to see what the relative humidity ever night. I just see it the cost of have a basement, and if running a my 70 pint dehumidifier is my biggest problem then I’m ok with that. Just keep up with the filter cleaning and every few months. I like to check with my portable thermostat and humidity monitor to see if I still agree with the dehumidifiers control settings. If the dehumidifier and you monitor both show the same RH then I’m happy.
What causes my dehumidifier to freeze up?
Another good question is why does my 70 pint basement dehumidifier keep freezing?
This is problem is seen on refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners and dehumidifiers. The reason is pretty simply any time you have a compressor and a cooling coil you’re going to have a freezing problem. As long as the unit is work properly you will never know that the coil was freezing up. Most refrigeration based units have a basic form of defrost control.
Check to see of the air filter is clogged up and you are getting a good airflow through the unit.
If enough air doesn’t flow over the coils you could start freezing your Danby dehumidifier. A frozen dehumidifier is dead in its tracks. Unplug the unit clean the filter the best you can, be careful not to use harsh chemical and destroy your filter. Check to see if dust is clogging up the coils. After the ice is gone and the unit is cleaned up restart the dehumidifier again.
If than didn’t work the dehumidifier might be low on its refrigerant charge. You might be able to contact an air conditioner service man and get him to check the unit. Before you call try and do your homework, find out what size basement dehumidifier you have. Does this unit have the older R-22 or the new refrigerate R-410a. Some HVAC contractors like to show it look at the unit go shopping for parts and then come back and fix the unit. Yes you are paying for the contractor by the hour to fix you 70 pint dehumidifier.
When the person gets to your home you don’t want them to leave because time is your money.